Why did the Great War Why did the Great War become World War I?become World War I?

Unpacking the Treaty of Unpacking the Treaty of VersaillesVersailles

Part IPart I

Motives for the Treaty: the Trauma Motives for the Treaty: the Trauma of World War Iof World War I

CasualtiesCasualties

CountriesTotal

MobilizedKilled

& Died Wounded

Prisoners& Missing

TotalCasualties

Casualties % of

Mobilized

Allied Powers            

Russia 12,000,000 1,700,000 4,950,000 2,500,000 9,150,000 76.3

France 8,410,000 1,357,800 4,266,000 537,000 6,160,800 76.3

British Empire 8,904,467 908,371 2,090,212 191,652 3,190,235 35.8

Italy 5,615,000 650,000 947,000 600,000 2,197,000 39.1

United States 4,355,000 126,000 234,300 4,500 364,800 8.2

Japan 800,000 300 907 3 1,210 0.2

Romania 750,000 335,706 120,000 80,000 535,706 71.4

Serbia 707,343 45,000 133,148 152,958 331,106 46.8

Belgium 267,000 13,716 44,686 34,659 93,061 34.9

Greece 230,000 5,000 21,000 1,000 17,000 11.7

Portugal 100,000 7,222 13,751 12,318 33,291 33.3

Montenegro 50,000 3,000 10,000 7,000 20,000 40.0

Total 42,188,810 5,152,115 12,831,004 4,121,090 22,104,209 52.3

CountriesTotal

MobilizedKilled

& Died Wounded

Prisoners& Missing

TotalCasualties

Casualties % of

Mobilized

Central Powers            

Germany 11,000,000 1,773,700 4,216,058 1,152,800 7,142,558 64.9

Austria-Hungary 7,800,000 1,200,000 3,620,000 2,200,000 7,020,000 90.0

Turkey 2,850,000 325,000 400,000 250,000 975,000 34.2

Bulgaria 1,200,000 87,500 152,390 27,029 266,919 22.2

Total 22,850,000 3,386,200 8,388,448 3,629,829 15,404,477 67.4

CountriesTotal

MobilizedKilled

& Died Wounded

Prisoners& Missing

TotalCasualties

Casualties % of

Mobilized

Grand Total 65,038,810 8,538,315 21,219,452 7,750,919 37,508,686 57.6

Funeral services for Lusitania victims at Queenstown, Ireland

Motor transports in front of the ruins of cathedral at Varennes, France

Deserted trenches outside the ruins of Montfaucon, France

Destruction of the Cloth Hall, Ypres, Belgium

Ruined city hall, Peronne, France

French Premier Georges Clemenceau walking through the ruined streets of Noyo

Ruins of Ortelburg, East Prussia

Houses destroyed by aerial attack at Padua, Italy

Serbian women burying the dead after a battle

Damage caused by German airship raid on Scarborough, England

American troops marching through Vaux, France

What level of destruction do these pictures What level of destruction do these pictures indicate? indicate?

What are some emotions evoked when viewing What are some emotions evoked when viewing these images? these images?

Why is it significant that major civic buildings such Why is it significant that major civic buildings such as the Courthouse (Palace of Justice), cathedral, as the Courthouse (Palace of Justice), cathedral, and City Hall (Hotel de Ville) were destroyed? and City Hall (Hotel de Ville) were destroyed?

Can you envision what these buildings and towns Can you envision what these buildings and towns may have looked like before the war? may have looked like before the war?

How long do you think it would take to rebuild How long do you think it would take to rebuild these buildings and communities?these buildings and communities?

How much do you think it would cost? Can a How much do you think it would cost? Can a community ever really recover from such community ever really recover from such destruction? destruction?

In 1921 the total cost of these reparations was In 1921 the total cost of these reparations was assessed at 132 billion Marks (then $31.4 billion assessed at 132 billion Marks (then $31.4 billion or £6.6 billion, roughly equivalent to or £6.6 billion, roughly equivalent to US $442 US $442 billion billion or UK £284 billion in 2013), a sum that or UK £284 billion in 2013), a sum that many economists at the time, notably John many economists at the time, notably John Maynard Keynes, deemed to be excessive and Maynard Keynes, deemed to be excessive and counterproductive. The argument by Keynes that counterproductive. The argument by Keynes that the terms were too harsh—too "Carthaginian"—the terms were too harsh—too "Carthaginian"—convinced many British and American leaders, convinced many British and American leaders, but left the French unmoved. (Wikipedia)but left the French unmoved. (Wikipedia)

Part IIPart II

Drawing Up the Treaty: France and Drawing Up the Treaty: France and the United Statesthe United States

Wilson’s Fourteen PointsWilson’s Fourteen Points

After reading the top two After reading the top two paragraphs:paragraphs:

What does Wilson say are the goals What does Wilson say are the goals of the United States? of the United States?

What is his hope for the world and for What is his hope for the world and for the postwar talks? the postwar talks?

After reading the B After reading the B paragraph:paragraph:

What is Wilson's stated attitude What is Wilson's stated attitude toward Germany? toward Germany?

How would this attitude differ from How would this attitude differ from France's? France's?

Why might the U.S. be more inclined Why might the U.S. be more inclined than France to take an idealistic than France to take an idealistic perspective?perspective?

Part IIIPart III

The Terms of the TreatyThe Terms of the Treaty

What did the Big 3 Think?What did the Big 3 Think?••US - Woodrow Wilson: Wanted a 'fair and lasting US - Woodrow Wilson: Wanted a 'fair and lasting

peace' and had written a plan – the Fourteen peace' and had written a plan – the Fourteen Points – to achieve this. He wanted the armed Points – to achieve this. He wanted the armed forces of all nations reduced, not just the losers, forces of all nations reduced, not just the losers, and a League of Nations created to ensure peace. and a League of Nations created to ensure peace.

