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The Treaty of Versailles

Armistice - 11th Nov 1918 - ceasefire WWI, terms of treaty to be agreed later

Paris Peace Conference (Jan - Dec 1919):

Big 3: David Lloyd George - UK

Elected as promised to ‘ Make Germany pay’, many wanted revenge Cautious as too harsh = Germany wanting revenge Wanted to protect British Empire Germany could be good for trade if allowed to rebuild

George Clemenceau - France Fighting in France Wanted to cripple Germany French wanted revenge Needed money to rebuild

Woodrow Wilson - USA No fighting in USA Made lots of money from selling weapons Didn’t see need for revenge Wilson = idealist, everyone treated fairly and wanted League of Nations to be setup Self-determination - countries freedom to rule themselves 14 points Time Need money fast to rebuild Europe unstable and changing Empires breaking up Threat of Communism - Russian Tsar and family murdered

The Treaty of Versailles (June 1919) - Terms: G - Guilt - had to accept responsibility for the war (Clause 231) A - armed forces reduced - 100,000 soldiers, 6 battleships, no tanks, no air force, no submarines, Rhineland demilitarised R - Reparations - agreed 1921 at £6.6 billion (60 years to repay) G - German territories - Alsace Lorraine, Upper Silesia, German colonies, 13% land, 10% population LE - League of Nations - Germany was not allowed to join Reactions to Treaty of Versailles:

During 1920s and 1930s attitudes were largely that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh After WW2 attitudes changed - Germany had been able to rebuild etc. but view influenced by events of WW2 and the rise of Hitler.

Britain - Lloyd George = hero, public felt it was fair but could have been harsher. Pleased with gaining colonies and that could rule the waves without competition. France - Clemenceau - public wanted it harsher, angry that Germany were able to keep an army. USA - Wilson - unfair on Germany making Britain and France more powerful, couldn’t join League of Nations as US government wouldn’t accept the treaty. Not based on 14 points. Wilson = devastated. Germany - shocked by harshness, hated the guilt clause (231), economy in ruins, lost natural resources (income), vulnerable to attack. Diktat - dictated, no choice but to sign

Was the Treaty of Versailles fair? Treatment of Germany’s Allies Austria: The Treaty of St Germain - 10th Sept 1919

Land: lost land to Italy, Romania, Czechoslovakia and Poland, most of industry lost in the land given to Czechoslovakia. Economy collapsed in 1921. Reparations: Amount never fixed, but told to pay reparations. Military restrictions: 30,000 soldiers, no conscription, no navy. Other terms: Austria was forbidden from uniting with Germany

Bulgaria: The Treaty of Neuilly - 27th Nov 1919

Land: lost land to Yugoslavia, Greece and Romania. It however gained land from Turkey. Reparations: £100 million. Military restrictions: 20,000 soldiers, no conscription, no air force, only 4 battleships.

Hungary: The Treaty of Trianon - 4th June 1920

Land: lost to Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Austria. Reparations: Amount not fixed. Economy collapsed so not paid. Military restrictions: 30,000 soldiers, no conscription, only allowed 3 patrol boats.

Turkey: The Treaty of Sévres - 10th Aug 1920

Land: lost to Greece, Empire split up Military restrictions: 50,000 soldiers, only 7 sail boats and 6 torpedo boats Other: Open waterways from the Mediterranean to Black Sea (Dardanelles and the Bosphorus Straits).

Turkey: The Treaty of Lausanne - July 1923

Land: regained from Greece Military restrictions: Decide own armed forces Other: Given back rights over waterways from the Mediterranean to Black Sea

Compromise

For (Fair) Against (unfair)

Most devastating war ever Normal for losers to sign treaty Time pressure - peacemakers did best they could

Too harsh - caused another war (revenge) Punished the unborn (60 years to pay reparations) Causes of war = complex, guilt clause unfair? German families pushed off their land as now ruled by different country

Left vulnerable to attack Crippled economy - caused hyperinflation

Diktat - no choice but to sign

Not based on 14 points Allies not treated as harshly and Turkey threatened war leading to their treaty being largely reversed.

Conflict and Tension 1918-1939: Revision Fact Sheet 1 of 3

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Conflict and Tension 1918-1939: Revision Fact Sheet 2 of 3

How would it work? Collective security: countries would work together to make sure peace was kept and the interests of every nation were looked at Permanent Court of International Justice: setup to establish international laws. If countries were following the same laws their was less chance of them disagreeing. Covenant: set out how the League would deal with aggression.

Mitigation - get countries together to talk it through

Moral condemnation - a good telling off

Economic sanctions - members of the League would not trade with them

The League of Nations was created in 1919 at the Paris Peace Conference (where the Treaty of Versailles was created) as an attempt to get nations together to discuss problems and work out their differences peacefully. What were the aims of the League? Prevent wars Encourage disarmament Improve working conditions Tackle deadly diseases Facts about the League: 42 members in 1919 58 members by 1934 4 permanent members of the

Council who made all the big decisions - Britain, France, Italy and Japan

USA didn’t join Based in Geneva, Switzerland Locarno Treaty in 1926 al-

lowed Germany to join It did not have it’s own army

League of Nations

1920: Vilna Poland and Lithuania were both created following WWI. Vilna = capital of Lithuania, but majority of people spoke Polish. Polish army took Vilna. The League told Poland to leave, but they refused. League did nothing.

1921-25: Upper Silesia

Region of valuable industry. Referendum held to decide whether to be ruled by Poland or Germany. Germany win (60%) but League suggests dividing between two. Both accept, but neither happy.

1921: Åland Islands Island between Finland and Sweden. Belonged to Finland but many on it wanted to be ruled by Sweden. The League decided it should remain Finnish. Both sides accepted.

1923: Corfu Greek island occupied by Italy in 1923 in response to an Italian diplomat being shot dead in Greece. 1st. The League asked Italy to leave and fined the Greeks, which Italy ignored. League changed its mind and asked Greece for compensation and to apologise. Greece obeyed and Italy withdrew.

1925: Bulgaria Invaded by Greece after border disputes. League ordered Greece to withdraw, which they did.

Manchurian Crisis Japan took over Manchuria (part of China) following an attack on their railway in the area. The League sent Lord Lytton to investigate and he produced the Lytton Report, which said Japan was wrong. The League didn’t do anything else. Japan refused to accept the report and withdrew from the League in 1933. In 1937 Japan invaded the rest of China and the League did nothing to stop it.

Abyssinia Crisis Oct 1935 - Abyssinia was invaded by Italy under Mussolini. Abyssinia appealed to the League, who imposed economic sanctions. Britain and France didn’t close the Suez canal to Italian ships so supplies got through despite the sanctions. Member the League didn’t want a war with Italy. They wanted them as an ally against Hitler. (Secret agreement with Britain and France, Hoare-Lavel Pact, to give Italy Abyssinia). League was ignored. May 1936 Italy had conquered Abyssinia.

Wall Street Crash - 1929 → Great Depression

Countries less willing to help others as have own problems with e.g. poverty

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