Treaty of Versailles
Treaty that ended WW I. It blamed Germany for WW I and handed down harsh punishment.
Armistice Day
November 11, 1918; Germany signed an armistice (an agreement to stop fighting); this US holiday is now known as Veterans Day
Paris Peace Conference
all the victorious nations of WWI gathered to make decisions and peace treaties. Russia, Germany and the losing nations did not attend. They met in Versailles to negotiate the repercussions of the war, The treaty of Versailles was made
The Big Three
In the context of WWI it refers to Woodrow Wilson (USA), Georges Clemencau (France), David Lloyd George (Britain)
Georges Clemencau
prime minister of France who attended the Paris Peace Conference and wanted a very harsh punishment for Germany
Woodrow Wilson
President of the USA who attended the Paris Peace Conference with his 14 Points which were designed to prevent future wars.
David Lloyd George
British prime minister at Versailles who attempted to mediate between Wilson's "peace without victory" stand and Clemenceau's "revenge" philosophy, but with only partial success.
14 Points
Woodrow Wilson's peace plan to end WWI. It calls for free trade; an end to secret pacts between nations; freedom of the seas; arms reduction; and the creation of a world organization - called the League of Nations
War Guilt Clause
a provision in the Treaty of Versailles by which Germany acknowledged that it alone was responsible for WWI
German Disarmament
army limited to 100,000 soldiers, no subs, no air force, 6 battleships, de-militarize the Rhineland
Reparations
As part of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was ordered to pay fines to the Allies to repay the costs of the war. Opposed by the U.S., it quickly lead to a severe depression in Germany.
German land lost
Alsace-Lorraine to France, Saar to France, Polish Corridor, German colonies
League of Nations
International organization founded in 1919 to promote world peace and cooperation but greatly weakened by the refusal of the United States to join. It proved ineffectual in stopping aggression by Italy, Japan, and Germany in the 1930s.
Anschluss
Unification of Germany and Austria. Forbidden according to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.