1. The Treaty of Versailles June 1919 This Powerpoint is hosted on www.worldofteaching.comwww.worldofteaching.com Please visit for 100’s more free powerpoints

2. The Big Four Woodrow Wilson USADavid Lloyd-George Great Britain Georges Clemenceau France Vittorio Orlando Italy

3. The Big Four at Versailles in 1919

4. What did France want from the treaty? Security Revenge Reparations Clemenceau : The Tiger Clemenceau wanted to make sure that Germany could not invade France in the future. He was determined that Germany should be made to pay for the damage that had been caused in northern France by the invading German armies.

5. David Lloyd-George In public Lloyd-George said he wanted to punish the Germans. The British public was very anti-German at the end of the war. In private he realised that Britain needed Germany to recover because she was an important trading partner. He was also worried about the “disease from the east”, communism. The Russian government had been overthrown by a communist revolution in 1917. Lloyd-George believed that the spread of communism had to be stopped. A strong Germany would be a barrier against it. What did Britain Want?

6. Woodrow Wilson What did America Want? Woodrow Wilson wanted the treaty to be based on his Fourteen Points He believed Germany should be punished but not severely. He wanted a just settlement that would not leave Germany feeling resentful Wilson wanted to set up an international organisation called The League of Nations which would settle disputes The American public did not support him. They were fed up with involvement in European affairs. The USA became more isolationist.

7. The Fourteen Points – Brief No secret treaties between powers like the treaties that had helped to cause the First World War. (Open Diplomacy) Seas should be free in peace and in war to ships of all nations (Freedom of Navigation) Barriers to trade between countries such as custom duties should be removed (free trade) Countries should reduce their armed forces to the lowest possible levels (Multilateral disarmament.) National groups in Europe should be given their independence (self-determination).

8. The Fourteen Points (II) Territorial changes: Germany should give up Alsace-Lorraine and any lands taken away during the war. The Italian frontier should be readjusted. Belgium should be evacuated. Poland should be given an outlet to the sea. The defeated nations should not be made to pay for the war as a whole. A ‘League of Nations’ should be formed to protect world peace in the future.

9. Important Points re: The Fourteen Points The Fourteen Points were issued by President Wilson as a basis for achieving lasting peace in Europe. The Fourteen Points were issued by President Wilson as a basis for achieving lasting peace in Europe. They were issued 10 months before the Armistice with Germany. They were issued 10 months before the Armistice with Germany. They became the terms of reference for German Surrender, which would be negotiated at the Paris Peace Conference 1919. They became the terms of reference for German Surrender, which would be negotiated at the Paris Peace Conference 1919.

10. The Paris Peace Conference The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the of the Allied Victors to set the terms of the Treaty to be signed by the defeated powers (6 months). Germany and the central powers were not invited. Woodrow Wilson became ill and was powerless to resist the wishes of Clemenceau. Germany was invited to see a ‘draft’ once the 4 powers had agreed on the terms.

11. Activity Complete Tasks under the headings provided to you as per page 10 (Photo Study and Notemaking Skills). Complete Tasks under the headings provided to you as per page 10 (Photo Study and Notemaking Skills).

12. What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles? (June 1919) To do with Germany’s armed forces: The German army was to be reduced to 100,000 men. It was not allowed to have tanks. Germany was not allowed an airforce The area known as the Rhineland was to be de- militarised The Allies were to occupy the west bank of the Rhine for fifteen years The German navy was to have no submarines or large battle-ships

14. Territorial Losses Germany lost ALL of her overseas colonies Alsace-Lorraine was given to France

15. Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium North-Schleswig was given to Denmark

16. Posen was given to Poland so that she would have access to the Baltic Sea. This area became known as the Polish Corridor. It meant that East Prussia was cut off from the rest of Germany.

17. The Rhineland was to be de- militarized

18. The Saar coalfields were given to France for fifteen years The port of Danzig was made a Free City under the control of the League of Nations

21. "The Allied and Associated Governments affirm, and Germany accepts, the responsibility of Germany and her Allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associate Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of a war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her Allies." Article 231 The War Guilt Clause GERMANY ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR STARTING THE WAR

22. REPARATIONS Germany agreed to pay for the damage caused by her armies during the war. The sum she had to pay was later fixed at £6,600 million

23. Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria

24. Activity Activity Summarise the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (page 13). Summarise the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (page 13). What were the differences between the Fourteen Points and the Treaty of Versailles? Write two to three sentences. What were the differences between the Fourteen Points and the Treaty of Versailles? Write two to three sentences.

25. How did Germans React to the Treaty? Germans thought the Treaty was a “diktat” : a dictated peace. They had not been invited to the peace conference at Versailles and when the Treaty was presented to them they were threatened with war if they did not sign it. The Treaty was NOT based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points as the Germans had been promised it would. Most Germans believed that the War Guilt Clause was unjustified. The French and British had done just as much to start the war The loss of territory and population angered most Germans who believed that the losses were too severe. Many Germans believed the German economy would be crippled by having to pay reparations.

26. German Response Germany was presented with the draft just weeks prior to the signing. Germany was presented with the draft just weeks prior to the signing. They were allowed to make a response to the terms. They were allowed to make a response to the terms. Read the German Reply Memorandum and answer the following questions: Read the German Reply Memorandum and answer the following questions: What objections does Germany raise to the treaty? Are these objections valid? Should the Allies have modified the treaty in any way to address these points?

27. German Response The first government resigned rather than sign. The first government resigned rather than sign. Germany was threatened with War if they refused to sign the terms. Germany was threatened with War if they refused to sign the terms. German generals indicated that they would not be able to resist an allied invasion (troops had withdrawn from allied territory and ships anchored in port). German generals indicated that they would not be able to resist an allied invasion (troops had withdrawn from allied territory and ships anchored in port).

28. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28th June 1919. It officially ended the 1st World War. Many historians believe that it was a major cause of the 2nd World War. Most Germans were horrified by the harshness of the Treaty. There was anger amongst all groups in Germany. Some German newspapers called for revenge for the humiliation of Versailles. Anger was also directed against the government in Germany. There was a myth growing in the country that the German army had been “stabbed in the back” by politicians…the so called “November Criminals”. Now these same politicians had signed the “Diktat”, the dictated peace. The new democracy in Germany was now closely linked with the humiliation of Versailles.