GCSE– HISTORY
PAPER 1:
Were the peace treaties of 1919-1923 fair?
To what extent were the League of Nations a success
Who was to blame for the Cold War/Early Cold War?
How effectively did the United States contain the spread of Communism?
DEPTH STUDY:
Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?
Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934?
How effectively did the Nazis control Germany, 1933-1945?
What was it like to live in Nazi Germany?
PAPER 2:
Source Paper:
Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?
Were the peace treaties of 1919-1923 fair?
After WW1, the world was in disarray and Europe destroyed. It was up to the allies to determine the
future of the enemies, Europe, and the World. The peace conferences of 1919 – 1923 were
dominated by three figures: Wilson (President of USA), Llyod-George (PM of UK), and Clemenceau
(PM of France). They all had different aims.
WOODROW WILSON
Woodrow Wilson was the president of the USA at the time. His main aims were:
Don’t be too harsh on Germany – Despite wanting Germany to be punished, he equally did
not want to be too harsh for fear of Germany one day recovering and seeking revenge.
Additionally, he feared that if Germany were destroyed economically there could be a
communist revolution similar to one which had happened in Russia in 1917.
Strengthen Democracy in defeated countries – he believed creating democracy would
promote peace.
, National Self Determination to countries that had once been a part of a smaller empire –
he wanted countries formed from empires such as the Austria-Hungary empire to have NSD,
for example Czechoslovakia.
International Co-operation – Wilson believed world peace could be achieved by this. This
co-operation would be carried out through the ‘League of Nations’.
Many saw these ideas as idealistic (so unrealistic) and believed Wilson was an optimist.
Wilson outlines these ideas and his plan to carry them out in his fourteen points. Most notable
points include:
Free access to sea in peacetime and wartime (Germany did not like this as they lost Danzig)
Free trade between countries
All countries to work towards disarmaments (French did not like this)
Colonies to have a say in their future (British did not like this)
France to regain Alsace-Loraine (French liked this as they had lost it in Franco-Prussian war
of 1870)
Self-determination for the people of Europe
League of Nations to be set up.
DAVID LLOYD-GEORGE
Lloyd-George was the Prime minister of Britain at the time. He had similar views to Wilson but was
much more focussed on national self-interest:
Don’t be too harsh – he did not want Germany seeking revenge or a communist revolution.
Still wanted strong punishment – 1 million casualties in Britain, Lloyd-George used term
‘Make Germany Pay’ in prime minister campaign.
Trade to resume – Germany had been Britain second largest trading partner before the war.
Empire – Wanted Germany to loose colonies (Togoland, Cameroon) and them to go to UK,
not loose own colonies, Germany navy shrunk to reduce threat to British colonies.
Lloyd-George is regarded as a realist, understanding Wilson was not being realistic but equally
accepting he would have to compromise with him.
GEORGES CLEMENCEAU
Clemenceau sook great revenge for the damage caused to France as most of WW1 had been fought
in France. This had been the second war between Germany and France in the last 50 years and
Clemenceau did not want another one. His aims going into the treaty were.
Cripple Germany – Clemenceau did not want another invasion so by crippling Germany they
wouldn’t be able to retaliate.
Rebuild France – 2/3 of men in French army killed or injured, farmland and industrial land
destroyed, and population declining (+ Battle of Verdun 1916 ruined France) so needed
money and resources to rebuild France.
+ French President Poincare wanted Germany split into smaller states.
Clemenceau was also a realist and whilst he accepted comprise would be needed, he had to put the
interests of the French people first.
How did ‘The Big Three’ agree?
,Clemenceau and Wilson:
IN public, Clemenceau supported Wilson’s message of fair and lasting peace.
Found it hard to work with Wilson – once pointed out God only needed ten commandments
(whereas Wilson needed 14)
Clemenceau believed Germany should be crippled to prevent future war, whereas Wilson
wanted to not be too harsh to Germany so they wouldn’t want revenge, preventing future
war.
They also disagreed over territory in the Rhineland and the Saar.
Ultimately, USA had not suffered as much as France had.
Clemenceau and Lloyd-George
Whilst not to the extremity of Clemenceau’s approach, Lloyd-George did still not seek as
much revenge as Clemenceau. They disagreed over this.
Clemenceau did also not like Britain’s wish to punish Germany harshly overseas (Cameroon
and Togoland) as it avoided threat to them yet didn’t want France punishing Germany as it
avoided a large threat to them as they shared a border. (Double standard)
They agreed for harsher punishment than Wilson proposed as they felt they had been
treated worse and taken more damage than America, so it wasn’t their place to decide.
Lloyd-George and Wilson
Lloyd-George did not like 2 of the 14 points:
i) Free access to sea in peacetime and wartime – this threatened the British Empire
ii) National Self-Determination – threatened British colonies.
Wilson and Lloyd-George agreed on the fact they should not punish Germany too harshly for
fear of revenge or communist takeover.
