Making peace > What did different leaders want?
From January to June 1919, the world's most powerful politicians met and tried to work out a peace settlement to end the Great War.
In this case study you will see a range of sources that show what the leaders of Britain,
France, the USA and Germany wanted from the peace treaty - and why it proved so hard to get a treaty they could all accept.
You will probably find it helpful to study the Background before you start looking at the sources.
Use the Worksheet as you look through the sources.
Sources
French proposals for a treaty, December
1918
Lloyd George's views on a treaty, March
1919
German views on the
Treaty of Versailles,
1919
Report on the state of Germany, April
1919
Report on US public opinion, July 1919
Leaders at the Peace
Conference, June
1919 http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/greatwar/
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Making peace > What did different leaders want?
Extracts from the French proposals for a peace treaty with Germany, 1 December 1918
(Catalogue ref: CAB 1/27)
1a 1b 1c 1d
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself: z What are France's main concerns about Germany?
z What would Germany have to do if France got its way?
z Do the French demands seem reasonable or unreasonable?
z How would Germany's leaders have reacted to the clauses of reparations?
z How would British and American leaders have reacted?
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Making peace > What did different leaders want?
Extracts from a document setting out British Prime Minister David Lloyd George's views on a treaty with Germany, 25 March 1919
(Catalogue ref: CAB 1/28)
2a 2b 2c 2d
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself: z In extract 2a, what is Lloyd George most concerned about?
z What is the warning being made in extract 2b?
z Is extract 2b arguing for a peace that does not punish Germany at all?
z What is the author's main concern in extract 2c?
z According to the author, what is the best way to avoid the dangers outlined in extracts
2a-c?
z Do you think the Germans, French and Americans would support these views?
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Making peace > What did different leaders want?
Comments of the German leaders on the draft terms of the Treaty of Versailles, 7 May
1919
(Catalogue ref: FO 374/19)
3a 3b 3c
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself: z In extract 3a, what is the German view of Germany's position in May 1919?
z Do the Germans appear to accept that they were to blame for the war?
z In extract 3b, what is the German attitude towards the war crimes that Germany is accused of?
z What is the German attitude towards Belgium?
z Does extract 3b suggest Germany is bitter about the Allied blockade?
z How would you describe the tone of extract 3c?
z Does this source seem to agree more closely with French views (source 1 in this case study) or British views (source 2)?
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Making peace > What did different leaders want?
Extract from the Illustrated London News on the state of Germany, 5 April 1919
(Catalogue ref: ZPER 34/154, reproduced by permission of the Illustrated London News
Picture Library)
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself: z What do you think it was like to be a civilian in these conditions? z What effect would weapons like these have on the population of Berlin?
z Do you get the impression that the British newspaper is sympathetic towards the suffering of ordinary Germans?
z How would this source affect the views of the British, French or US leaders about how the peace treaty should deal with Germany?
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Making peace > What did different leaders want?
Extracts from a report published in July 1919 on US public opinion towards the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations
(Catalogue ref: CAB 1/28)
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself: z Does this source suggest that the American people are deeply concerned about the treaty?
z What is the attitude of Americans towards the idea of a League of Nations?
z What is the view of American people on how Germany should be treated?
z Would you say that opinions in the United States were closer to the opinions of France
(source 1 in this case study), Britain (source 2) or Germany (source 3)?
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Making peace > What did different leaders want?
Extract from the Illustrated London News showing leaders at the Versailles Peace
Conference, 28 June 1919
(Catalogue ref: ZPER 34/154, reproduced by permission of the Illustrated London News
Picture Library)
How to use this source:
Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself: z Can you estimate the number of leaders and officials shown in this image?
z Does this image help you to understand why it was hard to make a peace treaty that all leaders could accept?
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