Germany 1918 – 1924. GSCE Revision.

Break it down….. Versailles & Weimar. The Depression & Hitler’s Rise to Power. The Consolidation of Power. Life in Nazi Germany. Germany During WWII.

On a Need to Know Basis… Who was there & what they wanted? What was decided? What were the reactions to the Treaty?

The ‘BIG THREE’ were the main people Wilson – USA Lloyd George – UK Clemenceau – France Germany NOT invited.

Clemenceau – A ‘Harsh’ peace. To make Germany pay!!! WILSON - wanted a ‘Fair’ peace – main priority was the League of Nations. Clemenceau – A ‘Harsh’ peace. To make Germany pay!!! Lloyd George – ‘Fair’ peace & Germany to begin trading again.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Even thought he Allies wanted peace, many people also thought that the decisions they made were influenced by their own interests. Image from: http://history.acusd.edu/gen/text/versaillestreaty/vercontents.html

League of Nations to be set up. Armed forces. Money/Reparations. Blame B Blamed for starting the war. League of Nations to be set up. Armed forces. Money/Reparations. Existing land reduced. L A M E

Blame Germany were ‘BLAMED’ for starting the war. This was called the ‘war guilt’ clause. It was numbered 231. They had to accept responsibility for starting the war. If the Allies made them sign this they would be justified in making a harsh peace.

Blame League of Nations. This was Wilson’s idea – to set up an ‘international police force’ to keep world peace. Germany was not allowed to join.

Blame Armed Forces. The German army was reduced to 100, 000 men. The navy was also reduced – 6 warships and no submarines. No air force was allowed. The army was so small it could not defend Germany if she was attacked.

Money – Reparations - Compensation. Blame Money – Reparations - Compensation. Germany had to ‘pay’ for the damage caused. She signed a blank cheque at Versailles because they did not decide the amount. This happened in 1921. The amount that was set was £6,600 million (£6.6 billion).

Blame Existing land was reduced. The Allies weakened Germany so that she would never start another war. They did this by taking her land from her. Two of the most important decisions were that Alsace-Lorraine was given back to France and that Germany was not allowed to unite with Austria.

Angry, bitter, hurt, disappointed. How Did the Germans Feel? Angry, bitter, hurt, disappointed. Many Germans felt humiliated. They thought that they had been unfairly treated. They had signed the Treaty based on Wilson’s 14 Points. The 14 Points had not been taken up. The treaty was called the ‘Diktat’ – dictated peace.

Germany Exam Paper. 1 Hour in length. Section A deals with ‘Evidence’. Spend 30 minutes on it. Section B – Factual, a choice. Spend 30 minutes on it. There will be hints in Section A for B. Never leave anything blank.

Section A. Hardest on the paper as it deals with evidence. Always the ‘same’. A = 3 marks. Something from the source, something from your own knowledge. B = 4 marks. 2 things from the source, 2 things from your own knowledge. C = 5 marks. Always usefulness. Follow the formula. D = 8 marks. Always a quote, tests reliability, memory and attribution.

Question A. What does source A tell us about the German reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? [3] Something from the source, something from your own knowledge.

Question B. Source B. A simplistic view of the Treaty of Versailles. The Allies dealt with a number of things. They reduced the army, made Germany pay reparations, took away her land. KS3 School History Book According to Source B, how was Germany affected by the Treaty of Versailles? [4]

Question C. Through the door appear 6 soldiers in single file…2 German representatives. The silence is terrifying…2000 staring eyes…they are deathly pale, it is all very painful. Clemenceau says ‘we are here to sign a Treaty of Peace.’ We kept our seats while the Germans were led like prisoners from the dock. Harold Nicholson, 1919, British representative at Versailles. How useful is this source to a historian studying the German feelings of unfairness of the Treaty of Versailles? [5]

Source D. In source D, the author is suggesting that the The reparations Germany had to pay was not much. In the 6 yrs. Before World War Two Hitler spent 7 times as much rearming the country. In 1919 a strong Germany was left surrounded by small states… Etienne Mantoux a French Historian 1945. In source D, the author is suggesting that the Treaty of Versailles was fair and the Germans chose not to stick to it. Is this interpretation a fair one?

Key Events from Versailles to Munich. Uprisings in Germany after the end of WWI. The country is near to Civil War. Problems of the Weimar Constitution. Invasion of the Ruhr. Munich Putsch.

OVERVIEW 1918 - 1924 French invade Ruhr. Hyper-inflation sets in. Reparations figure decided. War ends. 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924 Stresemann begins to get Germany ‘back on track’ Germany misses her 2nd reparations payment Treaty signed. Uprisings in Berlin. END