The Treaty of Versailles The Paris Peace Conference: Terms and Conditions of Surrender The Palace of Versailles, France

“The Big Four” at the Paris Peace Conference From left to right: David Lloyd George (Britain), Vittorio Orlando (Italy), Georges Clemenceau (France), and Woodrow Wilson (United States of America)

Map of Europe is Redrawn

Terms of the Treaty: Military 1. Germany would be disarmed (no air force, no U-boats, no tanks, no battleships) 2. Germany’s army restricted to troops

Terms: Territory 1. The Rhineland (area between France and Germany) was demilitarized 2. France annexed the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, which had been taken from France by Germany in the Franco-Prussian war

Terms: Territory (con’t) 3. France could occupy the Saar for 15 years. This was an area rich in coal and iron ore 4. In the East, Czechoslovakia and Poland got large chunks of German territory

Terms: Territory (con’t) 5. Danzig (Polish corridor), important for shipping, was given to Poland 6. Germany forced to recognize Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Austria as independent countries

War Guilt Clause Germany was forced to accept total and sole responsibility for causing the war. This was seen by the Germans as a national humiliation.

Reparations Germany would have to pay $33 billion German territory had been totally immune from damage, while large areas of France and Belgium had been devastated George Edmund Butler's painting Zonnebeke (completed about 1918) captures the devastated Belgian landscape in the aftermath of the great battles of 1917.

The League of Nations Created Created after the war to help keep the peace Failed to prevent WWII, and was later replaced by the United Nations

Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles - Germany German representatives were shocked, and at first refused to sign. The Allies threatened to re-start the war, and resume a naval blockade on materials entering Germany

Reactions…Canada Prime Minister Robert Borden admitted the Treaty was harsh, but believed it should be harsh. Britain’s general view was the same. Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden

Reactions…America President Woodrow Wilson argued for a policy of forgiveness toward the defeated nations, but had little power because America joined the war so late. American President: Woodrow Wilson

Reactions…France French negotiators wanted to be sure that Germany would never again be a threat – they wanted an even tougher treaty. Georges Clemenceau – President of France

Repercussions of the Treaty Ferdinand Foch…French General in Chief of Allied Armies commented on the Treaty… “This is not a peace treaty; it is an armistice of 20 years.” He was right. Adolf Hitler started World War II just 20 years and one month later. Source: DesRivieres, Denis, et al. Experience History: Canada Since WWI. Don Mills: Oxford University Press, Adolf Hitler