How did the Treaty of Versailles treat Germany?

Learning objective – to be able to explain the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany .

I can describe some of the ways the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

Grade D

I can explain how the Treaty of Versailles on Germany.

Grade B

I can explain and apply my knowledge to answer a set question on how the Treaty of Versailles on Germany.

Grade A

Starter – How much money did the Treaty of Versailles force Germany to pay in reparations

for the First World War?

The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to pay £6,600 million in reparations for the First World

War.

What was the reaction of the Germany people to the defeat in the First World War?

For most of 1918, the war was going well for Germany and the people were not told any negative news from the front line. The defeat and peace of November 1918 came as a great shock to the German people. They refused to believed that the army had been defeated – It had failed to win but was not defeated.

The new government had little choice but to sign the armistice and, subsequently, the Treaty of Versailles.

The Germans were furious and were looking for someone to blame – many felt that the German army was ‘stabbed in the back’ by the new government. The government, they argued, had betrayed the army, and they branded these politicians - the November Criminals. This resentment never left.

How did the Treaty of Versailles treat Germany?

How was Germany treated at Versailles?None of the defeated nations, including Germany, were invited to the Paris Peace conference – which lasted a year.

When the agreement was finalised, Germany’s representatives were invited to sign the Treaty of Versailles having 15 days to respond.

This agreement was non-negotiable and caused huge and lasting resentment in Germany. The Germans asked for changes but all were refused. In effect, the Germans could not refuse and had to sign it. They called it a ‘diktat’ – a dictated peace.

What did the Germans get at Versailles?

What was the ‘stab in the back’ myth?

Task

This comic strip helps you look at the different parts of the agreement in the Treaty of Versailles.

Stick a copy of this comic strip into your books and annotate it with details about the details from the Treaty of Versailles.

Plenary

This visual hexagon activity helps you make links between the different areas of the Treaty of Versailles agreement

In pairs, make links between each hexagon and write two sentences for each link explaining them fully.