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The Treaty of
Versailles
Attitudes of the Big Three
The Peace Conference to end World War I met at Versailles, France, in January 1919.
It was soon obvious that any settlement would be difficult as the Allied Powers
(Britain, France, USA and Italy) had differing views on how to treat the defeated nations
- in particular Germany.
France:
- Having been invaded twice in 40 years and with 1.3 million war dead, France wanted a
harsh treaty.
- Wanted to ruin Germany economically.
- Wanted Germany to be militarily weak.
- Clemenceau demanded an independent Rhineland.
- Wanted to annex the Saar region.
- Clemenceau argued his point strongly, in France, where the media was also advocating
such points.
Britain:
- Advocated a less severe settlement at Versailles.
- Wanted Germany to recover quickly so trade could begin again.
- British public opinion expected a harsh settlement.
- Lloyd-George had won the 1918 election using slogans such as 'Hang the Kaiser'.
USA:
- Advocated a more lenient treaty.
- Wanted Germany to be treated cautiously and involved in rebuilding Europe.
- Wilson was an idealist - wanted to put hatred, paranoia and rivalry aside and usher in
co-operation.
- Stressed revenge and punishment could have disastrous consequences.
- Wanted self-determination where nations were free from foreign rule and given democratic
Government of their own choice.
- View changed after the severe peace terms settled on Russia by Germany at Brest-Litovsk
came to light.
- Accepted the British and French demands for reparations and disarmament.
Treaty was drawn up by June 1919.
The main terms of the Treaty of Versailles
- Germany lost territory.
- Alsace and Lorraine went to France.
- West Prussia and Posen went to Poland.
- Danzig became a free city under the protection of the League of Nations.
- Saar to be administered by the League of Nations. After 15 years A plebiscite
(referendum) to be held to decide future.
- African colonies were taken away.
- Union between Germany and Austria was forbidden even if the people of the nations wanted
it.
2. German armaments were limited.
- Maximum of 100,000 troops allowed.
- No conscription.
- No tanks
- No armoured cars
- No military aircraft.
- No submarines.
- 6 battleships.
- Rhineland was to be permanently demilitarised.
3. Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war.
- Article 231 stated that Germany and her allies were solely to blame for the start of the
war. This was a legal requirement so that reparations could be demanded.
Quote: "Germany accepts the responsibility for causing all the loss and damage to
which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a
consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her
allies."
- Germany was to pay reparations for the damage caused. This was
levelled at £6,600 million in 1921.
- The Covenant of the League of Nations was incorporated.This was Wilson's idea where he
wanted:
"A people's peace which would be made secure by a League of Nations and
achievement of universal disarmament."
- The Treaty of Versailles was controversial.
- Even in the Allied countries, it was viewed as too harsh on Germany.
- Belief that Germany was bound to object to it and this may lead to another war.
- Reparations and disarmament were impractical.
German reaction to the Treaty of Versailles.
Germans had little choice but to sign the Treaty but they objected to it.
- It was a DIKTAT (dictated) peace.
- German delegates were not allowed into the discussions, were simply presented with the
terms.
- Believed peace would be based on Wilson's' 14 points which were more favourable from the
German point of view. Complained in particular about the reparations/ disarmament clauses
that were the last to be added. Germany knew of these before signing the treaty.
- Too much German territory was lost.
- But, after written protests, Upper Silesia - an industrial region - Germany had been
allowed to keep 2/3 of it.
- Most loss of territory was justified on grounds of self-determination.
- Complained about the creation of Czechoslovakia where 3 million German-speaking people,
who had previously lived in Austrian Empire, were now forced to live. The region was given
over to Czechoslovakia as it offered good natural protection from Germany.
4. Disarmament clauses were deeply resented.
- 100,000 troops were not enough to keep law and order.
- No other nation was willing to disarm.
- BUT disarmament would prove difficult to enforce as Germany exploited every loophole.
5. Germans objected to being blamed for beginning World War One.
- Reparations were humiliating and the amount was far too high. Many British
and American economists had argued this points. Famous
British example was John Maynard Keynes.
Conclusion
Germany did have grounds for complaint but the Treaty could have been more severe. As
stated by Norman Lowe (1986 - Mastering Modern World History)
"Germany was still the strongest nation in Europe economically, so that the unwise
thing about Versailles was that it annoyed the Germans yet did not render them to weak to
retaliate."
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