The Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles

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Outcomes • All to know the terms of the Treaty of Versailles • Most to research and present the terms of the Treaty • Some to see how the Treaty would affect Germany in future years

The Aims of The Treaty The USA? I saw we should… Ze Germans half gone to far zis time!

What did Germany expect? • The military leaders resigned and the Kaiser abdicated • They hoped a civilian government would be able to get a fairer peace • Why was Germany in a position of weakness?

The Four Aims • To punish Germany and compensate the Allies • To make sure Germany could never threaten Europe again • To weaken Germany militarily • To make sure all conflicts were solved by negotiation rather than war

Choose one term • You have 20 minutes to research it and present it to the rest of the group • Make sure you include • Detail of the terms • What effect this might have on Germany?

Why did the Germans see this as unfair? • Furthered the myth of “stabbing in the back” and “November Criminals” • It became known as a “diktat” • The war guilt clause was hard to swallow • The size of the reparations • Britain and France did not have to disarm

However • Between 1919-45 people became more sympathetic to the German people • The French had to give way to most of their extreme demands • Many areas were given the option of which country to join • Germany was not occupied so all damage was to France and Belgium

The significance • Economically not as great as people thought Germany still had a strong industry and economy • It received more money under the Dawes plan than it paid in reparations • However it was the new Weimar Republic that would take the brunt of the blame

Review-explain the quotes • I have obtained almost everything I wanted Georges Clemenceau • To those who are saying that the Treaty is bad and should never have been made and that it will involve Europe in infinite difficulties in its enforcement, I feel like admitting it. Edward M. House • For every man who a year ago knew and said that the Peace Treaty was immoral in conception and would be disastrous, there are thousands who say it now Richard Tawney

Quotes • The fundamental falsehood on which the Versailles Treaty is built is the theory that Germany was solely and entirely responsible for the war. No fair-minded student of the war and its causes can accept this contention Captain E. N. Bennett • The Treaty includes no provision for the economic rehabilitation of Europe - nothing to make the defeated Central Powers into good neighbours, nothing to stabilise the new States of Europe • John Maynard Keynes

Additional Reading • Access to History p120-126

The Treaty of Versailles