Treaty of Versailles

• Key Dates TOV


  • 1914 : Outbreak of WWI in Europe
  • 1917 : Russian Revolution and the rise of Communism in Russia
  • 1918 : Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed between Russia and Germany. Germany agreed to sign an armistice to stop the fighting
  • 1919 : Paris Peace Conference took place. Treaty of Versailles signed
  • 1920 : League of Nations hold its first meeting
  • 1923 : French invasion of Ruhr Valley after Germany defaulted on its reparation payments
• CONTEXT OF THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

  • Destruction from WWI: The war has just ended. The horror, destruction, and terrible losses from the war were fresh in people’s minds.
  • Public Sentiments of the Allies: The public strongly felt Germany must be punished. In a democracy, the public’s demands and expectations will influence the leaders’ actions.
  • The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: Germany had forced Russia to sign a harsh treaty earlier, involving transfer of large territories, resources and reparations in 1918 when Russia tried to leave the war
• AIMS OF THE BIG THREE AT THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE - USA


  • USA was least affected by WWI, lost the least men and resources.
  • Many Americans were not keen on being involved in Europe
  • Woodrow Wilson was an idealist, who wanted to achieve world peace
  • Wilson was also concerned about democracy and self-determination
  • Wilson believed Germany should be punished, but not destroyed completely
  • Priority was his Fourteen Points: Free access to the seas for all in peace and wartime, Free trade, Disarmament, Self-determination for Eastern Europe and Setting up the League of Nations
• AIMS OF THE BIG THREE AT THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE - Britain


  • Economy was severely weakened and Germany was its second-largest trade partner
  • Lloyd George was concerned that Communism may spread from Russia to Europe
  • British public keen on punishing Germany harshly
  • Wanted to ensure Germany could not compete with the British navy
  • Wanted to maintain British empire, wary of Wilson’s idea of self-determination
  • Wanted to punish Germany, but not too harshly. Germany’s economic recovery meant they could trade with Britain again. Germany would also be less likely to fall to Communism
• AIMS OF THE BIG THREE AT THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE - France

  • Out of the 3 countries, France suffered the most deaths and damage from the war.
  • History of threat from Germany – they shared a border and both fought in another war against each other before WWI.
  • French public wanted revenge and compensation for the war
  • Priority was to ensure Germany be kept as weak as possible so they would not be able to invade France ever again
  • Insisted that Germany must take the full blame for starting the war and pay heavy reparations.
• Key Terms of TOV

  • War Guilt Clause : Under Article 231 of the TOV, Germany had to accept total blame for causing WWI. Germans felt this was unfair as they did not feel they had started the war alone.
  • Armed Forces : Army limited to 100,000 men, no conscription, no tanks, air force, submarines and Rhineland to be demilitarised. The German army was a point of pride for many Germans. The weakened army was a blow to German pride. Army was very small for Germany’s size - left many feeling vulnerable and defenceless against their neighbouring countries
• Key Terms of TOV

  • Reparations : Germany to pay a compensation of 6.6 billion pounds, could be paid in goods or cash, over a few years. High amount of reparations was seen as unreasonable as Germany’s economy was also damaged from the war. Seen as a burden to deliberately hamper their economic recovery.
  • LON : League of Nations would be set up, but Germany was not allowed to join. Being left out from the international organization was humiliating for Germany.
• Key Terms of TOV

  • Territorial Changes : Germany had to give up territories to its neighboring countries and was forbidden from merging with Austria. Loss of empire and land seen as a blow to German pride Added to economic problems as loss of land also meant loss of valuable resources and manpower. Felt the Allies had double-standards as the territorial changes went against the principle of self-determination – many Germans would now have to live under foreign governments
• IMPACT OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES ON GERMANY

  Short-term impact (1919-1920)

  • Many Germans believed the war was going well for them (war- time propaganda by the previous government)
  • Felt betrayed by and resented the new democratic government
  • This led to many protests and a weak government in Germany
• Impact of TOV on Germany

  Medium-term impact (1920s)

  • Germany was unable to pay its reparations
  • This led to the Ruhr Crisis in 1923 when France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr Valley region and seized resources and goods by force as compensation
  • This was further humiliation for Germany
  • Govt printed money, leading to hyperinflation in the 1920s.
  • Many blamed the government for the economic hardships
• Impact of TOV on Germany


  Long-term impact (1930s)

  • Resentment against the Treaty of Versailles would later be used by Adolf Hitler in the 1930s
  • His promises to abolish the TOV made many Germans pledge support to the Nazis