US History

The Emergence of Modern America (1890-1930)

World History

Law and Government

This collection uses primary sources to explore the impact of the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I.

A painting of German chancellor Otto Von Bismarck meeting French diplomats at Versailles after the Franco-Prussian War, ca. 1871.

In this painting, Von Bismarck offers the French his terms after the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). The German artist sought to capture the French diplomats sinking into despair as Bismarck proudly issues the severe and humiliating terms he is forcing upon them. This 1871 negotiation also took place at the Palace of Versailles, which made it a symbolic location for signing the treaty ending World War I when the roles were reversed: France was among the victors and Germany was defeated. Other symbols included in the painting include the Prussian helmet and iron cross. There are also scraps of paper on the floor and a map of Europe behind Bismarck. 

An excerpt from a pamphlet featuring President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, 1919.

Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points outlined his vision for a lasting peace and the creation of a world safe for democracy to flourish. His idealistic rhetoric was met with resistance, however, during negotiations for the Treaty of Versailles, when European nations came to the table with a more punitive plan for peace. One of the most divisive of Wilson’s points was the final one about the creation of a “league of nations” that would protect the sovereignty of countries large and small. The League of Nations was established in 1920 following World War I, but, ironically, the United States never joined.

A clip of video footage of Armistice Day, November 11, 1918.

In this silent video, German and American soldiers shake hands and celebrate the end of World War I after the armistice, or agreement by both sides to stop fighting. The conflict had claimed the lives of millions of soldiers and civilians and left Europe utterly devastated. Although fighting would continue and more lives would be lost, this armistice, known as the Armistice of Compiègne because of the location in which it was signed, was the beginning of the end of the catastrophic world war. The armistice went into effect at eleven in the morning Paris time on November 11, 1918 ("the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month") and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although they did not formally surrender. The Treaty of Versailles had yet to be written at this point. 

An excerpt from a speech by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge to the US Senate urging caution about the League of Nations, August 12, 1919.

In this speech, Republican Majority Leader and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations Henry Cabot Lodge speaks to the Senate about US sovereignty and the need for the nation to be cautious about Wilson’s proposed League of Nations. The idea for the League, or a coalition of nations that would protect the sovereignty of countries around the world, came from Wilson’s Fourteen Points speech as well as Article X of the Treaty of Versailles. 

An excerpt from a speech by President Woodrow Wilson in support of the League of Nations, September 5, 1919.

In this speech, President Wilson defends his idea for a League of Nations to a crowd at a coliseum in St. Louis, Missouri. He discusses the merits of his “little endeavor” and argues why the League, or a coalition of nations that would protect the sovereignty of countries around the world, would be a necessary part of any lasting peace between the nations of the world. He urges both sides of the aisle—Republican and Democrat—to come to an agreement that America should join the League of Nations. Wilson originally proposed the idea for the League of Nations as the final tenet of his Fourteen Points plan.

An advertisement for a mass meeting about the League of Nations titled “Give Her the Key and Lock Him Up,” 1919.

In this poster, “Lady Victory” locks an aggressive German caricature, synonymous with “War,” in jail. With her hand extended toward the viewer, she seeks the public’s support for the League of Nations. The League to Enforce Peace, the organization hosting the advertised rally, was an American organization founded in Philadelphia in 1915 to promote the formation of an international body for world peace.

A 1919 map of new national boundaries in Europe as proposed by the Treaty of Versailles.

One of the aims of the Treaty of Versailles was to redraw national borders throughout Europe to reflect the ideals of nationalism and sovereignty of nations, both new and long-established. This map, created by C.S. Hammond & Company, illustrates the proposed changes in red. The German Empire, Ottoman Empire, and Austro-Hungarian Empires were most affected by these changes. Russia had already ceded much territory when it pulled out of the war in 1918 with the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. 

A clip of newsreel footage of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and soldiers returning home from the Great War, 1919.

This silent newsreel video shows the arrival of the “Big Four,” Woodrow Wilson (President of the United States), Vittorio Orlando (Prime Minister of Italy), Georges Clemenceau (Prime Minister of France), and David Lloyd George (Prime Minister of Great Britain) at the Palace of Versailles. The clip also includes the signing of the Treaty of Versailles by various stakeholders and parades that represent the homecoming of soldiers from the “war to end all wars.” 

A photograph of German delegates listening to the terms of the treaty at the Trianon Palace Hotel, 1919.

This photograph was featured in a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company. The caption reads, "German delegates at Versailles listening to Clemenceau's speech in the Trianon Palace Hotel, at which the Peace Treaty was handed them, to be followed by the formal close of the World war." The Germans tried to have changes made to the treaty, but their efforts were in vain. The allies threatened the continuation of hostilities and a starvation blockade unless the Germans signed.

A photograph of German diplomats Hermann Mueller and Johannes Bell leaving Versailles after signing the Treaty of Versailles, 1919.

