Topic 1 PowerPoint

Topic 1: The Interwar Years (The
Treaty of Versailles)
The Treaty of Versailles

This cartoon appeared in the German
satirical magazine Simplissimus, 3 June
1919. Identify its message.
Cartoon Analysis
 US President Wilson (left) is explaining
 French PM Clemeceau is holding the rope (he
wants to kill Germany)

 British PM Lloyd George holds the Treaty
(represents their excuse to kill Germany)

 A figure awaits execution (Germany); he is
bound (terms of the Treaty) and half-naked

(helpless)
 The message is that the TOV is merely the
means by which the victors intend to destroy

Germany altogether.
The End of the World War I
 9 November 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated and

Imperial Germany became the Republic of
Germany
 11 November1918: Germany surrendered to the
Allies and signed an armistice (cease fighting)
 Elections were held in Germany and a new
democratic government was elected
 January 1919 a WW1 Peace Conference began at
the Versailles Palace in Paris, France, dominated by
the 'Big Three' victors: USA, France, Britain
The End of the World War I
World Leaders Attitude Toward Germany
United States of Woodrow Wilson Seeking a mild peace treaty and

America a more peaceful world
United Kingdom David George Seeking revenge - Moderate
Italy Vittorio Orlando Using Paris Peace Conference to

gain 'lost' land
France Georges Clemenceau Seeking revenge - Severe
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Point
Peace Plan
 President Wilson attempted to establish a fair plan

for lasting peace.
 He wanted:
◦ the end of secret treaties;
◦ free trade among nations;
◦ arms reduction;
◦ settlement of colonial claims taking rights of colonised
people into account
◦ leaving occupied territories Eg. Germany to leave France
◦ nationalities to have own states (self-
determination) Eg. Poland
◦ A world organisation to be set up to work for world
peace(League of Nations)
What Type of Peace Treaty?
 Germany was expecting a peace treaty based on the

14-Point Plan
 Negotiations among the ‘Big Three’ did not go

smoothly
 Wilson wanted everlasting peace
 Clemenceau wanted revenge/severe punishment
 Lloyd George sided with Wilson, but had an angry

population who also wanted revenge. Being lenient
would likely lose him the next election.
Versailles Conference
 Germany was not invited, and the focus was
on punishing Germany
 The Treaty of Versailles was signed by the
Allies and Germany on 28 June 1919
 Germany was forced to sign, under threat of
the resumption of war
 The Germans referred to the Treaty as
a diktat (imposed peace)
Main Treaty Points
"BRAT"

Blame
◦ Germany had to accept the blame 'for causing all the loss and damage' of the War (Clause
231). Because of this they had to pay:

Reparations
◦ Germany had to pay £6,600 million for damages incurred

Armed forces
◦ Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force.
◦ Navy was reduced to six battleships
◦ Army limited to 100 000 men and conscription banned (European armies were often 1 mill in
size)
◦ Germany was not allowed to have troops in the Rhineland

Territory
◦ Germany lost territory in Europe, including Alsace-Lorraine (France); West Prussia (Poland)
and Memel (Lithuania)
◦ Colonies given to France, Britain, Japan, Australia and NZ
…
 …
A League of Nations was established
 An organisation formed with the aim of
preventing another war and maintaining
world peace by settling
disputes between nations
through negotiation.
 Germany not permitted
to join
What is the message of this cartoon?
In all, Germany lost:
 10% land area
 all colonies
 12% of its population
 16% of its coalfields
 half its iron and steel industry
 much of its army and navy
 all its air force
 this impacted on its ability to pay the
reparations demanded by the Treaty

Article Number Description
1-26 League of Nations. Germany not allowed to join.
42 The Rhineland was demilitarised - the German army was

not allowed to go there.
45 The Saar, with its rich coalfields, given to France for 15
years.
51 Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.
80 Germany forbidden to unite with Austria.
87 Lands in eastern Germany - the rich farmlands of Posen
and the Polish corridor between Germany and East
Prussia - given to Poland.
119 All Germany's colonies taken and given to France and
Britain as 'mandates'.
231 Germany was responsible for causing all the loss and
damage caused by the war
232 Germany would have to pay reparations, to be decided
English newspaper, May 1919, (Der
Tag – The Day)
Versailles: The impact on
Germany
 Some of Germany’s wealthiest territories were taken
 They had a significant debt to repay
 With the cutting of the army 2.9 million soldiers

were suddenly unemployed
 Sinking of the Navy so the British wouldn’t get the

vessels
 The terms were dictated to Germany – known as the

‘diktat’
Versailles – German Reaction
 The Germans were unhappy with what they

considered to be the harsh conditions of the treaty
 Rioting in the streets
 Some rebellion in the army
 Sinking of the Navy so the British wouldn’t get the

vessels
Reaction Explanation
Resented unfairly treatment No part in the Conference talks
Forced to sign an unexpected peace treaty
Resented guilt clause ‘Such a confession in my mouth would be a lie’,

said Count Brockdorff-Rantzau.
Resented military limitations Meant Germany could not defend itself against
even small countries
Resented reparations A humiliation

Made Germany poorer - took farm land (W
Prussia) and industrial land (Saar).
Resented not being allowed to An insult

join League of Nations meant that Germany could not defend itself in
the League of Nations.
Resented the forbidding of Was against the principle of self-determination.

Versailles – Long Term
 The treaty was considered as excessive by some,

and taken badly by many Germans
 It created the political conditions in Germany for

‘right wing’ political groups such as the Nazi Party
 These political groups sought ‘justice’ for their

‘wrongs’ – and set the conditions for World War II.

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Topic 1: The Interwar Years (The

The Treaty of Versailles

wants to kill Germany)

(represents their excuse to kill Germany)

bound (terms of the Treaty) and half-naked

means by which the victors intend to destroy

 9 November 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated and

World Leaders Attitude Toward Germany

United States of Woodrow Wilson Seeking a mild peace treaty and

United Kingdom David George Seeking revenge - Moderate

Italy Vittorio Orlando Using Paris Peace Conference to

 President Wilson attempted to establish a fair plan

 Germany was expecting a peace treaty based on the

 Negotiations among the ‘Big Three’ did not go

 Wilson wanted everlasting peace

 Clemenceau wanted revenge/severe punishment

 Lloyd George sided with Wilson, but had an angry

reparations demanded by the Treaty

42 The Rhineland was demilitarised - the German army was

 Some of Germany’s wealthiest territories were taken

 They had a significant debt to repay

 With the cutting of the army 2.9 million soldiers

 Sinking of the Navy so the British wouldn’t get the

 The terms were dictated to Germany – known as the

 The Germans were unhappy with what they

 Rioting in the streets

 Some rebellion in the army

 Sinking of the Navy so the British wouldn’t get the

Resented guilt clause ‘Such a confession in my mouth would be a lie’,

Resented reparations A humiliation

Resented not being allowed to An insult

Resented the forbidding of Was against the principle of self-determination.

 The treaty was considered as excessive by some,

 It created the political conditions in Germany for

 These political groups sought ‘justice’ for their

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