Compromises by the Big Three at Versailles (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)

42

The Rhineland (an area in Western Germany that bordered France) became demilitarised. Allied troops were stationed there until 1930

Germany was not allowed to have soldiers in the Rhineland. This made them vulnerable to an invasion from France

160

Germany’s army was restricted to 100,000 men

Many ex-soldiers became unemployed

181

Germany’s navy was restricted to six battleships and could not have submarines

Germany became weaker. They could not develop the military technology that other countries had

198

Germany was not allowed to have an air force

45

France was given the area of the Saar, with its coalfields, for 15 years

Germany lost 15% of their coal resources. This affected their economy

51

Alsace-Lorraine became a part of France again

Germany did not have a buffer between themselves and France any more

80

Anschluss (the union between Germany and Austria) was forbidden

Austria was a part of Germany’s cultural identity. Many Austrians considered themselves to be German

87

Germany lost Posen and West Prussia, which allowed the Allies to create a ‘Polish Corridor’. This gave Poland access to the sea

The ‘Polish Corridor’ divided Germany into two. Roughly one million Germans came under Polish rule

199

France and Britain ruled all 11 of Germany’s colonies in Africa and the Far East as mandates

Germany’s reputation as a global power was destroyed. They had fewer items to trade with other countries

1-26

The League of Nations was created, but Germany was not allowed to join

Germany felt excluded from world politics. They were more likely to resort to violence to resolve disputes

231

The ‘War Guilt’ Clause. Germany had to agree that they started the First World War. The clause made Germany accept responsibility for the deaths and destruction during wartime

This clause created the most anger among the German population. They felt it was unfair to take all of the blame for the atrocities caused by the First World War

232

Germany would have to pay the Allies reparations as a condition of their surrender. The amount was set at 132 billion gold marks (£6.6 billion). Germany had until 1980 to pay the debt

This amount would be enough to bankrupt Germany, especially as the territorial terms reduced their ability to trade

Did not believe that the treaty restricted Germany’s army enough

Britain’s naval supremacy meant that Wilson abandoned the idea of free navigation of the seas

The Rhineland was not given to France. The Allies demilitarised the area

Forced to allow Britain and France to increase their empires

Reluctantly agreed to the independence of Eastern European nations like Latvia and Bulgaria

Wanted to set the reparation payments higher

Germany was not allowed to join the League of Nations

Worried about the reactions of Germans under the control of France and Poland