The Versailles Treaty Explained
The signing of the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors, 1919.
First World War was officially ended by the Treaty of Versailles, signed in Paris in mid-1919 This treaty imposed restrictions on Germany to reduce, if not eliminate its future ability to make war against his neighbors he also attempted to resolve outstanding disputes by arbitrating the ownership of European territories and colonial possessions, the finalization of national borders and the establishment of multilateral bodies to deal with future disagreements the Treaty of Versailles is considered by most historians were unsuccessful in both its intentions and objectives While moderate politicians have been pushing for a treaty allowed European reconstruction and reconciliation of national relations, negotiations were rather hijacked by populist who sought to punish and avenge rather than rebuild the brutal treatment of Germany contributed ed to the rise of Nazism in the 1920s, when his newly formed organizations, especially the League of Nations proved ineffective There was a telling sign of its failure twenty years after the treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors, the Europe was plunged again into total war, this time with even more disastrous results.
The treaty was negotiated and drafted the Peace Conference of Paris, which began its first session in January 1919, were delegates from 25 nations at the conference, the most notable absentees being defeated Germany and Bolshevik Russia to control both did not receive invitations the main war fighters were joined by representatives of small nations, some hoped to achieve independence, territory, or international recognition the Chinese sought to regain control of the Shandong Peninsula a colonial outpost of Germany, which was invaded later by Japanese Italians, who had entered the war primarily to acquire the territory of the Austro-Hungarians wanted land in the north and east of the Australia, represented by Prime Minister Billy Hughes, tried the German new Guinea-control delegates of the Republ newly proclaimed Ireland e sought international recognition and independence of Britain Jewish Zionists lobbied the conference for the formation of a Palesti nian State and the recognition of Palestine as their homeland a Vietnamese student, Nguyen Sinh Cung later known as Ho Chi Minh desired protection of the rights of people living Viet under French rule.
These requests for smaller nations have done little to distract the audience a great show what to do defeated Germany Much of this has been dominated by US President Woodrow Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and french leader Georges Clemenceau But the so-called big three had arrived with their own agendas.
Woodrow Wilson was the most conciliatory outlook for the agenda of the three Wilson was based on research by a study group of 150 American foreign policy experts, and focused on the causal factors and the 1914 crisis points armaments would be minimized; colonial conflicts must be finalized; Secret diplomacy and naval attacks in international waters would outlaw a multinational organization, the League of Nations, exist to resolve international conflicts; to guarantee the sovereignty of member countries; and protect small nations greater Fourteen Points Wilson also encouraged self-determination principle that national groups should have the right to decide their own destiny, to govern and to declare their independence, provided there is a consensus for that Wilson has also developed more specific points concerning the European countries and conflict.
Georges Clemenceau had as main objectives the recovery of Alsace and Lorraine, and the prevention of future German aggression against France the most outspoken of the three, Clemenceau regularly talked to the press and made known its views, sometimes without bluntly, he expressed concern that Germany was never invaded or conquered, so that its factories, mines and industrial capacity all remained intact, he pleaded for the industrial base of Germany to dismantle; the German economy should be rewound to focus on agriculture and small industry The German army should be of limited size, to defend Clemenceau also sought a military alliance linking between France and Britain and the United States, as extra insurance against German aggression he was not interested in Wilson's Fourteen points, which did not contain punitive measures against Germany or adequate protection against resurgent German militarism.
The researchers, while remaining divided, now tend to see the treaty as the best compromise that negotiators could get under the circumstances Delegations in Paris and their entourages had to quickly work the troops were to be sent home deliveries of food needed to enter the blockaded ports and revolutionary movements confinement necessary None of these efforts have helped delay the progress of the work on the heavy demands organizational skills, patience, mental and physical health, and the skills of political survival of participants Manfred Boerneke historian.
