The Treaty of Versailles

1. The Treaty of Versailles ‘The Kaiser has abdicated. Abdication of the Crown Prince. Ebert becomes Chancellor.’ How and why did the ‘Big Three’ want to punish Germany?

2. After reading this source, how do you think the Germans felt at the end of World War One? “Through the doors at the end…come four officers of France, Great Britain, America and Italy. And then, isolated and pitiable, come the two Germans, Dr. Muller and Dr. Bell. The silence is terrifying…They keep their eyes fixed away from those two thousand staring eyes, fixed on the ceiling. They are deathly pale…There is general tension. They sign. There is general relaxation…We kept our seats while the Germans were conducted like prisoners from the dock.” (Harold Nicolson, Peacemaking, 1919.) Peace

3. In November 1918 Germany surrenders to the Allied countries. The most powerful ones, being France, USA and Britain, wanted to create a treaty that clearly explained what Germany would now have to do. BUT WHAT SHOULD THEY DO? PUNISH? REVENGE! REBUILD? TAKE OVER?

4. Great Britain, America and France were the three most powerful Allies and they wanted to exert their influence upon the Treaty of Versailles. Yet they wanted different things.

5. It soon became clear that the main Allied countries could not agree on what the treaty should include. The only thing they could agree on was where the decision would be made: A French palace in a city called Versailles. The Treaty Of VERSAILLES

6. The British Prime Minister thought that if the Treaty was too harsh, then Germany might one day start another war. Some British people blamed Germany for the war and wanted revenge Britain 750,000 men died Spent nearly £8 billion of which 1 Billion was borrowed from the USA I don’t want to cripple Germany in the Treaty. I think that this could start another war in the future, but people in Britain want Germany to pay.

7. They joined in 1917 and lost 113,000 men USA USA wanted to a ‘softer’ treaty because they thought Germany was important for the future Their land was never attacked I don’t agree with France. Its probably because we didn’t suffer nearly as mush as the French. However, I want to focus upon setting up the League of Nations.

8. Most of the fighting took place in Northern France. An area the size of Wales had been devastated Germany stole 90% of France’s coal and iron 1n 1914 France Many roads and factories had been destroyed 1,250,000 men died I want to make sure that Germany pays for the problems it has caused us. We suffered the most in WW1 and we demand revenge and reparations Clemencau

9. What exactly was the Treaty of Versailles and how did Germany react to it?

10. “SIGN THE TREATY OR WE WILL INVADE YOU……ITS YOUR CHOICE!” FRANCE USA BRITAIN The treaty was dictated to Germany as they did not have a say in it. This is known as ‘Diktat’.

12. The terms of The Treaty of Versailles What would members of the public in Allied countries think of the Germans in 1918?

13. What does this source tell you about the British public’s feelings towards Germany in 1918? “The Germans, if this government is elected, are going to pay every penny; they are going to be squeezed, as a lemon is squeezed, until the pips squeak.” (Sir Eric Geddes, December 1918) Sir Eric Geddes was Minister of Munitions in Britain, Controller of the Navy and First Lord of the Admiralty at different points during The First World War.

14. Does this information help you to understand why so many people wanted revenge after the war? Around 8 million people had been killed The cost of the war was roughly nine thousand million pounds The destruction of land, homes, farms and factories was huge Millions more people died after the war due to famine and disease “In France and Belgium, where most of the war was fought, 300,000 houses, 6,000 factories, 1,000 miles of railway, 2,000 breweries and 112 coal mines were destroyed…In some ways, mankind has never recovered from the horrors of the First World War.” John D. Clare, First World War (1994)

15. Does this information help you to understand why so many people wanted revenge after the war? Around 8 million people had been killed The cost of the war was roughly nine thousand million pounds The destruction of land, homes, farms and factories was huge Millions more people died after the war due to famine and disease “In France and Belgium, where most of the war was fought, 300,000 houses, 6,000 factories, 1,000 miles of railway, 2,000 breweries and 112 coal mines were destroyed…In some ways, mankind has never recovered from the horrors of the First World War.” John D. Clare, First World War (1994) Does this information help you to understand why so many people wanted Peace after the war?

16. “The British General Election in December 1918 was punctuated by bellowings that the Kaiser should be hanged, that Germany should pay up….Few realised the harmful effects of uniformed and aggressive public opinion which had been aroused by years of war propaganda, and whipped up by the popular press…” Martin Kitchen, Europe Between The Wars, 1988. Discuss how difficult must it have been for the Allies to get the right balance between punishment and creating a lasting peace?

17. The terms of The Treaty of Versailles How would the German people have felt about the terms of the Treaty?

18. Germany had to accept total responsibility for starting the First World War.this was called the War Guilt Clause or Article 231.

19. Germany had to pay £6,600 million in reparations to cover war damages and other Allied losses.These were called reparations.

20. Germany had to hand over some 70,000 square kilometres of land. This accounted for about 13% of all of her land and six million of her people who lived there.

21. Germany was to have her colonies taken away from her. These colonies were to become mandates run by the Allies on behalf of the League of Nations.

22. The German army was to have no more than 100,000 men and the navy was limited to 15,000 sailors. There was to be no airforce and no submarines.

23. The German navy was only allowed six battleships and Germany was forbidden to buy any more weapons and other war material.

