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The Treaty of Versailles, 1919
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World War I officially came to an end with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.
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32 countries had come together in Paris in January 1919 to hold a conference which would make peace after the First World War.
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It would be dominated by the big three:
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David Lloyd George representing Britain;
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Georges Clemenceau representing France;
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and Woodrow Wilson representing the USA.
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Germany was not invited.
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The Big Three wanted different things for Germany and disagreed on how harshly they were to be punished
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reflecting how their countries were treated in the war.
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They had to negotiate with each other until there was a compromise.
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This was difficult because Wilson was opposed to harsh punishment for Germany.
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The USA had not been involved in the war as long as Britain and France and had not received as much damage.
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He wanted to prevent another world war by creating the league of nations based on his fourteen points to ensure
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Germany would not be destroyed and that Germany shouldn't be blamed for the war.
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Clemenceau aims were the harshest of the three -- representing the damage Germany had done to France's land and people
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and its threatening proximity.
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He wanted revenge and to punish Germany to return Alsace Lorraine to France,
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an independent Rhineland,
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no league of nations,
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Germany to pay huge reparations for the damage and losses caused,
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the disbandment of the German Army so that Germany would never be strong enough to attack France again.
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Lloyd George was an in-between. This reflected Britain which had little land damage, but high war losses.
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He wanted a punishment that would be tough enough to please those who wanted to make Germany pay,
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but would leave Germany strong enough to still trade,
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land for Britain's Empire
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to safeguard Britain's naval supremacy.
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When the Treaty of Versailles was ready, Germany was shown the document, but there was no negotiation,
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their rebuttal ignored.
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On 28th June 1919 the Delegates met at the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles near Paris
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and forced two German representatives to sign it.
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See part 2 to learn what the terms of the Treaty of Versailles were
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and the devastating effects it would have for the future of Germany.
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Watch our other videos to learn more.
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Get your copy of Simple History -- World War I available on Amazon now.
