The treaty of Versailles was signed on the 28th June 1919. Germany had no choice but to sign. This was as if they did not sign it would result in war which Germany could not afford to do.
As a result of the treaty, Germany was weakened dramatically. Their empire had been disbanded and their country was being cut up, and there was nothing that they could do about it. Their military forces were limited to 100,000 soldiers, also conscription was abolished. The German navy was reduced to: six battleships, six light cruisers, twelve destroyers, and twelve torpedo boats. Plus they were not allowed an air force and no tanks or heavy artillery units were to be manufactured. This meant that Germany were very vulnerable to attack. This helped the allies as they knew that Germany would not be able to launch a successful attack on a country. Also they knew that they could easily attack Germany if they needed to if they broke the restrictions within the clauses, this evidence suggests a ‘dictat’.
Not only were there limitations on their military, their land was being taken away. Clemenceau wanted to make sure that France was secure from German attack and so demanded that France’s north-eastern boundary was safe. Germany therefore lost Alsace-Lorraine (rich in coal). The Rhineland was demilitarised to act like a buffer so that the French borders were secure. Eupen, Malmédy and Moresnet were given to Belgium, and Northern Schleswig went to Denmark.
Poland gained West Prussia and Posen. This made up a ‘corridor’, giving Poland access to the Baltic Sea and the port of Danzig (Made into a ‘free city’ and placed under control of the League of Nations. East Prussia was separated from Germany. Poland also gained half of Silesia.
The League of Nations took control of Danzig, The Rhineland, the Saarland (rich in Iron ore) and Memel.
Germany lost all of her overseas colonies. Britain gained Tanganyika in East Africa, part of Togoland and the Cameroons. The remaining African colonies were shared between Belgium and South Africa. In the Pacific, German possessions were shared between Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
In the end, to settle to dispute over reparations, a committee was set up. They finally agreed that $6,600 was to be paid from Germany.
Another clause in the treaty demanded that Germany would not be allowed to ally with Austria, as this would make another central power in Europe. This would have given the other representatives a feeling of security.
Clause 231 of the Treaty of Versailles placed the blame for all losses received by the Allies on Germany. The treaty also specifically asked that Kaiser be brought on trial. Kaiser Wilhelm II fled to Holland in 1918, and the Dutch refused to release him.
Most people in Britain had wanted revenge and so had gained some satisfaction. Lloyd George was satisfied that Britain had gained most of Germany’s colonies, so that after 1919, Britain could recover its wealth and power. France, however, was not satisfied that Germany had been weakened enough. Britain and America promised help to France should Germany threaten her in the future.
Wilson's concept of a just peace meant very little to the French. The people did not hold fond memories of the war atrocities. Clemenceau became knows as ‘the Tiger’ because of his ruthlessness and aggressiveness towards the treatment of Germany. Clemenceau’s ideas that he shared included reparations. The north of France was left devastated by the German attacks, and France had spent a lot of money on the war effort. They demanded this money to be paid back; Clemenceau asked for $200 billion. France lost about 1,400,000 men in action, for this the public was angry and demanded revenge. Wilson had endeavoured in making self determination apply to every country, when France (and Britain) were able to keep their empires as self determination didn’t apply to them, Clemenceau would have been happy. The primary piece of land they wanted returned to them was Alsace – Lorraine. Clemenceau would also have wanted to claim his share of the ‘mandates’; land that was not put under the control of the League of Nations, but under the power of the winning powers. France wanted a weaker Germany, with no navy to speak of, no air force and a much-reduced army. She wanted the borders of France and Germany to meet at the Rhine and she wanted Germany to lose all overseas territories. Georges Clemenceau wished for the creation of an independent Poland and Rhineland. France wanted Kaiser Wilhelm II to be put on trial, and for Germany to accept the blame for the war (Clause 231). Lastly, they wanted an alliance with Poland so at times of need they could combat any German uprisal. France also had motives that they would not openly speak of. They wanted revenge for their country and their people. Secondly, they wanted their empire to gain from the treaty. Though if they wanted to receive from the treaty, they knew that Britain would fight so to have an equal, or better share. An underlying motive included that they did not want Britain to gain as much from the treaty if Versailles.
Britain & France, both being imperialist nations had similar views, so Wilson would have been a great inconvenience to them both. They both would have opposed the League of Nations and if up to them, it would not have come into existence.
American was in a privileged position within the ‘Big Three’. Both Britain & France owed America large quantities of money, therefore Wilson was able to force his views over matters.
One of the peculiarities of the American political system is that it can put a man in the White House who has no real political pedigree. Wilson was one of these. He was an idealist but not realistic. Compared to Clemenceau, he was way out of his league (excuse the pun) in political terms.
Wilson’s aims for the peace treaty included the creation of a League of Nations set up so another war of the same magnitude couldn’t occur again. He also wanted self-determination to apply to most countries. He wanted loans to be made from the Allies, and for the freedom of trade and sea navigation. Also he wanted the creation of a Polish state and for Alsace and Lorraine to be returned to France. Basically, he wanted to enforce his 14 points.
Wilson, unbeknownst to his international counterparts wanted it to be known that America was the peace keepers, solving Europe’s problems. However, as said, Wilson was an idealist so this was not to be the case.
France’s empire was not affected by Wilson’s ideas for self determination, this would have come as a relief as France would have had to give their lands the chance to become independent from France. By making Poland a large, powerful country; Germany would be weakened. Territories from Germany, Russia and Austria – Hungary made Poland a more powerful nation that may help to withhold the spread of communism from the newly revolutionized Russia. Alsace-Lorraine was taken from Germany and handed back to France; Alsace-Lorraine held a mixed population so America wouldn’t have been too happy about this. The German’s armed forces (as previously discussed) were limited, and Germany was made to accept war guilt.
France partially achieved some form of reparation. They demanded $200billion, but this was too much; as the Reparations committee decided.
France wanted the Rhineland, rich in economical value, to be separated from Germany. However, others thought that this would weaken Germany too much. Eventually compromise was reached where no German soldiers were allowed in the demilitarised zone. Another peace of land up for dispute was the Saarland. France wanted it for itself for it was a coal rich area. Instead, it was put under control of the League of Nations. Danzig was turned into a ‘free city’, and was put under control of the League of Nations. Poland didn’t receive the port, though at least Britain did not receive it either. Also, the winning powers were given the ‘mandates’ to look after on behalf of the League. The mandates were made from the German and Turkish colonies.
We see Woodrow Wilson’s political inadequacy when although the League of Nations was accepted by other representative, America received little else. Self determination did apply to most countries, and Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France, but those were the only things they fully achieved.
Not all armed forces were reduced though, and self determination only applied to countries who were freed and wanted it, i.e. West Prussia. The League of Nations controlled the Saaraland and other important areas for 15 years until the country decided what they were going to do with themselves.
I feel that Georges Clemenceau got more from the peace treaty than Woodrow Wilson. Clemenceau evidently did live up to his nickname, the ‘Tiger’. He persisted in his opinions and generally succeeded in his undertakings. This may be because he had somewhat of an ally in Lloyd George. They were both Imperialists, and were both accomplished politicians.
In my view, Wilson could have persevered and influenced more in the treaty. He could have utilised his financial advantage to produce more results. I think that Wilson was an idealist, and did not act on these ideas; whereas his counterparts were more realistic and put to use his political power.