Combined Humanities History 219201 ToV

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TREATY OF VERSAILLES TERMS

W AR GUILT CLAUSE

Elaboration

-Meant that Germany was guilty of starting the war

-It was first time that one country in a war had ever been expected to take full blame for war

Explanation

-This meant that Germany accepted the full blame of starting the war, which meant that she

could not negotiate on the terms in the treaty, no matter how outrageous

-Made Germans feel that ToV was a µdiktat¶.

T ERRITORIAL LOSSES

Elaboration

-Alsace-Lorraine given back to France

-Saar coalfields was to be run by LoN, profits made given to France

-North Schleswig given to Denmark

-Lost overseas colonies

Explanation

-This meant that Germany would lose a lot of its resource rich lands, hence hampering its

economic development and rebuilding efforts as it does not have the resources to make

profits

-Furthermore, the loss in land resulted in a loss of taxable population Less money to

Germany Econ. devt affected.

-Germany proud of its large land affected German pride



M ILITARY

Elaboration

-army allowed only 100 000 men, conscription disallowed

-Navy only 15 000 men, 6 battleships and smaller ships

-No submarines, tanks or planes

Explanation

-Weakened Germany¶s military tremendously

-Affected Germany¶s defense, especially after WWI, made Germany seemed as weak and

vulnerable, easy to conquer

-Affected German pride.

REPARATIONS

Elaboration

- Had to pay reparations for war damages

- 6, 600 million pounds

Explanation

-Affected rebuilding of Germany (no money to rebuild)

-Made Germany heavily in debt

-Led to hyperinflation

-Affected econ. devt

W EIGHING

War guilt clause is worse cause then Germany cannot argue or negotiate over any of the

terms since the war guilt clause effectively made Germany the sole cause of the war, and

hence, must bear the responsibility of the war.



TREATY OF VERSAILLES FAIR OR NOT FAIR

F AIR

Brest-Litovsk Treaty

Elaboration

-When Russia withdrew from war, it had to concede to giving away large amounts of land to

Germany

-Eg. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Explanation

Hence, as Germany treated Russia badly when it withdrew, hence, Germany was in return,

badly treated.

N OT F AIR

Drawn into war by treaties

Elaboration

-Germany was drawn into WWI by treaties with Austria -Hungary

Explanation

-It was unfair that since she did not want to be part of the war, and yet had to bear the war

guilt clause and other harsh terms like reparations

ToV too harsh

Elaboration

-War guilt clause ± first time in history

-Reparations ± 6600 million pounds

Explanation

-Too much for Germany, affect its econ. Development.

-Germany did not want to be in war in the first place, and yet had to bear heavy reparations

W EIGHING

- Not fair cause much of war also fought in Germany, so a lot of damages in Germany too.

-Germany did not originally want to be i n war, so unfair to put ALL blame on Germany.

-ToV was µdiktat¶ to many Germans, and was too harsh for a country rebuilding from the war.



LEAGUE OF NATIONS FAILURE OR

SUCCESS?(1920S)

F AILURE

Political failures against powers

Elaboration

-The Ruhr (Fr take over in 1923, League could not make Fr withdraw)

-Corfu (League could not make Italy withdraw until Greece gave in on dispute)

Explanation

-Failure because it could not be able to settle conflicts favorably between powers

-Failed in its aim of promoti ng international cooperation, peace and security by accepting an

obligation not to go to war

Collective security

Elaboration

- League was weak in issues nations saw as threat to their security

- Eg Disarmament

Explanation

Failure cause it could not carry out disarmament in its belief of collective security, so its easy

for countries to got to war, and cause conflicts.



SUCCESSES

Social successes

Elaboration

-Wiped out leprosy

-Set up commissions in poorer countries

-Commissions worked against drug abuses

-Abolished slavery (freed over 200 000 slaves in Burma and Sierra Leone)

-Working conditions and wages improved by ILO

Explanation

-Managed to wipe out several diseases (eg leprosy), hence increasing standard of living

increased

-Working conditions improved, standard of living increased

-Managed to fulfill one of its aims to improve human rights issues

Political successes against small countries

Elaboration

-Aaland islands (btwn Finland and Sweden, given to Finland)

-Albania (between Yugoslavia and Albania, league made Yugoslavia withdraw)

Explanation

-Succeeded in its aim of promoting international cooperation, peace and security by

accepting an obligation not to go to war, and promoting open, just and honorable relations

between countries

-Stopped conflicts between small countries, one of its aims.

W EIGHING

Succeeded because improving social aspects and improving living conditions were important

directly after the war in the 1920s, but grew less important in the 1930s, where political

successes and failures became regarded as more important.



LEAGUE OF NATIONS - WEAKNESS

M E M BERSHIP

Elaboration

-USA, Germany, Austria, Hungary did not join/not allowed to join

-Possible to leave and join League easily (eg. Japan left league in 1933)

Explanation

-Exclusion of defeated nations in WWI did not make LoN seemed focused on peace

-Created resentment

-Could leave if they felt league was not helping them

-All this meant that the league had very little control over their actions due to its membership,hence membership of the league is a weakness.