••France - Georges Clemenceau: Wanted Germany France - Georges Clemenceau: Wanted Germany to pay dearly for the war, including being stripped to pay dearly for the war, including being stripped of land, industry and their armed forces. Also of land, industry and their armed forces. Also wanted heavy reparations. wanted heavy reparations.

••UK - David Lloyd George: While he personally UK - David Lloyd George: While he personally agreed with Wilson, he was affected by public agreed with Wilson, he was affected by public opinion in Britain which agreed with Clemenceau.opinion in Britain which agreed with Clemenceau.

TerritoryTerritory Alsace Lorraine, captured by Germany in 1870, Alsace Lorraine, captured by Germany in 1870,

was returned to France. was returned to France. The Saar, an important German coalfield, was to The Saar, an important German coalfield, was to

be given to France for 15 years, after which a be given to France for 15 years, after which a plebiscite would decide ownership. plebiscite would decide ownership.

Poland became an independent country with a Poland became an independent country with a 'route to the sea', a corridor of land cutting 'route to the sea', a corridor of land cutting Germany in two. Germany in two.

Danzig, a major port in East Prussia (Germany) Danzig, a major port in East Prussia (Germany) was to be under international rule. was to be under international rule.

All German and Turkish Colonies were taken away All German and Turkish Colonies were taken away and put under Allied control. and put under Allied control.

Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Czechoslovakia Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Czechoslovakia were made independent. were made independent.

Austria-Hungary was split up and Yugoslavia was Austria-Hungary was split up and Yugoslavia was created. created.

After reading 42 - 50After reading 42 - 50

Why were these clauses probably inserted? Why were these clauses probably inserted? What benefits did these clauses give France? What benefits did these clauses give France? Was it reasonable to establish the Was it reasonable to establish the

demilitarized Rhineland buffer zone? demilitarized Rhineland buffer zone? How would the terms regarding the Saar How would the terms regarding the Saar

Basin affect the German economy? Basin affect the German economy? How would Germany probably react to these How would Germany probably react to these

terms? terms?

ArmsArms

The left bank of the Rhine was to be occupied The left bank of the Rhine was to be occupied by Allied forces and the right bank by Allied forces and the right bank demilitarised. demilitarised.

The German army was cut to 100,000 men. The German army was cut to 100,000 men. Wartime weapons were to be scrapped. Wartime weapons were to be scrapped. The German Navy was cut to 36 ships and no The German Navy was cut to 36 ships and no

submarines. submarines. Germany was banned from having an Air Force Germany was banned from having an Air Force An anschluss (union) between Germany and An anschluss (union) between Germany and

Austria was banned.Austria was banned.

After reading Military, Naval After reading Military, Naval and Air Clauses:and Air Clauses:

What were the terms for Germany? What were the terms for Germany? What sovereign powers did Germany What sovereign powers did Germany

lose? lose? How might these clauses have How might these clauses have

satisfied France? satisfied France? How would Germany probably react? How would Germany probably react?

Reparations and Guilt Reparations and Guilt In the 'war guilt' clause Germany has to In the 'war guilt' clause Germany has to

accept total blame for the war. accept total blame for the war. Germany had to pay £6,600 million in Germany had to pay £6,600 million in

compensation.compensation.

ARTICLE 231. ARTICLE 231. The Allied and Associated Governments The Allied and Associated Governments

affirm and Germany accepts the affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and them by the aggression of Germany and her allies. her allies.

After reading Article 231After reading Article 231

Why does it single out Germany and not Why does it single out Germany and not the other Central Powers? the other Central Powers?

Is this clause accurate? Does Germany Is this clause accurate? Does Germany warrant more responsibility than other warrant more responsibility than other countries? countries?

Do the Allies bear any responsibility? Do the Allies bear any responsibility? How much was Germany to pay? How much was Germany to pay? How might this affect the German How might this affect the German

economy?economy?

ReactionsReactions

Germany lost 13% of its land, 12% of its Germany lost 13% of its land, 12% of its people, 48% of its iron resources, 15% of it people, 48% of its iron resources, 15% of it agricultural production and 10% of it coal. agricultural production and 10% of it coal. Perhaps understandably, German public Perhaps understandably, German public opinion soon swung against this 'Diktat', opinion soon swung against this 'Diktat', while the Germans who signed it were while the Germans who signed it were called the 'November Criminals'. Britain called the 'November Criminals'. Britain and France felt the treaty was fair – they and France felt the treaty was fair – they actually wanted harsher terms imposed on actually wanted harsher terms imposed on the Germans – but the United States the Germans – but the United States refused to ratify it because they didn't refused to ratify it because they didn't want to be part of the League of Nations.want to be part of the League of Nations.

ResultsResults

The map of Europe was redrawn with The map of Europe was redrawn with consequences which, especially in the consequences which, especially in the Balkans, remain to the modern day. Balkans, remain to the modern day.

Numerous countries were left with large Numerous countries were left with large minorities groups: there were three and a minorities groups: there were three and a half million Germans in Czechoslovakia half million Germans in Czechoslovakia alone. alone.

The League of Nations was fatally The League of Nations was fatally weakened without the United States and weakened without the United States and its army to enforce decisions. its army to enforce decisions.

Many Germans felt unfairly treated, after Many Germans felt unfairly treated, after all they had just signed an armistice, not a all they had just signed an armistice, not a unilateral surrender, and the allies hadn't unilateral surrender, and the allies hadn't occupied much of German territory.occupied much of German territory.

Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler

Speech on the Treaty of Versaiiles – April 17, 1923