Title: The Treaty of Versailles

After the armistice which ended World War I, the ‘winners’ had to decide how the ‘losers’ should be treated. The big question was “What should happen to Germany?” Even though many countries were involved in drafting the Treaty, the main decisions were made by the ‘Big Three’: France, Britain, and America. They met and drew up the Treaty without Germany. Each country wanted something different.

Source A: This picture shows the leaders of the ‘Big Three’ – Georges Clemenceau, Woodrow Wilson, and David Lloyd George.

France

France was represented by George Clemenceau. He was known as ‘Le Tigre’. Clemenceau, aged 79, had lived through two German invasions (1871 & 1914). He was intent on making Germany suffer. His main aims were known as the Four R’s:

Revenge: For Germany’s actions in 1870-71 & 1914-18

Ruin: So Germany could never threaten France again

Reparation: Germany should pay for all damages caused by the war including compensation for the destruction of Belgium and France

Restore: Alsace- Lorraine to France.

Britain

The British Prime Minister David Lloyd George represented Britain. Many lives had been lost and the public opinion was very anti German and many believed that Britain should follow the French line of ‘Squeezing the German lemon until the pips squeak’. However, he also thought that the Treaty should be fair and not based on revenge as it would be counter- productive. One of Britain’s main concerns was to eliminate Germany as a naval power.

USA

Woodrow Wilson of America was the most lenient of the three victors. However, the USA had not entered the war until 1917 and as a result had not suffered as badly as Britain and France. Wilson believed the Treaty should reflect 14 key points that would encourage common political, economic and diplomatic ties between the countries. These included:

·  Secret Alliances should be banned and countries should be encouraged to disarm to avoid tension.

·  Germany should not be stripped of her colonies or German land in Europe and Russia should be left alone and not be hounded for turning to Communism.

·  A League of Nations should be created to help keep peace in Europe. This would encourage countries to work together and negotiate instead of going to war.

Military / Economic / Territorial
Germany’s army was reduced to 100,000 men with no conscription allowed.
The army was not allowed tanks
Germany was not allowed an air force
She was allowed only 6 capital naval ships
No submarines
The west of the Rhineland and 50 km east of the River Rhine was made into a demilitarised zone (DMZ). No German soldier or weapon was allowed into this zone. The Allies were to keep an army of occupation on the west bank of the Rhine for 15 years. / Accept guilt and pay 6, 6000 million in reparations to France and Belgium for the damage caused by the war. / Alsace-Lorraine (given to France)
Eupen and Malmedy (given to Belgium)
Northern Schleswig (given to Denmark)
West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia (given to Poland)
The Saar, Danzig and Memel were put under the control of the League of Nations and the people of these regions would be allowed to vote to stay in Germany or not in a future referendum.
The League of Nations also took control of Germany's overseas colonies.
Germany had to return to Russia land taken in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Some of this land was made into new states: Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. An enlarged Poland also received some of this land.

Title: The German Reaction – Source Work

The Weimar government were humiliated at Versailles. They had hoped to negotiate better terms due to the changes in government but this did not happen. The German politicians were not allowed to take part in the negotiations. Instead they were ushered into a back room where the Treaty was presented. The following sources show how the government and people felt about the Treaty.

Source A is from a German Newspaper Article in July 1919.

Today in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles a disgraceful Treaty has been forced upon Germany. Germany’s honour has been dragged through the grave. Never forget this outrage! The German people with increasing labour will push forward to re- conquer their place among the nations of the world. There will be vengeance for the shame of 1919!

Source B is from the German newspaper Kladderadatsch in July 1919.

Horror stories and silent movies were very popular around 1919. Source B shows the French Prime Minister, Clemenceau, in the role of a vampire, sucking the blood of Germany. On the bedside table is a German military helmet and a shield with a German emblem.

Many people in Germany blamed the new Weimar government for signing the treaty. They felt betrayed by the Weimar politicians. The guilt clause had brought shame on Germany and forced her to accept crippling economic terms. Hitler later used the Treaty of Versailles and its problems to gain support against the Weimar and its government. He accused the Weimar politicians of selling Germany’s pride.

The German government thought about fighting but the Generals warned that they had not option but to accept the peace. On 28th June the Treaty was signed.

The German Foreign Minister, Walter Ranthenau (a Jew), who signed the Versailles agreement, was seen as a traitor as a result. Owing to the anger felt at the treaty the myth grew that Germany had been STABBED IN THE BACK! (If you are wondering about the front cover to this booklet, this is the explanation!)

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