This photograph shows Hermann Mueller, German Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Johannes Bell, German Colonial Secretary, leaving after signing the Treaty of Versailles. Onlookers noted that during the signing ceremonies and as they were leaving, both of the men seemed stoic and emotionless.

A political cartoon about German attitudes towards the treaty titled “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” 1919.

Cartoonist Clifford Berryman depicts two sides of defeated Germany as the time neared to sign the peace treaty formally ending World War I. After surrendering unconditionally, Germany had little power to negotiate terms of the peace agreement, which placed an incredible burden on Germany to provide reparations to the Allies. With quill pen in one hand, the German officer reaches out to the peace treaty and says, "Where must I sign?" 

An excerpt from a pamphlet titled “What Everyone Should Know about the Treaty of Peace,” issued by Berlin’s National Citizens Council, 1921.

As a result of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany experienced many economic hardships. The charts and infographics in this excerpt illustrate some of those hardships. The National Citizens Council was an offshoot of the right-wing Pro-Germany Citizens’ Movement. Although not considered part of the Nazi party, this organization was one of many focused on promoting extreme German nationalism. This pamphlet uses accessible images to demonstrate the “robbery” of Germany through the implementation of the treaty for citizen readers. It emphasizes territorial losses, reparation payments, military restrictions, food shortages, and hyperinflation.

A postcard titled “A German Matter of Existence,” 1934.

This postcard, part of a collection called “Greetings from the Fatherland: German Picture Postcards and History,” illustrates the imbalance of armed forces in Europe. Germany's disarmament, as required by the Treaty of Versailles, left it exposed to the superior military forces of its neighbors, east and west. In 1934, the year this card was mailed, Adolf Hitler began to rearm Germany and increase its military forces unilaterally.

A political campaign leaflet in support of the Social Democratic Party describing German inflation after the Treaty of Versailles, 1932.

This election campaign leaflet supports the Marxist SPD (Sozialdemokratic üdernahm, or Social Democratic Party) in the 1932 Reichstag, or German parliamentary, elections. Note the line of individuals waiting for food and the high prices of bread, margarine, and coffee. The SPD inherited a suffering Germany, devastated by the reparations they owed to the Allied Powers and mired in massive debt as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. In 1933, increasingly powerful Chancellor Adolf Hitler used the Enabling Act, a law that allowed him to bypass the Reichstag when making decisions, to ban the SPD. 

English Translation:

 The Social Democracy (Party) took over a "well-ordered" Empire in 1918.

[Translations of selected ration cards:]

[Ausweis 32055] 
Ration Card 32055 
in the amount of 
1/2 Pound of Margarine 
from a Berlin Magistrate trusted/approved City Margarine Seller location 
Valid until the 29th of February 1916 
Whosoever procures a ration card through dishonest means is in danger of punishment. The transfer of this ration card or the goods allotted thereby is forbidden.

[Card numbered XI 03162] 
Valid in Berlin 
the County of Teltow 
Amount of Ration 
1/2 Pound Coffee 
Merchant's Stamp 
Non-Transferrable! Details on back! 
XI 03162

Coffee = Replacement = Card 
Valid in Berlin, the neighboring cities and 
the County of Teltow and Niederbarnim 
Amount of Ration 
1/2 Pound of Coffee=Replacement 
Merchant's Stamp 
Non-Transferrable! Details on back! 
XI 03162

[Card with crest and headed “Groß Berlin”] 
Greater Berlin 
Butter Card 
for 
[???] 
until the 8th Week 
Valid on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, [???] 
Not transferable. 
Details on the back! 
XLV 
[Around the side of this one it has place to put the stamps upon receipt. Lower left, then right side:] 
1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 10.April until the 16.April 
1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 17.May until the 23.May 
1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 24.June until the 30.June 
1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 1.July until the 7.July 
1/4 Pound Butter Valid from the 8?.August until the 14.August? 


[Card with “Kartoffelkarte” at center] 
Potato Card 
for Berlin and Neighboring Areas 
Valid for the period of the 21st of January until the 17th of February 1918? 
Details on back! 
XX 97740 
[Right side asking for name and address of card holder.]

[Text at bottom right of photo] 
Daylong waiting for 100 grams of meet or 1/4 of margarine. 

[Text at bottom in black background/white text] 
95 Million Marks (currency) funded Debt (War Bonds) 
35 Million Marks fluctuating Debt 
130 Million in Debt on the 31st of October 1918

A postcard titled “Never Forget the Shameful Peace at Versailles!,” 1930s.

After World War I, the German army felt it had been stabbed in the back by those in power. The Treaty of Versailles exceeded Germany's worst expectations. The bitter resentment which many Germans felt towards the Treaty of Versailles is explicit in this postcard. High above the Rhine, where the German eagle soars, "Germania" broods. Although her sword is at rest, it is ready, and her hand is on the hilt. The text on the bottom of the postcard translates to "Never forget the shameful peace of Versailles!" 

