How Did The Treaty Of Versailles Affect Germany

Known as the War Guilt Clause, this article of the treaty was purely meant to humiliate the country for being the last to surrender as the Allies, the United States, Great Britain, France, and Russia, along with the countries allied with Germany had played just as big of a part in starting WWI as Germany had. German citizens recognized and abhorred the unjust clause and wanted to gain their respect back. Thus, when Hitler and the Nazi party came to power the German citizens supported him because he had begun to restore the country’s lost

World War I was a deadly war spurred on by a greed for economic and political power; violently effecting some twenty seven million people, it topped the charts of casualties. World War II, though, changed the playing field: it was even more deadly in more ways than one. At the end of World War I, the Versailles Treaty was drawn up by the victorious members of the war; this treaty burdened Germany with the fault of causing the war and implanted reparations in which Germany would repay others for damages done. This treaty ignited the spark that fueled World War II; Germany was forced to pay for World War I in land, gold, in giving up a majority of their military strength, and they suffered under the guilt of the war. By placing all of these reparations

On June, 28 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed. This treaty coupled with other factors, such as the Nazis rise to power in Germany, Europe’s policy of appeasement, and Germany’s invasion of Poland would lead to - and be direct causes of - World War II. In fact, when French military commander Marshal Foch heard of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, her observed with extreme accuracy - “This is not Peace. It is an Armistice for 20 years.” (Churchill, 7)

The Treaty had what is referred to as the War Guilt Clause, which laid all the blame for the war on Germany (Doc D). Because of this, Germans despised the Treaty, and viewed it as "an atrocious injustice, an evil thing which must be destroyed" (Doc D). They wanted revenge against those who implemented the clauses, and in their opinion, unfairly blamed Germany. Hitler was accepted by Germans because he promised to destroyed the Treaty by violating its clauses and restoring Germany to it's former glory. Hitler gave back the pride and respect Germans had for their country, which the Treaty if Versailles had

The allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage (Doc D). The War Guilt Clause states, the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggressor of Germany and her allies (Docs D)which indicates that the aggressor Germany must pay the reparations to the countries they aggressed and have full responsibility of the damage they caused to the people of those countries. Due to the unfairness of the Treaty of Versailles , the people of Germany lost some of their pride. Their humiliation and loss of pride, causes the people of Germany to want to fight back. As a result they support Adolf Hitler. The Germans admire Adolf HItler because they felt he gave them a sense of pride, reawakened a sense of self-respect, forcing the world to look at Germany

On January 22, 1917, Woodrow Wilson addressed the United States Senate appealing for a settlement of conflict for ‘peace without victors’. Unfortunately the Treaty of Versailles was signed by participating nations and could not end the hostilities that terrorized to destroy European Civilization. The Treaty of Versailles is one of the most important social and physical agreement or disagreements that help shape the European 20th century. The treaty was very important because it violated Wilson’s ideals. The Treaty of Versailles was the official end of the World War I and was ultimately the main reason that led to World War II.

There can never be an excuse for Nazi atrocities. World War I resulted in the death of 17 million people. The victorious Allies met at Versailles in 1919 to establish the terms of peace. The hope was that the treaty would make World War I the “war to end all wars.” The Treaty of Versailles punished Germany too harshly in four key ways: Loss of land, military reduction, reparations, and war guilt.

One thing which remained the same for almost all Germans was the guilt complex of possibly stopping the horrific atrocities committed by the Reich if enough of them had stood up. Already, “Germany’s economy was in a mess when Hitler was elected Chancellor in January 1933” (Trueman). In other words, Hitler had fed off of Germany’s economy which was already collapsing at the seams. Yet the fact remained that they had all been blinded by the scapegoats they were given to what was really happening. Hitler concealed the truth of his tyranny and informed Germany that “the Jews were the reason for the inner poisoning of Germany and that they had stolen the victory from Germany” (Hall). However, the event was also beneficial as “Germany has largely lost its connection to the generation of perpetrators” and anti semitism was condemned where less than twenty years ago it had been predominant among most of Europe (Beste). The Germans had lost two wars now in which they had been led by a single, dictatorial authority figure. This, ultimately, alienated them from authoritarian governments and began to lead them into democracy's

In 1919 at the Paris Peace Conference The Treaty of Versailles was formally drafted and World War I was finally brought to an end. The treaty was drafted by the Allied Powers, which consisted of Great Britain, France and the United States. This treaty blamed the war solely on Germany, and it required them to pay an amount of “$33 billion dollars in reparations, cede all of colonies, dismantle their air force, and greatly reduce their other military operations”(German Delegation, 291).

