Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-4-versailles-and-the-league-of-nations [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [GCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history.md) › [OCR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr.md) › Versailles & the League of Nations # Versailles & the League of Nations History: OCR A GCSE Cold War & International Relations, topic 1.1.4 ## 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/16a18ee6-ce8c-4d24-b119-9792f4bd4dc5/shutterstock_237233335.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/1337da3d-ea93-49bf-8935-183afa793092/shutterstock_245969041.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/8d5b6e67-1d7d-4116-a84d-47dc7ca1df54/shutterstock_249572506.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/98116a31-82b9-4532-bc32-b2a622e79550/shutterstock_452287282%20(1).jpg) - To keep the peace. - To promote international cooperation. ### Organisation of the LoN ![Organisation of the LoN](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/86f73969-b012-4daa-87f8-66e42db4d7d8/shutterstock_223257358.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/62ae60a9-5ae7-471f-bfa0-de173d42f719/shutterstock_251596087.jpg) - 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](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-05/12c5567c-3cf6-4e47-9402-1a10230a6873/shutterstock_432868021.jpg) - 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. ## Test yourself on Versailles & the League of Nations - When was the Treaty of Versailles signed? - Military terms of the Treaty of Versailles - Which country was Germany banned from joining with at the Treaty of Versailles? - Which of the following is true of the League of Nations? - What were the aims of the League of Nations? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/2536af80-4f7c-11e8-9781-7528a1e10f88/section/065132b0-4f9b-11e8-982b-dbc95978603b/session) - Previous topic: [1.1.3 The Terms of Versailles 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-3-the-terms-of-versailles-2.md) - Next topic: [1.1.5 LoN Successes & Failures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-5-lon-successes-and-failures.md) ## History: OCR A GCSE Cold War & International Relations contents ### 1 Key Topics - 1.1 Conflict & Cooperation 1918-1939 - [1.1.1 The Treaty of Versailles](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-1-the-treaty-of-versailles.md) - [1.1.2 The Terms of Versailles 1](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-2-the-terms-of-versailles-1.md) - [1.1.3 The Terms of Versailles 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-3-the-terms-of-versailles-2.md) - [1.1.4 Versailles & the League of Nations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-4-versailles-and-the-league-of-nations.md) - [1.1.5 LoN Successes & Failures](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-5-lon-successes-and-failures.md) - [1.1.6 LoN Failure - Upper Silesia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-6-lon-failure-upper-silesia.md) - [1.1.7 LoN Failure - Corfu & Washington](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-7-lon-failure-corfu-and-washington.md) - [1.1.8 End of Topic Test - Treaties and Agreements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-8-end-of-topic-test-treaties-and-agreements.md) - [1.1.9 The Great Depression](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-9-the-great-depression.md) - [1.1.10 Tension in Europe in the 1930s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-10-tension-in-europe-in-the-1930s.md) - [1.1.11 WWII & Failure of the League of Nations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-11-wwii-and-failure-of-the-league-of-nations.md) - [1.1.12 End of Topic Test - Tension in the 1930s](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-12-end-of-topic-test-tension-in-the-1930s.md) - [1.1.13 Grade 9 - Conflict & Cooperation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-1-13-grade-9-conflict-and-cooperation.md) - 1.2 The Cold War 1945-c.1989 - [1.2.1 Emerging US-Soviet Rivalry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-1-emerging-us-soviet-rivalry.md) - [1.2.2 Communism in the 20th Century](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-2-communism-in-the-20th-century.md) - [1.2.3 The Truman Doctrine & Marshall Plan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-3-the-truman-doctrine-and-marshall-plan.md) - [1.2.4 East-West Alliances](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-4-east-west-alliances.md) - [1.2.5 Berlin Crises](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-5-berlin-crises.md) - [1.2.6 The End of the Berlin Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-6-the-end-of-the-berlin-wall.md) - [1.2.7 End of Topic Test - East & West](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-7-end-of-topic-test-east-and-west.md) - [1.2.8 Build-up to the Cuban Missile Crisis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-8-build-up-to-the-cuban-missile-crisis.md) - [1.2.9 The Cuban Missile Crisis](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-9-the-cuban-missile-crisis.md) - [1.2.10 Cold War Conflict - Vietnam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-10-cold-war-conflict-vietnam.md) - [1.2.11 Cold War Conflict - Afghanistan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-11-cold-war-conflict-afghanistan.md) - [1.2.12 End of Topic Test - The Cold War 1945-1989](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-12-end-of-topic-test-the-cold-war-1945-1989.md) - [1.2.13 Grade 9 - The Cold War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-13-grade-9-the-cold-war.md) - [1.2.14 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Russia vs USSR](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-14-diagnostic-misconceptions-russia-vs-ussr.md) - [1.2.15 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin & the Atom Bomb](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-15-diagnostic-misconceptions-stalin-and-the-atom-bomb.md) - [1.2.16 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Iron Curtain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-16-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-iron-curtain.md) - [1.2.17 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Truman Doctrine](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-17-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-truman-doctrine.md) - [1.2.18 Diagnostic Misconceptions - USSR vs Eastern Europe](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-18-diagnostic-misconceptions-ussr-vs-eastern-europe.md) - [1.2.19 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Airlift](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-19-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-berlin-airlift.md) - [1.2.20 Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Berlin Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-20-diagnostic-misconceptions-the-berlin-wall.md) - [1.2.21 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Hungarian Uprising](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-21-diagnostic-misconceptions-hungarian-uprising.md) - [1.2.22 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Stalin's Death](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-22-diagnostic-misconceptions-stalins-death.md) - [1.2.23 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cuba](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-23-diagnostic-misconceptions-cuba.md) - [1.2.24 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bay of Pigs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-2-24-diagnostic-misconceptions-bay-of-pigs.md) - 1.3 From the End of the Cold War to 9/11 - [1.3.1 Reagan & Gorbachev](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-1-reagan-and-gorbachev.md) - [1.3.2 Consequences of the Soviet War in Afghanistan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-2-consequences-of-the-soviet-war-in-afghanistan.md) - [1.3.3 End of Topic Test - End of the Cold War to 9/11](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-3-end-of-topic-test-end-of-the-cold-war-to-911.md) - [1.3.4 Grade 9 - The End of the Cold War](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-4-grade-9-the-end-of-the-cold-war.md) - [1.3.5 Diagnostic Misconceptions - Fall of the Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/1-3-5-diagnostic-misconceptions-fall-of-the-wall.md) ### 2 Changing Interpretations - 2.1 Changing Interpretations - [2.1.1 Appeasement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-1-appeasement.md) - [2.1.2 The Responsibility for Cold War Tensions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-2-the-responsibility-for-cold-war-tensions.md) - [2.1.3 End of Topic Test - Appeasement](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-3-end-of-topic-test-appeasement.md) - [2.1.4 Grade 9 - Changing Interpretations](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/gcse/history/ocr/2-1-4-grade-9-changing-interpretations.md)