The Treaty Of Versailles

1. The Treaty Of VersaillesThe Treaty Of Versailles
And The Effect It Had On And The Effect It Had On
GermanyGermany

2. The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace settlement signed The Treaty of Versailles was a peace settlement signed
after the World War in 1918after the World War in 1918
It was signed at the Versailles Palace near Paris It was signed at the Versailles Palace near Paris
between Germany and the Alliesbetween Germany and the Allies
Georges Clemenceau, David Lloyd George and Georges Clemenceau, David Lloyd George and
Woodrow Wilson – ‘The Big Three’ at the conference. Woodrow Wilson – ‘The Big Three’ at the conference.
The treaty was decided mainly by them.The treaty was decided mainly by them.
The treaty was signed on June 28The treaty was signed on June 28
thth
1919 1919

3. The Big ThreeThe Big Three
And their OpinionsAnd their Opinions

4. David Lloyd GeorgeDavid Lloyd George
BritainBritain
He was a politician and so had to also take the public’s opinionHe was a politician and so had to also take the public’s opinion
The British public had two opinions – “Hang The Kaiser” and The British public had two opinions – “Hang The Kaiser” and
“Make Germany Pay”“Make Germany Pay”
So he too portrayed these viewsSo he too portrayed these views
Actually, he was concerned about communism taking over Actually, he was concerned about communism taking over
Russia at around the time all this was happening and wanted to Russia at around the time all this was happening and wanted to
treat Germany in such a way that if and when the communism treat Germany in such a way that if and when the communism
spilled over into Germany it should not effect themspilled over into Germany it should not effect them
But, if they were too harsh on Germany, the people would rebel But, if they were too harsh on Germany, the people would rebel
and turn to communismand turn to communism
So he said that they shouldn’t be too harsh on GermanySo he said that they shouldn’t be too harsh on Germany

5. Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson
USAUSA
He genuinely wanted world peace and wrote He genuinely wanted world peace and wrote
the world famous 14 Points for peacethe world famous 14 Points for peace
The American public wanted the US to adopt The American public wanted the US to adopt
‘isolationism’ or a belief in which they were to ‘isolationism’ or a belief in which they were to
stay isolated from the rest of the worldstay isolated from the rest of the world
He wanted to create a League of Nations in He wanted to create a League of Nations in
which all countries were includedwhich all countries were included
He thought that Germany should be punished He thought that Germany should be punished
but not too harshly as other wise they would but not too harshly as other wise they would
want to get revengewant to get revenge

6. Georges ClemenceauGeorges Clemenceau
FranceFrance
He just had one belief – Germany should be He just had one belief – Germany should be
crippled and badly punishedcrippled and badly punished
The French Public also believed the sameThe French Public also believed the same
Germany had attacked France once many Germany had attacked France once many
years ago and France hadn’t done too well, he years ago and France hadn’t done too well, he
wanted to make sure that they don’t attack wanted to make sure that they don’t attack
againagain

7. The Terms of the TreatyThe Terms of the Treaty
Decided by mainly ‘The Big Three’ Decided by mainly ‘The Big Three’
and Germany’s opinion not takenand Germany’s opinion not taken

8. MilitaryMilitary
Germany could only have an army of Germany could only have an army of
100,000 people100,000 people
No air forceNo air force
West Rhineland demilitarised West Rhineland demilitarised
Allies to keep army west of Rhineland for Allies to keep army west of Rhineland for
15 years15 years

9. TerritorialTerritorial
West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silisia to West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silisia to
PolandPoland
Alsace-Lorraine to FranceAlsace-Lorraine to France
Hultschin to CzechoslovakiaHultschin to Czechoslovakia
Eupen and Malmedy to BelgiumEupen and Malmedy to Belgium
Northern Schleswig to DenmarkNorthern Schleswig to Denmark
Saar, Danzig and Memel and Germany’s Saar, Danzig and Memel and Germany’s
Russian territories to League of NationsRussian territories to League of Nations

