Transcript Why did the Germans hate Versailles

The aim of today’s lesson is:
to understand why the Germans
hated the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles
The ‘Big Four’
Signed - 28 June
1919.
Hall of Mirrors,
Palace of
Versailles, Paris.
Lloyd George (Britain)
Orlando (Italy)
Clemenceau (France)
Woodrow Wilson (USA)
The Germans were humiliated that it
was signed in the Hall of Mirrors, in the
Palace of Versailles.
This was because in 1871, after
defeating France in a war, the Germans
held a ceremony to celebrate the
creation of the German Empire in the
Hall of Mirrors. The French were
getting their own back for this previous
humiliation.
Military
The German army
was limited to
100,000 men.
Tanks, gas, heavy
artillery were
forbidden in the
German forces.
Germany was
forbidden to have
an air force.
The Germans felt
This was because
The Germans felt defenceless.
This was because their army was now
tiny. It had been the biggest in Europe
before the First World War. Germany
was also not allowed to protect herself
with modern weapons and an air-force,
like the rest of Europe was.
Military
The Rhineland
(which was part of
Germany) was
demilitarised.
This means that
there were no
troops, weapons or
fortifications
allowed in this
area.
This was to create
a ‘buffer zone’
between France
and Germany.
The Germans felt vulnerable.
This was because the Rhineland was
part of Germany. Germany was not
even allowed to defend her own border
with France.
The German High
Seas Fleet (navy)
was to be handed
over to the Allies
(Britain).
The German navy
was limited to six
small battleships
and no submarines.
(The Germans then
deliberately
SCUTTLED (sank) the
whole fleet at Scapa
Flow in Orkney after
it had been handed
over.)
Naval
The Germans felt bitter.
This was because the High Seas fleet
had been the pride of Germany before
the First World War and the second
biggest navy in the world. It was an
extra insult that the navy had to be
handed over to Britain – Germany’s
biggest naval rival.
Territorial
 Poland was
recreated and was
given land from
Germany - West
Prussia, Silesia and
Posen to give her
access to the sea.
 This land became known as the Polish corridor.
The Germans felt torn-apart.
This was because East Prussia was still
part of Germany, but was completely
separated from the rest of Germany by
the Polish Corridor.
Territorial
Anschluss (An-sh-loose) - joining together
Germany and Austria to make one country, was
forbidden.
The Germans felt bullied.
This was because Austrians spoke
German too. Many Germans wanted
Austria and Germany to join together
to make one super-German power.
Territorial
Alsace and Lorraine
were returned to
France.
The Saar Coalfield
was given to France
for 15 years.
North Schleswig
was given to
Denmark.
Germany’s colonies
were confiscated.
The Germans felt impoverished.
This was because losing so much land
would make Germany poor. The Saar
coalfield created a lot of wealth for
Germany, as did her colonies.
War Guilt
Article 231 – the WAR GUILT CLAUSE.
Germany had to accept that she was
responsible for starting the war.
The Germans felt unfairly blamed.
This was because Germany was not the
first country to declare war in 1914.
Austria-Hungary declared war on
Serbia first.
Reparations
Article 232 – Germany had to pay
REPARATIONS ( damages, compensation)
of £6.6billion (about £284 billion today)
for all the damage done during the war.
(The final amount was not decided on until
1921.)
6.6 Billion
The Germans felt overwhelmed.
This was because this was a huge
amount of money. The terms of the
treaty made Germany even poorer at a
time when she already had huge war
debts. There was no way that she would
be able to pay this off, even in
instalments.
Collective Security
The League of Nations (the first version of the
United Nations) was set up in order to prevent
future wars.
Germany was not allowed to join the League.
(Neither were the other defeated nations Austria,
Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. Russia was also not
allowed to join.)
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The Germans felt excluded.
This was because Woodrow Wilson had
wanted a ‘peace without victory’, but
the League of Nations became a
‘winners’ club’. Germany was not allowed
to join and had no collective security ie
had no other countries to stand up for
her or protect her against aggressors.