KQ1
Q: What features of the Treaty of Versailles were shared by the other peace treaties of
1919-20? (4)
A: War guilt clause, the obligation to pay reparations, a need to reduce armaments, loss of
land, all treaties were a diktat.
Q: Describe how Turkey was treated in the Treaty of Sevres. (4)
A: Lost Smyrna to Greece, maximum of 50,000 soldiers, the ottoman empire was divided, lost
control of the Straits, Britain took over Palestine, whilst France took Syria
Q: Describe how Hungary was treated in the peace settlement (4)
A: Treaty of Trianon, Transylvania to Romania, 3 million Hungarians ended up in different
states, Hungary lost 70% of its land, army limited to 35,000 soldiers
Q: What were the plebiscites in the peace settlement of 1919-20? (4)
A: Mandate plebiscites in North Schleswig to Join Denmark and Saarland after 15 years of
LON occupation, Iraq went to Britain
Q: What were the terms of the Treaty of Neuilly (Bulgaria)? (4)
A: Bulgaria lost lands to Greece, Romania and Yugoslavia, access to the mediterranean sea,
and reparations, army reduced to 20,000
Q: In what ways was Austria punished by the peace settlements of 1919-20? (4)
A: reparations, conscription was abolished, army reduced to 30,000, lost lands to Italy, Poland
and had to become a republic,
Q: Why did the Treaty of Versailles cause problems for Germany up to 1923? (6)
A:
1: Reparations (6.6.bn up to 1984), led to economic turmoil and pressure on the government
after an already destroyed economy after WWI
2: weak military; banned conscription, reduced the army to 100,000, no armoured vehicles
de-militarised Rhineland and Germans felt weak and unprotected
3: War Guilt Clause: Article 231, many blamed the government and caused political tension,
labelled the “November Criminals” and “stab in the back” myth.
,Q: Why did Clemenceau demand harsh peace on Germany? (6)
1. France was damaged the worst; most fighting on French soil, 1.5m soldiers dead, a
destroyed economy, 33bn francs in debt, demanded harsh reparations
2. Wanted revenge; from the Prussian War 1870, Clemenceau fought in that war, french
people wanted harsh punishments, but Clemancue ended up getting removed due to
insufficient
3. To protect France + minimise the possibility of war: Clemeanceau wanted to take
Alsace-Lorraine and huge land masses; de-militarise Rhineland and remove Saar land
from German occupation, this creates a land block between Germany and France.
Q: Why did the aims of the Big Three at Versailles differ? (6)
1. Wilson wanted self-determination and 14 point plan; he was an idealist, Britain and
France hated this as it threatened their colonies
2. Clemenceau wanted harsher punishments for Germany: wanted to cripple Germany
economically through reparations and military, whilst Wilson was worried about the
rise of communism and didn't want Germany to try to take revenge.
Was the Treaty fair OR justified (10)
Fair:
Other treaties were harsh; Brest-Litovsk in 1918 on Russia, lost 54% of its industries, treaty of
Severes, Turkey had to split the Ottoman empire, Symra was lost to Greece, 50,000 soldiers.,
Germans lost 50% of its industry on the other hand
France had suffered: 1.5 million soldiers dead, and 33 bn francs in debt. Most fighting was on
French soil, they needed reparations and lost 50% of agricultural land
Minimise risk of war: France attacked twice (1870 and 1918), Rhineland demilitarised, and
Alsace Lorrain lost to France
Unfair:
Impossible: difficult to pay reparations, 6.6bn to be paid by 1984, already crippled from the
war, Germany had massive inflation during the war as they wanted to repay and loot the
economy of Britain,
Political instability: Never invaded, war guilt clause, Article 231, “November Criminals”,
Freikcorps -> SA, involved in the Kapp Putsch + Munich Putcsz.
Different rights: Wilson and his self-determination do not apply to Germany, Countries like
Lithuania and Estonia get formed, and 6.5 million Germans were displaced, disarmament only
applied to Germany, with all others countries opting out
How far did the Treaty of Versailles meet the Big Three’s aims?
Clemenceau
, 1. Reparations; 6.6bn until 1984, helped repay the debt to the French and damaged
Germany economically, but wanted them to be repaid immediately
2. The land was gained back; Alsace Lorrain was given back, Rhine land was
demilitarized, France felt more protected,
3. However wanted harsher punishments on the armed forces; they felt as if 100,000
soldiers were enough to invade France, and worried about German retaliation, the
French public wanted harsher punishments
Lloyd George
1. Happy with lower reparations than what France wanted: Britain could still trade with
Germany, and Britain could recover economically
2. France did not gain too much power; George was worried about France becoming
too powerful
3. Britain remained powerful: Britain kept its colonies, and Germany lost their navy, RN
was still strong
Woodrow Wilson
1. Was content that France did not take over the Rhineland as a separate state;
Germany was allowed to remain a trading power and remain present in Europe
2. Failed to convince Cleamceau of less harsh punishments; was weary of starting
another war due to extreme punishments
3. Disappointed with France + Britain's refusal of Self-determination; they took
Germans colonies and ignored this due to their dependence on colonies; and their
economic struggle
4. LON was founded; he went with his 14 points plan, although he didn't join, France and
Britain backed it
KQ2
How successful was the League in the 1920s? (10)
IT WAS SUCCESSFUL:
Upper Silesia, 1921:
Peaceful plebiscite organised by the League of Nations between Germany and Poland at the
end of the war
It was a valuable industrial area (coal, iron, zinc) originally granted to Poland after the draft
Treaty of Versailles - protested by Germany
59% of the vote wanted to re-unite with Germany (before the war the region had been 60%
Polish)
