Was The Treaty Of Versailles A Success Or Failure Essay

436 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Unfairness of the treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was unsuccessful because it failed to establish and foster peace between Germany and the League of Nations, as the Germans may have felt subjugated under the new articles, that reduced their military, could devastate their economy, and take away their land. Firstly, although they were allowed to at least given some rights to military, Article 160 states, “After 31 March 1920, the German army must not exceed 100 000 soldiers. The army shall only be used to maintain order within Germany and to control the frontiers. Maintaining order inspired an attempt in promoting peace, however 100 000 soldiers realistically, can not suffice in Germany and along the borders as well. Furthermore, if another country were to invade Germany, …show more content…

Within the Treaty of Versailles, Article 231 states, “Germany must accept the responsibility for causing all loss and damage that the Allies and their citizens have suffered”, unfairly putting majority of economic stress from the war on Germany. Arumitha Arguably, the war resulted from the assassination of the Austria-Hungarian archduke, and Germany joined in the conflict afterwards, thus not beginning the war. Additionally, because of the War Guilt Clause, Germany was required to pay reparations of the Allied Forces, the economy would collapse, while it will exacerbate the Germans anger and humiliation further, breaking the peace. Lastly, being stripped of their land did create independence and peace for other groups including Austria, Poland, and Czechoslovakia, nonetheless Germany may have felt weakened because the territorial losses could affect industries and might spark a rebellion. While losing Saar Basin and possession of oversea colonies, Article 428 decreed, “A guarantee is needed to make sure the treaty will be carried out by

Show More
Related

  • Treaty Of Versailles Dbq Essay

    625 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Collapse of the Weimar Republic and the Rise of the Nazis

    1434 Words  | 3 Pages

    On the 28th of June 1919, a peace treaty, also known as the treaty of Versailles, was signed, ending the First World War. The treaty had a humiliating effect causing great resentment. Germany had no choice but to accept the terms of the treaty, which later had a considerable impact on the countries running. The negotiations for this treaty took six months, at the Paris peace conference. Germany was forced to accept all responsibility for causing the war, making substantial territorial concessions along with disarming, which reduced their army to 100,000 men, no tanks or U-boats and the Rhineland, which previously belonged to Germany, was to be demilitarised. They also had reperations of £6.6 billion to pay back.Germany then lost all conections with it’s overseas colonies and could never again unite with Austria. They lost a large area of teritory to Belgium, France and Poland, this was a significant loss to Germany as these areas were rich in mineral wealth. This would put a strain on Germany’s ability to re pay the allies.

    Read More

  • Article 231 of The Treaty of Versailles

    1688 Words  | 4 Pages

    Firstly, we must proceed to explain the nature of Article 231 in order to be able to analyse its judgement about Germany's responsibility for the war. After the war had ended, Europe's, especially France's economy was devastated. There was also a general desire for such a war never to repeat itself, as the first proof of modern warfare proved to be ruinous. To deal with this two issues the allied powers made Germany sign the "war guilt clause" which made it accept all the guilt for the war and because of this, pay reparations to the affected states. In this way France's economy would theoretically recover faster while Germany was kept economically weak so it could never attempt to cause a war again.

    Read More

  • How Did The Treaty Of Versailles Cause Ww2

    777 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Treaty of Versailles allowed Germany to have only 100,000 military troops which made them more fragile and easier to attack. Germany also had rules for their military as explained in article 160 “The German Army must not comprise more than seven divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry”. This evidence shows that the limited military did affect Germany. By having this limited military it made Germany look small and powerless it also looks like they have no control on anything to do with their

    Read More

  • Hyperinflation and the Treaty of Versailles

    609 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many had the opinion that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh and unfair on Germany because as well as collective security there should is an aspect of collective responsibility. The treaty of Versailles was meant to rebuild European trade and wealth, these hopes. where destroyed because Germany could not afford to pay the reparations. The sand is a sand. The reparations Germany were forced to pay caused major problems and led Germany into a spiral of economic disaster.

    Read More

  • The Causes of World War II

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    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 (...