Lloyd-George publicly agreed with Wilson, however.
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLE
The treaty of Versailles dealt with what would happen to Germany post-WW1. The main terms were:
War Guilt
Germany had to accept full responsibility and blame for starting the war.
Reparations
Germany would have to pay reparations. £6.6 billion decided in 1921 (this would be later
changed in Young Plan of 1929)
Military Restrictions
Army limited to 100,000 men.
6 Battleships.
No armed vehicles, submarines, or aircraft.
Conscription banned.
Rhineland demilitarised.
Territorial Losses
, Alsace-Loraine to France, Schleswig to Denmark, Polish Corridor to Poland, Danzig to League
of Nations (gave Poland a sea port), Upper Silesia to Poland, and Anschluss forbidden
Overseas empire taken away. Colonies such as Cameroon and Togoland became mandates,
controlled by British and French
League of Nations
Set up as International ‘Police Force’
Germany not allowed to join until it was showed it was a peace-loving country.
GERMAN REACTION
War guilt/reparations:
Angry as they believed they did not start war, at the very least it should be shared.
The war guilt clause justified the other clauses which was unfair.
War had left Germany economically defeated, felt it was unfair they were now expected to
pay for other countries recovery as well as themselves.
Disarmament:
Felt they were very unfair as Germany was a militaristic nation where a lot of national pride
was based of their military.
Despite Wilson’s 14 points, none of the allies had disarmed, leaving Germany bordering a
stronger France.
German Territories:
Germany had lost pride as they had lost land and decreased in population, also not really
upkeeping Wilson’s NSD as 2 million Germans in Polish Corridor not given NSD.
Felt it was unfair as industrial territories had been lost yet they were still expected it pay
reparations.
Meanwhile, British and French empires grew as they gained ex-German colonies.
Wilson’s 14 Points
Many felt the terms of the treaty did not match the 14 points they had been promised:
i) NSD had been given to countries such as Lithuania and Estonia, but German-
speaking countries forced into new countries (e.g. Czechoslovakia). Anschluss had
also been forbidden.
ii) Germany was also not invited into League of Nations (LofN)
Non-representation
Germany not invited to Treaty of Versailles
Felt they were being forced into accepting this harsh treaty
Most of Germany had never seen war so did not think they had even lost so believed non-
representation didn’t make sense and was unjust.
IMPACT OF THE TREATY (more in later Depth Study Notes)
Political Violence:
PAPER 1:
Were the peace treaties of 1919-1923 fair?
To what extent were the League of Nations a success
Who was to blame for the Cold War/Early Cold War?
How effectively did the United States contain the spread of Communism?
DEPTH STUDY:
Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?
Why was Hitler able to dominate Germany by 1934?
How effectively did the Nazis control Germany, 1933-1945?
What was it like to live in Nazi Germany?
PAPER 2:
Source Paper:
Why had international peace collapsed by 1939?
Were the peace treaties of 1919-1923 fair?
After WW1, the world was in disarray and Europe destroyed. It was up to the allies to determine the
future of the enemies, Europe, and the World. The peace conferences of 1919 – 1923 were
dominated by three figures: Wilson (President of USA), Llyod-George (PM of UK), and Clemenceau
(PM of France). They all had different aims.
WOODROW WILSON
Woodrow Wilson was the president of the USA at the time. His main aims were:
Don’t be too harsh on Germany – Despite wanting Germany to be punished, he equally did
not want to be too harsh for fear of Germany one day recovering and seeking revenge.
Additionally, he feared that if Germany were destroyed economically there could be a
communist revolution similar to one which had happened in Russia in 1917.
Strengthen Democracy in defeated countries – he believed creating democracy would
promote peace.
, National Self Determination to countries that had once been a part of a smaller empire –
he wanted countries formed from empires such as the Austria-Hungary empire to have NSD,
for example Czechoslovakia.
International Co-operation – Wilson believed world peace could be achieved by this. This
co-operation would be carried out through the ‘League of Nations’.
Many saw these ideas as idealistic (so unrealistic) and believed Wilson was an optimist.
Wilson outlines these ideas and his plan to carry them out in his fourteen points. Most notable
points include:
Free access to sea in peacetime and wartime (Germany did not like this as they lost Danzig)
Free trade between countries
All countries to work towards disarmaments (French did not like this)
Colonies to have a say in their future (British did not like this)
France to regain Alsace-Loraine (French liked this as they had lost it in Franco-Prussian war
of 1870)
Self-determination for the people of Europe
League of Nations to be set up.
DAVID LLOYD-GEORGE
Lloyd-George was the Prime minister of Britain at the time. He had similar views to Wilson but was
much more focussed on national self-interest:
Don’t be too harsh – he did not want Germany seeking revenge or a communist revolution.
Still wanted strong punishment – 1 million casualties in Britain, Lloyd-George used term
‘Make Germany Pay’ in prime minister campaign.
