international relations 1: treaty of Versailles 4/6/10

which alliance was called what, who was in it

which alliance was called what, who was in it

Central Powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire

Allies/Allied Powers/Triple Entente, which included France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan and later, the United States

how did treaty of Versailles weaken Germany’s armed forces [5]

n____,// a___ f____, // a_____, // c________

and other things forbidden from manufacturing

navy: limited to 15,000 men, 6 battleships and no submarines.

air force: no air force allowed

army: reduced to 100,000 men

conscription: conscription was banned, can’t force men to be soldiers, only volunteers

forbidden from manufacturing: tanks, poison gas, heavy artillery

territorial changes of Treaty of Versailles (to Germany) [4] - 6

Germany lost 13% of its land in Europe and 10% of its population.

Alsace-Lorraine was returned from Germany (gained in 1871 from Franc-Prussian war)

All 11 overseas colonies - handed over to League of Nations who gave them to victorious countries - France/Britain

Danzig - made into a Free City, no longer ruled by Germany, run by League of Nations.

Saarland - France would be given the coal output of the Saar coal mines for 15 years and the Saar would be administered by the League of Nations.

Anschluss - (the union between Germany and Austria) was forbidden

West Prussia lost to Poland → Germany divided in two. East Prussia was cut off from the rest of Germany by an area of land called the Polish Corridor.

Treaty of Versailles, what was meant by (i) war guilt and (ii) reparations?

i) war guilt - article 231 - ‘war guilt clause‘ forced Germany to accept the blame for causing the war. Essentially legal right/enabling for allies to demand reparations/compensation from Germany.

ii) reparations - allies demanded Germany to pay reparations for material damage done during the war. And compensation for war pensions (going to widows, orphans, injured, soldiers).

Huge amount of money, would have taken Germany a long time to pay.

What did the Versailles Treaty decide about (i) the Saar and (ii) the Rhineland? [4]

i) France would be given the coal output of the Saar coal mines for 15 years and the Saar would be administered by the League of Nations. Germany lost 15% of their coal resources. This affected their economy.

ii) The Rhineland was demilitarised which meant no German armed forces were allowed to enter. Allied troops were stationed there until 1930.

How was Versailles designed to restrict Germany’s ability to attack France? [4]

Militarily

Limiting army to 100,000, limiting navy to 15000 and 6 battleships. Weakened Germany’s military, less of a threat to France - unlikely to attack knowing it would lose.

Territorially

The treaty demilitarized the Rhineland. Allied troops were stationed there until 1930. Germany was not allowed to have soldiers in the Rhineland. This made them vulnerable to an invasion from France. Germany had no buffer between themselves and France, but France now had one between them and Germany.

Financially

Lost a lot of industrial land - like the Saar (lost 15% of their coal resources. This affected their economy). Had to pay allies massive reparations, weakened Germany’s economy.

How did Clemenceau wish to punish Germany after World War One? [4] or basically what their key aims were

Clemenceau wanted to weaken Germany as much as possible

to ensure that Germany could not mount an attack against France again.

He wanted Germany to pay very high reparations to permanently cripple Germany

Germany had taken the French region of Alsace-Lorraine in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. Clemenceau wanted it returned.

He believed that the Saar Basin, a rich coal-mining region of Germany, should be given to France.

He wanted France to be given many of Germany's overseas colonies.

He wanted to split Germany up into many little countries

Wanted a French buffer zone between it and Germany - the demilitarised Rhineland.

What did Wilson hope to achieve from the Treaty of Versailles? [4]

wanted empires/colonies to be disbanded - countries should self-govern: self-determination

League of Nations - international cooperation - world parliament where countries came together to discuss their problems diplomatically, instead of immediately going to war.

Don’t be too harsh on Germany - thought, if Germany was punished too harshly, it would recover and want revenge. Wanted to ensure Germany was not destroyed and that it wasn’t blamed for the war.

Wanted lasting peace - came up with ‘14 Points‘ to prevent future wars.

How did the Treaty of Versailles weaken the German economy?

coal, iron, loss percentages.

