Conflict and tension

• Most of the fighting had taken place in France-damage needed paying for
• British and French casualties amounted to over 9 million
• Economies and industries were in a bad state
• In Britain, almost every family had lost a member in the fighting
• Politicians in Britain promised that they would demand a harsh peace
• Whole towns and villages in Belgium and France had been destroyed
• 13% of land was taken
• Wanted revenge for the damage caused during the war
• Wanted Alsace-Lorraine back after it was taken from them in 1871
• Wanted security: Ensure that France was never attacked again
• Clemenceau


  • Wanted compensation for the damage caused
  • Known as the 'Tiger'
  • Wanted the Rhineland to be an independent state
  • Wanted to disband the German Army
  • Wanted to cripple Germany
• Lloyd-George


  • Wanted to punish Germany, but not too harshly. A just peace
  • Reduce the size of the Germany Navy
  • Wanted Germany's overseas colonies
  • Keen to trade with Germany again
  • Didn't want Germany to seek revenge in the future
• Public pressure for a harsh treaty
• Middle ground between Wilson and Clemenceau
• Had won 1918 election with promise of making Germany pay
• Wilson


  • Wanted to make the world safe
  • In 1918 Wilson published his 'Fourteen Points' saying what he wanted from the Treaty
  • Disarmament
  • Not to blame Germany for the war
  • Wanted to ensure Germany was not destroyed
• Agreed with Clemenceau that Alsace-Loraine should go back to France
• The Fourteen Points included: A League of Nations - where countries could talk out their problems, without war
• The Fourteen Points included self-determination for the peoples of Eastem Europe. E.g. Rule themselves
• Hated the war quilt clause
• The Germans called it a 'Diktat-dictated peace. As they weren't allowed at the talks
• Hated the war guilt clause as they didn't feel that they were solely to blame for the war, other countries should take the blame too
• Thought that the Treaty would be based on Wilson's Fourteen Points
• Horrified. German newspapers vowed revenge
• Treaty caused political uprisings in Germany-E.g. Kapp Putsch (1920)
• Hated that 13% of land taken away, meant 12% of population living under foreign rule
• Against self-determination
• Hated the restrictions placed on the military. Germany very proud of army-felt humiliated. Didn't feel safe with a small amy
• Hated the reparations-it was too much and would cripple the economy
• The USA government refused to sign up to the T.OV
• Although easy to see at the treaty as too harsh, at the time leaders had to deal with the public who wanted to punish Germany. Also Germany had made Russia sign a harsh treaty in 1917
• USA followed a policy of isolationism-e.g. would not get involved in Europe's affairs
• The USA did not join the League of Nations-saw it being linked to the T.o.V
• Lloyd-George thought it was too harsh-We shall have to fight another war in 25 years
• Economist John Maynard Keynes said reparations would ruin the economy of Europe
• Clemenceau thought it was not harsh enough
• A British representative at the Treaty said it was 'neither just nor wise
• Lloyd-George


  Happy that navy was reduced, happy that Germany lost overseas colonies, thought the treaty was too harsh
• Clemenceau


  Wanted the Rhineland to be independent, rather than demilitarized, wanted more money, didn't think League would protect them
• Wilson got the League of Nations