Questions

1. Read [President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1889). Which ideas are in practice today? Which of his points do you agree with? Which ones do you think would prove controversial, both in 1918 and today? 
2. The United States entered World War I on April 2, 1917, but European soldiers had already been at war for three years since the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914 lit the fuse that started the conflict. Watch the [video footage of Armistice Day](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1890). How do you think the US and Europeans differed in how they received the news of the armistice?
3. Read the speeches by [Senator Henry Cabot Lodge](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1891) and [President Woodrow Wilson](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1892) and compare their arguments for and against the League of Nations.
4. Look at the [map of new national boundaries in Europe](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1894). List major changes to the map of Europe as a result of the Treaty of Versailles. What, if any, social, political, economic, or cultural conflicts could arise from these changes?
5. Watch the [newsreel footage of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1895). What do you notice about the slides in between the footage? Does the video represent a biased perspective? Describe why or why not.
6. Compare the [photograph of German delegates listening to the terms of the treaty](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1896), the [photograph of the German diplomats leaving Versailles](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1897), and the [political cartoon about German attitudes towards the treaty](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1898), which offer insight into the German side of the signing of the treaty. Based on these images, how did the Germans feel about being forced to accept the Allies’ terms?
7. The excerpt from “[What Everyone Should Know about the Treaty of Peace](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1899),” and the [political campaign leaflet in support of the Social Democratic Party](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1901) focus on the economic implications of the Treaty of Versailles. List the major economic effects of the treaty described in these sources and cite textual evidence.
8. The postcards titled “[A German Matter of Existence](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1900),” and “[Never Forget the Shameful Peace at Versailles!](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1902)” focus on the political ramifications of the Treaty of Versailles. Use these images to describe how Hitler and others used the treaty to advance their political ideas.

Activity

1. Ask students to consider the following question: Which argument does the [advertisement for a mass meeting about the League of Nations](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1893) support, [Henry Cabot Lodge’s](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1891) or [Woodrow Wilson’s](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/sources/1892)? Ask students to draw or find a political cartoon that offers a different perspective on the League of Nations and write a detailed description that explains whether it supports Lodge’s or Wilson’s viewpoint.
2. Pose this question to students: If you could go back and be present at the peace talks that led to the writing of the Treaty of Versailles, what advice would you give to the “Big Four?” What advice would you give to Germany? Have students write a paragraph explaining what they would do, if anything, to change the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Teaching Guide: Exploring the Treaty of Versailles

Resources

1. [The Great War, 1914-1918: Making Peace](http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/greatwar/g5/), National Archives of the United Kingdom.  
2. [The Great War: A 100-Year Legacy of World War ](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/27/world/legacy-of-world-war-i.html), The New York Times. 
3. [People’s Century: Lost Peace](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/peoplescentury/episodes/lostpeace/), PBS. 

Overview

On June 28, 1919, Germany and the Allied Powers signed the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of Mirrors at the famous Palace of Versailles, officially ending World War I. World War I, or the Great War, lasted from 1914 to 1918, and claimed the lives of nearly ten million soldiers and approximately thirteen million civilians. Germany and its allies in the Central Powers had lost the war, so representatives of the victorious Allied Powers including the United States, France, and Britain negotiated the terms of the treaty. President Woodrow Wilson and his allies wanted the treaty to provide a lasting peace following Wilson’s Fourteen Points speech delivered on January 8, 1918. European powers sought peace but also wanted to punish Germany, who they blamed for causing the war. Germans also expected that the Fourteen Points would be the basis for the peace talks when they signed the armistice in November 1918. When the Allied Powers met in Paris to discuss the world after the war, however, a much more punitive plan emerged. 

The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to pay vast sums of money for the damage caused by the war, accept full responsibility for the conflict, reduce its military, and forfeit colonial territories, among other measures. The treaty also redrew the map of Europe to create buffer states, or small neutral nations situated between hostile neighboring nations, and to ensure that the Great War, or the “war to end all wars,” would indeed be just that. Germans did not receive the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles well, especially being forced to accept the guilt for the war, and the long-term economic impact of the treaty resulted in deep resentment. Little did the “Big Four” negotiators of the treaty, David Lloyd George of Britain, Vittorio Emanuele Orlando of Italy, and Georges Clemenceau of France, or Woodrow Wilson of the US, know that they were sowing the seeds for World War II, an even more devastating conflict that would consume them all once more only two decades later.

English

Treaty of Versailles and the End of World War I

treaty-versailles_15_9aad1b9fb9eaa3f03ebf8b446ad514e8.jpg

Courtesy of University of Wisconsin Digital Collections via Recollection Wisconsin.

“The treaty of Versailles,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/4d4912e42707d167df457984b69fee08. 

A postcard titled “Never Forget the Shameful Peace at Versailles!,” 1930s.

Cite this item

Tips for Students

Item 15 of 15 in the Primary Source Set Treaty of Versailles and the End of World War I