10. GeneralGeneral
Germany had to accept full guilt Germany had to accept full guilt
for starting the war – the ‘War for starting the war – the ‘War
Guilt Clause’ Guilt Clause’
League of Nations set up; but League of Nations set up; but
Germany was not includedGermany was not included

11. FinancialFinancial
After the war, Germany’s economy was badAfter the war, Germany’s economy was bad
Since Germany had taken full war guilt they had Since Germany had taken full war guilt they had
to pay high reparations which would go mainly to pay high reparations which would go mainly
to France and Belgium. These could be in cash to France and Belgium. These could be in cash
or in kindor in kind
Vital industrial territory (Saar and Upper Silesia Vital industrial territory (Saar and Upper Silesia
especially) were lostespecially) were lost
Germany wasn’t allowed to combine with Austria Germany wasn’t allowed to combine with Austria
to make a super-state so that her economy to make a super-state so that her economy
could be kept to a minimumcould be kept to a minimum

12. Reaction of the Germans to Reaction of the Germans to
the terms of the treatythe terms of the treaty

13. After agreeing to the Armistice, Germans were After agreeing to the Armistice, Germans were
confident that they would be consulted by the confident that they would be consulted by the
Allies before the treaty was madeAllies before the treaty was made
This didn’t happen and the German’s were This didn’t happen and the German’s were
furious but didn’t have the money or army to furious but didn’t have the money or army to
continue the warcontinue the war
When they were consulted just before signing, When they were consulted just before signing,
they felt the terms were extremely unfairthey felt the terms were extremely unfair
After the terms were made public, they became After the terms were made public, they became
known as ‘Diktat’ as they were forced to sign known as ‘Diktat’ as they were forced to sign
with no choicewith no choice
As a mark of protest, the German Navy scuttled As a mark of protest, the German Navy scuttled
its ships at The Scapa Flow (North of Scotland)its ships at The Scapa Flow (North of Scotland)

14. They now had two choices They now had two choices  Sign the Sign the
treaty or be invaded by the Alliestreaty or be invaded by the Allies
They signed the treaty as in reality they They signed the treaty as in reality they
had only one optionhad only one option
After the ceremony was over, Clemenceau After the ceremony was over, Clemenceau
was heard saying “It is a beautiful day!” was heard saying “It is a beautiful day!”

15. ConsequencesConsequences

16. The Big Three were satisfied with the The Big Three were satisfied with the
treaty; they thought it was just as it treaty; they thought it was just as it
weakened Germany but still kept her weakened Germany but still kept her
strongstrong
It kept the French border safe from It kept the French border safe from
attacks from Germanyattacks from Germany
They had also created The League of They had also created The League of
Nations which they thought would make Nations which they thought would make
world peace for sureworld peace for sure

17. • However, The German’s did not agree, the treaty left them
angry as they felt that Germany as a nation had been treated
unfairly
• They hated the “War Guilt Clause” and the “Reparations
Clause”
• The French people who signed the treaty came to be know
as the “November Criminals”
• Many Germans felt they were being punished because of
something the Government did (Start the war)
• The German’s weren’t able to pay the reparations which
were 6600 million pounds
• They paid 50 million pounds in 1921 but couldn’t pay
anything in 1922
• So, in January 1923, French and Belgian troops invaded
Ruhr (It was actually legal according to the treaty) and they
took food and other supplies that they wanted to take

18. In ConclusionIn Conclusion
The treaty of Versailles had an extremely bad The treaty of Versailles had an extremely bad
effect on Germanyeffect on Germany
I believe that the treaty was extremely unfair on I believe that the treaty was extremely unfair on
Germany and it couldn’t have gotten world Germany and it couldn’t have gotten world
peacepeace
However, many historians believe that The Big However, many historians believe that The Big
Three did the best they could at this pointThree did the best they could at this point
Many historians also feel that this harsh Many historians also feel that this harsh
treatment of Germany could have been one of treatment of Germany could have been one of
the causes for World War IIthe causes for World War II

19. BibliographyBibliography
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treathttp://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treat
y_of_versailles.htmy_of_versailles.htm
GCSE modern world history second edition GCSE modern world history second edition
by Ben Walsh and John Murrayby Ben Walsh and John Murray