24. An Allied Army was to occupy the Rhineland for a period of fifteen years. No German troops were to be allowed into the occupation zone.

26. WAR GUILT Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war PAY COMPENSATION This was know as reparations. Germany had to pay £6.6 Billion. This is about £500 Billion in today’s value. (100,000,000,000 German marks) GERMANY’S EMPIRE All of Germany’s African colonies were taken away and given away to the Allied countries. The Treaty MASSIVE ARMY CUTS The Army was cut to just 100,000 men, the Navy could only have 6 battleships and they were not allowed to build any planes, tanks or submarines. GERMAN LAND GIVEN AWAY Germany lost land to France, Poland, Belgium and Denmark. An area of Germany was even separated from the mainland.

27. How did the Germans react?

28. Land taken away from Germany under the treaty of Versailles Not only did Germany lose about 10% of its land, it also consequently lost 10% of its population. German people were now living in foreign countries.

29. A German cartoon showing the Devil and his cronies gloating over the Treaty of Versailles. The figures are called Greed, Revenge and Lust for power

30. From the German newspaper, Deutsche Zeitung on the day the Treaty was signed

31. A German cartoon published in 1919. The German mother is saying to her child. ‘When we have paid 100,000,000,000 marks, then I shall be able to give you something to eat’

32. What does the cartoonist think about the Treaty of Versailles? PEACE AND FUTURE CANNON FODDERTHE TIGER: 'CURIOUS! I SEEM TO HEAR A WEEPING CHILD' (DAILY HERALD)

33. Germany was a proud country due to its military strength and strong traditions of dominance within that area of Europe. However, the treaty of Versailles created different feelings: Humiliation Embarrassment Bitterness Revenge

34. Recap The Treaty seemed to satisfy the "Big Three" overall. • It made sure that Germany was too weak to start another European War, yet strong enough to help stop the spread of Communism. • It kept the French border with Germany safe from future German attacks. • It created the League of Nations. This would help promote peace and trade throughout the world.

35. But ... • Germans hated the treaty, especially Article 231 which blamed them for starting the war. • Many Germans also thought the financial penalties that the treaty imposed upon their country and her people to be immoral and unjust. • The German Government that had agreed to the treaty became known as the "November Criminals“. • Many German citizens felt that they were now being punished for the mistakes of the Kaiser and German government of August 1914 who had started the war as well as the government of 1919 that had signed the treaty that brought peace.

36. How did Germans React to the Treaty? • Germans thought the Treaty was a “diktat” : a dictated peace. They had not been invited to the peace conference at Versailles and when the Treaty was presented to them they were threatened with war if they did not sign it. • The Treaty was NOT based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points as the Germans had been promised it would.

37. How did Germans React to the Treaty? • Most Germans believed that the War Guilt Clause was unjustified. The French and British had done just as much to start the war • The loss of territory and population angered most Germans who believed that the losses were too severe. • Many Germans believed the German economy would be crippled by having to pay reparations.

38. The Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28th June 1919. It officially ended the 1st World War. Many historians believe that it was a major cause of the 2nd World War. Most Germans were horrified by the harshness of the Treaty. There was anger amongst all groups in Germany, no matter what their political beliefs. Some German newspapers called for revenge for the humiliation of Versailles. However anger was also directed against the government in Germany. Already there was a myth growing in the country that the German army had been “stabbed in the back” by politicians…the so called “November Criminals”. Now these same politicians had signed the “Diktat”, the dictated peace. The new democracy in Germany was now closely linked with the humiliation of Versailles.

39. Quick Test • In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed? • How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? • How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? • What phrase did the Germans use when referring to the treaty and treaty negotiations? • How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations?

40. Quick Test • In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed?1919 • How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? • How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? • What phrase did the Germans use when referring to the treaty and treaty negotiations? • How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations?

41. Quick Test • In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed?1919 • How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 100 000 • How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? • What phrase did the Germans use when referring to the treaty and treaty negotiations? • How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations?

42. Quick Test • In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed?1919 • How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 100 000 • How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 70 000 sq km • What phrase did the Germans use when referring to the treaty and treaty negotiations? • How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations?

43. Quick Test • In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed?1919 • How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 100 000 • How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 70 000 sq km • What phrase did the Germans use when referring to the treaty and treaty negotiations? Diktat • How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations?

44. Quick Test • In which year was the Treaty of Versailles signed?1919 • How many soldiers were the German army allowed to retain under the treaty? 100 000 • How much land was taken off Germany within Europe? 70 000 sq km • What phrase did the Germans use when referring to the treaty and treaty negotiations? Diktat • How much were the Germans supposed to pay the Allies in reparations? £6,600 million

45. Was the Treaty of Versailles fair? Planning your response:

46. Say Something Significant Choose a sentence-starter and make the most complex statement you can about what you have just learnt about the Treaty of Versailles. • Cause and effect:“The main reason …..” • Pattern: “Throughout the discussion on the Treaty, people keep ….” • Turning point:“Everything changed when …..” • Simple judgement: “The smartest choice was ……..”

47. Useful Websites • www.johndclare.net/peace_treaties1.htm • www.johndclare.net/ToV5_cloze.htm • www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWversailles.htm