Core topic 1: Were the peace treaties of 1919-23 fair?
Big three: Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George
Aims for the big 3: Woodrow Wilson
- Made a speech in 1918 about guidelines for a just and lasting treaty to end conflict
- Seen as a saintly figure in Europe in 1919
Leader Attitude towards Germany Main aims
Wilson Don't be too harsh on Strengthen democracy in weakened countries- this was a necessity to
(USA) Germany- if it was treated too prevent war, as each of these countries would not allow a leader to cause
harshly, Germany may have another war
wanted revenge
Give self determination to smaller countries that used to be part of big
Was concerned that extremist European empires- wanted to break up the Hapsburg Empire and let the
groups may take over the smaller countries rule themselves
country, like the communists
had done in Russia in 1917. International co-operation- Wilson believed that they key to world peace
was co-operation, and he used the League of Nations for this
Lloyd Agreed with Wilson that Germany should not be Wanted to resume trade with Germany- it was
George punished too harshly, so that it would seek revenge- Britain’s 2nd largest trading partner pre-war
(Britain) did not want German communist revolution
Wanted Germany to lose navy and colonies- threat
British people wanted a harsh treaty- the people to British Empire
had lost family and friends, food shortages, been
fed anti-German propaganda and saw how Germany
treated Russia in 1917
Clemenceau Wanted to cripple Germany, so that it could not attack France again
(France)
German land and industry not as badly damaged as France, so France saw it as a threat still
- Clemenceau disagreed with Wilson: USA had not suffered as much as France, so USA was
more generous to Germany
o Disagreed over Saar coal and Rhineland, but Wilson conceded
o In return, Clemenceau and Lloyd George gave Wilson what he wanted in Eastern
Europe
- Clemenceau clashed with Llyod George over treating Germany harshly
o Clemenceau thought Britain was happy to treat Germany fairly in Europe since it did
not affect them as much as it affected France
o Britain didn’t want Germany to keep its colonies and navy, since they were more of
a threat to Britain
- Wilson and Lloyd George disagreed about free access to seas, and self-determination, as
these clashed with Britain’s Empirical control
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles
None of the Big Three were happy- they all had to compromise
Published on 28th June 1919
Germany had not been invited to the negotiations, so it was a 'Diktat'
, 1) War Guilt:
a. Germany had to accept blame for starting the war
2) Reparations:
a. Figure set in 1921 for £6 600 million
b. Changed in the Young Plan of 1929- Germany finished paying this only in 1984
c. Not just money, but goods and amenities too- coal mined in the Saar was to be given
to France
3) German territories and colonies:
a. Forbidding of Anschluss- Germany was not allowed to unite with Austria
b. Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France
c. Rhineland became DMZ
d. Land was also taken from Germany and given to Czechoslovakia and Poland,
including the Polish corridor
e. Poland was re-created
f. Danzig (Gdansk) was a free city- it was under international law, managed by the
League of Nations
g. The League of Nations took over all of Germany's colonies as mandates, but
essentially under the control of Britain and France
4) Germany’s armed forces:
a. Army: 100 000 men
b. No tanks, submarines, and aircraft
c. No conscription Disarmament
d. Only 6 ships for the navy
5) League of Nations: Very unfair- 100 000 men army
a. Global peace keeping organisation set up was too small, and army used to
b. Germany was not invited to join initially be a symbol of German pride
German reaction to the Treaty of Versailles None of the Allies had to disarm,
despite the 14 Points calling for
War guilt and reparations disarmament
German
War guilt clause was hated as
criticisms of
Germany felt they did not start The 14 Points and League of Nations
the Treaty of
the war, and blame should be
Versailles
shared Germany felt its treatment did not align
Bitter that Germany had to pay with 14 points- self-determination was
all the war damage even though given to many countries, but German
German economy was weakened speaking people were being sent off to
new countries without choice, and
German territories Non-representation Anschluss was forbidden
Blow to German pride and economy- Germans were angry they Germany felt insulted not being part of
Saar and Upper Silesia were were not represented at League of Nations
important industrial areas peace talks, forced to sign
harsh treaty
As Germany was losing colonies,
Britain and France were increasing
their empires was taking control of
German colonies in Africa.
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