history elect notes 2261 ch 1-11

HISTORY ELECTIVE NOTES Chapter One The treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919. The Germans had to accept the terms inside the treaty. Terms of the treaty 1. Warguiltclause 2. Reparations 3. Territory change 4. Armed forces 5. League of Nations War guilt clause -Under Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany had to accept total blame for starting the war. This was often known as the War Guilt Clause. Reparations -Germany had to pay 6.6 billion pounds as reparations to the *Allies for war damage. -This figure was debated for some time and only set in 1921. *Britain, United States, Soviet Union Territory change -Germany had to give up territories to various neighbouring countries. As a result, it 1. lost10%of its land 2. lost 12.5% of its population 3. was forbidden to make alliances with Austria to form an Anschluss(Union) 4. had to give up its overseas empire 5. Former German colonies became mandates controlled by the League of Nations, which meant they effectively came under French or British control • Territories that belonged to Germany and Austria-Hungary were redistributed to the Allies E.g. Germany lost all her colonies, Alsace-Loraine and Saar coal region were lost to France, a ‘Polish Corridor’ was created from German territory to give Poland independent access to the sea. Germany was also forbidden to unite with Austria. Armed forces -German forces had to be reduced to well below pre-war levels 1. Thearmywaslimitedto100,000men 2. Conscription was banned; soldiers had to be volunteers

3. No armoured vehicles, submarines or aircraft were allowed 4. The navy could have only six battleships 5. The border area between Germany and France, the Rhineland, was demilitarised so no German forces or fortifications were allowed there League of Nations The League of Nations was set up as an international body to help countries resolve disputes and, if necessary, enforce decisions, Germany was not allowed to join German’s reaction to the terms of the treaty The Germans were angry that their government had not been represented at the Paris Peace Conference and was forced to sign the Treaty. They resented the harsh terms of the Treaty and many began to call it a ‘diktat’—a harsh settlement that is forced on a nation that is defeated a war. War Guilt Clause -The Germans felt that they themselves did not start the war -They also did not actually lose the war -They felt humiliated that they had to accept the War Guilt Clause Reparations -Germany already had huge debts from the war effort -Many Germans feared reparations would ruin the economy German territories -Losing so much territory was a major blow to Germany’s pride and economy -Reduced Germany’s standing amongst world powers -Prevented further German expansion with other German speaking territories Disarmament -An army of 100,000 was very small for a country like Germany -The army was a symbol of German