30942808
Description
Flashcards by Malachy Moran-Tun, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Malachy Moran-Tun
almost 3 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Why were Germans not expecting such a Harsh Treaty? | > Kaiser had abdicated - the new government could not be blamed for war > New republic needed support, and assumed the Allies would want to help a new democracy > President Wilson (USA) declared 14-Points, which were generally fair to make sure Germany didn't want revenge > Most Germans felt that they were not to blame for war |
| Why was the Treaty of Versailles much Harsher? | > France wanted to weaken Germany so there was no chance of attack in the future > Germany was not invited to the negotiations, but rather the Treaty was agreed upon and then presented > Germany was told that if they did not sign, war would start again > 28th June 1919: German representatives reluctantly sign the Treaty |
| What were the 5 Terms of the Treaty? | GARGLe: Guilt Clause Armaments Reduced Reparations German Loss of Land League of Nations |
| What was the Guilt Clause? | > Simple but seen as extremely harsh > Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war |
| How did the Treaty Reduce Armaments? | > Limited to 100,000 men > Conscription was banned - had to be volunteers > Armoured vehicles, submarines, and aircrafts were all banned > Navy could only build 6 battleships > Rhineland became demilitarised (between Germany and France) |
| What were the Reparations? | > Exact figure agreed in 1921 > £6.6 billion > Changed under the Young Plan in 1929 > Paid off in 1984 |
| How did the Treaty Take away German Territories and Colonies? | > Overseas empire was taken away > Former colonies became mandates, controlled by the League of Nations (of which Germany was not a part of... so basically controlled by Britain and France > Germany unable to join together with its former ally, Austria > 10% of Land Lost > 12.5% of Population > 16% of coalfields and half of its iron and steel industry |
| What was the League of Nations? | > Setup as an "international police force" > Germany was not invited to join the League until it had shown it was a peace-loving country |
| What was the German Reaction to the Treaty? | > Overall horror and outrage > Believed German government had simply agreed to a ceasefire, and not surrendered > Army was previously a symbol of German pride - mocking that it was reduced to so little > Britain and France began increasing their empires - blow to German pride > German-speaking people were being divided and governed by foreign bodies - it seemed unfair and against Wilson's 14-Points > Insult that Germany was not invited to join the League of Nations |
| What were some of the Effects of the Treaty on Germany? | > Stab in the back theory - German people thought Ebert and his government to have purposely went against Germany > Kapp Putsch - Freikorps rebelled against Ebert's government 13th March 1920, ultimately failed due to strikes in Berlin > Reparations - paid in 1922, but in 1923, Germany failed to meet the payment date. French troops moved into the Ruhr and took anything valuable as payment > Hyperinflation - German workers responded with passive resistance (e.g. strikes), which lead to the economy collapsing. The currency became worthless and prices went out of control. People with savings and pensions were heavily affected |
| What were the International Views on the Treaty? | > Some (USA) said it was too harsh on Germany, and predicted that there would be another war (hmm seems unlikely) > Some (France) said it was not harsh enough, and that Germany should have been punished even more severely > Some (USSR) said that the USSR should have been consulted (hmm why would they say that?) > US Congress was very dissatisfied with the Treaty and refused to sign it |
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