Treaty of Versailles (1919)

Europe 1914

Europe 1919 - 1939

How did the Europe of 1919 come to be?

World War One 1914 - 1918 A total war Triple Entente Vs Central Powers 9 000 000 military fatalities 6 000 000 civilian fatalities

World War One 11 Nov 1918 - Germany surrendered Negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference Outcome was the Treaty of Versailles

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

Woodrow Wilson David Lloyd George Georges Clemenceau American President David Lloyd George British Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau French President

France UK USA Nationalist Destroy Germany Pragmatic Realist Conciliatory Idealist

France Revenge Compensation Security

United Kingdom British interests Compromise Restraint

United States of America Disarmament Self-determination Diplomacy

What were the terms?

Terms Responsibility Financial Military Territorial

War Guilt & Responsibility Article 231 - the “War Guilt” Clause Held Germany to be solely responsible for all loss and damage suffered by the Triple Entente during the war “…Germany accepts responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied governments and their peoples have been subjected to as a result of the war…” Provided the legal basis for the financial terms of the Treaty

Financial Terms Known as reparations Announced in 1921 Sum of £6 600 000 An astronomical sum – Germany would take roughly 70 years to repay the entire sum To be paid in cash or in kind e.g. coal

Territorial Terms

Germany was also stripped of its overseas colonies - many of these colonies were taken over by France and Britain Germany was not permitted to unite with Austria in an attempt to limit its economic (and thus war making) potential

Military & Disarmament Terms Germany was not allowed to have a General Staff - the body that coordinates military planning and strategy for a country’s armed forces German Army restricted to 100 000 men; no conscription allowed It was not allowed to have any tanks or artillery (big guns) German Navy was allowed to have six battleships and no submarines Germany was not allowed to have an air force A demilitarized zone (DMZ) was established in the Rhineland

Others An international organisation known as the League of Nations was to be set up to provide a platform for the peaceful resolution of international disputes Separate treaties were signed with Germany’s allies that saw the dismantling of the Austro-Hungarian Empire

Population 12% (6.5 million people) What did Germany lose? Territory 13% Population 12% (6.5 million people) Iron ore output 48% Coal Output 15% Agricultural output 15%

How did you think the German people reacted to this?