The Treaty of Versailles is one of the most significant contributing factors to WWll for several reasons, three main reasons include the harsh reparations on Germany, territorial losses, and War guilt clause.The first reason for how the Treaty of Versailles was the most responsible event leading to WWll was because of the Harsh Reparations that the treaty imposed on Germany.The UK BBC article states, “Prices ran out of control, for example a loaf of bread, which cost 250 marks in January 1923, had risen to 500 marks in November 1923.During the crisis, workers were often paid prices rose so fast their wages were virtually worthless by lunchtime.”The harsh reparations that Germany faced because of the previous war and the Treaty crippled their …show more content…
This only intensified the anger of the German people, living conditions were harsh and the people struggled to buy simple needs. Workers went on strike and fewer goods were produced, hurting Germany even further. Altogether this shows how one of the ways the Treaty of Versailles was the most significant event that led to WWII.Another reason why the Treaty of Versailles was the most significant event that led to WWII was because the treaty caused Germany to lose a substantial amount of territory, this loss of territory intensified the frustration between Germany and other countries greatly.Document A states, “The Versailles Treaty also required Germany to permanently give up its colonies. German colonies included all or part of the modern nations of Tanzania, Rwanda, Cameroon, Namibia, and Botswana, as well as Pacific territories, such as Sa- moa and the Marshall Islands. The British took over most of Germany's overseas colonies soon after the war began.This evidence helps further the idea that the Treaty had the most impact on WWII because the loss of land for Germany was a source of national humiliation and resentment among …show more content…
All of this supports how the Treaty was the most responsible event that led to WWll.Some may believe that the rise of dictators and a totalitarian regime have led to WWII more than the Treaty of Versailles because it created a volatile international environment where conflict became increasingly likely.Totalitarianism and the Rise of Dictators states: “Adolf Hitler joined a Fascist group called the Nazis. Hitler and the Nazi’s gained popularity and power through propaganda and close relations with government officials... He ignored the League of Nations as he began to expand Germany’s borders into Austria and Czechoslovakia. These actions gave Germans a sense of extreme nationalism and confidence.”From this we can see how some may believe that the rise of dictators and totalitarian regimes contributed to the onset of World War II. From this document we can see how Hilter forced his way through to become the dictator of Germany, through promises and spreading false promises. He obleterated his power by spreading his ideologies and blaming Germany's conflicts on the Jews, which caused conflict to become more
There is no excuse for the horrible things Nazi Germany did during World War II. But one can get a better idea how that war started by learning about how World War I ended. The Treaty of Versailles was created by the winners of World War I, like France, Great Britain, and the United States, to make peace. So how did it help contribute to an even worse war less than twenty years later? It was mainly because it was too hard on Germany’s territory, military, economy, and national pride.
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, marks the day that WWI descended into armistice. However, the involved countries reached an agreement as to the events following the war on the 28th of June, 1919. The famous Treaty of Versailles was known for its role in ending war. But it was not known for being a double-edged sword, as the ending of war came with the consequence of causing future war. The Treaty consisted of uncontested biases due to Germany's unconditional surrender. The Allies held a gun to Germany's head, with their trigger finger tense. Each article of the Versailles Treaty only made Germany more restless, until 1933 when Hitler produced his own gun and pointed it at the Allies. The Treaty had a series of unproportional effects upon Germany and its people. It caused a rift between the two sides because of the alliances that it formed, brewing tension. The punishments enforced upon Germany were unrealistically huge and it increased the wish among the Germans for the nullification of the Treaty. Finally, the accumulated hatred amongst the people gave birth to potential for a revolution. The Treaty of Versailles is, therefore, an indirect cause to World War II, because of the alliances it caused, the punishments it enforced, and the hatred it developed.
The Treaty of versailles contributed to World War 2 by severely weakening Germany economically through
One main way the Treaty of Versailles caused WWII is the territorial losses Germany suffered. According to “German Territorial Losses, Versailles Treaty, 1919,” Germany lost a lot of land from the treaty. Some of the land the Germans lost was rich in coal, and when lost, the German’ coal production was reduced by 40%. As a result, Germany wanted its pre-war land back. As Adolf Hitler in Mein Kampf says, “the restoration of the frontiers of 1914 could only be achieved by blood…” which foreshadows a war, with intent to get back lost land. Furthermore, the Germans were furious, which also foreshadows a war. All of the aforesaid evidence points to the Treaty of Versailles being responsible for WWII.
...reaty, caused one of the most important parts of the war. Furthermore, the conditions that allowed for a fascist ruler to take control in Germany would have been in place if the treaty had not been signed, or had been less harsh on Germany. It is important to understand the causes of WWII because the war was a dominating part of the late 1930’s and 1940’s, and because the war laid the groundwork for the cold war. It also was a key part of leading America out of the Great Depression, which could have lasted years longer if the industrial production of the war had not taken place. The Treaty of Versailles did not make WWII inevitable, even though it may be tempting to claim so.
Germany and her allies were blamed for the war. The Treaty of Versailles said that they had to pay for the cost of the war. The Treaty of Versailles is what caused World War II. If it had been less harsh on Germany, the Weimar Republic would have been stronger and would not have faced as much economic and social turmoil. Had the treaty been harsher, Germany would not have had the power to make war.