ATTITUDES TO LEAGUE

Elaboration

-US didn¶t join

-Bri and Fr saw league as place to discuss things, did not take league seriously

Explanation

-Hence, many felt that since the US did not join, and s ince Bri and Fr did not take the league

seriously, they felt that why should they?

-Hence, many did not take league seriously, and hence, attitudes to the league was a

weakness of the league of nations.



DI FF ICULTY IN RESOLVING DISPUTES

Elaboration

-Depended on sanctions

-Many countries in league unwilling to play a part in sanctions (national interests over LoN)

-Many authoritarian regimes wanted to expand lands by conquests

Explanation

-As it became obvious that the league would not resort to force , countries became less

willing to listen to league

-many countries undermined league

-Hence, it was a weakness

W EIGHING

Attitudes towards league in greatest weakness as if member countries were serious about

the league, they would not leave if they felt l ike it, and would contribute towards the

sanctions instead of choosing their national interest over LoN.



EFFORTS IN DISARMAMENT IN 1920S.

US: W ASHINGTON N AVAL C ON F ERENCE (1921-1922)

Aim was to get the major world naval powers to disarm as the expensive naval arms race

could not be sustained. US invited Britain, France, Italy and Japan to attend conference.

This was done though a number of treaties, most importantly of which is the µFive Powers

Naval Limitation Treaty¶ .

Eg1: Under this treaty, countries agreed to maintain a balance in their respective fleets

according to predetermined ratios of:

USA:Britain:Japan:France:Italy = 5 : 5 : 3 : 1.67 : 1.67

Eg2: The 5 countries also agreed n ot to build any new warships for the next five years.

This resulted in less ships and naval war equipment being constructed in those five

countries, which brought about a partial naval disarmament as less ships are built.With less naval power, it is more difficult to attack another country.

OTHER COUNTRIES : LOCARNO P ACT (1925)

Eg1: Germany agreed to respect its new Western boundaries set up in the TOV.

Eg2: Signed by Germany and former Allied Powers

This was a good move to disarmament as this meant that Ge rmany would not try to

invade another country. Germany agrees to respect its new Western borders. It also

resulted in improved relations with its former enemies and paved the way for its

membership in the League of Nations. This was a good move to disarmam ent as itmeant that Germany could depend on the league to solve its disputes instead of

resulting to force, removing the need for a large military

K ELLOGG -B RIAND P ACT (1928)

Eg1: Initiated by French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand and American Secretary of State

Frank B. Kellogg. Signed by 15 nations, followed by over 60 countries in months that

followed.

Eg2: Meant that they would not resort to war as µan instrument of national policy¶, which

meant that they would not start wars to achieve political or e conomic ambitions.

This meant that countries would not attack others for their own gain. Hence, there is

less need for the military of the various countries. This pact encourages countries to

reduce their armed forces, as they are no longer needed. Hence, this pact leads to

disarmament.



WHY DISARMAMENT FAILED

C OUNTRIES CARED M ORE F OR NATIONAL INTERESTS THAN COLLECTIVE SECURITY

It was in countries¶ national interests to have a suitable deterrent to defend against

external threats. Countries did not feel comfortable in the relatively new concept of

collective security and would rather depend on themselves than on others as they felt

that other countries would not be as reliable.

LOOPHOLES OF VARIOUS AGREE M ENTS

Eg1: Kellogg-Briand Pact: could claim that was self defense to start wars.

Eg2: Italy and Japan refused to attend subsequent Washington Naval Conferences

meetings.

This meant that there was still an avenue for wars to start, hence countries were wary

of each other and did not trust the various agreeme nts, therefore still maintaining

their forces.



EFFECTIVENESS OF AID GIVEN TO GERMANY

E FF ECTIVE

Eg1: Dawes Plan (1924)

US loaned Germany 800 million gold marks that Germany used to end hyperinflation and

pay reparations. The total amount of reparations was reduced and Germany was given a

more flexible time schedule for repayment. France returned Ruhr to Germany.

Eg2: Young Plan (1929)

Further reduced German reparation to US$2.6 billion (1/3 of original sum). Repayment

period extended to 59 years.

Hence, the aid given to Germany was effective as it allowed Germany¶s economy to

develop. The aid given to Germany mostly served 2 purposes: to loan money to

Germany to develop and extend reparations time and reduce its amount. This meantthat Germany could use the money to develop its economy and develop its industry

to become a major world power again. More Germans could find employment,

increasing their standard of living.

N OT E FF ECTIVE M ADE G ERM ANY S USCEPTIBLE TO G REAT DEPRESSION

Eg1: Because Germany depended on the US for loans, German entrepreneurs and

businessman who depended on American loans and the sudden loss of this supply of funds

caused German economy to crash again.

Eg2: US recalled its loans to other countries Other countries recalled their loan s to

Germany Germany became poor

Hence, the aid given to Germany was not effective as it made the impact of the Great

Depression hit Germany harder than other countries. Its economic development was

hampered by lack of funds and other countries recalling loans. Many lost their jobs

and had their livelihoods affected, affecting their standard of living.

Combined Humanities History 219201 ToV

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