The Treaty of VersaillesThe Treaty of Versailles
The End of WWIThe End of WWI
What was the Treaty of Versailles?What was the Treaty of Versailles?
The peace settlement signed after The peace settlement signed after WWI endedWWI ended
Signed at the Versailles Palace in FranceSigned at the Versailles Palace in France The Big ThreeThe Big Three
– David Lloyd George of EnglandDavid Lloyd George of England– Woodrow Wilson of USAWoodrow Wilson of USA– Georges Clemenceau of France Georges Clemenceau of France
The Major question: The Major question: How to pay for the How to pay for the damages?damages?
Some WWI StatisticsSome WWI Statistics WWI left Europe devastatedWWI left Europe devastated
– Britain:750,000 killed, 1.5 million woundedBritain:750,000 killed, 1.5 million wounded– France:1.4 million killed, 2.5 million woundedFrance:1.4 million killed, 2.5 million wounded– Belgium:50,000 killedBelgium:50,000 killed– Italy: 600,000 killedItaly: 600,000 killed– Russia: 1.7 million killedRussia: 1.7 million killed– USA: 116,000 killedUSA: 116,000 killed– Germany: 2 million soldiers killedGermany: 2 million soldiers killed– Austria-Hungary: 1.2 million killedAustria-Hungary: 1.2 million killed– Turkey: 325,000 killedTurkey: 325,000 killed– Bulgaria 100,000 killedBulgaria 100,000 killed
Total deaths equals Total deaths equals 8.5 million, 21 million 8.5 million, 21 million woundedwounded
The Attitudes towards GermanyThe Attitudes towards Germany Britain’s AttitudeBritain’s Attitude
– Germany should be punished, but Germany should be punished, but not so much that the people would not so much that the people would turn to Communism,turn to Communism, like what was like what was happening in Russiahappening in Russia
– The British public wanted severe The British public wanted severe repercussions for Germanyrepercussions for Germany
– Had to go with popular opinion, rather Had to go with popular opinion, rather than gut feelingthan gut feeling
The Attitudes towards GermanyThe Attitudes towards Germany
France’s AttitudeFrance’s Attitude– Bring Germany to their kneesBring Germany to their knees so that so that
it could never start a war againit could never start a war again
– This reflected the French public as wellThis reflected the French public as well
– Germany had destroyed the north-Germany had destroyed the north-east corner of France displacing east corner of France displacing 750,000 French people.750,000 French people. This This deserved a total reprimand.deserved a total reprimand.
Attitudes towards GermanyAttitudes towards Germany USA AttitudesUSA Attitudes
– Wilson and the USA were stunned by the Wilson and the USA were stunned by the atrocities of WWI. Questioned how a atrocities of WWI. Questioned how a civilized country could create that much civilized country could create that much devastationdevastation
– American public wanted to be American public wanted to be isolated from Europe, wanted isolated from Europe, wanted limited input on the Treatylimited input on the Treaty
– Wilson wanted Germany to be punished Wilson wanted Germany to be punished but in a way that would lead to but in a way that would lead to reconciliation, not revengereconciliation, not revenge
What did the Treaty do to Germany?What did the Treaty do to Germany?
-Took away -Took away vast amounts of landvast amounts of land from the from the Germany territoryGermany territory
-Alsace-Lorraine given to France-Alsace-Lorraine given to France
-West Prussia given to Poland-West Prussia given to Poland
-The League of Nations took over -The League of Nations took over Germany’s overseas coloniesGermany’s overseas colonies
--Return land to Russia taken away in the Return land to Russia taken away in the Treaty of Brest-LitovskTreaty of Brest-Litovsk: New Countries of : New Countries of Estonia, Lithuania, and LatviaEstonia, Lithuania, and Latvia
German MilitaryGerman Military
Germany’s army Germany’s army reduced to 100,000 reduced to 100,000 men and no tanksmen and no tanks
Germany was Germany was not allowed an airforcenot allowed an airforce
Only allowed Only allowed 6 naval ships6 naval ships
A DMZ was established along the Rhine A DMZ was established along the Rhine river, Germany not allowed to cross overriver, Germany not allowed to cross over
Three Critical AspectsThree Critical Aspects
1. Germany had to admit 1. Germany had to admit full full responsibilityresponsibility for the war for the war
2.2. Since Germany was responsible for the Since Germany was responsible for the war, it had to war, it had to pay full reparationspay full reparations mainly in France and Belgiummainly in France and Belgium
3.3. A A League of NationsLeague of Nations was established was established to keep world peaceto keep world peace
Germany’s ChoicesGermany’s Choices
They could either sign the TreatyThey could either sign the Treaty
Or, be invaded by the alliesOr, be invaded by the allies
Since their armies were completely Since their armies were completely disbanded, they had no choice but to disbanded, they had no choice but to sign itsign it