WW1 and the Treaty of Versailles

• What was the focus of episode two in the AQA GCSE history series?

  The impact of World War One and the Treaty of Versailles
• What hardships did the people of Germany face at the end of World War One?

  They faced severe hardships including starvation due to naval blockades
• How did public opinion shift against Kaiser Wilhelm II after World War One?

  Public opinion turned against him due to the hardships caused by the war
• What significant event occurred in November 1918 involving German naval members?


  German naval members refused to board their ships in Hanover
• Who encouraged the general uprising in Germany after World War One?

  A Jewish communist named Kurt Eisner
• What was the outcome of the mass public protests held in Berlin in November 1918?

  The Kaiser abdicated on the 9th of November 1918
• What did the SPD and USPD declare after the Kaiser’s abdication?

  They declared a republic
• What is a republic?

  A country ruled without a monarch, where power is held by elected representatives
• How many states made up Germany after the monarchy was abolished?

  Eighteen states
• What was the role of the national government in Germany after the monarchy was abolished?

  The national government decided national affairs while state governments dealt with local affairs
• What happened on the 11th of November 1918?

  A ceasefire marked the end of World War One
• Why was the new German Republic under pressure to sign the armistice?

  Because the people were starving and military morale was low
• How did right-wing Germans perceive the signing of the armistice?

  They saw it as a sign of weakness and betrayal
• What temporary government was established after the Kaiser’s abdication?

  The Council of People's Representatives
• What was the purpose of the Treaty of Versailles?

  It was a peace treaty imposed on Germany after World War One
• When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

  At the end of June 1919
• Who were the main Allied leaders involved in deciding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

  David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, and Woodrow Wilson
• What were the differing goals of the Allied leaders regarding Germany after World War One?

  Britain wanted reparations, France wanted punishment, and America wanted leniency
• What does the mnemonic "LAMB" stand for in relation to the Treaty of Versailles?

  • L: Land (territorial losses)
  • A: Army (military restrictions)
  • M: Money (reparations)
  • B: Blame (accepting blame for the war)
• What territory was returned to France as a result of the Treaty of Versailles?

  Alsace Lorraine
• What percentage of its land did Germany lose due to the Treaty of Versailles?

  Germany lost 13% of its land
• How many soldiers was the German army limited to after the Treaty of Versailles?

  100,000 soldiers
• What was the limit on the German navy after the Treaty of Versailles?

  The navy was limited to 15,000 soldiers and only six battleships
• What was the status of the German air force after the Treaty of Versailles?

  The air force was broken up
• How long was the Rhineland occupied by the Allies?

  15 years
• How did the reparations imposed on Germany affect its economy?

  The heavy reparations seemed unfair and could cause lasting damage to Germany's economy
• What was the total amount of reparations Germany was required to pay according to the Treaty of Versailles?

  £6.6 billion
• What did Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles state?

  Germany had to accept blame for causing the war
• Why did Germans resent Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles?

  They believed the war was one of self-defense
• What will episode three of the AQA GCSE history series cover?

  It will cover the Weimar Republic and its unpopularity
• Bavaria

  The southernmost state of Germany, bordering Austria and the Czech Republic.
• Hamburg


  A state located in the north of Germany, bordering Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony.
• Prussia


  A state located in the northeast of Germany, bordering Poland, the Baltic Sea, and the states of Brandenburg, Saxony, and Silesia.
• Reparations payments caused economic problems in Germany as they struggled to afford it
• Germany had to pay reparations (compensation) to other countries that were damaged during the war
• The German government was weakened by the war, with many people blaming them for Germany's defeat
• Germany had to pay reparations because they were blamed for starting the war