It was Nationalism more than any other factor that led to the fall or the Weimar Republic and the end of democracy in Germany in 1933. The conditions of the Treaty of Versailles were extremely harsh, they caused germany to pay unthinkable amounts in reparation and give up good land that used to cause major income. The depression hit Germany hard and caused economic issues, such as major hyperinflation and the inability to pay full reparations for the Treaty of Versailles. This then led to Germany losing land that would have helped Germany pay the reparations. Then propaganda was used by the Nationalist Socialist party, or Nazi party, led to an increase in the feeling of nationalism, which in turn, led to Nazi Germany and World War Two.

The final product of the Versailles Treaty’s terms was the humiliation of Germany and more importantly, its individuals. Supportingly, Document D reports that, “The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.” (Document D) As the Treaty enforces blame, it singles out Germany. This attempt to prevent war only fueled the fire, creating bitterness that would be a massive contribution to World War II. In agreement, Document D continues the theme, relaying that, “What they knew of the treaty was etched

The Treaty of Versailles was penned during the Paris Peace Conference, mainly to decide upon Germany’s consequences for beginning World War One. When Germany signed the treaty, it lost a tenth of its land to surrounding countries. Not only did they lose part of their country, but they also lost their overseas territories, including Chinese ports, Pacific Islands, and African colonies. One of the actual causes of the war was that Germany wanted ‘a place in the sun’, and requested

In the early months of 1918, the dynamics of The Great War ravaging Europe changed dramatically. On March 3rd, Germany and the Russian Bolsheviks signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, officially ending Russia’s involvement in the war and freeing Germany’s forces previously occupied on the Eastern Front . That same month, Germany launched an extensive attack in France along the Somme River, knocking a devastating blow to the Allies. By the summer of 1918, the United States had escalated it’s involvement in the war, sending over mass amounts of troops and coordinating with European powers to essentially back the German offensive into a position of little advancement. As Germany recognized its failing position in the war, the officials in the German High Command began quietly pursuing negotiations of peace and cease fire, not from their European counterparts, but from American President Woodrow Wilson . Germany was hoping to benefit from President Wilson’s ideals of peace and justice for all, ideals he had laid out publicly that year in a January speech outlining his “blueprint for a new democratic world order.” These Fourteen Points became the cornerstone of Wilson’s contribution to the peace negotiations following the armistice that ended the war in November of 1918. Focusing on the belief that an established system of democracy, communication and peace would prevent further atrocities like World War I, the Fourteen Points centered on equal representation and opportunity

The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to restore the Saar Basin to France. Subsequently, led to Germany’s industries and citizens to experience hardships. As seen throughout World War I, industries were a vital part of a country’s economy. All the resources within Germany went to the war effort as a result of total war. Coal fueled the production of Germany’s industries and provided employment for its citizens. Furthermore, coal was the backbone, providing sustainability, of the industrial economy. The removal of the Saar Basin resulted in, industries experiencing a decrease in production. Forcing industries to layoff workers as well as increase prices to make up revenue. Reaching new heights every year, the unemployment rate continued to rise with each increase in the layoff of workers. The economy then became more unstainable as Germany experienced an inflation of its currency. Due to the inflation, the currency within Germany became superficial in value. The Weimar party signing the Treaty of Versailles resulted in the instability of the German economy. Consequently, led the citizens to question the Weimar Republic’s capability.

November 11, 1918, Europe would be left in utter devastation from the effects of World War I. These effects which would have unprecedented effect on the development on European nations into modern nations. However, the immediate impact of the policies and treaties created by the “Big Four” (Great Britain, Italy, France and The United States) would leave devastating irreversible consequences on the Great War’s losers. The most important treaty that the allies would make would be The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28th, 1919. This treaty would have the most destructive consequences on Germany, whom would become bitter, nationalistic, and isolated from its effects. As Holborn puts it, “the treaty did not solve the problem of reparations, which was not settled for years to come in a fashion that would have stabilized the social and economic conditions of Europe. The struggle about the economic settlement of World War I kept alive and magnified the national hostilities which the political provinces of the peace produced.”1 The Treaty of Versailles would require Germany to surrender vast amounts of territory in Europe and oversea, diminish its military might significantly, impose insurmountable financial and economic demands, as well as making her accept the ‘War Guilt Clause;’ this in turn would make the Germans feel a national humiliation and cause tremendous resent, this in turn would lead to the rise of authoritarianism, expansionism and the public demand for redemption.