iGCSE History Core Content B: Was the Treaty of Versailles Fair?

What were Clemenceau’s main aims at Versailles?

Weaken Germany; Alsace-Lorraine returned to France; high reparations; demilitarisation; gain Saar Basin and German colonies.

What were Woodrow Wilson’s main aims at Versailles?

Create lasting peace; 14 Points; League of Nations; self-determination; no harsh reparations; freedom of the seas.

What were Lloyd George’s main aims at Versailles?

Punish Germany but keep it strong for trade; reduce navy; take colonies; avoid communist spread; satisfy British public.

Why did the Big Three have to compromise?

Each had different aims; public pressure; Clemenceau wanted harsh terms; Wilson wanted fairness; Lloyd George wanted trade and revenge.

What were the military restrictions placed on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles?

Army limited to 100,000 men; no air force; only 6 battleships and no submarines; Rhineland demilitarised and occupied by Allies.

What were Germany’s territorial losses under the Treaty of Versailles?

Alsace-Lorraine to France; Saar to France for 15 years; Polish Corridor from Posen and West Prussia; Danzig Free City; no Anschluss with Austria; lost colonies.

What were the political and economic terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

War guilt clause (Article 231); reparations set at £6.6 billion; Germany banned from League of Nations.

What were the economic effects of the Treaty on Germany?

Reparations ruined economy; Ruhr occupied by France in 1923; passive resistance; hyperinflation due to printing money.

What political effects did the Treaty have in Germany?

Treaty seen as 'diktat'; signing politicians called 'November Criminals'; rise of extremism (Kapp Putsch, Munich Putsch).

Why did some countries believe Germany deserved harsh punishment?

Germany invaded Belgium; harsh treaty on Russia (Brest-Litovsk); damage to France and Belgium; high death toll from WWI.

What were the other peace treaties of 1919–23?

St Germain (Austria); Trianon (Hungary); Neuilly (Bulgaria); Sèvres/Lausanne (Turkey).

What did the Treaty of St Germain (1919) do?

Austria lost land to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Poland; Anschluss forbidden; army limited to 30,000.

What did the Treaty of Trianon (1920) do?

Hungary lost land to Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia; economy damaged severely.

What did the Treaty of Neuilly (1919) do?

Bulgaria lost land to Greece, Romania, Yugoslavia; paid £100 million reparations; army reduced.

What did the Treaty of Sèvres (1920) do?

Turkey lost land to Greece, Britain, and France; harsh naval limits; replaced by Treaty of Lausanne (1923).

Why do some argue Versailles was fair compared to other treaties?

Other countries like Austria and Hungary lost more land; Turkey’s Sèvres treaty was harsher; Germany wasn’t the only one punished.