The reparations they owed costed Germany millions which were almost impossible to pay back, leading Germany to take loans from the US and print more money, in turn causing the hyperinflation that ruined Germany's economy.

Germany's industry was damaged, leaving little production to grow the economy as well as agricultural land being lost.

- Saar, with rich coalfields, was given to France.

- Colonies given to League as mandates

- Importing/exporting/manufacturing weapons banned

- Rich farmlands of Posen and Polish corridor given to Poland

• 16% of its coal production.

• 48% of its iron production.

• Lost 10% of factories

How did the Treaty of Versailles weaken Germany militarily? [4]

basically same as before

• Limiting its army to 100,000 men.

• ❖Limiting its navy to 15,000 men, 6 battleships and no submarines.

• ❖The Rhineland was demilitarised which meant no German armed forces were allowed to enter.

• ❖No military air force was allowed.

• ❖Conscription was banned so all soldiers had to be volunteers.

• ❖No tanks or armoured cars were allowed.

• ❖No heavy artillery was allowed.

• ❖The Allies would station an army of occupation on the west bank of the Rhine in the towns of Cologne, Coblenz and Mainz.

What were Lloyd George’s key aims for the Treaty of Versailles? [4] - 5

• He wanted to retain naval supremacy; therefore he wanted to see Germany's navy reduced.

• He wanted to reduce the risk of another war. He believed a very harsh treaty might lead to resentment and revenge from Germany later on. If Germany’s public became resentful they might turn towards communism, and Lloyd George wanted to contain the spread of communism, lest it spread and infect Britain.

• He wanted to retain a trade relationship with Germany. (so it couldn’t be punished too harshly). No trade relationship would mean many British would lose their jobs - would lose popularity from the public, might lose the next election.

• He wanted to reduce the German Empire and preserve the British Empire. Maintain British status as world’s largest and wealthiest imperial power.

How did Clemenceau disagree with other members of the Big Three? [4]

two for Lloyd George, one for Wilson, one sort of extra

• Armaments. Clemenceau wanted Germany's army completely disbanded, while Lloyd George wanted a strong Germany to act as a buffer against communism.

• Reparations. Clemenceau wanted huge reparations from Germany, whereas Lloyd George wanted an economically stable Germany for Britain to trade with.

• Blame for the war. France wanted a settlement based on revenge and for Germany to accept full blame, whereas Wilson wanted a settlement that would encourage world peace, and wouldn’t entirely blame Germany.

• Rhineland. Clemenceau wanted the Rhineland to become an independent nation. Others only accepted its demilitarization, and occupation by allied forces.

3 ways Wilson disagreed with the other Big 3?

two with Lloyd George, one with Clemenceau

• 'freedom of the seas'. (everyone should be able to sail trading ships wherever they wanted to.) But Lloyd George believed in the naval supremacy of Britain.

• 'self-determination'. But Lloyd George saw the peace settlement as an opportunity to strengthen the British Empire.

• International peace and diplomacy. But Clemenceau was more worried about taking revenge for the damage done to France by Germany.

4 ways Lloyd George disagreed with the other Big Three?

two for Clemenceau, two for Wilson

• Naval supremacy, as Wilson believed in freedom of the seas but Lloyd George wanted British naval supremacy.

• Empire. Lloyd George wanted to expand the empire, whereas Wilson believed in the idea of national self-determination.

• armament. Lloyd George wanted Germany to remain militarily strong, to act as a buffer against communism, whereas Clemenceau wanted Germany weak and defenceless for its own security.

• Reparations. Lloyd George wanted an economically stable Germany for Britain to trade with, whereas Clemenceau wanted Germany to pay huge reparations.

Why did Clemenceau demand that a harsh peace be imposed on Germany?

World War One was the second time France had been invaded by Germany in fifty years, with German soldiers having invaded France in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War, taking the province of Alsace-Lorraine with them. Clemenceau wanted to make Germany weak to put France in a much more secure position.

