11.4: Making the Peace AKA Treaty of Versailles

Versailles

The Big Four  David Lloyd Georges George Britain Clemenceau France

The Big Four  Woodrow Wilson Vittorio Orlando (United States)(Italy)  Woodrow Wilson Vittorio Orlando (United States)(Italy)

The Big Four

French Aims  Return of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to France,  Ruin of Germany, so it will never threaten France again,  Revenge for the damage done by Germany,  Reparation, compensation for the damage Germany caused.  Return of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to France,  Ruin of Germany, so it will never threaten France again,  Revenge for the damage done by Germany,  Reparation, compensation for the damage Germany caused.

British Aims  To defend British interests by preserving Britain ’ s naval supremacy that had been threatened by Germany in the run up to the war, maintaining Britain ’ s empire and possibly increased colonial expansion.  To reduce Germany ’ s future military power and to obtain reparations.  To avoid an embittered Germany that would seek revenge and threaten peace in the long term future.  To help Germany economically to become a strong trading partner with Britain.  To defend British interests by preserving Britain ’ s naval supremacy that had been threatened by Germany in the run up to the war, maintaining Britain ’ s empire and possibly increased colonial expansion.  To reduce Germany ’ s future military power and to obtain reparations.  To avoid an embittered Germany that would seek revenge and threaten peace in the long term future.  To help Germany economically to become a strong trading partner with Britain.

Wilson’s Fourteen Points  Free Trade  No secret alliances  Independence for all nations  A general association of nations  Free Trade  No secret alliances  Independence for all nations  A general association of nations

Punishment of Germany  Germany Lost:  13% of its national territory  All of its overseas colonies  12.5% of its population  Union with Austria forbidden  Forced to pay reparations (money for war damages)  Germany Lost:  13% of its national territory  All of its overseas colonies  12.5% of its population  Union with Austria forbidden  Forced to pay reparations (money for war damages)

German Territorial Restrictions  Alsace-Lorraine yielded to France.  Annexation of Austria prohibitedn.  Annexation of Czechoslovakia prohibited.  Annexation of Poland and Danzig prohibited.  Loss of all overseas colonies.  Upper Silesia ceded to Poland.  Alsace-Lorraine yielded to France.  Annexation of Austria prohibitedn.  Annexation of Czechoslovakia prohibited.  Annexation of Poland and Danzig prohibited.  Loss of all overseas colonies.  Upper Silesia ceded to Poland.

German Military Restrictions  The Rhineland to be a demilitarized zone.  The German armed forces cannot number more than 100,000 troops and no conscription.  Manufacturing of weapons is prohibited.  Import and export of weapons is prohibited.  Manufacture or stockpiling of poison gas is prohibited.  Tanks are prohibited.  Naval forces limited to 15,000 men, 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats.  Submarines are prohibited.  Military aircraft are prohibited.  Artillery is prohibited.  The Rhineland to be a demilitarized zone.  The German armed forces cannot number more than 100,000 troops and no conscription.  Manufacturing of weapons is prohibited.  Import and export of weapons is prohibited.  Manufacture or stockpiling of poison gas is prohibited.  Tanks are prohibited.  Naval forces limited to 15,000 men, 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats.  Submarines are prohibited.  Military aircraft are prohibited.  Artillery is prohibited.

German Legal Restrictions  Article 231: forced to accept sole responsibility of war and had to promise to make good all the damage done to civilian population of the allies. Also known as the "War Guilt Clause".  Article 227: former German emperor, Wilhelm II was charged with supreme offence against international morality. He was to be tried as a war criminal.  Article : many were tried as war criminals. Some could not be tried as they were hiding.  Article 231: forced to accept sole responsibility of war and had to promise to make good all the damage done to civilian population of the allies. Also known as the "War Guilt Clause".  Article 227: former German emperor, Wilhelm II was charged with supreme offence against international morality. He was to be tried as a war criminal.  Article : many were tried as war criminals. Some could not be tried as they were hiding.

League of Nations

 40 nations joined the League to negotiate disputes  Would take common action against an aggressor  U.S. did not join because the Senate refused to ratify the treaty worried about being caught up in future wars  40 nations joined the League to negotiate disputes  Would take common action against an aggressor  U.S. did not join because the Senate refused to ratify the treaty worried about being caught up in future wars

League of Nations Building

League of Nations Members

Problems with Treaty  Many colonies and countries were counting on independence following WWI and this was not granted  Germany loses much of its territory and feels unjustly blamed for the war  Germany’s feelings allow for rise of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich in the 1930s  Many colonies and countries were counting on independence following WWI and this was not granted  Germany loses much of its territory and feels unjustly blamed for the war  Germany’s feelings allow for rise of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich in the 1930s

Problems with Treaty