The Treaty of Versailles (Paper One- International Diplomacy)

'The Big Three'
1. Although 32 countries were present at Versailles, the proceedings were presided over by the 'Big Three'. Significantly, Germany not invited, nor Russia, for that matter
  1. The Big Three, composed of Britain, France and America each had their own agenda to fulfil.
    1. Britain
      1. Britain, represented by PM David Lloyd George, occupied the middle ground-
      2. DLG was a realist.
      3. He needed to strike a compromise between Clemenceau and Wilson, the 'Tiger' and the Idealist.
      4. But he had also promised in the recent general election to make Germany pay
      5. However, Britain also wanted to protect its own Empire.
      6. It perhaps could even expand it with mandate territories taken from Germany
      7. Also, DLG felt that too harsh a treaty would encourage aggression from Germany in later years (right, of course).
      8. Had a responsibility to rebuild Britain
      9. Germany was their greatest trade partner, it seemed logical to keep them trading.
      10. Finally, the people of Britain were shocked by the War and wanted it to never happen again.
      11. This meant reducing Germany's power and encouraging diplomacy
    2. France
      1. Clemenceau, a.k.a the tiger (I would say Walrus is a more apt description)
      2. HE WANTED REVENGE!
      3. 1.7 million Frenchmen dead, 2/3 of the French army
      4. An area the size of Wales laid to waste by retreating German troops.
      5. A country battered economically by the war, years needed to recover
      6. Clemenceau was not lenient in the slightest
      7. He needed reparations in order to undo the damage to France.
      8. However, he was considered such by some factors of his government, who wanted Germany split into separate territories again.
      9. Seen as moderate
      10. Saw the need for compromise, could do little to support one
      11. The French were baying for BLOOD!
      12. Needed to prevent further German aggression.
      13. Had to reduce Germany once and for all.
      14. Saw DLG and WW as very generous towards the Germans- and their countries weren't on the front line
      15. You weren't there man!
    3. America
      1. America was represented by President Woodrow Wilson, statesman and idealist. Also the only one without a moustache.
      2. As an idealist, Wilson created the fourteen points, which were intended to guarantee a fair peace for the defeated nations.
      3. The Fourteen Points:
      4. 1) No Secret Treaties.
      5. 2) Free access to the seas in peacetime and wartime.
      6. 3) Free trade between countries
      7. 4) All countries to work towards disarmament
      8. 5) Colonies to have a say in their future.
      9. 6) German troops to leave Russia
      10. 7) Independence for Belgium
      11. 8) France to regain Alsace-Lorraine
      12. 9) Frontier betweem Austria and Italy to be adjusted.
      13. 10) Self-determination for the peoples of Eastern Europe
      14. 11) Serbia to have access to the sea
      15. 12) Self-determination for the people of the Turkish Empire
      16. 13) Poland to become an independent state with access to the sea
      17. 14) League of Nations to be created
      18. Based on the fourteen points, he intended to create a 'League of Nations' (LoN) to oversee world diplomacy and uphold the Treaties.
      19. He wanted to strengthen democracy.
      20. The Americans had not been hit as hard in the war, arriving late and having boosted their economy & industry through the sale and manufacture of munitions, supplies and technology.
      21. Woodrow suffered from bouts of illness, which prevented him from being a fully effective presence at Versailles
The Aftermath of the War
1. The Kaiser abdicated in 1918, following the loss of support from his senior military commanders, the blockade and the mutiny at Kiel
  1. A new democratic government was set up under Socialist leader Friedrich Ebert.
    1. An armistice was signed as soon as possible on 11th November 1918
      1. For more on Germany, see Paper Two Notes
      2. A conference was hald at Versailless to decide the losing country's fate
  2. Kaiser Wilhelm II fled to Holland
Reactions to Versailles
1. There were mixed reactions to the treaty, to say the least!
  1. Britain
    1. Britain came out pretty well.
      1. Its empire had been expanded
      2. The Royal Navy remained dominant in the world
      3. The British public were pretty much satisfied
      4. Save some intellectual figures
      5. Some felt too harsh a treaty!
  2. America
    1. America's reaction let down poor old Woodrow
      1. Refused to join LoN (see left)
    2. Self-determination applied imperfectly
      1. e.g. the people of Germany were now divided.
