What was the treaty of Versailles?
The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War One had ended in 1918
What was the League of Nations?
International organisation designed to stop wars in future.
The Paris peace conference was:
On 1919 Peace Conference was held in Paris to discuss the post-war world. Leaders of 32 states attended. However, negotiations were dominated by the five major powers: the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
The big three leaders;
David Lloyd George BRITAIN
Woodrow Wilson USA
Georges Clemenceau FRANCE
Main terms of treaty:
Guilt – Germans had to accept guilt for starting war.
Armed forces – army limited to 100,000 men, 6 battleships, no subs and no planes
Reparations - £6.6 billion was to be paid by Germany to Britain and France.
German land - a lot of land taken such as Alsace Lorraine which was given to France
League of Nations – International organisation designed to stop wars in future.
Some of Wilsons 14 points were:
• Freedom of the seas
• Belgium to have independence
• To end secret treaties
• Serbia restored.
What they want from treaty, their aims?
David Lloyd George –
Wanted to make Germany pay as he knew that the British people wanted to hear so
Land for Britain’s empire
To safeguard British naval supremacy
Justice not revenge, compromise between Wilson and Clemenceau
Woodrow Wilson –
End all wars by league of nations
To ensure Germany was not destroyed
Not to blame Germany, he hated guilt clause
Published 14 points on what he wanted
Georges Clemenceau –
Get revenge (as France had been invaded twice) and punish Germany
No league of nations
Wanted to weaken Germany so they could never attack again
Wanted huge reparations
German reaction:
Very angry due too; lost 10% land
Lost land like Alsace-Lorraine which were important as they earned money from the coal mines.
12% German population in other country’s