Background Info (Germany After the War) Flashcards Preview

GCSE History - Germany 1918-1945 > Background Info (Germany After the War) > Flashcards

Flashcards in Background Info (Germany After the War) Deck (31)
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1
Q

What happened to the dictator kaiser during WWI?

A

He fled to Holland as he was forced to abdicate so a republic could be formed. He fled in the middle of WWI so Germany was left without a leader

2
Q

Why were Germany suffering from bankruptcy in 1918?

A

A large decrease in national income due to the war

3
Q

Why was the fact that there was a high loss in men lead Germany to surrender in the war?

A

Jobs were becoming difficult to fill as there were less men, eg. There were less farmers so there was less food so families were in low supply

4
Q

Why was illness a big risk in Germany in 1918?

A

There was a big flu epidemic spreading through the country and with the rations weakening the families they were prone to dying of the flu

5
Q

What was the treaty of Versailles?

A

The agreement between Germany, UK, France and USA that Germany lost and surrendered the war. The peace treaty ended the war between Germany and the allies

6
Q

What did the treaty state about Germany?

A

It said that Germany was to blame for the war so they should pay for the damage

7
Q

Who were the big three in the treaty of Versailles?

A
  • British PM David Lloyd George
  • USA president Woodrow Wilson
  • French PM Georges Clemenceau
8
Q

What were the intentions of George Clemenceau for the treaty?

A
  • draining Germany’s power so they can’t act in another war again or hurt France (as France is only over the border so is not sheltered from Germany like UK and USA)
  • demand payment from Germany for French land and human loss
  • France took back Alsace Lorraine and other land from Germany to weaken them (to protect France and get revenge on Germany)
9
Q

Name 4 reasons Germany called for an armistice in WWI

A
  • kaiser had abdicated
  • Germany were bankrupt
  • illness posed a big threat
  • high loss in men
10
Q

What were the intentions of Woodrow Wilson for the treaty?

A
  • he didn’t understand why UK and France were so angry and had so much hatred for Germany
  • fighting was only in Europe so USA didn’t suffer from land damages
  • set up League of Nations and follow his 14 peace points (main ones being: self determination for people in Eastern Europe, no secret treaties, League of Nations setup, colonies to have a say in their future, all countries work towards disarmament)
11
Q

What were the intentions of David Lloyd George for the treaty?

A
  • reelected for saying he would make Germany pay because Britain wanted Germany to suffer
  • if he angered Germany they will seek revenge or turn to communism or refuse to trade with Britain
12
Q

What was the war guilt clause in the treaty of Versailles?

A

Germany had to accept full responsibility for the war

13
Q

Why was the war guilt clause seen as unfair?

A

Germany weren’t to blame for the war because they didn’t start it, they joined it because of treaties made between Serbia and Germany. Although Germany caused a lot of damage, they were not to blame for the war

14
Q

Wherever many allowed to join the League of Nations?

A

No

15
Q

What did the major powers agree Germany had to pay for the reparations for the allies war damage?

A

It was decided two years after the treaty of Versailles that Germany would pay 6.6billion pounds for reparation fees

16
Q

What plan came in in 1929 to help Germany pay the reparation fees?

A

The Young plan came in because Germany would have been in debt for years to pay off the reparations

17
Q

What restrictions were made to the German army in the treaty of Versailles?

A
  • only allowed 100,000 men
  • no conscription, volunteers only
  • no armoured vehicles or submarines or aircrafts
  • only 6 battleships (for protection and defence)
  • therein eland was to be demilitarised (no German troops allowed)
18
Q

What happened to the land that Germany stole from France before the war?

A

France demanded it back in the treaty of Versailles

19
Q

What happened to Germany’s borders after the treaty?

A

They broke Germany up I to lots of little colonies, some under control of France and Britain via the League of Nations

20
Q

What happened in regards to Austria in the treaty?

A

Germany were forbidden from joining with their former ally, Austria

21
Q

Why was the treaty of Versailles known as a dictated peace?

A

Germany were not allowed to negotiate the terms

22
Q

Remember GARGLE!!

A
G-guilt 
A-armed forces 
R-reparations 
G-German Territories lost
Le-league of nations
23
Q

What was Clemenceaus nickname?

A

The tiger, because he was so brutal in the treaty of Versailles towards Germany

24
Q

How did Germany as a country react to the treaty of Versailles?

A

They were horrified and their lives were turned upside down

25
Q

How much of Germany’s population were lost?

A

12.5%

26
Q

How much of Germany’s land was lost?

A

10%

27
Q

Where did the missing 12.5% or population and 10% of land go?

A

To France or Poland

28
Q

Where did half of their iron and steel industry go and what did this cause?

A

It was taken away with the land and this caused Germany to be unable to trade with other countries

29
Q

What was Germany’s reaction to not being invited to join the League of Nations?

A

They were insulted

30
Q

How were Germany operating a double standard?

A

The Germans punished Russia for dropping out of the war when Germany surrendered with much harsher conditions than the treaty of Versailles

31
Q

How did Germany punish Russia?

A
  • took away 1/3 of their population
  • took away 1/2 of their industry
  • took away 9/10 of their coal mines
  • took away 6 billion marks in reparations