Transcript The Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles
Overview
Triple Entente: Losses

Britain : 750,000 soldiers killed; 1,500,000 wounded
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France : 1,400,000 soldiers killed; 2,500,000 wounded
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Belgium : 50,000 soldiers killed
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Italy : 600,000 soldiers killed
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Russia : 1,700,000 soldiers killed

America : 116,000 soldiers killed

Canada : 60, 000 soldiers killed
(The Treaty of Versailles)
Triple Alliance: Losses
Those who had fought against the Allies suffered
heavy casualties as well:
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Germany : 2,000,000 soldiers killed
Austria-Hungary : 1,200,000 soldiers killed
Turkey : 325,000 soldiers killed
Bulgaria : 100,000 soldiers killed
(The Treaty of Versailles)
Worldwide impact

The total deaths of all nations who fought in the war is
thought to have been 8.5 million with 21 million being
wounded. (The Treaty of Versailles)
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Europe had been devastated

In addition many towns had been destroyed

Infrastructure of cities needed to be rebuilt

The victors of WWI had no compunction about dealing
with Germany harshly as the most culpable for the
damages
Images
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Before and after: Photos from France
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Ruins of Vaux
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Ruins of Cantigny
The Treaty of Versailles
The terms of peace imposed on Germany after
WW I
Drafted at the Paris Peace Conference
Signed near the French capital at Versailles,
June 28th 1919
The intention was to weaken the German Empire
so she would not be able to rebuild and pose a
threat to the victor nations
The Terms of the Treaty

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Germany had to accept responsibility for the war
Dismantled the German Empire and redistributed lands (For
example: Alsace-Lorraine was given to France, West Prussia, Posen
and Upper Silesia were given to Poland and Germany had to
relinquish rights to her colonies)
Required substantial financial reparations form the Germans (269
billion gold marks approximately $393.6 Billion US Dollars as of
2005)
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Germany’s armed forces were reduced dramatically

This ultimatum if not accepted would result in invasion of Germany
by Allied forces
Canada and the
Treaty of Versailles
PM Sir Robert Borden led a successful fight for separate Dominion
representation at the conference and separate signatures on the treaty.
(Versailles, Treaty of)
He believed passionately that Canada, with 60 000 war dead, had paid the
price of such recognition. (Versailles, Treaty of)
Canada was represented on the British Empire delegation, a fact that increased
Canada's prestige and the opportunities for making its views known.
(Versailles, Treaty of)
Canada remained subordinate to Britain… but her emerging international
personality had been recognized. (Versailles, Treaty of)
The treaty also made provision for a LEAGUE OF NATIONS, providing another
vehicle for the advancement of Canada's national status (Versailles, Treaty
of)
The Treaty of Versailles
Primary Source Analysis
Read each excerpt
Identify the issue raised
What reparation and/or change
was expected from Germany
Article 231
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The Allied and Associated Governments
affirm and Germany accepts the
responsibility of Germany and her allies 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. (Treaty of Versailles: Articles and Annexes)
Article 235

In order to enable the Allied and Associated Powers to proceed at
once to the restoration of their industrial and economic life, pending
the full determination of their claims, Germany shall pay in such
installments and in such manner (whether in gold, commodities,
ships, securities or otherwise) as the Reparation Commission may
fix, during 1919, 1920 and the first four months of 1921, the
equivalent of 20,000,000,000 gold marks. Out of this sum the
expenses of the armies of occupation subsequent to the Armistice of
November 11, 1918, shall first be met, and such supplies of food
and raw materials as may be judged by the Governments of the
Principal Allied and Associated Powers to be essential to enable
Germany to meet her obligations for reparation may also, with the
approval of the said Governments, be paid for out of the above sum.
The balance shall be reckoned towards liquidation of the amounts
due for reparation. Germany shall further deposit bonds as
prescribed in paragraph 12 (c) Of Annex II hereto. (Treaty of Versailles:
Articles and Annexes)
Article 42-44
Article 42
 Germany is forbidden to maintain or construct any fortifications
either on the left bank of the Rhine or on the right bank to the west
of a line drawn 50 kilometres to the East of the Rhine.
Article 43
 In the area defined above the maintenance and the assembly of
armed forces, either permanently or temporarily, and military
maneuvers of any kind, as well as the upkeep of all permanent
works for mobilization, are in the same way forbidden.
Article 44
 In case Germany violates in any manner whatever the provisions of
Articles 42 and 43, she shall be regarded as committing a hostile act
against the Powers signatory of the present Treaty and as calculated
to disturb the peace of the world.
(Treaty of Versailles: Articles and Annexes)
Articles 119-120
Article 119
 Germany renounces in favour of the Principal Allied and
Associated Powers all her rights and titles over her
oversea possessions.
Article 120
 All movable and immovable property in such territories
belonging to the German Empire or to any German State
shall pass to the Government exercising authority over
such territories, on the terms laid down in Article 257 of
Part IX (Financial Clauses) of the present Treaty. The
decision of the local courts in any dispute as to the
nature of such property shall be final.
(Treaty of Versailles: Articles and Annexes)
Article 160
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By a date which must not be later than March 31, 1920,
the German Army must not comprise more than seven
divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry.
After that date the total number of effectives in the
Army of the States constituting Germany must not
exceed one hundred thousand men, including officers
and establishments of depots. The Army shall be
devoted exclusively to the maintenance of order within
the territory and to the control of the frontiers.
The total effective strength of officers, including the
personnel of staffs, whatever their composition, must
not exceed four thousand.
(Treaty of Versailles: Articles and Annexes)
Germany’s Reaction
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The Germans expected to be consulted by the Allies on the
contents of the Treaty.
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This did not happen and there was not much they could do about
it.
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The German representatives saw the terms of the treaty three
weeks before they were due to sign it on June 28th 1919.

There was anger throughout Germany about the terms of the treaty
being forced upon them and the treaty was called ” a Diktat”
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As they had little choice, the Germans signed the treaty
Many Germans felt that all of Germany was being held accountable
for the mistakes of its government
(The Treaty of Versailles)
Works Cited
"First World War.com - Primary Documents - Treaty of Versailles: Articles
231-247 and Annexes." First World War.com - A multimedia history of
World War One. 11 Jan. 2009
<http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/versailles231-247.htm>.
"Great War "Before and After" Photos." The World War I Document Archive.
11 Jan. 2009 <http://www.gwpda.org/photos/before.htm>.
"The Treaty of Versailles" History Learning Site::. 11 Jan. 2009
<http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm>.
"Versailles, Treaty of." The Canadian Encyclopedia. 11 Jan. 2009
<http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params
=A1ARTA0008340>.
The World War I Document Archive. 11 Jan. 2009
<http://www.gwpda.org/photos/bin01/imag0048.jpg>.
The World War I Document Archive. 11 Jan. 2009
<http://www.gwpda.org/photos/bin01/imag0048.jpg>.