Strengths & Weaknesses of the Versailles Settlement (AQA GCSE History)

How should the Versailles Settlement be remembered? - Summary

One of the positives of the Versailles Settlement was that it aimed to create a lasting peace. The peace treaties established new countries and changed borders to reflect the principle of self-determination. It also set up the League of Nations, an organisation meant to help countries resolve conflicts peacefully and avoid another major war. These efforts showed a desire to create a fairer and more stable world.

There were also many negatives. The Treaty of Versailles and the other treaties placed heavy blame and harsh penalties on the defeated countries, especially Germany. These punishments included large reparations payments, loss of territory and strict military limitations. Many Germans felt humiliated and angry, which contributed to economic problems and political instability. In other countries like Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey, the treaties also caused resentment and hardship. These negative feelings and difficulties eventually contributed to new conflicts, including the Second World War.

Overall, the Versailles Settlement should be remembered as an ambitious but flawed effort to create peace. While it had some positive ideas and goals, its harsh treatment of the defeated nations led to significant negative consequences that the world would feel for years to come.

Strengths of the Versailles Settlement

• The Versailles Settlement brought peace to Europe

  • It temporarily eliminated Germany as a threat to international peace

• It created the League of Nations

  • Countries had a forum where they could:

    • Discuss their issues with an independent body

    • Come to compromises with competing nations

    • Avoid armed conflict

• The Treaty of Versailles could have been harsher to Germany

  • During the First World War, Germany created harsh peace terms for their enemies

    • The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918) imposed harsh terms on Russia. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk forced Russia to give up around 1 million square miles of land and over a third of its population

• The Allies allowed Germany to exist as a country

  • Clemenceau wanted to split Germany into states

  • Wilson and Lloyd George argued to keep Germany as a barrier to communism

Weaknesses of the Versailles Settlement

• Germany’s reaction to the Versailles Settlement indicated that it could cause future problems

  • The German population was angry at many terms of the Treaty of Versailles including the reparations and ‘War Guilt’ clause

  • Their anger made it more likely for Germany to seek revenge on the Allies in the future

• The Versailles Settlement was applied more harshly to Germany than the other Central Powers

  • Due to economic crashes, Austria’s and Hungary’s reparations were cancelled

    • When Germany’s economy collapsed, the Allies reduced but did not stop reparations

  • The Treaty of Lausanne undermined the Treaty of Versailles

    • It indicated that the Allied politicians knew the Versailles Settlement was unfair

• The Treaty of Versailles caused economic and political instability in Germany

  • Germany’s inability to pay reparations resulted in France and Belgium invading the Ruhr in 1923. This caused a hyperinflation crisis in Germany

  • Forcing Germans to live under foreign rule and its exclusion from the League of Nations isolated Germany

    • This increased support for extremist groups in Germany like the Nazis

• Wilson had too much belief in the League of Nations

  • The USA not being a member of the League weakened its power

  • The League ultimately failed to keep fair and lasting peace in Europe