Background to WW1

Formation of AlliancesAlliance – An agreement between countries to work together and protect each other

Triple Entente – Britain, France, Russia

Triple Alliance – Germany, Austria-Hungary, Italy

Finally

AfterBefore

… So how did it all start?

Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary (AH)Assassin was from SerbiaAH declare war on SerbiaRussia (Serbia’s ally) declare war on AHGermany, Ottoman Empire, Italy declare war on RussiaBritain, France declare war on GermanyAnd it goes on and on and on and on until almost the whole of Europe is at war with one anotherEventually, USA and Japan joined as well, and Italy switch sides

Impact of WW1 in EuropeTo what extent was the Treaty of Versailles a fair treaty??

WW1

Many people died1914 – 1918 (4 years +)

Ended in Feb after Germany signed a peace agreement

Germany expected to be part of peace dealGermany was not even invited!

WW11914 – 1918 (4 years +)

Paris Peace Conference

Hall of mirrors, Versailles

Treaty of Versailles (TOV)

The Treaty of Versailles was signed at the Paris Peace Conference

Imagine yourself to have ‘won’ the war…

What would YOU do to the loser?

Major Powers

What they wanted

USA Don’t want anything! They can settle their own problems.

France - Germany to PAY!- Wanted land Geramny took from them back- Germany to accept TOTAL blame

Britain - Wanted naval superiority in the world- Wanted to prevent communism, Germany should be able to recover

Italy - Wanted rewards for switching sidesJapan - Wanted Asian colonies

- Wanted recognition

Terms of TOVWar Guilt Clause (Germany accept FULL blame)Territorial Reductions (Land taken away)Demilitarisation (reduction of military strength)Reparations (compensation)Self-DeterminationFormation of League of Nations******

War Guilt ClauseGermany to accept TOTAL, COMPLETE blame for all loss and damage to the victorsNo one else is at fault except Germany

Why do you think this is important to the victors?

Territorial Reductions

Territorial ReductionsGive its industrial heartland to France (Alsace-Lorraine)Polish CorridorNot allowed to unite with Austria

DemilitarisationReduction of military strength

Army of 100,000Navy of 15,000No airforceNo tanksNo submarines

ReparationsPay compensation269 billion gold ReichsmarksEquivalent to 96.4m kg of pure gold

Self DeterminationPeople given a right to choose their leadersRight to govern themselves

League of Nations (LON)Created to maintain WORLD PEACE… … …

So, was the Treaty of

Versailles a fair treaty?

Why?

Activity

This was all that was left of an European village in 1919 after fierce fighting during

WW1

A hotel in Northern France after being

heavily shelled

A bomb crater in France – Mar 1919

St Martin’s Cathedral

France - Aftermath of the German invasion in 1914

ObjectiveUnderstand the desire of each country going into negotiationsUnderstand important negotiation pointsTo show how difficult it was to negotiate the TOVHow the TOV affects Germany

… difficulty in reaching a consensus

“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages”

– Adam Smith extracted from the Wealth of Nations

Paris Peace ConferenceThe Big Three

Britain (Lloyd George)France (Georges Clemenceau)USA (Woodrow Wilson)

Paris Peace ConferenceNOT PRESENT:

Russia - not TRUSTED - became a Communist country after 1917 - withdrew from war half-wayGermany - defeated power - so not represented - not CONSULTED - no CHOICE but to ACCEPT TREATY

TREATY = CONTRACT or AGREEMENT

CONSULTED = ASKED

ActivitySit in groups of 3Each person will take the role of each of the Big ThreeRead your respective section (5 min)Discuss amongst yourselves and choose an option amongst yourselves.

THEREFORE, the Versailles Treaty was a DIFFICULT treaty to NEGOTIATE because:-the BIG 3 did not AGREE with each other- and had different AIMS and PRIORITIES and often CLASHED over many issues

The Versailles treaty was THUS a result of COMPROMISE!

NEGOTIATE = DISCUSS

PRIORITIES = MOST IMPORTANT AIMS

CLASHED = Disagree

COMPROMISE = GIVING in to each other and bargaining

Post-war feelingsCountry FeelingsGermany - Did not feel that they have lost

the war- Angry at and blamed their

government for signing the TOV

- Felt HUMILIATED

Impact of the TOVGerman humiliation

Loss of prestigeLoss of Ego

German Territorial reductionGerman Economic weakness

Weimar Government (Germany)

The Kaiser (King) has abdicated and left the countryNew rulers called the Weimar Government

Had no choice but to accept TOV or continue fighting

Germans were humiliated by TOVBlamed the Weimar Government for signing the TOV

GermanyLost all coloniesLost resource rich RhinelandUnable to merge with other ‘German’ territoriesLost 15% of its male population because of warNo workers to rebuild its economy

Terms of the TOV

War Guilt

Clause

Demilitarisation

Reparations (Compensati

on)

Self-Determinatio

n

League of Nations

Territorial reductions