The Treaty of Versailles
- In January 1919, 27 countries came together to draw up the terms for peace.
-The meetings were led, and most decisions were made by the “Big Three” countries involved in
the war. Each had their own ideas of what the peace treaty should contain.
- France (Georges Clemenceau): Of the Big Three, France lost the most men in WWI (1.4
million). France wanted revenge for the 1870 loss to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. They
wanted the province of Alsace-Lorraine returned, compensation for all the damage done by the
war, and a guarantee that another similar war with Germany would ever happen again. France
desired the harshest terms against Germany politically, economically, and militarily. Wanted
Germany to never be able to start a war again
- Great Britain (David Lloyd-George): Although Britain wanted revenge against
Germany, it did not want to make the penalties so harsh that Germany would not be able to
recover economically. It was in Britain’s best interests to have a strong trading partner. More
importantly, Britain believed that if Germany’s economy was destroyed, it would be more likely
that Germany would fall to Communism, he wanted to trade with Germany despite punishing
them heavily.
- USA (Woodrow Wilson): Although the US wanted to see Germany punished, they
believed that it was important for Germany to have enough economic strength to re-establish
trade with the allies. Wilson wanted to see a peace that was based on his 14 Points. Idealist
who come up with League of Nation.
- On May 7, 1919 the Big Three “dictated” their terms to Germany. The terms were not
negotiable. Germany was forced to accept them or face a possible invasion or a continued
blockade. The peace treaty was a “dictat” or dictated peace where Germany had no input
whatsoever.
- On June 23, 1919, German representatives signed the Treaty of Versailles which included
Article 231, the War Guilt Clause. This forced Germany to accept full blame for the war.
- The treaty was divided into three sections: one dealing with territorial losses, one with military
clauses, and one with reparations.
Some of the key points of the Treaty of Versailles:
- Alsace-Lorraine was to be given back to France.
-Germany was stripped of all its colonies.
- In January 1919, 27 countries came together to draw up the terms for peace.
-The meetings were led, and most decisions were made by the “Big Three” countries involved in
the war. Each had their own ideas of what the peace treaty should contain.
- France (Georges Clemenceau): Of the Big Three, France lost the most men in WWI (1.4
million). France wanted revenge for the 1870 loss to Germany in the Franco-Prussian War. They
wanted the province of Alsace-Lorraine returned, compensation for all the damage done by the
war, and a guarantee that another similar war with Germany would ever happen again. France
desired the harshest terms against Germany politically, economically, and militarily. Wanted
Germany to never be able to start a war again
- Great Britain (David Lloyd-George): Although Britain wanted revenge against
Germany, it did not want to make the penalties so harsh that Germany would not be able to
recover economically. It was in Britain’s best interests to have a strong trading partner. More
importantly, Britain believed that if Germany’s economy was destroyed, it would be more likely
that Germany would fall to Communism, he wanted to trade with Germany despite punishing
them heavily.
- USA (Woodrow Wilson): Although the US wanted to see Germany punished, they
believed that it was important for Germany to have enough economic strength to re-establish
trade with the allies. Wilson wanted to see a peace that was based on his 14 Points. Idealist
who come up with League of Nation.
- On May 7, 1919 the Big Three “dictated” their terms to Germany. The terms were not
negotiable. Germany was forced to accept them or face a possible invasion or a continued
blockade. The peace treaty was a “dictat” or dictated peace where Germany had no input
whatsoever.
- On June 23, 1919, German representatives signed the Treaty of Versailles which included
Article 231, the War Guilt Clause. This forced Germany to accept full blame for the war.
- The treaty was divided into three sections: one dealing with territorial losses, one with military
clauses, and one with reparations.
Some of the key points of the Treaty of Versailles:
- Alsace-Lorraine was to be given back to France.
-Germany was stripped of all its colonies.
