The Treaty of Versailles

1. The Treaty of Versailles ‘The Kaiser has abdicated. Abdication of the Crown Prince. Ebert becomes Chancellor.’ How and why did the ‘Big Three’ want to punish Germany?

2. Aims of the Lesson • To find out: • What members of the public in allied countries thought of the Germans in 1918 • The terms of the Treaty of Versailles • What the German people thought of the Treaty of Versailles

3. Background The Peace of Paris summit was held in the Versailles Palace from 1919 and 1920, where 5 total treaties were drafted to settle post-war agreements. • Representatives from 27 countries were invited, though the Central Powers and Communist Russia were barred from the conference. • A main ‘Council of Ten’ consisted of ministers from the U.S., France, Britain, Italy, and Japan. They approved of and made the major decisions. • The ‘Big Four’ in the Council, Woodrow Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George, and Orlando, had the main say. Many of the smaller countries were ignored, including Japan but also Italy in numerous cases. –Secret meetings that excluded most countries were common, most of which involved Clemenceau (France).

4. 27 countries but 3 made most of the decisions

5. The Situation for Germany The German representatives, led by Count Brockdorff-Rantzau, arrived at Versailles in April 29, 1919 only to find that they were uninvited to the conference. They stayed in their hotel for over 2 weeks before the Treaty of Versailles was shown to them. • The Germans had been under the impression for a more lenient treaty due to Wilson’s Fourteen Points • Presented with harsher demands than expected, yet were unable to negotiate or • discuss any of the terms • Forced to agree to the Treaty or else risk an Allied invasion of Germany The German delegates at Versailles

6. Why was this war called different things ? During the War –Great War After-The war to end all Wars Later(When WW2 started)-WW 1 U.S.- Europe's War

7. Aims of the Big Three • The three leaders who were involved were Georges Clemenceau of France, Woodrow Wilson of the USA, and David Lloyd George Prime Minister of Great Britain. Clemenceau of France and George of Great Britain both blamed Germany and wanted them to be punished. Woodrow and the USA had the idea of 14 points which was to set peace between most European countries.

9. End of the Great War-War to end all Wars • Second Battle of the Marne (7/18) - Last Major German Offensive • Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates • Armistice – Agreement to end fighting 11:00am 11/11/18

10. Armistice • What is the difference between a armistice and a surrender ? (Armistice is a Ceasefire)(Surrender-I give ,you win) • How do you think this affected the Central Powers (Germany) ?Germany went to Paris thinking it would be treated as an armistice

11. Global War • Resources and soldiers from colonies(We will surely get our Independence ! Not) • Fought in Asia and Africa - Allies gained German colonies • British get help from MiddleEast colonies of Ottoman Empire conquered the Ottoman’s – expected independence at war’s end Could this have caused hard feelings towards the west

12. After reading this source, how do you think the Germans felt at the end of World War One? “Through the doors at the end…come four officers of France, Great Britain, America and Italy. And then, isolated and pitiable, come the two Germans, Dr. Muller and Dr. Bell. The silence is terrifying…They keep their eyes fixed away from those two thousand staring eyes, fixed on the ceiling. They are deathly pale…There is general tension. They sign. There is general relaxation…We kept our seats while the Germans were conducted like prisoners from the dock.” (Harold Nicolson, Peacemaking, 1919.) Peace

13. Paris Peace Conference • 5 Separate Peace Treaties known as the Peace of Paris • Central Powers not invited • Big 3 - Allied Powers: Great Britain, US, France, Italy thought it was the Big 4

14. Germany got a R.A.W. Deal R.eparations – payments to victors for war damages ($33B) A.llied Punishments De-militarized Germany Took Germany’s colonies Gave Alsace Lorraine to France Took Saar Basin (coal supplies) Took Rhineland (buffer zone) W.ar Guilt – Germany had to accept total blame for the war Treaty of Versailles R. A. W.

15. Lives Lost Russia 1,700,000* France 1,357,000 Great Britain 908,000 United States 130,174 Germany 1,800,000 Austria 1,200,000 Total Deaths 8-9M *Russia had the most total casualties Total Casualties 37M Looking at these numbers, which of the big 3 do you think wanted Germany punished harshly? The easiest ?

