PEACE-MAKING – TREATY OF VERSAILLES & LEAGUE OF NATIONS

What were Georges Clemenceau’s main aims at the Paris Peace Conference?

Wanted revenge and to permanently weaken Germany; Alsace-Lorraine returned; France suffered 1.4 million deaths; public demanded harsh punishment; wanted Germany weak near France.

What were David Lloyd George’s main aims at the Paris Peace Conference?

Wanted a moderate treaty; punish Germany but not too harshly; satisfy British public; protect the British Empire; Germany to lose navy and colonies; keep Germany strong enough to trade with Britain.

What were Woodrow Wilson’s main aims at the Paris Peace Conference?

Idealist; wanted lenient treaty; self-determination; League of Nations; Germany should not seek revenge; USA had low casualties and joined war late.

What were the key territorial changes in the Treaty of Versailles?

Alsace-Lorraine returned to France; West Prussia given to Poland (splitting Germany); German colonies became League mandates; Anschluss banned; land lost to Poland & Czechoslovakia (Articles 87-106, 119, 156-158).

What military restrictions were imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?

Army limited to 100,000 men (Article 160); no conscription (Article 181); no tanks, submarines, or aircraft; navy limited to 6 battleships (Articles 181-187); Rhineland demilitarised (Article 42).

What did the War Guilt Clause and reparations require Germany to do?

Article 231 blamed Germany for the war; Germany had to pay reparations set at £6,600 million (1921, Articles 232-247); justified harsh terms and land loss.

What were the key points of Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points?

No secret treaties; free trade; disarmament; France regain Alsace-Lorraine; self-determination; League of Nations.

What were the key dates of peace-making after World War One?

1918 Armistice signed 11 Nov; 1919 Paris Peace Conference; Big Three dominate; Germany excluded.

What were the main terms of the Treaty of St Germain (1919)?

Austria split from Hungary; lost land to Italy & Romania; army limited to 30,000; Anschluss banned.

What were the main terms of the Treaty of Trianon (1920)?

Hungary lost land to neighbours; army limited to 30,000; reparations were to be paid but not fixed.

What were the main terms of the Treaty of Neuilly (1919)?

Bulgaria lost land to Greece; army limited to 20,000; reparations = £100 million; no air force; only four battleships allowed.

What were the main terms of the Treaty of Sèvres and Lausanne (1920)?

Turkey lost empire and land to Greece; army limited to 50,000; Treaty of Lausanne restored some land after revolt.

What were the key strengths of the Treaty of Versailles?

Brought short-term peace; League of Nations created; France felt more secure; seen as fair by some; reparations only 2% of German income.

What were the key weaknesses of the Treaty of Versailles?

Germany not only country to blame; reparations crippled economy; created German anger and rise of Nazis; some Germans placed under foreign rule; too harsh for peace, too weak to stop recovery; predicted to cause another war.

What were Wilson’s reactions to the Treaty of Versailles?

Thought treaty too harsh and future war likely; happy League of Nations created; USA refused to join → isolationism.

What were Lloyd George’s reactions to the Treaty of Versailles?

Public pleased with War Guilt Clause and reparations; worried reparations would harm trade; thought treaty too harsh on Germany.

What were Clemenceau’s reactions to the Treaty of Versailles?

Happy with revenge and security; wanted Germany completely destroyed; reparations too small to cover France’s losses.

What were Germany’s reactions to the Treaty of Versailles?

Saw TOV as diktat; hated War Guilt Clause (Article 231); economy ruined; lost 10% land, 12.5% population, 16% coal; felt disarmament was one-sided; insulted at exclusion from LON.

What were the main aims of the League of Nations?

Disarmament; arbitration (peaceful negotiation); collective security; improve living and working conditions; international cooperation and trade.

How was the League of Nations organised?

Assembly met yearly; one vote per country; unanimous decisions required. Council had permanent members (Britain, France, Italy, Japan) with veto power. Secretariat ran day-to-day operations. Permanent Court of Justice settled disputes (no enforcement power).

What were the key agencies of the League of Nations?

Refugee Commission – returned 500,000 POWs home. Slavery Commission – freed 200,000 slaves. Health Organisation – fought disease. International Labour Organisation – set minimum wage in 77 countries.

What peacekeeping powers did the League of Nations have?

Moral condemnation (shaming), economic sanctions (trade restrictions), military force (no army of its own; relied on members contributing troops).

What were the main membership problems of the League of Nations?

USA never joined; Germany and USSR initially excluded; Britain and France weakened after WWI; members put self-interest before League interests.

What were the main organisational weaknesses of the League of Nations?

No army; sanctions weak and slow; veto powers blocked action; slow decision-making.

What were key agreements and events outside the League in the 1920s?

Dawes Plan (1924) – US loans to Germany. Locarno Treaties (1925) – Germany accepted borders. Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928) – 65 countries renounced war. Wall Street Crash (1929) → Great Depression → rise of dictators. Hitler (1933) came to power.

What were the League of Nations’ successes in the 1920s?

Aaland Islands (1921) – Finland vs Sweden solved peacefully. Bulgaria (1925) – Greece invaded; League condemned Greece and Greece withdrew troops.

What were the League of Nations’ failures in the 1920s?

Vilna (1920) – Poland occupied Vilna, League did nothing. Corfu (1923) – Italy invaded Greece; League ignored by Italy, unable to enforce decisions.