David Lloyd George took a more moderate position, at least initially, he wanted to protect the imperial possessions of Britain; Wilson Fourteen Points therefore bothered him since the notions of self-determination could undermine control in Lloyd George colonies was not immediately in favor of the will of Clemenceau to economically cripple Germany; he regarded the Germans as major trading partners in peace the early discussions on the German question, Lloyd George is sandwiched between the conciliatory approach of Wilson and Clemenceau stubborn demands for retaliation Asked how he had fared in Versailles, Lloyd George later responded Not bad, considering I'm sitting between Jesus Christ and Napoleon over time, however, the position of Lloyd George hardened Germany This was partly because of the Clemenceau influence, but also reflects the attitude of the British public Britain lashed by the anti-German press, demanded that Germany be punished and incapacitated; there were calls to hang the Kaiser and squeeze Germany until his seed cracking.
The Treaty of Versailles was often condemned for its emphasis on laying blame for the war.
After six months of negotiations, delegates to Paris reached a series of difficult compromises that have been shaped in a treaty The document was officially signed in the Hall of Versailles Castle Mirrors June 28, 1919 Due to the wide gap between their views, some delegates were satisfied with the final document No nation was less happy that Germany German delegates were excluded from the conference until may, after which their presence was a formality, so they can be lectured on what had been decided on their behalf Berlin was most concerned Article 231, the so-called war guilt clause, forcing Germany to accept full responsibility for causing the war this clause was drafted by US lawyers, who argued that Germany could not be held responsible for repairs to war if she admitted to ePart he Germans had been bracing for severe treatment in the treaty, but this clause has proved almost too much to bear.
The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a result of the war that is their imposed by the aggression of Germany and her allies.
The territorial and economic sanctions imposed by the treaty also have extensive Germany lost three percent of its land; six million Germans found themselves citizens of other nations Fifteen percent of German agricultural land and ten percent of its industry was given mainly to the merchant fleet Most of the French Germany was seized by Great Britain; she also lost all its colonial possessions Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France, the Rhineland was demilitarized and occupied, while the north of Schleswig was given to Denmark Germany was banned from political or economic union with the Austria Posen and West Prussia were ceded to Poland, cutting off East Prussia from the rest of Germany, the German army was reduced to 100,000 men and forbidden to have tanks, warplanes and artillery heavy; its navy was limited to 15,000 people, six battleships and no submarine Germany has also been excluded indefinitely from the accession of the new League of Nations.
A drawing of the treatment of Germany at the Paris peace conference.
The Treaty of Versailles was slammed by the German press as a humiliating peace imposed on them by a diktat Politicians of all colors openly condemned some Germans, including high military command members, called for a resumption of war, rather than submission to these expensive and insulting terms its civilian politicians have recognized the futility of this, however, and finally agreed to sign the treaty the news shook Germany and led to a popular theory among nationalists and groups extreme right that the nation had been stabbed in the back by traitors politicians in Scapa Flow, Scotland, where the bulk of the German navy had been detained since the armistice, the treaty signing prompted a last defiant act of German officers, not wanting to see their gifted ships to the British or French naval forces ordered them scuttling nau intentional frage; 52 ships were sunk with Deutsche Zeitung success a German newspaper, editorialized today in the hall of shame treaty Ice is being signed Do not forget the German people, with the incessant work, fast forward to reclaim the spot among the nations to which it is entitled.
1 The treaties ending World War were negotiated in Paris in mid-1919 by the delegates of the victorious 2 Allies There were many delegates, but negotiations have been dominated by the leaders of France, Britain and the United States 3 french leader Clemenceau urged strong punitive measures against Germany, to avoid the prospect of a new war 4 the Versailles Treaty, considered in Germany to be fully responsible for the war and likely to pay 5 repairs the terms of the treaty were severe, limiting industrial production and military of Germany; it was widely supported in Britain and France, has caused outrage in Germany.
В Alpha History 2014 The contents of this page can not be reprinted or distributed without permission For more information please consult our Terms of Use This page was written by Jennifer Llewellyn, Jim and Steve Thompson Southey To reference this page, use the following quote J Llewellyn et al the Treaty of Versailles Alpha History 2014, access date of last access.
The Treaty of Versailles, treaties, Versailles, the associated Allied governments.