16. Great Britain, America and France were the three most powerful Allies and they wanted to exert their influence upon the Treaty of Versailles. Yet they wanted different things Once you have viewed each On to exercise

17. Lloyd George (UK) • Germany to be justly punished, but not too harshly • Germany to lose its navy and colonies as these were a threat to Britain's own navy and empire • Germany and Britain to become trading partners Click on the bulb to find out more BUT Overall, Lloyd George did not want to punish Germany too harshly as he did not want Germany seeking revenge in the future

18. Lloyd George (UK) There was pressure at home to make Germany pay – if he had been too soft he would have been voted out as PM. Lloyd George hated the Treaty. However "Hang the Kaiser" and "Make Germany Pay" were two very common calls in the era immediately after the end of the war and Lloyd George, looking for public support, echoed these views. He liked the fact that Britain got German colonies, and the small German navy helped British sea-power. But, although many British people wanted to ‘make Germany pay’, Lloyd George thought that the Treaty was too harsh, and that it would start another war in 25 years time. What did Lloyd George like and dislike about the Treaty?

19. Clemenceau (France) • to cripple Germany so it couldn't attack France again. • Wanted Germany broken down into smaller states (weakened). • France had suffered the most during the war so Clemenceau was under great pressure from the French people to make Germany pay. Click on the bulb to find out more

20. Clemenceau (France)Clemenceau liked the harsh things that were in the Treaty, especially reparations, because they would weaken Germany while helping France to recover. He had one very simple belief - Germany should be brought to its knees so that she could never start a war again (France had been invaded by Germany before in 1871).He liked the idea of a small German army, and the demilitarised zone in the Rhineland, because he thought that this would protect France from attack in the future. Also, he was pleased that France received Alsace-Lorraine as this had been taken off France by Germany in 1871.In truth though, he wanted the Treaty to be harsher. What did Clemenceau like and dislike about the Treaty?

21. Wilson’s Fourteen Points Three Goals: Ensure lasting peace(Peace without Victory) Right to choose government League of Nations – International body of representatives from each country with the purpose of maintaining peace What do you think the political cartoon means?

22. Wilson (USA) • a better and more peaceful world • a League of Nations that would help and support each other and help to promote world peace • the right to self-determination. The right to decide which country you wish to be governed by • The U.S.A. had joined war late (1917) and hadn't suffered as much as the other Allies in terms of human and material costs. Click on the bulb to find out more

23. Wilson (USA)Wilson got self-determination for the peoples of Eastern Europe, and a League of Nations, but he was disappointed with the Treaty because few of his ‘Fourteen Points’ were acted upon. Worst of all, when Wilson went back to America, the Senate refused to join the League of Nations, and refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles! In America, there was a growing desire for the government to adopt a policy of isolation and leave Europe to its own devices. Wilson believed that Germany should be punished, but in a way that would lead to European reconciliation (peace) as opposed to revenge (war). What did Wilson like and dislike about the treaty?

25. What does this source tell you about the British public’s feelings towards Germany in 1918? “The Germans, if this government is elected, are going to pay every penny; they are going to be squeezed, as a lemon is squeezed, until the pips squeak.” (Sir Eric Geddes, December 1918) Sir Eric Geddes was Minister of Munitions in Britain, Controller of the Navy and First Lord of the Admiralty at different points during The First World War.

26. Does this information help you to understand why so many people wanted revenge after the war? Around 8 million people had been killed The cost of the war was roughly nine thousand million pounds The destruction of land, homes, farms and factories was huge Millions more people died after the war due to famine and disease “In France and Belgium, where most of the war was fought, 300,000 houses, 6,000 factories, 1,000 miles of railway, 2,000 breweries and 112 coal mines were destroyed…In some ways, mankind has never recovered from the horrors of the First World War.” John D. Clare, First World War (1994)

27. Does this information help you to understand why so many people wanted revenge after the war? Around 8 million people had been killed The cost of the war was roughly nine thousand million pounds The destruction of land, homes, farms and factories was huge Millions more people died after the war due to famine and disease “In France and Belgium, where most of the war was fought, 300,000 houses, 6,000 factories, 1,000 miles of railway, 2,000 breweries and 112 coal mines were destroyed…In some ways, mankind has never recovered from the horrors of the First World War.” John D. Clare, First World War (1994) Does this information help you to understand why so many people wanted Peace after the war?

28. “The British General Election in December 1918 was punctuated by bellowings that the Kaiser should be hanged, that Germany should pay up….Few realised the harmful effects of uniformed and aggressive public opinion which had been aroused by years of war propaganda, and whipped up by the popular press…” Martin Kitchen, Europe Between The Wars, 1988. Discuss how difficult must it have been for the Allies to get the right balance between punishment and creating a lasting peace?

29. The terms of The Treaty of Versailles How would the German people have felt about the terms of the Treaty?

30. Germany had to accept total responsibility for starting the First World War.this was called the War Guilt Clause or Article 231.