Trade to resume – Germany had been Britain second largest trading partner before the war.
Empire – Wanted Germany to loose colonies (Togoland, Cameroon) and them to go to UK,
not loose own colonies, Germany navy shrunk to reduce threat to British colonies.
Lloyd-George is regarded as a realist, understanding Wilson was not being realistic but equally
accepting he would have to compromise with him.
GEORGES CLEMENCEAU
Clemenceau sook great revenge for the damage caused to France as most of WW1 had been fought
in France. This had been the second war between Germany and France in the last 50 years and
Clemenceau did not want another one. His aims going into the treaty were.
Cripple Germany – Clemenceau did not want another invasion so by crippling Germany they
wouldn’t be able to retaliate.
Rebuild France – 2/3 of men in French army killed or injured, farmland and industrial land
destroyed, and population declining (+ Battle of Verdun 1916 ruined France) so needed
money and resources to rebuild France.
+ French President Poincare wanted Germany split into smaller states.
Clemenceau was also a realist and whilst he accepted comprise would be needed, he had to put the
interests of the French people first.
How did ‘The Big Three’ agree?
,Clemenceau and Wilson:
IN public, Clemenceau supported Wilson’s message of fair and lasting peace.
Found it hard to work with Wilson – once pointed out God only needed ten commandments
(whereas Wilson needed 14)
Clemenceau believed Germany should be crippled to prevent future war, whereas Wilson
wanted to not be too harsh to Germany so they wouldn’t want revenge, preventing future
war.
They also disagreed over territory in the Rhineland and the Saar.
Ultimately, USA had not suffered as much as France had.
Clemenceau and Lloyd-George
Whilst not to the extremity of Clemenceau’s approach, Lloyd-George did still not seek as
much revenge as Clemenceau. They disagreed over this.
Clemenceau did also not like Britain’s wish to punish Germany harshly overseas (Cameroon
and Togoland) as it avoided threat to them yet didn’t want France punishing Germany as it
avoided a large threat to them as they shared a border. (Double standard)
They agreed for harsher punishment than Wilson proposed as they felt they had been
treated worse and taken more damage than America, so it wasn’t their place to decide.
Lloyd-George and Wilson
Lloyd-George did not like 2 of the 14 points:
i) Free access to sea in peacetime and wartime – this threatened the British Empire
ii) National Self-Determination – threatened British colonies.
Wilson and Lloyd-George agreed on the fact they should not punish Germany too harshly for
fear of revenge or communist takeover.
Lloyd-George publicly agreed with Wilson, however.
THE TREATY OF VERSAILLE
The treaty of Versailles dealt with what would happen to Germany post-WW1. The main terms were:
War Guilt
Germany had to accept full responsibility and blame for starting the war.
Reparations
Germany would have to pay reparations. £6.6 billion decided in 1921 (this would be later
changed in Young Plan of 1929)
Military Restrictions
Army limited to 100,000 men.
6 Battleships.
No armed vehicles, submarines, or aircraft.
Conscription banned.
Rhineland demilitarised.
Territorial Losses
, Alsace-Loraine to France, Schleswig to Denmark, Polish Corridor to Poland, Danzig to League
of Nations (gave Poland a sea port), Upper Silesia to Poland, and Anschluss forbidden
Overseas empire taken away. Colonies such as Cameroon and Togoland became mandates,
controlled by British and French
League of Nations
Set up as International ‘Police Force’
Germany not allowed to join until it was showed it was a peace-loving country.
GERMAN REACTION
War guilt/reparations:
Angry as they believed they did not start war, at the very least it should be shared.
The war guilt clause justified the other clauses which was unfair.
War had left Germany economically defeated, felt it was unfair they were now expected to
pay for other countries recovery as well as themselves.
Disarmament:
Felt they were very unfair as Germany was a militaristic nation where a lot of national pride
was based of their military.
Despite Wilson’s 14 points, none of the allies had disarmed, leaving Germany bordering a
stronger France.
German Territories:
Germany had lost pride as they had lost land and decreased in population, also not really
upkeeping Wilson’s NSD as 2 million Germans in Polish Corridor not given NSD.
Felt it was unfair as industrial territories had been lost yet they were still expected it pay
reparations.
Meanwhile, British and French empires grew as they gained ex-German colonies.
Wilson’s 14 Points
Many felt the terms of the treaty did not match the 14 points they had been promised:
i) NSD had been given to countries such as Lithuania and Estonia, but German-
speaking countries forced into new countries (e.g. Czechoslovakia). Anschluss had
also been forbidden.
ii) Germany was also not invited into League of Nations (LofN)
Non-representation
Germany not invited to Treaty of Versailles
Felt they were being forced into accepting this harsh treaty
Most of Germany had never seen war so did not think they had even lost so believed non-
representation didn’t make sense and was unjust.
IMPACT OF THE TREATY (more in later Depth Study Notes)
Political Violence:
