End of WWI
Learning Intentions - To understand the causes of WWII To understand why
there was a rise in support for right-wing political parties and
personalities in Germany after WWI
Success Criteria - I can identify the terms of the Versailles in Germany. I
describe the causes of German dissatisfaction with the treaty. I can
describe why right-wing political parties became popular following WWI and
identify some beliefs.
Definitions
Armistice - an agreement made by opposing sides in a war to STOP fighting
for a specific amount of time/truce
Treaty of Versailles - a treaty imposed on Germany by the triple entente in
1920 that made countries of the Triple Alliance take responsibility for WWI
Reparations - the act of making amends
Nationalism - being a huge supporter of one country's decisions and opinions
Nazi Party - the far-right racist and antisemitic ( prejudice against Jewish) the political party led by Adolf Hitler
Anti- Semitism - the belief/prejudice against Jewish people
Notes
1917:

The USA enters the war, countries in Europe started running out of resources,
people were depressed, and the USA supported its allies w only money. German subs
attacked passengers + cargo + warships, and America declared war on Germany on
6/4/1917. The USA was wealthy and well established with a navy, small armies, and few factories.

Russia makes peace w Germany bc heavy losses, and political problems >
uncoordinated war effort. Tsar was removed in 1917, and Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
became the new leader of Russia < Negotiated separate peace w Germany
in March 1918. Germany redeployed troops to the Western front.

Bc Germany moved to the Western Front which meant the war was taken out of trenches. W USA troops, Germans = pushed back.

The armistice was signed at 11:00 on 11 / 11 / 1918. can Ad Treaty of Versailles was discussed at the Palace of Versailles, outside Paris.

^ France, Britain, USA discussed it. The 3 leaders had different aims. France wanted a lot more as they suffered a lot ( lost many soldiers, homes schools, bridges & railways ). French public + PM Clemenceau wanted revenge on Germany . They wanted to ensure that Germany would never be strong enough.

Britain suffered a lot, PM Lloyd George wanted Germany to pay reparations, wanted TO LIMIT the navy, and strip colonies + power.

Terms of the treaty = war guilt, reparations, reduce Germany's army to only 100 000 ( no navy, no air force ), demilitarised zone ( along the border of France ), loss of Germany's territories & colonies, League of Nations was formed, it was asked of Germany to pay the others 6.6 billion pounds in full ( would've taken until 1988 )

Treaty of Versailles ( In-depth )

1919 - Paris June 28th, The Paris Peace Conference- held to negotiate terms Held at the Halls of Mirrors in Versailles

Terms

Blame: war guilt clause Reparations 6-6 billion ( 1984 ) < due date

Army: Limited to 100 000 men, conscription is banned, no Tanks, subs or aircraft, only 6 battleships, Rhineland to be demilitarised

Territory: Lost Saar, Upper Silesia, Alsace - Lorraine ( given back to France ) lost colonies in the Middle East and Africa

Losses: 10% of the land, all overseas colonies, 12.5% of the population 169% of its coal fields 50 % of its iron & steel industries.

Impact of the Treaty

The terms were announced on the 7th of May, the Germans were outraged and they wanted vengeance.

There was a deliberate mistranslation that cast Germany as the ‘sole guilt’ as opposed to the ‘joint guilt’ of Germany and its allies. Most Germans didn’t think they had lost the war but merely that they had ceased fire.

Many politicians resigned rather than signing the treaty. Germans referred to the new Weimar Government as the ‘November Criminals’ as the armistice was first signed in November 1918. The Weimar Government brought democracy to Germany and Germans blamed the political system as they thought it was weak and flawed because of the Treaty of Versailles.

Many groups including the Nazi group (National Socialist German Workers Party) used the resentment for democracy to capitalise on to gain support. They gathered support by promising to return Germany to its proper place in Europe, it was focused on regaining lost territory and avoiding complying with the other terms in the treaty.

Germany suffered from inflation was the German economy was already damaged by the war and the French demand for Germany to pay for the reparations led to monetary strain. The French and Belgian troops occupied the industrial region of Germany, Ruhr, in order to take the money by force. The workers in Ruhr went on a strike as they refused to produce products for the French to take. The workers were seen as heroes however it made the economic situation worse.