French army suffered around 6 million casualties and also factories and farms. France’s population was in decline (45million) compared to Germany’s 75 million.

basically: scared of another war, revenge on Germany

Why was it difficult to make a peace settlement which would please all the Allies?

To gain support during the war, the Allies made promises to different countries. Italy was promised land from Austria-Hungary, and Japan was told their claims on land in China would be supported. This complicated negotiations.

individual conflicting views - bring up some previous. like empire vs self-determinism, or harsh on Germany vs wants a trading partner. Clemenceau wanted revenge, Wilson wanted a fairer world etc.

Why were the peace makers at Versailles severe on Germany?

[6]

DESIRE FOR RETRIBUTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

• Allied powers, (esp. France and Belgium), which had suffered immense devastation due to the war on their soil, wanted to hold Germany responsible for the conflict and its consequences. This sentiment was fueled by public opinion in these countries, where there was a strong desire for Germany to be punished and made to pay reparations.

PREVENTION OF FUTURE CONFLICTS: There was a significant concern among the Allies about future German aggression. By imposing severe restrictions on Germany's military capabilities, territorial holdings, and economic power, the Allies aimed to prevent Germany from being able to start another war. This approach reflected a desire to create a lasting peace by ensuring that Germany would not be able to challenge European stability again.

Why did Germany think the Treaty of Versailles was motivated by revenge?

HARSHNESS OF TERMS:
The treaty imposed severe territorial losses, significant military restrictions, and hefty reparations on Germany. These conditions were seen not just as punitive, but as designed to cripple Germany economically and militarily, suggesting a desire for revenge rather than a fair and sustainable peace.

WAR GUILT:
Article 231, the 'War Guilt Clause', which placed sole responsibility for the war on Germany and its allies, was particularly resented. This clause was seen as a means to morally and legally justify the harsh penalties and reparations, reinforcing the German perception that the treaty was vindictive in nature

or, sort of was - france 2nd invasion in 50 years

massive damage done

war guilt - apparently their fault

Why did the Treaty of Versailles punish Germany? [6]

RETRIBUTION AND REPARATIONS:
The Allied powers, especially France and Belgium, wanted to hold Germany accountable for the devastation of WW1. By imposing reparations, they aimed to make Germany pay for the immense damages and losses caused by the war, reflecting a desire for retribution and compensation.

PREVENTION OF FUTURE AGGRESSION:
significantly limit Germany's military capabilities and territorial sovereignty.

to weaken Germany to a point where it could not easily instigate another major conflict, thereby seeking to prevent future aggression long-term peace in Europe.

Why were Germany disappointed with the Treaty of Versailles? [6]

War guilt - didn’t feel they were fully responsible

too harsh treaty - Disarmament left Germany feeling vulnerable. 100,000 soldiers was not enough to effectively protect Germany's borders or deal with uprisings.

Why did Wilson want a ‘League of Nations’? [6]

PROMOTING COLLECTIVE SECURITY:
Wilson believed that a collective international organisation could provide a forum for nations to resolve disputes peacefully, thus preventing future wars. The idea was that collective security would know that other members would work together to address threats to peace.

IDEA OF SELF-DETERMINATION AND GLOBAL COOPERATION:
Wilson's vision, encapsulated in his 14 Points, was grounded in the principle of self-determination and democratic governance. He saw the League of Nations as a way to foster international cooperation and dialogue, promoting democracy and allowing nations to peacefully address issues such as territorial disputes and minority rights.

what were the 14 points (general) 5 points

The war aims outlined by President Wilson in 1918, which he believed would promote lasting peace
- self-determination - freedom of the seas
- free trade
- end to secret agreements
- reduction of arms
- founding of a league of nations

Why did the treaty of Versailles cause problems for Germany from 1919 to 1923? [6]

ECONOMIC HARDSHIP AND REPARATIONS:

reparations set very high for Germany (Germany couldn’t afford that). Germany paid the first installment in 1921, but claimed to be unable to pau in 1922. (= French and Belgian troops marched into the Ruhr, industrial region of Germany, started to confiscate goods/take those as payments for debts). When workers went on strike and Germany printed money to support them, hyperinflation. German currency became worthless (people carrying wages home in wheelbarrows, bread costs 100 billion marks). Currency completely collapsed, widespread poverty and suffering.

POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND SOCIAL UNREST:

massive reparations, lots of land lost, war guilt clause = national humiliation for Germans. also angry that Germany was not represented at the PPC.

eroded the legitimacy of the Weimar Republic (the post-war German government) as it was viewed as a product of Germany's defeat and the subsequent unfair treaty.

sense of injustice and economic struggles fueled political extremism, leading to political instability and social unrest.

Why was Clemenceau dissatisfied with the Treaty of Versailles? [6]

wanted punishment for Germany to be harsher, worried about France’s security

Clemenceau wanted an Anglo-American guarantee that they would protect France if it was attacked. However, shortly afterwards the USA withdrew into isolation, and Britain refused to guarantee its protection for France alone.

SECURITY CONCERNS NOT FULLY ADDRESSED:
Clemenceau was concerned that the Treaty didn't impose harsh enough restrictions on Germany to ensure France's long-term security. He had wanted more stringent measures, like a permanent demilitarization of the Rhineland, which weren't fully realized in the Treaty.

COMPROMISES DUE TO ALLIED DISAGREEMENTS:
Clemenceau had to make significant compromises due to differing views among the Allies, especially with U.S. President Wilson and British PM Lloyd George, who favored less punitive measures against Germany. This led to a Treaty that was less harsh than Clemenceau had desired, particularly regarding reparations and territorial changes.

The Treaty of Versailles was unfair on Germany.’ How far do you agree with this statement? [10]

UNFAIR:

war guilt - Article 231 - that Germany accepts responsibility for the war.

Germany should not have accepted full blame for the war. Causes were complex and each leading European nation (including Britain) played a role in the tensions that lead to war in 1914. E.g. arms race, complex alliances, blank cheque, trigger that was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by the Serbian Black hand. The war guilt clause is what gave the other countries legal grounds to impose reparations/rules on Germany, so when considering that Germany wasn’t fully responsible, it makes the rest of the Treaty unfair.

harshness of reparations (territorial loss):

Germans felt it was a revenge treaty, designed to make Germany suffer. Germany lost all its overseas colonies and 13% of its mainland. Six million Germans were displaced and had to live in other countries, despite Wilson's principle of self-determination. They feared persecution as they had been forced to accept responsibility for the war. Lost a lot of land for coal production and farmland and industry. Lost 15% of its agricultural produce and 16% of its coal production.

harshness of reparations (economic hardships):

German people felt the treaty was a 'diktat', a dictated peace, because they were not allowed to have a say at the conference. Expected it to follow Wilson's 14 Points, but it differed from these significantly. Wilson's points were based on creating a fairer world for everyone; had they known the treaty would not be based on these principles, Germany might not have signed.

German was hugely affected economically by the war and felt it would never recover from the scale of reparations. Germany paid first 1921 but claimed to be unable to pay in 1922, leads to French invasion of the Ruhr, and strike action subsidized by the government leads to massive hyperinflation. e.g. break costs 100 billions marks.

FAIR:

At the time, the First World War was the most devastating conflict the world had seen, and people saw it as the right thing for losing nations to be punished in this manner.

Germany did have a large role in maintaining and fighting in the war. First to use poison gas (even though the allies use it later) and do sink civilian boats with submarines. Sank RMS Lusitania (killed more than 1000 passengers)

But Germany's outrage at treaty more because of unrealistic expectations, rather than impossibility of treaty.

The peacemakers had to act quickly before the region became unstable so they did the best job they could. Because the treaty was so hard to put together, they can't take the risk of germany negotiating demands, so just imposed it on germany - why they called it ‘diktat‘.

