January 1918 president wilson proposed 14 points. which would be the key to a fair peace.
a ban on secret treaties and a reduction in arms
the idea that countries should not claim colonies without consulting each other and the local inhabitants
self determination for countries which were once part of the turkish and austro-hungarian empires
1 of 9
EXAM TIP
You do not need to know all fourteen points, only the main ideas which are summarised here.
2 of 9
The treaty of versailles
Germany were forced to sign the treaty in may 1919. and they had to agree that they were responsible for starting the war
German armed forces
The army was limited to 100,000 men
Conscription was banned. so soldiers had to be voulenteers
Germany was not allowed armoured vehicles,submarines or military aircraft
the navy could only have six battleships and 30 smaller ships
The rhineland became a demilitarized zone.the allies were to keep an army of occupation on the west bank of the rhine for fifteen years. no german troops were allowed into that area
3 of 9
COMMENT
Demilitarisation, and the other military terms of the treaty, were influenced by clemenceau to safeguard france against another German invasion
4 of 9
Reparations
the allies agreed that Germany should pay compensation to france,britain and belgium for the damage caused by the war. these payments were known as reparations. the exact figure of £6,600 million was set by a reparations commition in 1921.
Loss of teritories
Rhineland to be demilitarized
alsace lorraine to france
saarland to be run by the league then a plebiscite after 15 years
west prussia and posen to poland (Polish corridor)
upper silesia to poland
5 of 9
COMMENT
The terms of the reparations were influenced by clemenceau who wanted to cripple the german economy. the territorial terms were partly influenced by clemenceau, with the return of alsace lorraine, but also wilson and the goal of self-determination in eastern europe
6 of 9
German reactions to the treaty of versailles
German reactions
Feelings of injustice
The german leaders did not feel that they alone had caused the war
they felt that they should have been involved in the treaty negotiations
The league of nations
Germany felt further insulted by not being invited to join the league of nations
Military terms
Germans felt an army of 100,000 was too small for a country of germany's size
the army was a symbol of germany's pride
7 of 9
German reactions
Reparations
many germans felt that these were unfair and that germany could not afford to pay as her economy had been crippled by the cost of fighting the first world war
Loss of teritory
the loss of teritory was deeply resented by the german people
some germans were now living in countries rueled by foreign governments
the saar, an important industrial area, was now controlled by the league of nations but had been effectively taken over by france
8 of 9
Dates
Manchurian crysis - 1931-33
Abyssinia- 1935-36
Hitlers challenges to the peace settlement- 1033-36
Comments
No comments have yet been made