The Versailles Treaty

Front 1

1). What were the positions of each of the Big Three towards Germany at Versailles?

Back 1

- Clemenceau wanted to punish Germany severely to avenge the damage done to France and preempt a second world war.

- Wilson wanted to use a 14 point plan and the League of Nations to promote democracy and ensure world peace without punishing Germany.

- Lloyd George wanted to punish Germany without crippling their economy as they were important trade partners.

Front 2

2). Explain the reason for each of the Big Three's positions towards Germany.

Back 2

- Clemenceau's position was severe because, of all the allies, France had suffered the most, and because they were closest to Germany.

- Wilson's position was generous because America had been at war for only a year; had a relatively low death toll; and had not been invaded.

- Lloyd George's position was complex because he would have to punish Germany to satisfy the public, whilst also protecting the German economy to resurrect the British one.

Front 3

3). Describe specific points from Wilson's 14 points.

Back 3

No more secret treaties; free navigation of the sees in peace and wartime; removal of economic trade barriers; reduction of armaments for all countries; impartial settlement of colonial disputes; German troops to leave Russia; independence for Belgium; return of Alsace-Lorraine to France; Readjustment of Italian borders according to nationality; self-determination for Austria-Hungary; Evacuation and restoration of invaded Balkan countries; self-determination for the Turkish Empire; Independence and access to the sea for Poland; Establishment of a general association of nations.

Front 4

4). Explain why Lloyd George's view toward Germany changed after November 1918.

Back 4

He realised that punishing Germany severely would paralyse the British economy, as, prior to the war, Germany had been Britain's largest source of income in Europe.

Front 5

5). Describe the specific points listed in the treaty of Versailles.

Back 5

Germany accepted the blame for starting the war; German territory given to surrounding allied countries; German colonies given to the League of Nations; German army restricted to 100,000 men; Rhineland demilitarised; Germany to pay 6600 million pounds in reparations; Germany and Austria not allowed to be allies.

Front 6

6). List the terms that each of the Big Three would have been happy with.

Back 6

- Clemenceau would have been happy if the German army was disbanded; the Rhineland made independent; Germany had to pay very high reparations;France received some German colonies.

- Wilson would have been happy if his 14 points were accepted; the League of Nations was successful; Germany was not punished too severely.

- Lloyd George would have been happy if Germany was sufficiently punished; The German economy remained in tact; Britain received some German colonies.

Front 7

7). List the terms that the each of the Big Three would not have been happy with.

Back 7

-Clemenceau would not have been happy if Germany's army was not disbanded; The German economy was not limited by securing the independence of the Rhineland; The reparations were not high enough; France did not feel secured by the treaty.

- Wilson would not have been happy if Germany was punished too severely; his 14 point plan was not accepted; the League of Nations was unsuccessful; The treaty was perceived as too harsh.

- Lloyd George would not have been happy if the German economy was restricted; The treaty did not seem harsh enough; Britain did not secure some German colonies.

Front 8

8). List and explain all the reasons why Germany was unhappy with the the Treaty of Versailles.

Back 8

Germany was unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles because they were blamed for the war; they thought the reparations would bankrupt them; they were not allowed to ally with Austria; they had lost territory in Europe and colonies abroad; Wilson's previous assurance of "justice and fairness" in his 14 points made the treaty appear doubly unfair.

Front 9

9). Describe the territorial changes that tok place to the Austro-Hungarian Empire as a result of the smaller treaties.

Back 9

The smaller treaties, Saint Germain and Trianon, resulted in the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire; independence for Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia; much of the former empire's territory shared amongst the above mentioned successor states, Romania and Italy; Austria becoming much smaller, landlocked and forbidden to ally with Germany.

Front 10

10). List and describe the other treaties in the Versailles settlement.

Back 10

- Saint Germain: facilitated the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and territory taken from Austria.

- Trianon: facilitated the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and territory taken from Hungary.

- Neuilly: Independence for Yugoslavia; territory taken from Bulgaria

- Sèvres: Independence for the Kingdom of Hejaz and Armenia; territory taken from Turkey; Dardanelles Strait to become an international waterway.

-Lausanne: Middle-Eastern territory taken and European territory given to Turkey; previous military restrictions and reparations abolished; Dardanelles Strait returned to Turkey.