History- The end of the First World War; Background to the Treaty of Versailles.

Were the peace treaties of 1919-1923 fair?

The effects of the First World War

• Large areas of northern France and Belgium were in ruins.
• The Governments of Germany and Austria-Hungary had collapsed. These countries were defeated and exhausted.
• The victorious powers were also exhausted. Britain and Frane were almost bankrupt. Only the USA was in a strong financial position.
• Many people in Britain and France felt that Germany was responsible for starting the war and should be severly punished…