    3. Some of the fourteen points upheld
    4. Refused to sign Treaty
  3. France
    1. France felt that the treaty was far too lenient
      1. In the words of Marshal Foch, "This is not Peace. It is an Armistice for twenty years."
      2. Hein, monsieur!
      3. It did not weaken germany sufficiently!
    2. Rhineland not given to France
    3. Clemenceau drove a hard bargain
      1. but not hard enough! Britain and America were not willing to enter into a long-standing alliance against Germany.
  4. Germany
    1. Germany was infuriated
      1. They were forced to accept a Diktat- a dictated peace
      2. But they felt they hadn't lost!
      3. Germany hadn't been invaded
      4. Armies returned undefeated
      5. The military had been a source of pride, and it was taken away
      6. How were they to defend themselves?
      7. How were they to maintain civil order?
      8. Had originally hoped for a peace based on the 14 points
      9. This hope was shattered
    2. German thought it was unjust
      1. The reparations were too great
      2. They would struggle to pay!
      3. However, one German economist found a reason to accept them, as they could get by on foreign loans before they had to be lowered
      4. due to the fact that German would ruin the Allies' economies otherwise
      5. The Polish corridor was a thorn in their side
      6. Self-determination had worked against them
      7. True germans separated from their home
    3. Germany blamed the 'November criminals'
      1. Feelings of resentment grew towards those who had signed the treaty of Versailles
      2. Left Germany vulnerable to nationalists
      3. NAZI!
      4. However, they originally refused to sign, but had no power to do so
      5. Blockade!
  5. Other countries
    1. Countries like Italy and Japan were also resentfult towards the Big Three, because they were not aided enough in their recovery
      1. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, the big three expanded their empires and demanded reparations
2. Was it really all that punishing?
  1. Mr Hill says no!
    1. Germany had previously imposed a very harsh peace on Russia in the treaty of Brest-Litovsk
      1. Versailles was less harsh than that had been!
    2. After all Germany, did really start the war
      1. They gave Austria a Blanc Cheque
      2. Supported their allies!
The Terms of Versailles
1. The treaty of Versailles consisted of over 400 articles.
  1. The most important was the 'War Guilt Clause', clause 231.
    1. This provided a basis to punish Germany for everything 'they' had caused.
    2. The Germans had to accept the blame for starting the First World War.
  2. Reparations were to be paid to the allies by Germany
    1. This figure, set in 1921, amounted to the tidy sum of £6.6bn.
      1. 132,000,000,000 gold marks
      2. Today, worth over £100 bn
      3. Originally twice that amount, but lowered later in 1921
    2. This was very difficult for a war-torn nation to achieve.
  3. Military limitations were severe
    1. The army was a huge source of pride to the German people, and the limitations hurt badly
    2. Infantry army limited to 100,000 volunteers
    3. Navy limited to six ships!
    4. No air force, no motorised vehichles
      1. No tanks!
    5. Not enough to defend Germany!
  4. A DMZ was declared in the Rhineland, in order to protect France
  5. Territory given away:
    1. Reversal of Brest-Litovsk
    2. Alsace-Lorraine given to France, again
    3. Saarland given to France
      1. Fifteen year, then a plebiscite would be held
      2. Fifteen years = just enough time to mine the coal deposits of the region into oblivion.
    4. North Schleswig
      1. Given to DENMARK
    5. Polish corridor
      1. Now this was a real annoyance for the Germans
      2. It split the country into two, dividing east Prussia from the main body of Germany
      3. Danzig (port), the free city was held by the LoN to allow Poland access to the sea.
    6. Mamil? Went to Lithuania
    7. Upper Silesia
      1. Went to Poland partially (See League's successes in the 20s)
    8. Overall, the Germans lost 10% of their land and 12.5% of their population.
      1. It cut off German speakers from thh Vaterland.
      2. Industries lost, needed to repay reparations
  6. Overseas colonies:
    1. Togoland, Cameroon, German SW Africa and E Africa to South Africa and Britain
    2. New Guinea, Samoa to NZ
    3. Marshall, Mariana and Caroline Islands to Japan
  7. Anschluss (Alliance) with Austria forbidden