PDF file: History - Advanced Higher - Germany - Education Scotland

Part C: The Treaty of Versailles
With the First World War over, the new Weimar Government not only had to struggle
to impose its authority in Germany, it also had to face the consequences of the peace
treaty that was being worked out by the victorious Allies. It is therefore important to
build up detailed knowledge of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the motives and
concerns of the men who created the Treaty, the reactions in Germany to the terms of
the Treaty, and the consequences for the Weimar Government of accepting the Treaty.
The war had not been fought on German soil and only months earlier German forces
had ended Russia’s part in the war and advanced west as far as the River Marne. It is
not surprising that defeat was difficult to accept.
Notes will be required on the following dimensions:
1. The peace aims of the Allies
This involves considering:
(i) The USA, President Wilson and the 14 Points
(ii) Lloyd George, Britain, and naval and imperial and economic concerns
(iii) France and Clemenceau and French concerns for security.
2. The Treaty of Versailles
This involved considering:
(i) Territorial arrangements including a ban on uniting with Austria
(ii) Military restrictions on Germany and the army of occupation in the
Rhineland
(iii) Financial arrangement including war guilt, reparations and overseas
instruments
(iv) Overseas arrangements including colonies and the fleet.
3. German Responses
This involves considering:
(i) Popular expectations of the peace
(ii) The attitudes of leading politicians
(iii) The arguments against the Treaty
(iv) An evaluation of the justice of German complaints
(v) The decision to sign the Treaty
(vi) Attitudes in Germany towards the Treaty
(vii) The emergence of the ‘stab in the back’ view.
History: Germany: Versailles to the Outbreak of World War II - 1918-1939 (AH) 15