The Peace of World War I
TASK 1: Country Goals
The Paris Peace Conference: In January 1919, representatives from the nations involved in WWI met to
hammer out a treaty that many people hoped would bring lasting peace to Europe. At the same time, there was
a lot of anger over the deadly and destructive war. Below is information about the goals of the winners and the
goals of the losing countries.
Winners of WWI
The winners of the war were France, Britain and Italy and the U.S.
France and Britain together lost more than 2 million men in the war
and much of France was destroyed. France and Britain blamed
Germany for the war and wanted to punish Germany and AustriaHungary. The winners also wanted to make sure that Germany
could never pose a military threat to the rest of Europe again. They
expected compensation in money and resources for the damage
done to their countries in the war. Moreover, they wanted to weaken
Germany and Austria-Hungary by taking land from them or by
making some of their territories independent
(A destroyed French village at the end of the war)
Losers of WWI
The losers of the war were Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. Like the Allied forces,
Germany and Austria-Hungary lost many men – 2 million German soldiers alone were killed. Germany hoped
not to shoulder all the blame for the war. Germany and Austria-Hungary both wanted to hold on to their
territory and their colonies and to minimize the amount of compensation they would have to pay other countries
for war damages.
Winners
Countries
TASK 1
Post WWI
Goals
Losers
TASK 2: The Treaty of Versailles
On June 28,1919, the Allied powers presented the Treaty of Versailles to Germany for signature. Read the key
clauses below with your partner. Determine the meaning of each article and decide which articles meet the
goals of the winners and which meet the goals of the losers. In the bottom row of the chart write the clause
number and a brief description of how it helps the winner/loser achieve their goals. Be ready to discuss your
answers.
Instructions
Read the different articles of the Treaty of Versailles. As you read them, put a + by every article that helps the
winners. Put a – by every article that helps the losers.
Article I: In order to maintain international peace and security the nations at this conference agree to establish an
international organization known as the League of Nations.
Article 22. Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish (Ottoman) Empire have reached a stage of
development where their existence as independent nations can be recognized.
Article 45. As compensation (payment) for the destruction of the coal mines in the north of France, Germany
cedes [gives] to France the coal mines situated in this region.
Article 51. The territories of Alsace and Lorraine that Germany took in 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War are
restored to French sovereignty (control).
Article 119. Germany renounces (gives up) all her rights and titles to her overseas colonies.
Article 159. The German military forces shall be limited to 100,000 men. Weapons such as tanks, heavy artillery,
poison gas, submarines and aircraft may not be used by the military.
Article 231. Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to
which the Allied Governments have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the
aggression of Germany and her allies.
Article 232. The Allied Governments require that Germany will make financial compensation for all damage
done to the civilian population of the Allied Powers and to their property during the period of the war.
Winners
Losers
Treaty of
Versailles
Impacts
Final Thoughts:
1. Who benefited most from this treaty – the winners or the losers? Why?
2. Based on the information above, do you think the Treaty of Versailles is an effective peace treaty? Why or
why not?