Conflict and
Tension 1918-39
The Complete Grade 9 AQA
GCSE History Guide
Academyk | Page 1
,Contents
Section Page
Table of Contents 2
Introduction 3
Part 1: Peacemaking 4
Part 2: The League & Peace Efforts 10
Part 3: The Fall of the League 18
Part 4: The Origins of WW2 23
Exam Skills 30
My Grade 9 Revision Strategy 39
Academyk | Page 2
,Introduction
Welcome to your Academyk
AQA GCSE History: Conflict and
Tension 1918–1939 Study Guide
This is your shortcut to success.
Designed to help you revise smarter, not harder,
this guide is packed with everything you need to
ace your exams:
✅ Covers every topic in the AQA spec
✅ Step-by-step breakdowns of how to answer each exam
question type
✅ My personal Grade 9 Revision Strategy to help you study
efficiently
✅ BONUS: Exclusive online flashcard set – your personal gift
to lock in key facts fast
✅ Perfect for last-minute cramming
Ready to save hours of stress? Let’s go! 🚀
Academyk | Page 3
,Part 1: Peacemaking
Part 1: Peacemaking
🕊️ The Armistice
Germany signed an armistice (an agreement to stop fighting while a peace treaty is
negotiated) on 11 November 1918.
They agreed to:
Withdraw troops from France, Belgium, and Luxembourg
Give up Alsace-Lorraine (returned to France)
Demilitarise the Rhineland
Surrender military equipment (e.g. weapons, submarines, aircraft)
Accept responsibility for the war and pay reparations
🔺 Controversy:
Matthias Erzberger, the German politician who signed the armistice, was assassinated in
1921 by right-wing extremists who viewed the armistice as a betrayal (the “stab-in-the-back”
myth).
🏛️ The Paris Peace Conference
Held in Versailles, over 30 countries attended to decide how to maintain peace after WWI.
The key decisions were made by the Big Three:
Georges Clemenceau (France)
David Lloyd George (Britain)
Woodrow Wilson (USA)
They had conflicting aims, which led to
compromises in the final treaties, especially
the Treaty of Versailles.
Academyk | Page 4
,Part 1: Peacemaking
🎯 Aims of the Big Three
Georges Clemenceau – “The Tiger”
Wanted to punish Germany harshly for the war
Demanded maximum reparations to rebuild France and cripple Germany
Wanted to push Germany’s border back to the River Rhine
He cited the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) as an example of how harsh Germany had been to
Russia:
Took large areas of land
Imposed a fine of 300 million gold rubles
David Lloyd George – “The Realist”
Wanted a balanced peace: not too harsh to avoid future revenge
Feared a weak Germany might lead to communism spreading from Russia
Wanted to protect British trade and naval supremacy
Supported taking Germany’s colonies
He authored the Fontainebleau Memorandum (March 1919):
Opposed full French occupation of the Rhineland
Supported the creation of the League of Nations
Woodrow Wilson – “The Idealist”
He proposed the Fourteen Points, including:
Freedom of the seas
Self-determination for nations
Creation of the League of Nations
Wanted a fair peace to avoid future conflict
Faced criticism at home due to American isolationism (desire to stay out of European
affairs)
Academyk | Page 5
, Part 1: Peacemaking
📜 The Treaty of Versailles
This was the main peace treaty with Germany after WWI. Signed in June 1919, it was highly
controversial and met with mixed reactions in Germany and abroad.
Germany’s Punishment – Use the PLEM Mnemonic:
🟥 P – Pride (National Humiliation)
Article 231: The War Guilt Clause – Germany and its allies had to accept full responsibility
for starting WWI.
Anschluss (union with Austria) was forbidden.
Germany was banned from joining the League of Nations.
Around 12.5% of its population was lost due to territorial changes.
🟩 L – Land (Territorial Losses)
All overseas colonies became League of Nations mandates.
Polish Corridor split Germany; Danzig became a free city under League control.
Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.
Memel to Lithuania; Posen, West Prussia, and Upper Silesia to Poland.
Hultschin and Ladchen to Czechoslovakia; Malmedy and Eupen to Belgium.
Northern Schleswig to Denmark.
In total, 13% of land and 6 million people were lost.
🟨 E – Economy (Reparations and Resources)
Article 232: Reparations set at £6.6 billion in 1921.
Saar coalfields given to the League of Nations for 15 years (France could use the coal).
48% of Germany’s iron industry was lost.
🟦 M – Military (Disarmament)
Rhineland was demilitarised.
Army limited to 100,000 men (volunteers only).
Conscription banned.
No tanks, submarines, or aircraft.
Navy limited to 15,000 men and 6 battleships.
Arms trade was prohibited.
