Key Inquiry question:
Was Germany to blame for WWI?
Sub Questions:
1. How was the damage and destruction of the First World War dealt with?
2. How did Germany react to the Treaty of Versailles?
Task 1: The End of the First World War
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On the 11th of November 1918 the First World War ended. At the end of the War, Europe was a complete and utter mess. Can you remember from the unit on The First World War that you completed in Year 9:
Read through the following background information. Summarise Each paragraph into ONE SENTENCE in your notebook, and DEFINE ANY TERMS THAT ARE IN blue italics.
More than 65 million young men were sent off to fight in the First World War. Over eight million of them never returned to their homes and never saw their loved ones again. If they were not killed in action, diseases and infections resulting from combat were two other significant causes of death. Additionally, nearly nine million civilians died from various causes, mostly from starvation, disease, stray artillery fire and bombings/air raids.
To say that the damage was catastrophic is a gross understatement. Twelve million tons of ships were sunk. In France and Belgium, where the majority of fighting during WWI took place, 300000 houses, 6000 factories, over 1600 kilometres of railways, and 112 coal mines were destroyed. As Historian John D Clare (1994) said, the "human cost of the war (in terms of damaged minds and bodies, and ruined lives) was beyond calculation." It can be argued that humanity never got over the First World War, and perhaps the Second World War and all the conflicts that have come since can be traced to this monumental conflict.
Just before the fighting stopped, various parties with vested interests began planning what to do after such a devastating war. In all three of the allied countries elections took place late in 1918. In the United States, the Democratic Party led by President Woodrow Wilson suffered a devastating blow in congressional elections (this did not mean Wilson was out of office). In Britain, an election was called for on 14 December. For a variety of reasons, not least because of the virulent influenza epidemic that was at its height at the time of the campaign, the public seemed apathetic towards broader party policies, and even Lloyd George’s promise to make Britain a "fit country for heroes to live in" aroused little interest.
- Who won WWI?
- Which countries were members of the 'Triple Entente'?
- Which countries were members of the 'Triple Alliance'?
- Who lost WWI?
Read through the following background information. Summarise Each paragraph into ONE SENTENCE in your notebook, and DEFINE ANY TERMS THAT ARE IN blue italics.
More than 65 million young men were sent off to fight in the First World War. Over eight million of them never returned to their homes and never saw their loved ones again. If they were not killed in action, diseases and infections resulting from combat were two other significant causes of death. Additionally, nearly nine million civilians died from various causes, mostly from starvation, disease, stray artillery fire and bombings/air raids.
To say that the damage was catastrophic is a gross understatement. Twelve million tons of ships were sunk. In France and Belgium, where the majority of fighting during WWI took place, 300000 houses, 6000 factories, over 1600 kilometres of railways, and 112 coal mines were destroyed. As Historian John D Clare (1994) said, the "human cost of the war (in terms of damaged minds and bodies, and ruined lives) was beyond calculation." It can be argued that humanity never got over the First World War, and perhaps the Second World War and all the conflicts that have come since can be traced to this monumental conflict.
Just before the fighting stopped, various parties with vested interests began planning what to do after such a devastating war. In all three of the allied countries elections took place late in 1918. In the United States, the Democratic Party led by President Woodrow Wilson suffered a devastating blow in congressional elections (this did not mean Wilson was out of office). In Britain, an election was called for on 14 December. For a variety of reasons, not least because of the virulent influenza epidemic that was at its height at the time of the campaign, the public seemed apathetic towards broader party policies, and even Lloyd George’s promise to make Britain a "fit country for heroes to live in" aroused little interest.
It was the nature of the peace that captured the public’s attention, and the public message was clear— it was to be harsh! The leaders of Germany should be tried as war criminals, Germany should pay Britain’s war costs (reparations) and German nationals, interned during the war, should be expelled from Britain permanently.
The anger towards Germany was inflamed by two further examples of German ‘frightfulness’ in late 1918. On 10 October the mail boat Leinster was torpedoed in the Irish Sea with the loss of 451 civilian lives. Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour spoke for most Britons when he declared ‘Brutes they were when they began the war, and ... brutes they remain’. Then about 60 000 British prisoners of war had been made to perform hard labour behind the German lines. When the war ended they were freed— undernourished, ill-clothed, and with no transportation. ‘Skeletons drag their way into France. Many dying on the road’, reported the Daily Mail.
On 29 November, George Barnes, a parliamentary candidate, coined the most famous slogan of the campaign: ‘Hang the Kaiser’. Sir Eric Geddes, from the Admiralty, later added, ‘the Germans ... are going to pay every penny; they are going to be squeezed as a lemon is squeezed—until the pips squeak!’
Lloyd George had begun the campaign moderately, calling for a peace of reconciliation and speaking of social reconstruction. However, he picked up on the mood of the public later in his campaign and was soon promising that he would demand the entire cost of the war from Germany. The government was returned with a large majority.
