Treaty of Versailles Past Paper Questions 

1. 
(a) What were Germany’s main territorial losses under the Treaty of Versailles?
(b) Why was Germany dissatisfied with the peace treaty?
(c) How successful was the League of Nations in dealing with disputes during
the 1920s?

2. 
(a) Describe what Clemenceau and Lloyd George each wanted to achieve in the
peace settlement of 1919–20.
(b) Why did the Treaty of Versailles cause problems for Germany in the years
up to 1923?
(c) Was the Treaty of Versailles fair?

3. 
(a) What military restrictions were imposed on Germany by the Treaty of
Versailles?
(b) Why did the aims of the ‘Big Three’ at Versailles differ?
(c) How successful was the League of Nations in the 1920s?

4. 
(a) What did Clemenceau want to achieve from the peace settlement of 1919–
20?
(b) Why did the terms of the Treaty of Versailles cause so much bitterness in
Germany?
(c) ‘The peacemakers of 1919–23 coped successfully with the problems they
faced.’ How far do you agree with this statement on the treaties made with the
defeated powers?

5. 
(a) In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles weaken Germany’s armed forces?
(b) Why did Clemenceau demand that a harsh peace be imposed on Germany?
(c) ‘The Treaty of Versailles was unfair on Germany.’ How far do you agree
with this statement?

6. 
(a) What military restrictions did the Treaty of Versailles impose on Germany?
(b) Why did the ‘Big Three’ disagree over how to treat Germany?
(c) How far could the Treaty be justified at the time?

7. 
(a) What did Wilson hope to achieve from the peace settlement of 1919–20?
(b) Why did Clemenceau and Lloyd George disagree over how to treat
Germany?
(c) ‘The Treaty of Versailles was a fair settlement.’ How far do you agree with
this statement?

8. 
(a) In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles weaken the German economy?
(b) Why did the victors fail to get everything they wanted at Versailles?
(c) ‘The Treaty of Versailles was unfair and unwise.’ How far do you agree
with this statement?

9. 
(a) What were Germany’s main territorial losses under the Treaty of Versailles?
(b) Why did the Treaty of Versailles cause problems for Germany from 1919 to
1923?
(c) How far did the ‘Big Three’ achieve their aims at the Paris Peace
Conference?

10. 
(a) What were Germany’s main territorial losses under the Treaty of Versailles?
(b) Why was Clemenceau dissatisfied with the Treaty of Versailles?
(c) ‘The Germans had genuine grounds for complaint about the Treaty of
Versailles.’ How far do you agree with this statement?

11. 
(a) In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles weaken Germany militarily?
(b) Why did Clemenceau demand a harsh peace on Germany?
(c) ‘The Treaty of Versailles was justifiable at the time.’ How far do you agree
with this statement?

12. 
(a) In what ways was the Treaty of Versailles designed to restrict Germany’s
ability to attack France?
(b) Why did the Treaty of Versailles punish Germany?
(c) ‘The peacemakers of 1919–20 dealt successfully with the problems they
faced.’ How far do you agree with this statement?

13. 
(a) With reference to the terms of the peace settlements of 1919–20, what were
(i) mandates (ii) plebiscites?
(b) Why was Germany disappointed with the Treaty of Versailles?
(c) How far did the peace settlements of 1919–20 reflect the aims of President
Wilson?

14. 
(a) How did Clemenceau wish to punish Germany after World War One?
(b) Why did Wilson want a ‘league of nations’?
(c) How far had Germany accepted the Treaty of Versailles by 1923?

15.
(a) What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles in relation to territorial
changes?
(b) Why was it difficult to make a peace settlement which would please all the
Allies?
(c) ‘Most Germans were horrified by the terms of the Treaty.’ How justified
was this reaction?

16. 
(a) With reference to the terms of the peace settlements of 1919–20, what was
meant by (i) war guilt and (ii) reparations?
(b) Why were the peacemakers at Versailles severe on Germany?
(c) ‘The German reaction to the Treaty of Versailles was unreasonable.’ How
far do you agree
with this statement?

