11.4: Making the Peace11.4: Making the Peace

AKA Treaty of VersaillesAKA Treaty of Versailles

VersaillesVersailles

The Big FourThe Big Four

David Lloyd Georges George Britain Clemenceau France

David Lloyd Georges George Britain Clemenceau France

The Big FourThe Big Four

Woodrow Wilson Vittorio Orlando(United States) (Italy)

Woodrow Wilson Vittorio Orlando(United States) (Italy)

The Big FourThe Big Four

French AimsFrench 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 AimsBritish 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 PointsWilson’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 GermanyPunishment 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

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

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 RestrictionsGerman 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 228-230: 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 228-230: many were tried as war criminals. Some could not be tried as they were hiding.

League of NationsLeague of Nations

League of NationsLeague 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 BuildingLeague of Nations Building

League of Nations BuildingLeague of Nations Building

League of Nations Members

League of Nations Members

Problems with TreatyProblems 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 TreatyProblems with Treaty