TB p.

26-27
Inquiry topic: Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

Study the sources below carefully and answer the following questions.

Source A Excerpt from the Treaty of Versailles

Article 45 Germany shall give the mining right of the Saar (薩爾) to France.
Article 119 Germany shall give up all its overseas colonies.
Article 159 Germany shall reduce the size of its army.
Article 181 The German Navy shall include not more than six battleships, six
cruisers, twelve destroyers and twelve torpedo boats. No submarine is to be
owned.
Article 198 Germany shall not have an air force.
Article 231 Germany shall bear all the war responsibility and pay
compensation for the powers (the amount was later fixed at 6.6 billion British
pounds).
 TB p. 27
Inquiry topic: Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

Territorial changes in Germany after

Source B the Paris Peace Conference

Germany after the

Germany in 1914 Paris Peace Conference

2
 Inquiry topic: Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

1. What impact did the Treaty of Versailles have on Germany, as

reflected in the above sources? [Evaluate event]
Political: Germany lost a lot of territories and was divided into
two parts (Germany proper and East Prussia). It also had to
take up all responsibility for the War.
Economic: Germany lost the mining right of the Saar and all
overseas colonies. It also had to pay indemnities to the Allied
Powers. These caused serious financial difficulties and
hindered her economic development.
Social: The harsh terms made the Germans greatly discontented
with the Treaty and also the government that accepted it.
Military: Since Germany’s military strength was greatly
reduced, it remained weak in national defence.
 Inquiry topic: Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

2. Do you think the punishment on Germany was too

harsh? [Evaluate event]

Free answer. (2 possible ways of thinking:

1. Students may argue that since Germany was largely
responsible for the War, the treaty punishment was not
too harsh;
2. Students may argue that since Germany should not
be held largely responsible for the War, the treaty
punishment was too harsh.)
 Inquiry topic: Impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

3. Do you think the Treaty of Versailles was an unequal

treaty? Why?
[Evaluate event]

Free answer. (Students should first define what an

unfair treaty is, and then discuss with reference to
the treatment of Germany at the Paris Peace
Conference and Germany’s role in WWI.)
 TB p. 28-29
Inquiry topic: The changes in European politics after the
First World War

Study the maps below carefully and answer the following questions

Source A Source B

Europe
Europe after
in 1914 WWI
 Inquiry topic: The changes in European politics after the
First World War

1. Identify changes to the German Empire, Austro-

Hungarian Empire and Czarist Russia after WWI, as
reflected in the above sources. [Observe maps]

The three empires fell and many new nation states

were formed out of them.
2. Why were a number of new nation states created after
WWI, as shown on the map in source B?
[Analyse reason]
The creation of the new nation states was to prevent
the revival of old empires.
 TB P. 30-31
Inquiry topic: Impact of the First World War on European
economy

Study the sources below carefully and answer the following questions.

Source A

Casualties of major
participants in
WWI
 Inquiry topic: Impact of the First World War on European
economy

Source B

Expenditures of
major participants
in WWI
 Inquiry topic: Impact of the First World War on European
economy

1. Identify the impact of the First World War on the European

economy, as reflected in the above sources.
[Evaluate effect through sources]

Heavy casualties and serious material destruction; decline

in production.

2. What problems would such an impact cause to the post-war

reconstruction of the European countries? [Evaluate effect]

Due to heavy wartime expenditure, the European

countries lacked the money for postwar reconstruction. The
shortage of material and serious destruction of buildings
also made reconstruction difficult.
 TB p. 32-33

 During WWI, many new weapons

were developed.

Machine Guns

Poison gas
 Inquiry topic: The change in women’s status after the
First World War

Study the following sources carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Source A
 TBp. 35
Inquiry topic: The change in women’s status after the
First World War

Source B

During WWI, women actively took part in production. The pictures above show
women making airscrews (left) and working in arsenals (right) in wartime.
 Inquiry topic: The change in women’s status after the
First World War

Source C

A cartoon published after WWI,

showing that women were excited
about getting the right to vote
 Inquiry topic: The change in women’s status after the
First World War

1. Identify the change in women’s status after WWI, as

reflected in sources A and C. Support your answer with
clues from the sources. [Analyse and compare sources]

Women’s status Clue

Women could not take part in

Before
Low politics. They stayed at home to look
WWI
after their family and children.

After Women in some countries were

Raised
WWI given the right to vote.
 Inquiry topic: The change in women’s status after the
First World War

2. Why did this change take place? Explain your answer

with reference to source B.
[Analyse reason through source]

Women actively took part in production in wartime,

making great contributions to their countries. Since
their efforts were generally recognised after the War,
their status was raised.