league of naiton

• The First World War (WWI) ended in November 1918.
• Paris Peace Conference started in January 1919.
• The Treaty of Versailles (which dealt with Germany) was signed in June 1919.
• The other four treaties dealt with other defeated countries: St Germain – dealt with Austria, Neuilly – dealt with Bulgaria, Trianon – dealt with Hungary, Sevres – dealt with Turkey (the former Ottoman Empire).
• The motives and aims of the Big Three at Versailles were:

  • David Lloyd George (Great Britain) – to be popular, to win votes in elections back in Britain, and to make Germany pay;
  • Clemenceau (France) – revenge against Germany, weaken Germany forever, prevent Germany from threatening France ever again
  • Woodrow Wilson (the USA) – to keep Germany strong, prevent another war in 25 years, and to create a League of Nations., and keep Germany strong for trade and peace worldwide;
• The Treaty of Versailles was not fair to Germany as it imposed harsh reparations, reduced the German army to 100,000 max., and prohibited Germany from having a navy.
• The Paris Peace Conference was a compromise between the Big Three and other countries and groups with rival claims, such as Romania wanting Transylvania and the Jews wanting a homeland.
• The impact of the peace treaty on Germany up to 1923 was that they felt it was unfair, it was a 'Diktat' imposed settlement, they had not been allowed to take part in the talks, and it damaged their pride with the War Guilt Clause.
• Germany refused to pay reparations at first, but had to after a threat of invasion in 1921.
• Germany reduced its army to 100,000 max., which left them open to invasion by other countries.
• German colonies were given away, including German East Africa to Britain and Samoa to New Zealand.
• Germany was required to pay 6,600,000 pounds in reparations, mostly to France and Belgium, in instalments.
• The Treaty banned the union with Austria, known as Anschluss.
• The Treaty set up the League of Nations, which helped millions of people worldwide.
• The League of Nations was set up to prevent wars, improve people’s lives, and encourage countries to disarm.
• 13% of European land was handed away to other countries, including Alsace-Lorraine to France and West Prussia to Poland.
• The Treaty of Versailles included the War Guilt Clause (231), which forced Germany to accept blame for starting the war.
• Austria went bankrupt before the amount of reparations could be set.
• The Treaty was unpopular, not only in Germany but in other countries, with many American politicians refusing to agree to it and some experts predicting it would cause more problems.
• The Treaty of Versailles was justified as it weakened Germany economically, which harmed innocent people.
• New countries could rule themselves, as seen in the Balkans, Poland, and other parts of the former Austria-Hungary.
• Turkey paid no reparations.
• The Treaty did give all the Big Three something that they wanted, which was compromise.
• Bulgaria paid its reparations.
• Hungary could not pay the reparations, so its payments were suspended.
• The maximum number of troops allowed in the German army was 100,000, all of whom were volunteers, and the German navy was limited to 6 battleships.
• Germany sank its own ships so they wouldn't need to hand them over to the victors.