Another factor in causing World War II was the Wall Street Crash of 1929 resulting in a 2-year economic depression all over the world. Not only did these cause countries such as Britain and France to take a less active foreign policy, but also it destroyed the newly found prosperity in Germany and made many people jobless. This led to Hitler
The Treaty of Versailles is a cause of World War II because of the restrictions it placed on Germany as the alleged sole aggressor of the war. The war reparation totaled $98 billion, and under Clause 231 Germany was forced to take the entire load onto her ruined economy and attempt to repay the debt starting with an initial $5 billion payment. In terms of military, Germany was limited to a 100,000 man army, with her navy stripped to the level of a coast guard, she was allowed no heavy artillery, no weapons of mass destruction and the border with France became a demilitarized zone for 15 years following the signing of the treaty on June 28 1919. Germany also lost all her territories in Africa and became a mandate of the Allied Forces, those living in mandated zones could participate in “self-determination” after the Allies taught them how to be a democracy (...
What started with an assassination of an Austrian prince unpopular in with royalty in Vienna and plotters in Belgrade ended in war. Four years of artillery, machine guns, and poison gas had ruined the countryside of Europe. Woodrow Wilson put the blame for dead millions at the feet of secret diplomacy, excessive armament, imperialism, and the lack of international cooperation. His plan for a lasting peace was presented to the world in the form of the Fourteen Points, some of which were present in the final plan for peace, the Treaty of Versailles, which faced internal opposition at home. It was the strength of this opposition, from self or fawning-historian labeled "progressives" to conservatives and isolationists, in conjunction with the intractability and incompetence of President Wilson that encouraged the Senate defeat of the Treaty of Versailles.
World War Two was the most devastating conflict in the history of humanity. It crippled many nations and caused millions of people to die. One of the major causes of this disastrous war was the Treaty of Versailles which ended the First World War. This treaty was destructive towards the Germans. Germany had to pay large amounts of reparations to the Allied nations at the end of World War One resulting in a Great Depression in Germany. Additionally, the Treaty of Versailles’ war guilt clause forced Germans to admit full responsibility for starting the war. Furthermore, to gain the support of the German populace, Adolf Hitler adopted an effective propaganda campaign. Adolf Hitler employed a successful propaganda campaign to gain the support of the German people combined with the Treaty of Versailles harsh economic and political sanctions ignited World War Two.
DBQ - The Treaty of Versailles The Treaty of Versailles was pivotal in setting the stage for World War II. Its imposition of unfair conditions on Germany sparked widespread discontent among its people, pushing them to a tipping point. The dismantling of German territories and the stringent limitations placed on its military capabilities fueled a deep sense of humiliation and injustice. This wounded pride provided fertile ground for the rise of Adolf Hitler, who capitalized on the sentiments of the populace to emerge as a charismatic leader. Document A
Ellicia Chiu Mrs. Daly World History: Period 3 4/27/15 How Did the Versailles Treaty Help Cause World War II? The first World War is recorded as one of the “deadliest conflicts in human history”. With over 16 million dead, it was one of the first wars with a high amount of casualties. However, the one that tops the list with around 60 million deaths was World War II.
The Treaty of Versailles was a violation of Wilson’s ideals. The Treaty is one of the most important agreements (or disagreements) that shaped 20th century Europe socially and physically. Woodrow Wilson on January 22, 1917 in an address to the United States Senate called for a peace without victors, but the Treaty signed by the participating nations was everything but that. The blame for the war was placed on Germany and justified the reparations that were outlined by the treaty for the war. The terms of the treaty were very harsh to the Germans and they took on great resentment. It was a fragile peace agreement that would be used as fuel to keep hostilities going 20 years later.
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the factors that led to the inevitability of World War Two. The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty that occurred as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that was held after Germany was defeated in World War One. The Treaty was put into action and required that Germany should accept responsibility for the war; of course Germany was humiliated by this. They were required to pay colossal war reparation payments. This was one of the main reasons the treaty had a severe impact on Germany; it crippled the German economy and critically reduced the living standards of the people. This made it virtually impossible for the German economy to function productively. The effects that the treaty had on Germany directly led to the rise of Hitler who he capitalised on German resentment at their treatment. He provided a focus for the German people and their desire to take back what they once had, and to restore their pride once again becoming a glorious nation.
Hitler built on these feelings and offered the secure and promising alternative of the extremist Nazi party. Although there were many factors that contributed to the rise of Hitler and the collapse of the Weimar republic, Hitler’s ability to build upon people’s frustrated view of the hatred of the treaty of Versailles and the circumstances it placed upon the German nation, was the fundamental reason for Hitler’s rise to power and the Weimar Republic to collapse. The Treaty of Versailles, signed by the Weimar Republic at the conclusion of WW1, introduced economic insatiability and caused a profusion of hardship. The idea of resorting to an extremist group promising better alternatives became an attractive option to many Germans. The Treaty of Versailles’ vindictive terms and unreasonable reparations (6,600,000,000 pounds) resulted in undesired economic circumstances.