The Treaty of Versailles GCSE Revision The Treaty of Versailles

4 Mark Questions Remember: You need 3 adequately explained points

The End of the War Germany surrendered on 11th November, 1918 Germany expected the peace settlement to be based on President Wilson’s 14 Points

Attitudes of the Big Three GEORGES CLEMENCEAU of FRANCE Wanted a harsh peace, wanted Germany to pay for all the damage and deaths. He did not want Germany to recover her strength to be able to attack France again Under a great deal of pressure from the French public, who wanted to crush Germany.

Clemenceau felt like this because:- France had suffered huge damage in the war and would take a good deal of time to recover. France had suffered a huge number of deaths during the war France had been attacked by Germany before in 1870. Revenge was very much on France’s mind.

Attitudes of the Big Three DAVID LLOYD GEORGE of Britain Wanted Germany to be given a fair peace settlement. He didn’t want a harsh treaty or Germany would want to gain revenge. He wanted Britain and Germany to be trading partners in the future. He was under a great deal of pressure from the British public, as he was facing re-election. The British people wanted a harsh treaty.

Attitudes of the Big Three. WOODROW WILSON of the USA He wanted a fair and lasting peace for Germany so that there would be no war in the future i.e. he said it should lose some territory but not pay reparations. He wanted to set up a League of Nations which would solve future disputes peacefully. He wanted self determination for all states (particularly Poland which he wanted re-established). This meant that all people of one national group had the right to rule themselves. This meant he wanted empires broken up.

Wilson felt like this because:- America had entered the war late and had suffered few casualties. There was no fighting on American territory, and there was little danger of her being attacked by Germany. Wilson was an idealist who believed perfect solutions could be found to problems. He thought his 14 points were the ideal solution. He thought that the USA, as a rich nation, should be involved in world affairs although most Americans were isolationist, preferring to keep out of world affairs.

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles: Land Alsace and Lorraine went to France (French speakers – taken by Germany in 1871) Posen and West Prussia helped form the Polish Corridor – given to Poland which was set up again to give the Polish people their own country. All of Germany’s overseas colonies were lost and given to other countries (particularly GB & France) to look after. The Saar was given to the League; the French were given mining rights for 15 years as Reparations She was not allowed to seek an Anschluss (union) with Austria. .

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles: Military restrictions The army was restricted to 100,000 men. The navy was restricted to 6 light battleships She was not allowed military aircraft, tanks or submarines The Rhineland became a demilitarised zone. No German soldiers could enter this to protect France from another invasion.

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles: Other clauses The League of Nations was set up but Germany was not allowed to join. She had to sign the War Guilt Clause, admitting that she started the war. Having said she was guilty, Germany could be made to pay for the damages. Germany had to pay Reparations (set in 1921 at £6,600 million to be paid over 42 years. This was to pay for the damage and deaths caused – France and Belgium were to gain from this

German Reactions to The Treaty The Germans deeply resented the War Guilt Clause – they did not feel that they had caused the war They felt that they should have been allowed to take part in the Treaty discussions, rather than it being a dictated peace. They were angry that the terms were not based on the 14 points.

German Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles (2) They were worried about the military restrictions. 100,000 men were not enough to keep order in Germany, let alone be enough to attack anyone else. The German Navy were so angry they sank their ships in the British naval base at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, rather than hand them over to the British. They felt insulted that they were not invited to join the League. Massive reparations and the loss of so much land would have a serious economic effect on Germany.