SWISS COTTAGE SECONDARY SCHOOL Humanities Department 2011 Revision Handout (Impact of World War I) Impact of World War

r I Treaty of Versailles / League of Nations The Treaty of Versailles was signed after World War I at the Paris Peace Conference that was attended by 32 countries. It was to be a peace treaty to end all wars. The conference was however, largely dominated by The Big Three that were namely, Britain, France and America. Aims of the treaty: The Big Three determined the terms of the treaty and Germany was not allowed any representative at the conference nor was their opinion sought. The treaty was signed on 28 January 1919. 1. To punish Germany for starting World War I 2. To take revenge against Germany 3. To ensure peace will prevail in Europe

Aims of the Treaty of Versailles Who What How Terms of Treaty Britain (PM David Lloyd 1. War Guilt Clause Punish Germany George) 2. Military Terms harshly (view of the 3. Territorial Terms British public) 4. Reparations To weaken Germany militarily (navy) so that 5. Establishment of the League of Nations Britain could remain the strongest naval power in Europe War Guilt Clause: France (Georges To seek revenge Clemenceau) Known as Clause 231 against Germany for invading France Germany had to accept all blames for having To ensure that started World War I. Germany remained militarily weak so that Thus, Germany had to they wouldnt be able pay a hefty sum of to start another war reparations To seek Military Terms: Germany compensation from was disarmed Germany for all the destructions and loss Germany was only of lives incurred in allowed 100 000 World War I soldiers that had to be voluntary. America (Woodrow To ensure peace Conscription was Wilson) prevail in Europe banned. Germany was not allowed to have an air force, submarines or tanks. Navy was limited to only 6 battleships. The Rhineland was

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SWISS COTTAGE SECONDARY SCHOOL Humanities Department 2011 Revision Handout (Impact of World War I)
demilitarized occupied by the Allied for 15 years. Territorial Terms: Germany lost o Alsace-Lorraine to France o Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium o Northern Schleswig to Denmark o The Polish Corridor and Upper Silesia to Poland o Danzig to be administered by the LON France was to control the Saar coalfields for 15 years after which a plebiscite could be taken on the view of the people which country they wished to belong to 3 Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) became independent countries Germany forbidden anschluss with Austria Give up all colonies in Afria, Asia (Liaodong Peninsula to Japan) and the Pacific Reparations: Due to War Guilt Clause, Germany had to pay a hefty sum of 6 600 to the Allies. The League of Nations: The organization allowed a platform for countries to resolve their disputes through negotiations

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SWISS COTTAGE SECONDARY SCHOOL Humanities Department 2011 Revision Handout (Impact of World War I) How did Germany react to the Treaty of Versailles? Germany was very angry with the terms of the treaty. She felt that it was an unfair treaty because she was not consulted. The treaty should have been a negotiated peace instead of how the Germans viewed as a diktat. Also, Germany believed that she was not solely responsible for the war and thus should not bear all the blames for war. The heavy reparations that came along with it was a sum too huge for Germany to bear. Germany also firmly believed that other countries were equally responsible for the war and not just her alone. Germany was insulted by the treaty because she was not allowed to join the League of Nations. She believed that the Allies were not sincere about a lasting peace as the exclusion of Germany meant that the Allies had no intention to repair the relationships. She felt like an outcast. Germany also believed that the new democratic government should not be responsible for the consequences of war as the war was started by Kaiser Wilhelm II who had abdicated and fled from Germany. Germany also felt that the Allies had no right to take away their territories which prevented her economic recovery. The treaty saw Germany losing 13% of its land, 12% of her population, 15% of her coalfields and half of her iron and steel industries. Moreover, she lost all her overseas colonies and coalfields that were critical for her economic recovery. Germany was also humiliated with the weakened military. She was proud of the strength of her military but with the treaty, she became vulnerable to external aggressions.

How did the Allies react to the Treaty of Versailles? The treaty was a necessity as Germany had destroyed Europe in the war especially France. It was also necessary to ensure that Germany would not be able to threaten European peace again hence it must be militarily weakened. The Allies did not feel that the treaty was harsh as claimed by Germany because the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk which Germany signed with Russia was even harsher. It doubled Germanys losses.

Questions to Ponder: 1. People had high hopes for the Treaty of Versailles. Were the hopes unrealistic? 2. Why did the Big Three had different aims and hence could not agree on the terms? 3. Was the Treaty of Versailles a fair / just treaty? 4. Was it necessary to have the Treaty of Versailles?

*Key Concept: Fair / Necessary / Just

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SWISS COTTAGE SECONDARY SCHOOL Humanities Department 2011 Revision Handout (Impact of World War I) 2008 O Level Question: a) Was the tough peace settlement imposed on Germany in 1919 necessary? EYA. [12] b) The following were equally important reasons why Germany hated the Treaty of Versailles: Limitations on its armed forces; Reparations The loss of land Do you agree with the statement? Explain your answer referring to (i), (ii) and (iii). [13] Other Schools Prelim Questions 1a) 2a) 3a) 4a) 5a) Was the War Guilt Clause the main reason why the Germans hated the Treaty of Versailles? Explain your answer. [12] AMKSS To what extent was the fear of another war the main factor that led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles? Explain your answer. [12] BSS The Treaty of Versailles created more problems than solutions. Do you agree? Explain your answer. [13] BSSS / HKSS Was the loss of colonies the most unjustifiable term of the Versailles Treaty? Explain your answer. [12] BMSS Was the main aim of the Big Three during the Versailles Peace Conference to punish Germany? Explain your answer. [12]

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