‘Most Germans were horrified by the terms of the Treaty.’ How justified was this reaction? Explain your answer. [10]

JUSTIFIED

huge economic impact

Massive reparations bill. Germans felt it didn't take into account the economic difficulties caused by the First World War.

huge territorial loss

Germany lost substantial territory under the Treaty, including areas with significant German populations and economic resources. The demilitarization of the Rhineland and the cap on the German military were seen as overly punitive, stripping Germany of its ability to defend itself and maintain sovereignty. These terms were perceived as humiliating and an affront to German national pride.

NOT JUSTIFIED

war guilt

clause that put full blame for the war to Germany. Seen as unfair by many Germans, but from the perspective of the Allied powers, Germany's aggressive militarism and actions in 1914 were primary catalysts for the war. Given the massive loss of life and destruction across Europe, the Allied reaction to demand such terms can be seen as understandable in the context of the time.

‘The German reaction to the Treaty of Versailles was unreasonable.’ How far do you agree with this statement? [10]

REASONABLE

huge economic impact

Massive reparations bill. Germans felt it didn't take into account the economic difficulties caused by the First World War.

huge territorial loss

Germany lost substantial territory under the Treaty, including areas with significant German populations and economic resources. The demilitarization of the Rhineland and the cap on the German military were seen as overly punitive, stripping Germany of its ability to defend itself and maintain sovereignty. These terms were perceived as humiliating and an affront to German national pride.

UNREASONABLE

war guilt

also that the regular people might have felt that they didn’t have any say in the country’s position in the war - not their fault so they shouldn’t be punished (e.g. displaced, high taxes).Many German citizens felt that they were being punished for the mistakes of the German government in August 1914 as it was the government that had declared war, not the people.

clause that put full blame for the war to Germany. Seen as unfair by many Germans, but from the perspective of the Allied powers, Germany's aggressive militarism and actions in 1914 were primary catalysts for the war. Given the massive loss of life and destruction across Europe, the Allied reaction to demand such terms can be seen as understandable in the context of the time.

How far had Germany accepted the Treaty of Versailles by 1923? Explain your answer. [10]

ACCEPTED - military

Did initially comply to some terms of the Treaty. Germany’s army had to be reduced to 100,000 men. On paper this happened. The fact that Germany side-stepped the rule did not mean that she literally broke it – though what she did was a deliberate attempt to break this term. German soldiers in the 1920’s were signed on for a short contract of service and then put in the reserves once their time had finished. Therefore, Germany never had more than 100,000 soldiers serving at any one time though she certainly had substantial reserve soldiers which boosted Hitler when he renounced the clauses of Versailles. Germany’s navy was reduced to 6 battleships with no submarines. This happened. Germany could not afford battleships in the aftermath of the war. Western Germany was to be demilitarised. This happened. Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria. This happened.

ACCEPTED - land

Land had to be handed over the Poland, France, Belgium and Denmark. This did happen – all the land Germany was required to hand over, was handed over. Territory put under League of Nations control was handed over to the League.

All overseas colonies were to be handed over to the League. This did happen.

All land taken from Russia had to be handed back to Russia. This did happen though land in the western area became Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in keeping with the belief in national self-determination.

NOT ACCEPTED

Weimar Rep is too weak to directly challenge allies (by force, has a weak army, very reduced military). So the only way it can challenge the Treaty is by claiming Germany can’t pay the reparations. Number set very high - Germany gov will only be able to cough up the money by taxing Germans very highly and sending the money across. Weimar rep. finds enormous political issue doing this. After French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923, workers went on strike and gov. supported them by printing money which contributed to massive hyperinflation. German Marks become essentially useless.

Germany’s army had to be reduced to 100,000 men. On paper this happened. The fact that Germany side-stepped the rule did not mean that she literally broke it – though what she did was a deliberate attempt to break this term. German soldiers in the 1920’s were signed on for a short contract of service and then put in the reserves once their time had finished. Therefore, Germany never had more than 100,000 soldiers serving at any one time though she certainly had substantial reserve soldiers which boosted Hitler when he renounced the clauses of Versailles.