    Read More

  • The Brilliant and Evil Hitler

    1033 Words  | 3 Pages

    The signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, marked the end of WW1 and the beginning of severe depression in Germany. The treaty mandated disarmament, heavy reparations, a loss of 15% of German territory, which in turn took 7 million of her citizens, 75% of its iron-ore, its entire Navy, and all merchant men (Siegel 3). The effects of the treaty were devastating, causing severe unemployment (nearly 6 million in Germany) and devaluation of the German mark. Millions lost their life savings and became destitute. Other requirements included "the surrender of goods in vast quantities and the requirement to sign over future commercial opportunities" (Seigel 3). Germany's economy was devastated and Hitler was waiting, hovering in the darkness, to take full advantage of thi...

    Read More

  • How Did The Versailles Treaty Help The World War II?

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... The Treaty of Versailles, initially created to keep peace in Europe and ensure that another war like World War I wouldn’t happen again, had in fact, backfired and spiraled the world down into a deeper, bloodier battle. The treaty discriminated strongly against Germany, with the loss of territories, military restrictions, economic reparations, and the War Guilt Clause. It caused humiliation and anger within Germany, and led to Hitler and the Nazi Party coming to power.

    Read More

  • Effects Of Treaty Of Versailles

    1279 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, recognized the feelings of the British people when he said ‘the Germans are going to pay every penny: they are going to be squeezed … until the pips squeak” (. This was the general conscious the British and the French people had because they felt they were owed for all of the wartime damages that occurred, the civilian and Soldiers lives that were lost, and because of the recourses the allies used to fight central powers. Ultimately the British and the French wanted revenge on Germany and for the first time they were in the power to do it. “Germany was not invited; as the defeated party, it was only required to sign the treaty once the cost of defeat had been established”2. The German s had no say at the negotiating table at the treaty of Versailles and because of this the “Big Four” ultimately and the power to punish Germany however they sought fit. This was a long shot from “Wilson’s proposed, “peace among equals,”2 and created much resentment from the German people. “Acceptance of blame appeared in Clause 231 of the treaty, later known as the ‘War Guilt clause’. Once Germany was made to acknowledge that it was responsible for the

    Read More

  • Causes & Effects of the Holocaust

    1411 Words  | 3 Pages

    In addition, having lost the war, the humiliated Germans were forced by the Allies to sign the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 that officially ended World War I. According to the harsh terms of the treaty, Germany had to hand over many of its richest industrial territories to the victors, and was made to pay reparations to the Allied countries it devastated during the war. Germany lost its pride, prestige, wealth, power, and the status of being one of Europe's greatest nations. (Resnick p. 15)

    Read More

  • The Effect of the Great Depression on Hitler's Power

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Treaty of Versailles only partly helped Hitler become chancellor. On 28 June 1919, Germany signed the Treaty with the allies, losing 10% of her land. The German army was reduced to 100,000 men and Germany had to pay reparations of £6,600 million. Hitler blamed the Treaty for Germany's problems. When Germany failed to pay a reparation instalment in 1922, French and Belgian troops entered German soil and seized goods.

    Read More

  • Treaty Of Versailles Essay

    701 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Treaty of Versailles, one of the most controversial international agreements(“D.1. The Treaty of Versailles."), had been negotiated between January and June of 1919 (History. Staff). Although it was negotiated between January and June, the Treaty of Versailles was officially signed on June 28, 1919 (Hashall) at Versailles, a suburb of Paris (Benson). This treaty involved Germany and all allies of World War I (Benson). The peace agreement was established to aid in the termination of World War I.

    Read More

  • Why was it inevitable that there would be a second world war, even though measures were set in place to avoid this?

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of The Treaty Of Versailles

    711 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Treaty of Versailles was a treaty created at the end of World War I, in hopes of establishing peace among nations. Although it sought after harmony, the United States’ Senate refused to ratify the treaty due to the distasteful idea of the United States’ involvement in the League of Nations, and Woodrow Wilson’s unwillingness to compromise with Henry Cabot Lodge’s revisions of The Treaty of Versailles.

    Read More

  • Germany's Objections to the Treaty of Versailles

    678 Words  | 2 Pages

    Article 231 of the treaty was the 'War guilt clause'. Although this clause did not technically affect Germany economically or socially. was the clause that the Germans resented the most as it stated that Germany was fully reasonable for the war. This was because Germany was a very proud nation and a global super power for numerous years. The public also strongly believed that Germany had not been the sole cause.

    Read More

More about Was The Treaty Of Versailles A Success Or Failure Essay

Open Document