The Treaty of Versailles

Armistice, Nov 11, 1918 - Treaty of Versailles drafted 6 months later

COSTS OF WAR: TRIPLE ENTENTE Britain : 750,000 soldiers killed; 1,500,000 wounded France : 1,400,000 soldiers killed; 2,500,000 wounded Belgium : 50,000 soldiers killed Italy : 600,000 soldiers killed Russia : 1,700,000 soldiers killed America : 116,000 soldiers killed

COSTS OF WAR: TRIPLE ALLIANCE Germany : 2,000,000 soldiers killed Austria-Hungary : 1,200,000 soldiers killed Turkey : 325,000 soldiers killed Bulgaria : 100,000 soldiers killed

TREATY OF VERSAILLES Theirs vs Ours There were not “judges” at the Paris Peace Conference Canada did represent ourselves… but we were still considered a part of Great Britain Germany & Austria-Hungary were invited, but did not get to speak Russia was excluded from the Peace Conference… they did not even attend!

Was the choice of VERSAILLES a coincidence? PERSPECTIVES: FRANCE France lost 1.4 million men, 400,000 civilians Most fighting on French soil Revenge for the damage done by Germany Reparations and compensation for the damage Germany caused. Return of Alsace and Lorraine to France, Ruin of Germany, so it will never threaten France again THEY WANT REVENGE Consider this… Was the choice of VERSAILLES a coincidence?

PERSPECTIVES: BRITAIN To defend British interests by: preserving Britain’s naval supremacy maintaining Britain’s empire and possibly increased colonial expansion; To reduce Germany’s future military power and to obtain reparations for costs BUT… Not to create an embittered Germany that would seek revenge and threaten peace in the long term future; and lastly, To help Germany economically to become a strong trading partner with Britain.

PERSPECTIVES: USA The USA sought a conciliatory (nice) end to the War… They hoped to protect future trade opportunities and to collect on WW1 debts! The US was very optimistic about the future… PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON SUGGESTED “14 POINTS” (ideas) 1) no more secret treaties 2) countries must seek to reduce their weapons and their armed forces 3) national self-determination should allow people of the same nationality to govern themselves and one nationality should not have the power to govern another 4) all countries should belong to the League of Nations

THE TERMS OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES 1) All Nations will join an organization called THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS The Goal is to prevent future wars! 2) Germany will surrender all foreign colonies to the League of Nations 3) Germany will return Alsace-Lorraine to France 4) Poland was created from part of Austria/Russia/Germany 5 & 6) Germany loses land along its Northern Border

THE TERMS OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES 7) The border of Germany and France will be patrolled by the French Army This includes the presence of French Troops within Germany. 8) Germany must demilitarize the entire border region of France and Belgium 9) Germany will pay reparations for war damage: 11 BILLION DOLLARS! LATER REDUCED TO 6 BILLION (THIS WAS FINALLY PAID OFF IN 2010)

THE TERMS OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES 10) Germany and Austria/Hungary are banned from allying ever again 11) Germany will accept guilt for causing the war 12) Germany’s leaders, including the Kaiser can be tried for War Crimes

THE TERMS OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES 13) The German Army will be limited to: 100,000 men No conscription No tanks No heavy artillery No poison gas No aircraft No airships 14) The German Navy will be limited to vessels under 100,000 tons, and are banned from possessing Submarines.

THE AFTERMATH: IN GERMANY People were FURIOUS Woodrow Wilson’s “14 Points” going into the conference were optimistic! They did not feel responsible for the outbreak of the War Germans said the Armistice wasn’t a surrender! The Peace Conference was not supposed to be about assigning blame and guilt! The German Government refused to sign the Treaty and sank its own boats in protest!

THE AFTERMATH THIS TIME IN GERMANY! The Allies issued the German Government an Ultimatum… 24 hours to sign the Treaty, or the war would start up again….. THIS TIME IN GERMANY! The Germans signed the document under protest…. The US refused to sign on the grounds the Treaty was unfair…. The British and French were angry that Wilhelm would not actually face a trial….

THE AFTERMATH The Treaty was a COMPLETE disaster… Nobody was happy, and nobody was satisfied…

THE AFTERMATH THIS IS NO PEACE… IT IS AN ARMISTICE FOR 20 YEARS WORLD WAR TWO began 20 YEARS and 64 DAYS after the TREATY OF VERSAILLES was signed… Marshall Ferdinand Foch French Army Major