‘The Treaty of Versailles was unfair and unwise.’ How far do you agree with this statement? [10]

UNFAIR/UNWISE

excessive punishment on Germany

significant territorial losses, military restrictions, and heavy reparations. Justified by placing the blame for the war on Germany, which was a simplistic and politically motivated assessment. Burdens/reparations not proportional to damage done, fostering resentment and economic hardship in Germany.

seeds of future conflict/communism

Angry with ‘diktat‘ nature of Treaty. land loss and military restrictions and lack of representation humiliated Germany and led to economic devastation, facilitating the rise of extremist movements, including Nazism. This shows that the Treaty failed to secure long-term peace and instead sowed the seeds for another major conflict. The anger the Treaty of Versailles created allowed for the rise of the Nazis' extremist policies as it created bitterness among the German people.

NOT UNFAIR/UNWISE

accountability:

Germany did play a major role in the war, causing destruction and loss of life during the conflict. Reparations and territory losses were seen as compensation as the damage caused by the war and for deterring future aggression. The Big 3/people writing the treaty had to appease the public, who, for the past 4 years had been fed with anti-german propaganda, and had known

maintaining European stability:
Treaty's terms were necessary to weaken Germany enough to prevent it from starting another war, thereby maintaining, at least short term, stability in Europe. Though harsh, these measures were considered by some as essential for preventing a repeat of the devastation experienced during World War I.

How was the Treaty of Versailles justified at the time? [10]

punishment:

• With the War Guilt Clause, the Treaty held Germany accountable for its role in starting the War

• The treaty was seen as a means of holding Germany accountable for its role in starting World War I. 20 million military personnel and civilians died in the War, 56% of whom were in the Allied countries. Hence, the Allies (especially French PM Clemenceau whose country had suffered the most) sought to impose penalties on Germany for their aggression and role in causing the conflict.

• Germans sank civilian ships with their U-boats (e.g. British RMS Lusitania), first to use poison gas. So they did do bad things.

compensation: 

• Reparations that Germany was required to pay were to compensate the Entente/Allies for the costs of the War. It was intended to cover the material damage, financial losses, (e.g. war pensions for widows, orphans, the injured) and loss of human life.

• As Germany (under duress) accepted blame for starting the War, the Allies believed it was their responsibility to foot the bill.

• To gain support during the war, the Allies made promises to different countries. E.g. Italy was promised land from Austria-Hungary and land ceded to Poland rewarded them for their role in fighting with the Allies. 

prevent future aggression: 

• Germany's military was reduced (e.g. army to 100k, navy limited to 15,000 men, 6 battleships and no submarines.).

• The Allies believed that by weakening Germany's military (and economy), would help to maintain stability in Europe and prevent future conflicts. 

• The land which Germany lost to its neighbours also granted security to the region and Germany's neighbouring countries. For example, the demilitarised Rhineland created a buffer zone. 

• By imposing harsh penalties on Germany, the Allies hoped it would deter any future attempts by nations to pursue policies of aggression and territorial expansion.

How far did the peace settlements of 1919-20 reflect the aims of President Wilson? Explain your answer. [10]

WITH WILSON:
LEAGUE OF NATIONS:
The creation of the League of Nations was a direct embodiment of Wilson's 14th point and his vision for a world organization dedicated to ensuring collective security and preventing future conflicts. This was a significant achievement for Wilson, as he had championed the idea as a cornerstone of a new, more peaceful world order.

SELF-DETERMINATION:
Some aspects of the peace settlements aligned with Wilson's principle of self-determination, evident in the redrawing of national boundaries and the creation of new nation-states in Eastern Europe. Countries like Poland regained independence, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dissolved, creating new nations based on ethnic lines. E.g. Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia given independence.

NOT WITH WILSON:
PUNITIVE MEASURES AGAINST GERMANY:
The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh penalties on Germany, including significant territorial losses, military restrictions, and heavy reparations. These punitive measures were in stark contrast to Wilson's vision of a "peace without victory." He had hoped for a more conciliatory approach to peace that would promote reconciliation and future cooperation, rather than humiliation and revenge. Wilson didn’t want Germany to be destroyed or blamed for the outbreak of the First World War. But it was.