1. Treaty of Versailles

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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.

22. 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