Academyk | Page 6
Tension 1918-39
The Complete Grade 9 AQA
GCSE History Guide
Academyk | Page 1
,Contents
Section Page
Table of Contents 2
Introduction 3
Part 1: Peacemaking 4
Part 2: The League & Peace Efforts 10
Part 3: The Fall of the League 18
Part 4: The Origins of WW2 23
Exam Skills 30
My Grade 9 Revision Strategy 39
Academyk | Page 2
,Introduction
Welcome to your Academyk
AQA GCSE History: Conflict and
Tension 1918–1939 Study Guide
This is your shortcut to success.
Designed to help you revise smarter, not harder,
this guide is packed with everything you need to
ace your exams:
✅ Covers every topic in the AQA spec
✅ Step-by-step breakdowns of how to answer each exam
question type
✅ My personal Grade 9 Revision Strategy to help you study
efficiently
✅ BONUS: Exclusive online flashcard set – your personal gift
to lock in key facts fast
✅ Perfect for last-minute cramming
Ready to save hours of stress? Let’s go! 🚀
Academyk | Page 3
,Part 1: Peacemaking
Part 1: Peacemaking
🕊️ The Armistice
Germany signed an armistice (an agreement to stop fighting while a peace treaty is
negotiated) on 11 November 1918.
They agreed to:
Withdraw troops from France, Belgium, and Luxembourg
Give up Alsace-Lorraine (returned to France)
Demilitarise the Rhineland
Surrender military equipment (e.g. weapons, submarines, aircraft)
Accept responsibility for the war and pay reparations
🔺 Controversy:
Matthias Erzberger, the German politician who signed the armistice, was assassinated in
1921 by right-wing extremists who viewed the armistice as a betrayal (the “stab-in-the-back”
myth).
🏛️ The Paris Peace Conference
Held in Versailles, over 30 countries attended to decide how to maintain peace after WWI.
The key decisions were made by the Big Three:
Georges Clemenceau (France)
David Lloyd George (Britain)
Woodrow Wilson (USA)
They had conflicting aims, which led to
compromises in the final treaties, especially
the Treaty of Versailles.
Academyk | Page 4
,Part 1: Peacemaking
🎯 Aims of the Big Three
Georges Clemenceau – “The Tiger”
Wanted to punish Germany harshly for the war
Demanded maximum reparations to rebuild France and cripple Germany
Wanted to push Germany’s border back to the River Rhine
He cited the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) as an example of how harsh Germany had been to
Russia:
Took large areas of land
Imposed a fine of 300 million gold rubles
David Lloyd George – “The Realist”
Wanted a balanced peace: not too harsh to avoid future revenge
Feared a weak Germany might lead to communism spreading from Russia
Wanted to protect British trade and naval supremacy
Supported taking Germany’s colonies
He authored the Fontainebleau Memorandum (March 1919):
Opposed full French occupation of the Rhineland
Supported the creation of the League of Nations
Woodrow Wilson – “The Idealist”
He proposed the Fourteen Points, including:
Freedom of the seas
Self-determination for nations
Creation of the League of Nations
Wanted a fair peace to avoid future conflict
Faced criticism at home due to American isolationism (desire to stay out of European
affairs)
Academyk | Page 5
, Part 1: Peacemaking
📜 The Treaty of Versailles
This was the main peace treaty with Germany after WWI. Signed in June 1919, it was highly
controversial and met with mixed reactions in Germany and abroad.
Germany’s Punishment – Use the PLEM Mnemonic:
🟥 P – Pride (National Humiliation)
Article 231: The War Guilt Clause – Germany and its allies had to accept full responsibility
for starting WWI.
Anschluss (union with Austria) was forbidden.
Germany was banned from joining the League of Nations.
Around 12.5% of its population was lost due to territorial changes.
🟩 L – Land (Territorial Losses)
All overseas colonies became League of Nations mandates.
Polish Corridor split Germany; Danzig became a free city under League control.
Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.
Memel to Lithuania; Posen, West Prussia, and Upper Silesia to Poland.
Hultschin and Ladchen to Czechoslovakia; Malmedy and Eupen to Belgium.
Northern Schleswig to Denmark.
In total, 13% of land and 6 million people were lost.
🟨 E – Economy (Reparations and Resources)
Article 232: Reparations set at £6.6 billion in 1921.
Saar coalfields given to the League of Nations for 15 years (France could use the coal).
48% of Germany’s iron industry was lost.
🟦 M – Military (Disarmament)
Rhineland was demilitarised.
Army limited to 100,000 men (volunteers only).
Conscription banned.
No tanks, submarines, or aircraft.
Navy limited to 15,000 men and 6 battleships.
Arms trade was prohibited.
Academyk | Page 6
