1.1.4

Versailles & the League of Nations

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The Treaty of Versailles, 1919

The terms of peace were agreed in the Treaty of Versailles, 1919. The Germans were humiliated and resented (felt bitter towards) the Allies. They believed the treaty was diktat (a dictated peace) and that it was unfair.

General terms

General terms

  • Germany accepted blame for the war (Article 231, the ‘War Guilt Clause’).
  • Germany must pay £6.6 billion in reparations (payments to the victors) to the Allies.
  • The loss of land in Europe and all German colonies.
    • Germany lost 10% of its land and 12.5% of its population.
Military terms for Germany

Military terms for Germany

  • Military restrictions for Germany included having a maximum of 100,000 soldiers, 15,000 sailors, 6 ships, 0 submarines and 0 armoured vehicles.
  • The Rhineland was demilitarisatised (no military allowed in).
  • Germany was not able to join with Austria.
Resentment of Versailles in Germany

Resentment of Versailles in Germany

  • Some Germans felt that Germany could have won the war and so were ‘stabbed in the back’ by Ebert and his government that signed the armistice. These politicians were known as the 'November Criminals'.

The League of Nations, 1920

At the conclusion of WWI, the Treaty of Versailles established the League of Nations. It was made based on Woodrow Wilson's view of a new world order. But, 25 years later, this view was in tatters.

Aims of the LoN

Aims of the LoN

  • To keep the peace.
  • To promote international cooperation.
Organisation of the LoN

Organisation of the LoN

  • Made up of:
    • An assembly that met annually.
    • A council that met to consider crises whenever they arose.
    • A small secretariat that was responsible for the paperwork.
    • A Court of International Justice.
    • Several committees that performed humanitarian work.
Strengths of the LoN

Strengths of the LoN

  • The League of Nations was established by the Treaty of Versailles, which had been signed by every relevant nation.
  • By the 1930s, there were 58 member nations.
  • Had the power to respond to a country declaring war by applying trade sanctions.
  • Was able to provide arbitration through the Court of International Justice to enforce its aims.
Weaknesses of the LoN

Weaknesses of the LoN

  • The League of Nations was established by the Treaty of Versailles, which was disliked by all the nations who had signed it.
  • The aims of the League were unrealistic.
  • The League had no military personnel that it could call upon (use).
  • Important absentees from the League were Russia, Germany and the USA.
  • Unanimous decisions were required for an action to be taken.
  • The organisational structure was clumsy.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Topics

1.1

Conflict & Cooperation 1918-1939

1.1.1The Treaty of Versailles1.1.2The Terms of Versailles 11.1.3The Terms of Versailles 21.1.4Versailles & the League of Nations1.1.5LoN Successes & Failures1.1.6LoN Failure - Upper Silesia1.1.7LoN Failure - Corfu & Washington1.1.8End of Topic Test - Treaties and Agreements1.1.9The Great Depression1.1.10Tension in Europe in the 1930s1.1.11WWII & Failure of the League of Nations1.1.12End of Topic Test - Tension in the 1930s1.1.13Grade 9 - Conflict & Cooperation
1.2

The Cold War 1945-c.1989

1.2.1Emerging US-Soviet Rivalry1.2.2Communism in the 20th Century1.2.3The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan1.2.4East-West Alliances1.2.5Berlin Crises1.2.6The End of the Berlin Wall1.2.7End of Topic Test - East & West1.2.8Build-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis1.2.9The Cuban Missile Crisis1.2.10Cold War Conflict - Vietnam1.2.11Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan1.2.12End of Topic Test - The Cold War 1945-19891.2.13Grade 9 - The Cold War1.2.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Russia vs USSR1.2.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin & the Atom Bomb1.2.16Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Iron Curtain1.2.17Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Truman Doctrine1.2.18Diagnostic Misconceptions - USSR vs Eastern Europe1.2.19Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Airlift1.2.20Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Wall1.2.21Diagnostic Misconceptions - Hungarian Uprising1.2.22Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin's Death1.2.23Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cuba1.2.24Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bay of Pigs
1.3

From the End of the Cold War to 9/11

1.3.1Reagan & Gorbachev1.3.2Consequences of the Soviet War in Afghanistan1.3.3End of Topic Test - End of the Cold War to 9/111.3.4Grade 9 - The End of the Cold War1.3.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fall of the Wall
2

Changing Interpretations

2.1

Changing Interpretations

2.1.1Appeasement2.1.2The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions2.1.3End of Topic Test - Appeasement2.1.4Grade 9 - Changing Interpretations

Practice questions on Versailles & the League of Nations

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Military terms of the Treaty of VersaillesFill in the list
  3. 3
    Which country was Germany banned from joining with at the Treaty of Versailles?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Which of the following is true of the League of Nations?True / false
  5. 5
    What were the aims of the League of Nations?Fill in the list
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The Terms of Versailles 2

LoN Successes & Failures