17. 
(a) What did the Versailles Treaty decide about (i) the Saar and (ii) the
Rhineland?
(b) Explain why Germany thought the Treaty of Versailles was motivated by
revenge.
(c) How satisfied were the ‘Big Three’ with the terms of the Treaty of
Versailles?

18. 
(a) In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles affect the German economy?
(b) Why was Wilson disappointed with the peace settlement?
(c) To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles a reasonable treaty in the
circumstances of the
time?

19. 
(a) What military restrictions were imposed on Germany by the Treaty of
Versailles?
(b) Why was Clemenceau disappointed with the peace settlement?
(c) ‘Germany deserved the treatment it received in the Versailles Treaty.’ How
far do you agree
with this statement?

20. 
(a) What did France gain from the Treaty of Versailles?
(b) Why did Germany sign the Treaty of Versailles?
(c) ‘The peacemakers at Versailles were successful.’ How far do you agree with
this statement?

21. 
(a) What did Lloyd George want to achieve from the peace negotiations of
1919–20?
(b) Why did Wilson disagree with Clemenceau during the peace negotiations
about the treatment
of Germany?
(c) How fairly was Germany treated at Versailles?

22. 
(a) What impact did the Treaty of Versailles have on Germany’s military?
(b) Why did the aims of the ‘Big Three’ at Versailles differ?
(c) Was Germany’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles justified?

23. 
(a) What did the Treaty of Versailles state about Danzig and the Polish
Corridor? [5]
(b) Why did Clemenceau find it difficult to achieve his aims at the Paris Peace
Conference? [7]
(c) How effectively did the peacemakers of 1919–20 deal with the problems
they faced?

24. 
(a) What loss of territory was imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles?
(b) Why were the ‘Big Three’ not satisfied with the Treaty of Versailles?
(c) ‘The Treaty of Versailles was a wise settlement.’ How far do you agree with
this statement?

25. 
(a) What did President Wilson want to achieve from the peace settlement at the
end of the First
World War?
(b) Why did France want a harsh settlement to be imposed on Germany in
1919?
(c) ‘By 1923 it was clear that the Treaty of Versailles was the least effective of
the peace treaties
of 1919–20.’ How far do you agree with this statement?

26. 
(a) In what ways, other than territorial, did the Treaty of Versailles limit the
power of Germany?
(b) Why did Lloyd George clash with Wilson and with Clemenceau during the
peace discussions
of 1919?
(c) How justifiable were the terms of the peace settlement of 1919–20?

27. 
(a) In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles restrict German armed forces?
(b) Why was Wilson unsuccessful in achieving his goal of self-determination
for the peoples of
Europe?
(c) ‘The Treaty of Versailles was too harsh.’ How far do you agree with this
statement?

28. 
(a) How was the Paris Peace Conference organised?
(b) Why did the Treaty of Versailles punish Germany harshly?
(c) How successful was Wilson in achieving his aims at Versailles?

29. 
(a) With reference to the terms of the peace settlement of 1919, what was
decided about (i) the
Saar and (ii) the Rhineland?
(b) Why was Germany unhappy with being forced to accept responsibility for
the war?
(c) How far did Lloyd George achieve his aims at the Paris Peace Conference?

30. 
(a) What did the Treaty of Versailles state about Danzig and the Rhineland?
(b) Why were the victors not free to make the peace they wanted?
(c) ‘At the time, the Treaty of Versailles was justifiable.’ How far do you agree
with this statement?

31. 
(a) What were the main terms of the Treaty of Saint Germain with Austria?
(b) Why were Wilson’s expectations of the Peace Settlement of 1919–20
different from those of
Clemenceau?
(c) ‘The War Guilt Clause was the main cause of German bitterness towards the
Treaty of
Versailles.’ How far do you agree with this statement?

32. 
(a) What were the main terms of the Treaty of Trianon?
(b) Why was there discussion about the status of Danzig at the Paris Peace
Conference?
(c) ‘The terms of the Treaty of Versailles were surprising.’ How far do you
agree with this
statement?

33. 
(a) What were the main terms of the Treaty of Sèvres with Turkey?
(b) Why did Lloyd George believe that a moderate peace settlement with
Germany was in British
interests?
(c) Who was more satisfied with the Treaty of Versailles: Wilson or
Clemenceau?