Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

1. Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

2. Lesson objectives • To evaluate the positions of the Allied Powers before the Treaty of Versailles was signed. • To be able to explain the main terms agreed in the Treaty of Versailles.

3. Where is Versailles? Versailles is a suburb on the outskirts of Paris. It is famous for its palace. This is where the Paris Peace Conference was held and the treaty was signed.

4. Who were the ‘Big Three’? David Lloyd George British Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau French Prime Minister Woodrow Wilson US President

5. What did the ‘Big Three’ want? Much of the fighting in the Great War took place in France. The French lost 1.4 million men and much of their land in the north east was ruined. Clemenceau was out for revenge and wanted Germany to pay for all the damage the French thought they caused. Also, he wanted to weakened Germany’s armed forces so they could not attack France again.

6. What did the ‘Big Three’ want? The United States joined the war in 1917 and had not suffered as much as either Britain or France. Wilson agreed that Germany was too aggressive and wanted to prevent war happening again rather than punish Germany. Wilson wanted countries to determine their own governments [called self-determination] and establish international co-operation.

7. What did the ‘Big Three’ want? Many people in Britain wanted Germany to be punished and Lloyd George was elected to ‘hang the Kaiser’ However, Lloyd George knew that punishing Germany too harshly could make Germany vow for revenge. At Versailles, Lloyd George was often caught between Clemenceau’s desire to weaken Germany and Wilson’s desire for rebuilding Germany.

8. How was Germany treated at Versailles? None of the defeated nations, including Germany, were invited to the Paris Peace conference – which lasted a year. When the agreement was finalised, Germany’s representatives were invited to sign the Treaty of Versailles. This agreement was non-negotiable and caused huge and lasting resentment in Germany.

9. What problems were there at the Paris Peace Conference? Relations between the ‘Big Three’ worsened during the conference. President Wilson was very unwell during the conference. Because relations worsened between the ‘Big Three’ it took a long time to agree on the final treaty. Growing unrest in Germany.

10. How did the Treaty of Versailles treat Germany? Germany was forced to accept blame for causing the Great War. Germany lost 13% of its land to other countries and its empire. Germany was not allowed a military presence with its border with France in an area called the Rhineland. The League of Nations was formed. Germany’s armed forces was cut. Only allowed an army of 100,000 men, no navy or air force. Germany had to pay reparations to the Allies totalling £6,600 million.

11. How did the Germans react to the Treaty of Versailles? Germany hated the Treaty and called it a ‘diktat’ – a dictated peace. They particularly detested being blamed for the war. Germany hated the fact they were forced into signing the treaty and blamed their new government. This led to the rise of extreme parties in Germany, such as the Nazis. The loss of an effective armed force and territory was a real blow to Germany pride which caused lasting resentment.