Were the treaties of 1919-23 fair?
Table of contents:
- What were the motives and aims of The Big Three?
- Why did all the victors not get everything they wanted?
- What was the impact of the peace treaty on Germany up to 1923?
- Could the treaties be justified at the time?
High hopes
Leader Country Attitude towards Mains aim(s)
Germany
Wilson USA He wanted those in -strengthen
power (Hitler) be democracy in
punished not the defeated countries
people. -give self-
determination to small
countries that had
once been part of the
European empires
-international co-
operation
Lloyd George Britain He wanted Germany Germany should be
to lose its navy and its punished but not too
colonies because they harshly
threatened the British
empire
Clemenceau France 1.France had suffered To cripple Germany so
enormous damage to that it could not attack
its land, industry, France again
people, and self-
confidence
2. France felt
threatened because
the German industry
and land was not as
badly damaged as
France.
3. The people of
France wanted to have
a Treaty that would
punish Germany and
weaken it as much as
possible
, The terms of the treaty of Versailles
Term Meaning
War guilt The Germans had to accept the blame for
starting the wat
Reparations Germans had to pay reparations to the Allies for
the damage caused by the war ($6.600 million)
German territories and colonies a) Germany’s European borders: the
treaty forbade Germany forming an
Anschluss with Austria
b) Germany’s overseas empire: one of the
causes of bas relations between Britain
and Germany before the war
The German forces - Army limited to 100, 000 men
- Soldiers had to be volunteers
- No armoured vehicles, submarines, or
aircraft
- Rhineland= a demilitarized zone
League of nations The LON was set up as an international police
force
Germany was not allowed to join LON until it
should peace-loving country
How did Germans react to the treaty
The blame should be at least shared
Losing territory was a major blow:
Both Saar and upper Silesia were important industrial areas
Many Germans were angry that their government did not take part in any of the meeting
Most Germans noticed that the treatment to Germany was not keeping Wilson’s 14 points
Further insulted not being able to join the LON
The army was a symbol of Germany’s pride yet had been shrunk
Small army for a country like Germany
Right-wing opponents of Ebert’s government attempted a revolution: Kapp Putsch
Although this was defeated political violence remained a constant threat
Numerous political assassinations or attempt assassinations
Conflict in the Ruhr
Germans accepted to pay reparations of $6.600 million
The first $50 million were paid in 1921 then in 1922 they did not pay
The French lost their patience
Belgium and French troops were entered the Ruhr region and simply was owed to them in
the form of raw materials and goods
The French reacted harshly for killing 100 workers and expelling 100,000 protestors from the
region
Importantly: the strike that went through Germany, they had no good to trade, and no
money to buy things with.
Led to hyperinflation
Many Germans believed that the crisis arose because the reparations were too high, and that
Germany was virtually bankrupt
Solutions to not having enough money: to print extra money
Caused a problem: hyperinflation
Table of contents:
- What were the motives and aims of The Big Three?
- Why did all the victors not get everything they wanted?
- What was the impact of the peace treaty on Germany up to 1923?
- Could the treaties be justified at the time?
High hopes
Leader Country Attitude towards Mains aim(s)
Germany
Wilson USA He wanted those in -strengthen
power (Hitler) be democracy in
punished not the defeated countries
people. -give self-
determination to small
countries that had
once been part of the
European empires
-international co-
operation
Lloyd George Britain He wanted Germany Germany should be
to lose its navy and its punished but not too
colonies because they harshly
threatened the British
empire
Clemenceau France 1.France had suffered To cripple Germany so
enormous damage to that it could not attack
its land, industry, France again
people, and self-
confidence
2. France felt
threatened because
the German industry
and land was not as
badly damaged as
France.
3. The people of
France wanted to have
a Treaty that would
punish Germany and
weaken it as much as
possible
, The terms of the treaty of Versailles
Term Meaning
War guilt The Germans had to accept the blame for
starting the wat
Reparations Germans had to pay reparations to the Allies for
the damage caused by the war ($6.600 million)
German territories and colonies a) Germany’s European borders: the
treaty forbade Germany forming an
Anschluss with Austria
b) Germany’s overseas empire: one of the
causes of bas relations between Britain
and Germany before the war
The German forces - Army limited to 100, 000 men
- Soldiers had to be volunteers
- No armoured vehicles, submarines, or
aircraft
- Rhineland= a demilitarized zone
League of nations The LON was set up as an international police
force
Germany was not allowed to join LON until it
should peace-loving country
How did Germans react to the treaty
The blame should be at least shared
Losing territory was a major blow:
Both Saar and upper Silesia were important industrial areas
Many Germans were angry that their government did not take part in any of the meeting
Most Germans noticed that the treatment to Germany was not keeping Wilson’s 14 points
Further insulted not being able to join the LON
The army was a symbol of Germany’s pride yet had been shrunk
Small army for a country like Germany
Right-wing opponents of Ebert’s government attempted a revolution: Kapp Putsch
Although this was defeated political violence remained a constant threat
Numerous political assassinations or attempt assassinations
Conflict in the Ruhr
Germans accepted to pay reparations of $6.600 million
The first $50 million were paid in 1921 then in 1922 they did not pay
The French lost their patience
Belgium and French troops were entered the Ruhr region and simply was owed to them in
the form of raw materials and goods
The French reacted harshly for killing 100 workers and expelling 100,000 protestors from the
region
Importantly: the strike that went through Germany, they had no good to trade, and no
money to buy things with.
Led to hyperinflation
Many Germans believed that the crisis arose because the reparations were too high, and that
Germany was virtually bankrupt
Solutions to not having enough money: to print extra money
Caused a problem: hyperinflation
