The Treaty of Versailles

Who were the Central Powers?

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Ottoman Empire

Bulgaria

Who made up the Triple Alliance?

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Who made up the Triple Entente?

Great Britain

France

Russia

Who were the Big Three?

Woodrow Wilson - President of the USA

David Lloyd George - Prime Minister of Great Britain

Georges Clemenceau - Prime Minister of France

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

Don’t punish Germany too harshly - wanted an economically strong Germany to trade with + wanted to avoid another war

Alsace-Lorraine goes to France

Self-determination for small nations + formation of the League of Nations

All countires work towards disarmament

What were the main aims of Lloyd George at the Paris Peace Conference?

Don’t punish Germany too harshly - wanted an economically strong Germany to trade with + wanted to avoid another war BUT faced pressure from British public to ‘make Germany pay’

Germany’s overseas colonies go to Britain

Germany keeps its military strength (to prevent communism from spreading) + reduction of Germany’s navy (to reinforce British naval supremacy)

What were the main aims of Clemenceau at the Paris Peace Conference?

Germany pays for all damages - majority of fighting on the Western Front was in France, French infrastructure was destroyed

Alsace-Lorraine goes to France + the Saarland goes to France (rich in coal to help recover the French economy)

Overseas colonies go to France

Germany’s military is disbanded - France and Germany shared a border, France feared another invasion

What were the main political + economic terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (3)

The League of Nations was formed, but Germany was not allowed to join

The ‘War Guilt’ Clause. This meant that Germany had to take all the blame for WW1, including responsibility for all deaths and damages during wartime

Germany had to pay £6.6bn in reparations to the Allies. This was enough to cripple the German economy.

What were the main military terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (4)

The Rhineland was demilitarised and Allied troops were stationed there until 1930

Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000 men

Germany’s navy was reduced to 6 battleships. They were not allowed submarines.

Germany could not have an airforce.

What were the main territorial terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (5)

The Saarland, with its coalfields, was given to France for 15 years. Germany lost 15% of their coal resources

Alsace-Lorraine was given back to France

Anschluss was forbidden

Posen and West Prussia were given to Poland to form a ‘Polish Corridor’ which gave Poland access to the sea. 1 million Germans came under Polish rule

Germany’s 11 colonies in Africa and the Far East were ruled by Britain + France as mandates