treaty of versilles

• Why did the Big Three have to leave disappointed?

  • Many rival claims (not just from the Big Three, but from other countries and groups, e.g. Romania wanted Transylvania, the Jews wanted a homeland etc.).
  • Different aims of the Big Three (see above)
  • Countries had to compromise.
  • All of the Big Three needed to win elections (democracy) so they had to do what would please public opinion at home.
• Reasons why the Treaty could NOT be justified at the time (unjustifiable):

  • Many countries shared the blame for WWI
  • It weakened Germany economically, which harmed innocent people.
  • It made many Germans want revenge (e.g. Hitler) 
  • It was unpopular, not only in Germany but in other countries (many American politicians refused to agree to it; some experts said it would cause more problems).
• Reasons why the Treaty COULD be JUSTIFIED at the time:

  • The Germans were partly to blame for WWI
  • France had suffered a lot in WWI – they deserved reparations and more land.
  • The Treaty did give all the Big Three something that they wanted (compromise)
  • It set up the League of Nations, which helped millions of people worldwide.
• Details of the Treaty of Sevres (Turkey)

  • 50,000 soldiers (maximum) in the army, seven sailboats and six torpedo boats in the navy.
  • No reparations
  • Land given away: Smyrna and East Thrace to Greece, Rhodes to Italy
  • Iraq and Palestine became British mandates. Syria became a French mandate. (Mandate: another country rules that land)
  • AFTERWARDS: Turkish nationalists, led by Kemel Attaturk, rebelled and rejected the treaty
• Details of the Treaty of Neuilly (Bulgaria)

  • 20,000 volunteers (maximum) in army, four torpedo boats, no air force
  • 2.25 billion francs to be paid in reparations
  • Land given to Yugoslavia, Romania and Greece
  • AFTERWARDS: Bulgaria paid its reparations.
• Details of the Treaty of Trianon (Hungary)

  • 35,000 volunteers (maximum) in army, three patrol boats as a navy
  • told to pay 200 million gold crowns in reparations
  • the Austro─Hungarian empire was dismantled
  • Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania were all created out of the old Austria-Hungary
  • AFTERWARDS: Hungary could not pay the reparations, so its payments were suspended.
• The Treaty of Sevres dealt with Turkey
• The Treaty of Neuilly dealt with Bulgaria
• The Treaty of Trianon dealt with Hungary
• Details of the Treaty of St Germain (Austria)

  • 30,000 volunteers (max) in army
  • no navy
  • reparations were agreed, but never set
  • the Austro─Hungarian empire was dismantled
  • Tyrol was lost to Italy
  • Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania were all created out of the old Austria-Hungary
  • AFTERWARDS : Austria went bankrupt before the amount of reparations could be set
• the Treaty of St Germain dealt with Austria
• What were the Key Terms of the ToV (SELF─DETERMINATION)?

  • new countries could rule themselves (e.g.: in the Balkans, Poland)
• What were the Key Terms of the ToV (LEAGUE OF NATIONS)?

  This was set up to :

  • prevent wars
  • improve people's lives
  • encourage countries to disarm (get rid of weapons)
• What were the Key Terms of the ToV (UNION WITH AUSTRIA)?

  • A union with Austria was banned. Known as Anschluss.
• What were the Key Terms of the ToV (BLAME)?

  The War Guilt Clause (231) ─ Germany had to accept blame for starting the war
• What were the Key Terms of the ToV (MONEY)?

  • 6,600,000 pounds in reparations, mostly to France and Belgium, in instalments
• What were the Key Terms of the ToV (ARMED FORCES)?

  • 100,000 maximum in the army (volunteers only: no conscription)
  • 6 battleships maximum in navy
  • no airforce
  • no troops (soldiers) in the Rhineland (which bordered France)
• What were the Key Terms of the ToV (LAND)?

  • 13% of European land was lost to other countries : Alsace─Lorraine to France, West Prussia to Poland
  • Colonies were given away, such as : German East Africa to Britain, Samoa to New Zealand
• Why did all the victors NOT get what they wanted?

  (Woodrow Wilson)What he DID get :

  • A league of nations
  • Self-determination for the peoples of Eastern Europe (e.g. Poland could rule itself)

  What he did NOT get :

  • Some of his ‘Fourteen Points’ did not get into the Treaty
  • When Wilson went back to America, the Senate refused to join the League of Nations, and even refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles.
• Why did all the victors NOT get what they wanted? (Clemenceau)

  What he DID get :

  • Reparations : would repair the damage done to France
  • The smaller German army (less able to attack France in the future)
  • The demilitarised zone in the Rhineland (would protect France)
  • France got Alsace─Lorraine and German colonies

  What he did NOT get :

  • He wanted the Treaty to be harsher
  • He wanted Germany to be split up into smaller countries
• Why did all the victors NOT get what they wanted? (David Lloyd George)

  What he did get :

  • Britain got some German colonies, such as German East Africa (expanded the British empire)
  • The small German navy (helped Britain to continue to 'rule the waves')

  What he did NOT get :

  • He thought that the Treaty was far too harsh and would ruin Germany
  • He thought that it would cause another war in 25 years time
• Overall, the USA was : the peacemaker ─ wanted to keep Germany strong
• SUMMARY OF WILSONS 14 POINTS :

  • No more secret agreements between countries
  • Free seas
  • Free trade
  • Reduction in weapons (arms)
  • Belgium will be an independent country
  • France will regain all territory, including the disputed land of Alsace─Lorraine
  • Poland shall be an independent country
  • A League of Nations shall be formed that protects the independence of all countries
• What did Woodrow Wilson want?

  • Keep Germany strong for trade
  • Keep peace worldwide
  • Avoid getting the USA involved in wars
  • 14 points
• Impact of WW1 on the USA (Woodrow Wilson) :

  • The USA had joined the war late (in 1917)
  • They lost 500,000 men
  • No damage was done to the USA
• Overall France was : very strict, the 'Tiger of Versailles'
• What did Clemenceau want?

  • Revenge against Germany
  • Weaken Germany forever
  • Prevent Germany from threatening France ever again
• Impact of WW1 on France (Clemenceau) :

  • Had lost Alsace─Lorraine to Germany 50 years prior
  • Had been invaded by Germany in WW1
  • Lost millions of men
  • Damage to towns and countryside
• Overall Britain were :

  • the halfway point ─ not too strict / harsh
• What did David Lloyd George want?

  • To be popular and win elections back in Britain
  • "Make Germany pay"
  • Revenge, but not as much as France
• Britain ─ David Lloyd George
• The Treaty of Versailles (which dealt with Germany) was signed in June 1919
• WW1 ended in November 1918
• The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh reparations and punishments on Germany after its defeat in WWI.