IGCSE History
AIMS FOR THE BIG THREE
Wilson had the → 14 points, his main ideas
- Don't be too harsh on Germany → USA had not been badly affected
by the war, he didn't want Germany wanting revenge , worried that
communists may seize power.
- Strengthen democracy in defeated countries → no war would be
caused later on.
- Give self-determination to smaller countries that had been part of
europe. → he wanted them to rule themselves.
- Set up the League Of Nations→ nations should cooperate for world
peace.
- All countries work towards disarmament.
- Freedom of the seas
What did Wilson get?
- League of nations was established
- Some self-determination was implemented
Lloyd George wanted
- He wanted Germany to lose its colonies instead of being given
self-determination.
- He agreed with Wilson that germany shouldnt be treated too harshly →
he wanted to keep trading with them and he didn't want them to seek
revenge in the future.
- He was also against the idea of a communist revolution and did not
want to treat Germany too harshly.
- He wanted Germany to lose its colonies and navy as it threatened the
British empire.
- He was against self-determination as he wanted to strengthen the
British empire.
- Retaining a strong trading relationship with Germany
● Taking Germany’s overseas colonies
● Harsh enough terms to satisfy the British desire for
revenge. Lloyd George had just won an election on the
promise that he would ‘make Germany pay’
● Germany keeping its military strength to prevent
communism from Russia spreading into Europe
● A reduction in Germany’s navy to reinforce Britain’s
naval supremacy
1. Georges Clemenceau wanted
● France had been badly affected by the war and wanted to
destroy germany.
● He wanted Germany to pay a huge amount of reparations
that would economically collapse them.
● He wants to strip them of their colonies and weaken their
empire.
● Georges Clemenceau wanted a harsh treaty that included:
○ High reparations
○ The protection of France’s borders
○ The splitting of Germany into states
○ Germany disbanding its armed forces to prevent
another invasion
○ The return of Alsace-Lorraine to France
○ Giving France the rich industrial area in
Germany known as the Saar Basin to rebuild its
economy
○ Germany giving its overseas colonies to France
Clemenceau and Wilson clashes:
1. Clemenceau detested Wilsons generous attitude towards the Germans.
2. They disagreed about what to do about Germany’s Rhineland and
coalfields in the Saar.
3. He gave Wilson his self determination.
Clemenceau and Lloyd clashes:
1. Clemecaeu also hated lloyds need to not treat Germany too harshly.
2. different opinions on economic reparations, dividing Germany, and the
role of Germany in future international affairs.
Lloyds and Wilson's clashes:
1. Lloyd George detested the idea of all nations having access to the seas.
2. He also hated the idea of self-rule and determination as he ruled many
colonies overseas.
The Treaty of Versailles:
1. War guilt clause (article 231) → Germany had to accept the blame→
seen as very harsh.
2. Had to pay 6,600 million pounds.
3. France received coal from the saarlands for 15 years.
4. Germany could not join together with austria.
5. Overseas colonies were taken and given control to Britain and France.
6. Army was limited to 100,000 men.
7. Not allowed armored vehicles, submarines or aircrafts.
8. Navy could have 6 battleships and 15000 sailors
9. Rhineland became a demilitarized zone. (no german troops were
allowed into that area, it was important as it was the border area
between Germany and France.
10. Could not join the LON until it proved they were peace loving.
11. Territorial Losses→ lost 13% of its land, alsace lorraine returned to
france, West prussia and the polish corridor were given to Poland,
northern schleswig were given to denmark, upper silesia to poland,
danzig was taken by the Lon as a free city. The saarland was taken over
by the Lon for 15 years.
12. France received coal from the saar for 15 years.
To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles fair?
It was fair:
1. Most people claimed that Germany could afford the reparations and
they were trying to escape the terms
2. They were responsible for millions of casualties and caused great terror
and death in countries.
3. Their army was brutal, massive injuries and destruction,
4. Hence the public opinion was that it was not harsh enough!
5. As they had caused a lot of military destruction → the military
restrictions were fair.
6. To pay for the damages the amount of reparations were also fair.
It was not fair:
1. Most people believed that the Treaty would follow Wilson's 14 points
which aimed to make a fair treaty for everyone, however the treaty was
harsh.
2. As Germany wasn't able to be part of the LON, support of extremist
groups rose.
3. They didn't believe that Germany should accept the blame of the war, it
was for multiple reasons including Britain.
4. Instead of a peace treaty many people felt like it was a revenge treaty
only designed to make Germany suffer, and was in the personal
interests of the big three.
5. Many people feared after Germany recovered they would be bitter and
seek revenge which would lead to another war.
6. The massive amount of reparations led to poverty, homelessness and
hunger. It also led to 6 million Germans displaced from their homes.
Past Paper Questions
4 markers:
Germany's colonies in TOV-
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Lost ALL
Most went to Britain and France- togoland, the cameroons
Mariana, Caroline, Marshall islands went to Japan
German South West Africa to Britain
German Samoa to New Zealand
Clemenceau Demands-
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Alsace-Lorraine had to be returned
Some germany colonies
Saar Basin
Rhineland independence
Austria Treatment
- Empire broken up
- Anschluss was forbidden
- Army- 30 000
- Navy broken up and distributed
What did Lloyd George want to gain?
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Britain to be able to trade with germany
European economy recovery
Did not want france to become a dominant power
Wanted to keep naval supremacy
Peace, reparations
Germany as buffer against communism
14 point purpose?
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Fair + lasting peace settlement
League of nations
Wanted self determination
International Cooperation
Wanted to ensure germany not too harsh
Military restrictions of TOV on germany
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100 000 army
15 000 sailors- 6 battleships
No air force/ heavy artillery
League of nations as deterrent
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