The Big Four: Documentary Analysis

The name of the program I decided to watch with my mother was called Hitler and the Nazis. We discovered this documentary on Netflix on April 8th, 2015; it was viewed on my television at home at approximately 5:30 pm. My Mother and I were interested in this specific documentary because we did not know what was the acumen behind Hitler’s gruesome actions, including his eagerness for domination and restriction

This documentary discuses how the worlds most well known fascist came into control; It also describes the intentions of Hitler and many key points leading up to his superiority. In the early 1930’s, Germany was in the midst of an economic depression; Germany was lacking confidence, and with an even more fragile government something needed to be done; Germanys weak government became later known as he Weimar Republic, it was a name given by historians to

the Federal public, establishing Germany as a semi- Presidential Representative Government. Much of the countries confidence also declined due to their exasperating defeat fifteen years ago. Three major points stood out, not only the rise of Hitler but also the reason for dominance.

A couple of events were key factors leading up to the rise of Hitler, the cease-fire being one of them.

On November 11, 1918 Germany signed cease-fire, this is the agreement that ended the fighting in Western Europe, which compromised the First World War. It marked a crucial victory for the Allies and a defeat from Germany, although they did not ceremoniously surrender. This led to the Paris Peace Conference; this was a meeting of the Allied victors after world war one. It was established to set peace with central powers, but decide the result of the losing country. “ The Big Four” incorporated the President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, The Prime Minister of Great Britain, David Lloyd George, the Prime Minister Of France, Georges Clemenceau, and the Prime Minister of Italy; Vittorio Emanuele Orlando. The most influential figures in the debate were Prime Minister David Lloyd and Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau. Woodrow Wilson requested simple peace, David Lloyd demanded safety and protection from Germany, but Clemenceau eagerly wanted money to pay for all the destruction caused by the

war.

Another key event was the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty was the peace arrangement between Germany and the Allied powers that formally ended World War 1. After several months of bargaining the treaty was to be presented to Germany for consideration on May 7 1919. The German Government was allotted three weeks to accept the circumstances of the treaty. At the start, the Germans responded with extensive complaints, which were simply ignored. The treaty deprived Germany of around 14% of its 1914 territory. The treaty contains 440 articles plus annexes. Annexes are things attached something like a document that is often of greater importance; the 440 articles are divided into fifteen sections, each dealing with a distinct aspect of the treaty. It was later signed on June 28. 1919.

A program like this can easily relate to any history class because it portrays a detailed analysis of the men who rose during this time period, it also pinpoints key events that many teachers tend to overlook. The most intriguing part while watching this documentary was the Paris Peace Conference, I found it immensely captivating because they set out their ideas, presented them, and found a way to reach a compromise. This documentary expanded my familiarity with history, in ways a classroom couldn’t. It explained the reasoning behind each decision made in a simple and educational aspect which I greatly enjoyed watching.