Woodrow Wilson, on the other hand, had been approaching things from a far more liberal standpoint from 1917 before the war even ended. In late 1917 President Wilson (USA) had hoped to induce the Allies to issue a joint statement of liberal war aims. When this was refused he issued his own plan on 8 January 1918. At the heart of the program was his proposal for the creation of a League of Nations to bring countries together for the preservation of future peace. At no time did Britain and France accept the Fourteen Points as the basis for a common program for peace. Germany at first rejected the Fourteen Points, but in October 1918, with defeat inevitable, Wilson was approached for an armistice and peace settlement on the basis of the program. While Wilson was prepared to consider this, Britain and France were not. They felt that the terms were far too vague and Wilson was strongly advised by his allies that the terms of the armistice must be left for the military leaders to decide. He relented and communicated this to the Germans on 14 October.
SOURCE C: The Fourteen Points proposed by President Wilson were as follows:
Why would Germany favour a peace based upon the Fourteen Points? Why wouldn’t the British and French favour this? Explain your answer making explicit reference to sources 1 -3 above!
The anger towards Germany was inflamed by two further examples of German ‘frightfulness’ in late 1918. On 10 October the mail boat Leinster was torpedoed in the Irish Sea with the loss of 451 civilian lives. Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour spoke for most Britons when he declared ‘Brutes they were when they began the war, and ... brutes they remain’. Then about 60 000 British prisoners of war had been made to perform hard labour behind the German lines. When the war ended they were freed— undernourished, ill-clothed, and with no transportation. ‘Skeletons drag their way into France. Many dying on the road’, reported the Daily Mail.
On 29 November, George Barnes, a parliamentary candidate, coined the most famous slogan of the campaign: ‘Hang the Kaiser’. Sir Eric Geddes, from the Admiralty, later added, ‘the Germans ... are going to pay every penny; they are going to be squeezed as a lemon is squeezed—until the pips squeak!’
Lloyd George had begun the campaign moderately, calling for a peace of reconciliation and speaking of social reconstruction. However, he picked up on the mood of the public later in his campaign and was soon promising that he would demand the entire cost of the war from Germany. The government was returned with a large majority.
Woodrow Wilson, on the other hand, had been approaching things from a far more liberal standpoint from 1917 before the war even ended. In late 1917 President Wilson (USA) had hoped to induce the Allies to issue a joint statement of liberal war aims. When this was refused he issued his own plan on 8 January 1918. At the heart of the program was his proposal for the creation of a League of Nations to bring countries together for the preservation of future peace. At no time did Britain and France accept the Fourteen Points as the basis for a common program for peace. Germany at first rejected the Fourteen Points, but in October 1918, with defeat inevitable, Wilson was approached for an armistice and peace settlement on the basis of the program. While Wilson was prepared to consider this, Britain and France were not. They felt that the terms were far too vague and Wilson was strongly advised by his allies that the terms of the armistice must be left for the military leaders to decide. He relented and communicated this to the Germans on 14 October.
SOURCE C: The Fourteen Points proposed by President Wilson were as follows:
- No secret treaties
- Freedom in the seas during war or peacetime
- Free trade between countries
- International disarmament
- Colonies should have a say in their own future
- All German troops out of Russia
- Indepence for Belgium
- France should regain Alsace-Lorraine
- The border between Austria and Italy should be changed
- Countries of Eastern Europe should have self-determination
- Serbia should have access to the sea
- The people living in the Turkish Empire should also have self-determination
- Poland should become an independant state with access to the sea
- A league of nations should be established to avoid further conflict
Why would Germany favour a peace based upon the Fourteen Points? Why wouldn’t the British and French favour this? Explain your answer making explicit reference to sources 1 -3 above!
Task 2: Evaluating sources
The 'Big Three' & the Versailles Conference (January - June 1919)
The Paris Peace Conference began with almost a hundred delegates from countries as diverse as Brazil, Portugal and Japan, though all the main decisions were taken by the ‘Big Three’: Wilson (USA), Lloyd George (Britain) and Clemenceau (France). Each had their different goals and the six months of discussions saw several clashes of personality and policy.
Georges Clemenceau At the age of seventy-seven, he had seen Germans invade his country twice, first in 1870 and then in 1914, and was determined it would never happen again. The peace had to be punitive—he was not interested in the sort of idealism spoken by Wilson. For Clemenceau the main issues were territorial. French security had to be guaranteed and this could best be done by weakening Germany, by reducing its size: territory in the east should go to Poland and in the west, as well as regaining Alsace–Lorraine, the Rhineland (that is the part of Germany lying west of the Rhine) should be detached and given to France. Clemenceau also strongly supported large reparations.
Woodrow Wilson Wilson was seen, and saw himself, as an idealist, seeking a peace that was fair and just. The centrepiece of his program was the establishment of a League of Nations to guarantee future world peace. He also favoured self-determination, the right of peoples to rule themselves; opposed the annexation of Germany’s colonies by the victorious powers; disapproved of French attempts to ‘dismember’ Germany; and wanted to limit any effort to impose reparations.
