THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES

Lesson 1:- What were the aims of the peacemakers?

Objectives:-

1. Understand the circumstances that the peacemakers met under at Versailles

2. Be able to identify the different aims that that each of the ‘big three’ had.

Background

• On the 11th November 1918 the armistice was signed, ending the First World War. The cost of the war had been enormous.

What do you think the main aims of the peacemakers would be?

More than 65 million men fought in the First World War; over eight million of them were killed.   In addition, nearly nine million civilians died - from starvation, disease, artillery fire and air raids.   Twelve million tons of shipping were sunk.    In France and Belgium, where most of the war was fought, 300,000 houses, 6,000 factories, 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) of railway, 2,000 breweries and 112 coal mines were destroyed.   The human cost of the war - in terms of damaged minds and bodies, and ruined lives – was beyond calculation.   In some ways, mankind has never recovered from the horrors of the First World War.

• The war was ended by Armistice. This means cease-fire. It is a mutual agreement to end fighting between the Allies and the Germans

• When the peace conference, held at Versailles, began the Germans were not invited to attend. The Allies believed that they had won, and as such were in a position to impose terms upon the Germans

Why might this cause a problem?

What does this cartoon tell about the attitude of some of the victors towards the Germans?• Appeared in ‘Punch’

in February 1919• The caption read:

German Criminal to Allied Police: Here, I say, stop! You're hurting me!

• (Aside: If I only whine enough I may be able to wriggle out of this yet.)

The Big Three• The three most important

men at the Versailles Conference - ‘the Big Three’ - were:

• Georges Clemenceau, the Prime Minister of France (2nd right).

• Woodrow Wilson, the President of America (far right).

• David Lloyd George, the Prime Minister of Britain (far left, talking to Orlando, the Prime Minister of Italy).

Activity

• Using pg 120 and 121 you need to build up an idea of the aims of the big three.

• Foe each one write briefly about their personalities but concentrate on their aims at Versailles

• Try to think about the motives behind their differing aims

Georges Clemenceau • He was the Prime Minister of

France.

• He wanted revenge, and to punish the Germans for what they had done.

• He wanted to make Germany pay for the damage done during the war.

  • He also wanted to weaken

Germany, so France would never be invaded again.

Woodrow Wilson • He was President of America.   • He was a History professor. He wanted

to make the world safe. He wanted to end war by making a fair peace.

  • In 1918, Wilson published ‘Fourteen

Points’ saying what he wanted.   • He said that he wanted disarmament,

and a League of Nations (where countries could talk out their problems, without war).

  • He also promised self-determination

for the peoples of Eastern Europe.

David Lloyd George • He was Prime Minister of Great

Britain.   • He said he would ‘make Germany pay’

– because he knew that was what the British people wanted to hear.  

• He wanted ‘justice’, but he did not want revenge. He said that the peace must not be harsh – that would just cause another war in a few years time.   He tried to get a ‘halfway point’ – a compromise between Wilson and Clemenceau.  

• He ALSO wanted to expand the British Empire, maintain British control of the seas, and increase Britain's trade.  

The Terms of the Treaty

• Read through the Map on page 123 (as well as your sheet) and answer the questions that follow.

War Guilt

• Article 231 of the Treaty – also known as the ‘War Guilt Clause’ forced Germany to accept full responsibility for the war.

• This meant Germany had to shoulder the blame for starting the war.

• It had far reaching implications for Germany….

The Treaty of Versailles Military terms

1. German army limited to 100,000 men, conscription forbidden.

2. Germany to have no tanks, heavy artillery, aircraft, submarines

3. Navy limited to 6 light battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers.

4. Rhineland to be a demilitarised zone and occupied by Allied troops for 15 years.

The Treaty of Versailles Territorial Losses

• Alsace-Lorraine given back to France.• Eupen and Malmedy given to Belgium.• North Schleswig to Denmark after a plebiscite.• Posen and West Prussia to Poland to give her access to the

Baltic sea – the so-called ‘Polish Corridor’ – which separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany.

• Danzig to be a free port, administered by the League of Nations, but to be used by Poland.

• All of Germany’s colonies to be handed over to the League of Nations and administered as ‘mandates’.

Treaty of VersaillesTerritorial Losses

The Treaty of Versailles Financial penalties

• 1. The Saar coalfields to be handed over to, and exploited by, France for 15 years.

• 2. All Germany’s merchant ships and a quarter of the fishing fleet to be handed over.

• 3. Germany to pay reparations (compensation) of £6,600 million to the Allies (from 1921).

Did The Big Three achieve their aims?

• complete the following table

Happy Unhappy

Clemenceau

Wilson

Lloyd George

Clemenceau

• liked the harsh things that were in the Treaty: 1.   Reparations (would repair the damage to France), 2.   The tiny German army, and 3.   The demilitarised zone in the Rhineland (would both

protect France), 4.   France got Alsace-Lorraine, and German colonies.      • But he was disappointed with the Treaty:a.   He wanted the Treaty to be harsherb.   He wanted Germany to be split up into smaller

countries.

Wilson

• Wilson got: 1.   A League of Nations,2.   Self-determination for the peoples of Eastern Europe,    • But he was disappointed with the Treaty: a.   Some of his ‘Fourteen Points’ did not get into the

Treaty, b.   When Wilson went back to America, the Senate refused

to join the League of Nations, and even refused to sign the Treaty of Versailles.

Lloyd George

• Many British people wanted to ‘make Germany pay’, and Lloyd George liked:

1.   The fact that Britain got some German colonies (expanded the British Empire),

2.   The small German navy (helped Britain to continue to 'rule the waves').  

   • But Lloyd George hated the Treaty:a.   He thought that the Treaty was far too harsh and would

ruin Germany,b.   He thought it would cause another war in 25 years time

(see Source A).