28 Jun 1919 Jahr - TOV is signed

Beschreibung:

Background info:
- The Treaty of Versailles (TOV), was signed at the end of WW1 and included all the rules that Germany now had to follow due to being blamed for the war. It was developed and then singed by the Big 3 (Woodrow Wilson, Clemenceau, and Lloyd George). However, for the treaty to work, they all had to agree on the same rules, but they all had different opinions on what to do with Germany, and therefore different aims for what the rules would then outcome of Germany.

What were the Big 3's aims?

- Woodrow Wilson (US)
He did not want to be too harsh on Germany, wanted to give self-determination to the small countries within the European empires, wanted international cooperation (setting up the LON), and wanted Europe to follow his 14 points

- Lloyd George (Britain)
Punish Germany but not too harshly, keep Germany as a trading partner, seek reparations for war debts and damages, wanted to get rid of the German navy to protect the British empire

- Clemenceau (France)
Punish and weaken Germany completely, deprive Germany of coal and iron, regain Alsace-Lorraine, rebuild France with German money, prevent the spread of communism

Why did the Big 3 have such different aims?

- Different experiences of war:
France was at war for 4 years, was invaded, millions died, country was devastated. The US joined in 1917 and lost fewer soldiers. The UK was not at all affected and was not invaded.

- Different geographical positions:
France shares a border with Germany, the UK is safe behind the English channel, US is across the world

- Different personalities:
Clemenceau was tough and believed in revenge, Wilson was an idealist and wanted to solve the world's problems, and Lloyd was a realist and prioritized his own empire.


What were the terms that ended up being decided in the TOV?

- Article 231 (blamed Germany for the war entirely)
- Germany had to pay £6.6 Billion in reparations
- German colonies were all given away
- Its army was limited to 100,000 men
- Conscription was banned
- The Navy could only have 6 battleships
- Rhineland became demilitarized
- Was not allowed ships or aircraft
- Germany would not be allowed to join the LON until it had proven itself to be a "peace-loving country"

What was Germany's reaction to the TOV?

- War Guilt and reparations:
Particularly hated, the public was bitter towards the TOV, the public felt the guilt should have been shared

- Disarmament:
Believed the army was too small to protect a whole country, lost their pride (Germany was known for its amazing army), upset that no other countries were forced to disarm

- German territories:
Economically and socially impacted Germany felt angry that Germany lost its colonies but France and Britain obtained some of them

- LON and the 14 points:
Did not like the 14 points and thought they were unfair (eg self-determination, some countries like Estonia and Latvia were given self-determination, but German people within the areas that were given away under the TOV were forcibly removed from Germany), and Germany felt further insulted by not being allowed to join the LON

- Non-representation:
Germans were upset that their government was not being inlcuded in peace talks and that they were forced to accept the TOV

What effect did the TOV have on Germany?

- Political Violence ( Kapp Putsch)
- Hyperinflation
- Conflict in the Ruhr

Was the TOV Fair or Unfair?

FAIR:
- Germany invaded France and Belgium in the war and caused massive amounts of damage and deaths
- Some land that was taken had self-determination and was given plebiscites
- Germany was still rich in terms of resources

UNFAIR:
- Germany did not feel they started the war
- Germany was not represented
- left the country defenseless (100,000 men in the army)
- Reparations had not yet been determined when Germany singed the TOV, only in 1921 was it determined

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