31. Germany had to pay £6,600 million in reparations to cover war damages and other Allied losses.These were called reparations. What will Germany do to meet payments later? Print more

32. Germany had to hand over some 70,000 square kilometres of land. This accounted for about 13% of all of her land and six million of her people who lived there.

33. Germany was to have her colonies taken away from her. These colonies were to become mandates run by the Allies on behalf of the League of Nations.

34. The German army was to have no more than 100,000 men and the navy was limited to 15,000 sailors. There was to be no airforce and no submarines.

35. The German navy was only allowed six battleships and Germany was forbidden to buy any more weapons and other war material.

36. An Allied Army was to occupy the Rhineland for a period of fifteen years. No German troops were to be allowed into the occupation zone. You now need to complete the card sorting activity on the terms of the Treaty of Versailles

37. Recap... • The Treaty seemed to satisfy the "Big Three" overall. • It made sure that Germany was too weak to start another European War, yet strong enough to help stop the spread of Communism. • It kept the French border with Germany safe from future German attacks. • It created the League of Nations. This would help promote peace and trade throughout the world.

38. But... Germans hated the treaty, especially Article 231 which blamed them for starting the war. Many Germans also thought the financial penalties that the treaty imposed upon their country and her people to be immoral and unjust.The German Government that had agreed to the treaty became known as the "November Criminals“.Many German citizens felt that they were now being punished for the mistakes of the Kaiser and German government of August 1914 who had started the war as well as the government of 1919 that had signed the treaty that brought peace.

39. Effects on Germany The unfair treatment of Germany in the conference and wrongful admission of its guilt in the Treaty outraged the German people. Besides the mutual unpopular feelings toward the Treaty though, there were plenty of other negative effects on the country. • Political distrust arose as the German people felt betrayed by their government, now known as the ‘November Criminals’, for even agreeing to the Treaty. • Loss of territory reduced the population by 10%. Industrial productivity decreased by 13% since some of the lost regions were rich in minerals and coal. • Loss of military power meant that Germany was now defenseless against virtually any country. • High reparations caused uncontrolled inflation due to the worthless value of the mark (1 USD=25 billion marks), widespread unemployment, and many starving citizens. –Annual reparations as high as to Allies would continue for according to plan, producing a long-term state of financial slavery in Germany. 2.3 bil. marks 60 years Over all, Germany was left in a weakened but extremely bitter state. The nearly impossible challenges the Weimar Republic faced guaranteed the failure of a German democracy. Socialism and nationalism became more appealing as the situation worsened. A protest of the Treaty at the German Parliament building

43. What new countries were formed from Austria- Hungary ?

44. Map of Europe Re-drawnWhat happened to the Powder Keg Created by the Congress Of Vienna - created nationalistic feelings Yugoslavia – Serbia, Bosnia, Hertzegovenia Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia

45. Versailles Settlement in Europe

46. League of Nations Mandates in Africa

47. League of Nations Mandates in the Middle East

48. What 3 countries were upset at the Treaty of Versailles ? • Germany , Italy , and Japan

49. Effects on Italy and Japan Italy and Japan were anticipating to gain major territories for their war efforts. Both were extremely left dissatisfied with the Treaty in the end. Italy • Received select areas in Asia Minor and • Austria-Hungary Trentino Region • Expected more territory, but was refused this especially by Wilson’s beliefs in self-determination Dalmatian Islands • Rewards barely compensating for the massive war debt,owed to the U.S. aloneThis will leave Italy angry at the west. 1,891,514,634.27 lira Several regions Italy received Japan • Received former German colonies in • Pacific islands Micronesian Islands • Wanted control of territory in China, • especially in Manchuria, but only a fraction • of the land they felt they deserved was given Mariana Islands Marshall Islands Carolines Several colonies Japan received • Requested for racial equality to be included in the Treaty and was denied this, mocking Japanese nationalism

50. Impact on Germany The Treaty of Versailles drastically affected Germany’s post-war fate and limited its recovery in the following decade. The conditions created by the severe demands of the Treaty would affect Germany’s role in WWII. • Guilt Clause 231: direct blame on Germany for causing WWI • Territory: control of Germany’s most industrialized and farmed areas would be distributed among the Allies. • Lost all its colonies, Alsace-Lorraine and the Saar Basin to France, Upper Silesia to Poland, etc • Military: no importing/exporting of arms and Rhineland region lost military power. • Limited to 100,000 soldiers, 6 warships, and no submarines, tanks, or aircraft • Trading: lost its former markets and banned from trading in Allied markets • Economy: total reparation undecided, but required a €6, 600 million down payment. Germany also was to sign a “blank check” to cover future payments