Treaty of Versailles Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Source: Audio revision guide by www.msruralhistory.com
• Topic: Treaty of Versailles
• Focus: Terms of the Treaty and reactions from different countries
• Mnemonic to Remember Terms: GARGLE (Guilt, Arms, Reparations, German territory, League of Nations)

Terms of the Treaty

Guilt

• War Guilt Clause: Germany had to accept blame for starting the war.

Arms

• Military Limitations:
  • Army limited to 100,000 soldiers; conscription banned.
  • No armored vehicles, tanks, submarines.
  • Civilian planes allowed; no military planes.

Reparations

• Financial Compensation:
  • Germany to pay reparations mainly to France, Britain, and Belgium.
  • Set at £6,600 million in 1921.
  • Payments expected to last until 1984.

German Territory

• Territorial Changes:
  • Loss of overseas colonies, Alsace Lorraine to France.
  • Saar given to League of Nations; used by Poland.
  • Territories like West Prussia and Upper Silesia given to Poland.
  • Danzig under League of Nations control.
  • Unification of Germany and Austria forbidden.

League of Nations

• Establishment:
  • To handle international disputes.
  • Germany not initially invited; conditional on proving peace-loving status.

Reactions to the Treaty

France

• Public Sentiment:
  • Positive; celebrated the end of war and perceived victory.

Britain

• Public Support:
  • Generally supportive; viewed as just punishment.
  • Some concerns about the treaty’s effectiveness in maintaining peace.

Germany

• Discontent:
  • Felt unfairly treated; had no say in the terms.
  • New government punished for previous government’s actions.
  • Loss of territory and population.
  • Military restrictions seen as humiliating.

Debates on Fairness

Evidence for Fairness

• Moderate Terms:

  • Less harsh than public demands in winning countries.
  • Comparisons to harsher Treaties Germans imposed (e.g., Brest-Litovsk).

• Economic Argument:

  • Economic historians argue reparations were payable.
  • Success of Gustav Stresemann in improving economy post-1923.

Evidence Against Fairness

• Punishment of Wrong People:

  • Treaty signed by a new government, not the one that started the war.
  • Argued that new government needed support, not punishment.

• Shared Responsibility:

  • Argued that war guilt should not solely fall on Germany.

• Future Resentment:

  • Conditions caused resentment; left Germany strong enough for future revenge.

Conclusion

• Historical Debate:
  • Importance of presenting evidence for both sides.
  • Treaty perceived as either a necessary peace measure or an unfair imposition.