Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles Overview 32 victorious countries met at the Palace of Versailles (just outside Paris, France) to develop a peace settlement in 1919 Restore order & reshape world after four years of war Main decisions were made by the so-called “Big 4” (Britain, France, USA, Italy) Because of our strong role in the war effort, Canada was represented as a single nation at the meetings & at the official treaty signing. Germany was not invited to the peace talks

1919 Treaty of Versailles Officially ended hostilities between Allies & Central Powers Terms were designed to weaken Germany so it would not wage war again The drafters of the treaty wanted to make WW1 “the war to end all wars” Changed the borders of Europe creating new countries in Eastern Europe from the pre-war Austrian, German, Russian, & Ottoman empires Formation of the League of Nations

The Big Three United States….Woodrow Wilson Great Britain….David Lloyd George France….George Clemenceau

U.S Post War World Woodrow Wilson Wanted settlement to ensure lasting peace Defeated countries should be treated fairly Wilson’s “fourteen points” included free trade & disarmament League of Nations be set up to settle future disputes by promoting cooperation between countries Woodrow Wilson

British Post War World David Lloyd George Two views on Germany British citizens wanted Germany to pay for what they had done PM felt a harsh treaty might cause bitterness that would cause Germany to seek revenge in the future Worried about communism & maybe Germany could be used as a buffer David Lloyd George

French Post War World Georges Clemenceau Wanted to avoid another war Thought Germany should pay for starting the war & the damage caused in the war He wanted to ensure that Germany was too weak to ever attack France again Georges Clemenceau

Changing Boundaries One result that came from Versailles was the redrawing of many longstanding borders & the creation of new countries within Europe Many of these were formed from territory that once had once belonged to the German, Austrian, & Ottoman Empires The emergence of these new countries led to boundary issues that creating tensions in Europe during the late 1930s

Germany & The Treaty of Versailles The terms of the Versailles Treaty that the Big Four imposed on Germany following WW1 were extremely harsh as they attempted to cripple Germany militarily, territorially, & economically By doing so the Allies had hoped to make renewed aggression from Germany impossible Instead, the treaty did the opposite, for it gave the German people grievances to which the German dictator Adolph Hitler would appeal

Germany & The Treaty of Versailles Germany had to pay reparations,($33 million in war damages) the bulk of which would go to France & Belgium to pay for the damage done to their infrastructure during WWI Germany had to admit full responsibility for starting WWI German had to give up all conquered lands & overseas possessions which became League of Nations Mandates Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria

Germany & The Treaty of Versailles Reduction of German military Army reduced to 100 000 men Conscription was banned Only allowed limited naval ships Forbidden to have modern weapons such as armoured vehicles, submarines, aircraft, or tanks

Germany & The Treaty of Versailles As we have discovered, the old pre-WW1 German empire in Europe was dismantled at Versailles Germany lost national territory in Europe to surrounding countries including Belgium & Denmark with most going to the newly created Poland

Germany & The Treaty of Versailles For Germany, it was to agree to the terms of the treaty & sign or face an invasion by allied forces

League of Nations Founded by the winners of WWI in 1919 to create permanent peace through collective security Collective security meant that if a member was threatened with conflict, the others would come to its aid- preferably by discussion & diplomacy rather than by the use of force

League of Nations Disputes/issues could also go to arbitration at the International Court of Justice If members went to war with another, other members would refuse to trade with the aggressor The League had many aims, including the improvement of world health & of living & working conditions.

League of Nations - Problems It was initially proposed by U.S.A President Wilson but the American Congress would not ratify American involvement so the world’s most powerful country did not join The League’s power rested in the strength of its members which often pursued their own interests or were more concerned with their own problems