Lloyd George Britain’s priorities lay with the fate of the German colonies and reparations. While Lloyd George wanted to see Germany punished—he was conscious that the British electorate had recently re-elected him to ensure this—he also wanted to moderate the anti-German demands. Britain, by tradition, had never favoured a powerful France dominating the European continent.
Georges Clemenceau At the age of seventy-seven, he had seen Germans invade his country twice, first in 1870 and then in 1914, and was determined it would never happen again. The peace had to be punitive—he was not interested in the sort of idealism spoken by Wilson. For Clemenceau the main issues were territorial. French security had to be guaranteed and this could best be done by weakening Germany, by reducing its size: territory in the east should go to Poland and in the west, as well as regaining Alsace–Lorraine, the Rhineland (that is the part of Germany lying west of the Rhine) should be detached and given to France. Clemenceau also strongly supported large reparations.
Woodrow Wilson Wilson was seen, and saw himself, as an idealist, seeking a peace that was fair and just. The centrepiece of his program was the establishment of a League of Nations to guarantee future world peace. He also favoured self-determination, the right of peoples to rule themselves; opposed the annexation of Germany’s colonies by the victorious powers; disapproved of French attempts to ‘dismember’ Germany; and wanted to limit any effort to impose reparations.
Lloyd George Britain’s priorities lay with the fate of the German colonies and reparations. While Lloyd George wanted to see Germany punished—he was conscious that the British electorate had recently re-elected him to ensure this—he also wanted to moderate the anti-German demands. Britain, by tradition, had never favoured a powerful France dominating the European continent.
The clash of personalities
Prior to the conference, Clemenceau had objected to President Wilson representing the USA. As the only head of state, Clemenceau feared that Wilson would dominate the proceedings. However, having met Wilson in December 1918 during Wilson’s trip to Europe, Clemenceau withdrew his objection—he felt he had nothing to fear. Clemenceau and Lloyd George were at times irritated by Wilson’s assumed air of moral superiority. Their countries had, after all, borne the brunt of the fighting and suffering.
Six months of discussion meant that alliances changed between the ‘Big Three’. Some examples of this were the alliance between Lloyd George and Clemenceau against Wilson over reparations. Wilson lost. Lloyd George and Wilson were allied against Clemenceau over the detachment of the Rhineland. Clemenceau lost. Clemenceau and Wilson were allied against Lloyd George over revisions to the terms before final submission. A compromise was made.
Six months of discussion meant that alliances changed between the ‘Big Three’. Some examples of this were the alliance between Lloyd George and Clemenceau against Wilson over reparations. Wilson lost. Lloyd George and Wilson were allied against Clemenceau over the detachment of the Rhineland. Clemenceau lost. Clemenceau and Wilson were allied against Lloyd George over revisions to the terms before final submission. A compromise was made.
It is important that you do not accept texts, cartoons, reports, films, pictures, and photographs without question. Especially with a picture or a cartoon that has been created by someone, for some purpose. Ask yourself, why did the cartoonist/painter/photographer draw/paint/shoot this the way they did? You need to acknowledge in history that all sources are someone’s version of the event(s) they depict.
Thus, they may be more or less reliable as evidence when forming an historical argument.
Thus, they may be more or less reliable as evidence when forming an historical argument.
- Your first task is to provide a thorough description of SOURCES A & B (ABOVE).
- Secondly, DOWNLOAD the table below and put it in your OneNote notebook.
- Thirdly, think about this inquiry question: Should Germany have been made to pay for the First World War?
- Answer the example focus questions.
- Looking at these sources, why do you think the 'Big Three' had the attitudes that they did? Explain using evidence.
- Create a list of similar points that Clemenceau might have wanted.
- Evaluate Wilson's list (SOURCE C above). Is it realistic? Why or why not?
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Task 3: The terms of the Treaty of Versailles & Germany's reaction
- Click here to open the Historian John D Clare's website on the Paris Peace Conference and the treaties signed there.
- Read through SECTION 2: 'MAKING PEACE'
- In full sentences that use APA citation style to refer to specific pieces of evidence from Clare's (2006) website, answer the following question: What was it about the Paris Peace Conference that Germany might have found unfair? How do you think they would've reacted?
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles that were imposed on Germany were not imposed on any other country. These can easily be remembered through the acronym GARGLE. The terms were:
Source E: Harold Nicolson, member of the British delegation at Versailles, cited in B. Walsh, Modern World History, 1996.
"The historian, with every justification, will come to the conclusion that we were very stupid men ... We arrived determined that a Peace of justice and wisdom should be negotiated; we left the conference conscious that the treaties imposed upon our enemies were neither just nor wise." |
Source F: W. Carr, cited in A History of Germany, 1972. "Severe as the Treaty seemed to many Germans, it should be remembered that Germany might easily have fared much worse. If Clemenceau had had his way ... the Rhineland would have become an independent state, the Saar would have been annexed to France and Danzig would have become part of Poland."
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Source questions:
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SOURCE I: A German cartoon published in the German satirical magazine 'Simplissimus', 3 June 1919.
To get you ready for your first assessment item, let's complete the following as a class:
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