How the Treaty was agreed

Although an armistice was agreed to end fighting in the

First World War, the different sides had still to reach a legal

end to the war.

On 18 January 1919, 27 countries (excluding Russia and the defeated Germany,

Austria and Hungary) met in Paris to discuss peace terms.

Each country involved in the negotiations wanted to see

different outcomes; the most influential countries were

France, the UK, USA and Italy.

France sought a harsh punishment on Germany to

weaken them. France shared a border with the defeated Germans and so felt most

threatened by them.

Britain also wanted to punish Germany, exemplified by the

strongly anti-German sentiment in the 1918 ‘khaki

election’.

However the government also worried that punishing

Germany too severely would hurt European trade, and thus

damage Britain too.

The USA also played a key role in peace discussions.

In January 1918, US President Woodrow Wilson set out his peace vision in the Fourteen

Points speech, including:

• Rebuilding Europe

• Not damaging trade

• Setting up the League of Nations

By June 1919, the Allies had agreed a treaty amongst

themselves.

Germany were given the proposed treaty and told that failure to sign it would mean

the war re-starting. Germany’s Chancellor Philipp

Scheidemann resigned rather than agreeing to the treaty.

New Chancellor Gustav Bauer offered to accept the treaty if

certain parts of it were removed (including

reparations and war guilt).

The Allies threatened to invade Germany if the treaty was not signed within 24 hours. On 28

June 1919, Germany reluctantly signed the treaty.

Allied opinion was divided. Some worried the treaty was too damaging and this would

cause future problems.

Others said that the harsh Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Germany made Russia sign in 1918 (taking one third of

Russia’s population) meant they deserved no mercy.