Eva Newsom
Treaty of Versailles DBQ
WC Period Two
The Treaty of Versailles was written and signed in 1919 to punish Germany and to finalize the end of the war; however, the Allied Powers never expected it to spark a war even worse than the last. World War I started as a struggle for economic and political power which grew in size as more nations joined because of national pride and alliances. When Germany and their alliances lost the war, the Treaty of Versailles was created. Wilson wanted the treaty to guarantee independence and develop the League of Nations on the other hand, Clemenceau of France had plans to make Germany pay and strongly weaken their forces so they would never rise again. The grief and desperation Germany had as a result of the harsh treaty later helped influence the rise of Hitler. The Treaty of Versailles was created in hopes of stabilizing Europe and ensuring another world war would never happen again. Unfortunately, the Treaty actually helped cause World War II by fueling Germany’s anger against their territorial losses, military restrictions, economic reparations, and the War Guilt Clause.
The territorial losses caused by the Treaty of Versailles hurt Germany’s economy majorly and helped influence Hitler to write a novel based on the hardships that he faced. The territories lost by Germany were major coal producers which helped bring their primary source of income. According to Treaty of Versailles (1919), “The Treaty took coal-producing areas away from Germany, reducing German coal production by 40%” (German Territorial Losses). Although East Prussia was still in German control, the access to it was very difficult because of the loss of the Polish Corridor. Without the Polish Corridor, Germany could not reach East Prussia without crossing Enemy territory. As a result of the territorial losses caused by the treaty, Germany’s coal production was greatly reduced which harmed the economy and brought Hitler to urge the Germans to fight.
The military restrictions created by the Treaty of Versailles left Germany weak, humiliated, and helpless. The restrictions required Germany to have an army no larger than “one hundred thousand men, including officers”, as stated in the Treaty of Versailles (1919), meanwhile, France had an army totaling around 6,760,000 men (Art. 160). The army Germany had was less than half the sizes of the armies of the neighboring nations. Even Belgium’s army was bigger than Germany’s by approximately 502,000 men. The Treaty of Versailles also states (1919), the role of the army had been changed to protect “order within the territory and to control the frontiers” (Art.160). As a result of the military restrictions created by the treaty, Germany had almost no power or protection and felt threatened by France and their allies. The economic reparations assigned by the Treaty of Versailles put full blame and consequences of the war on Germany’s shoulders. The Treaty of Versailles states (1919), Germany was required to “make compensation for all damage done to the civilian population of the Allied and Associated Powers and to their property” (Art. 232). The money Germany owed, however, was highly unrealistic to the amount their government had, especially with the loss of their major coal producers. France expected Germany to pay 132 billion gold marks within thirty years after May 1, 1921, but in 1933, Hitler came to power and stopped all payments. As a result of the economic reparations assigned by the treaty, Germany was left angry, humiliated, and poor. All of these reasons contributed to the desperation of the people, which gave Hitler an opportunity to rise in power.
The War Guilt Clause was written as the part of the Treaty of Versailles which gave full responsibility of losses and damage from the war to Germany. The Treaty of Versailles states (1919), “Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage” which gave Germany full blame for the consequences of the war (Art. 231). The clause itself was a direct hit to Germany’s pride and Laurence V. Moyer believes (1995), “most Germans saw it as an atrocious injustice, an evil thing which must be destroyed” (Victory Must Be Ours). With this in mind, Hitler’s rise recovered their sense of pride and self-respect, making him the ideal figure to look up to. His idea was to change the way Germany was seen by the world. As a result of the War Guilt Clause, Germany was given full responsibility of the war and the citizens were humiliated and weak. Their desperation and depression helped lead Hitler and the Nazi regime’s rise to power.
Although the Treaty of Versailles was created in hopes of stabilizing Europe and ensuring another world war would never happen again, the treaty had still helped cause World War II. The plans Clemenceau had to weaken Germany did not go as expected and primarily strengthened the fighting spirit the nation had. Germany gained in strength with the hardships that they faced. Hitler could not have risen to power so easily without the desperate devotion he had from his followers. In any case, the treaty helped cause WWII by provoking Germany with territorial losses, military restrictions, economic reparations, and the War Guilt Clause.
Works Cited
Keynes, John Maynard. (1920). The Economic Consequences of the Peace.
Mee, Charles. (1919). The End of Order: Versailles.
Moyer, Laurence V.. (1995). Victory Must Be Ours: Germany in the Great War 1914-1918.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 160.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 231.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 232.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). German Territorial Losses.
Treaty of Versailles DBQ
WC Period Two
The Treaty of Versailles was written and signed in 1919 to punish Germany and to finalize the end of the war; however, the Allied Powers never expected it to spark a war even worse than the last. World War I started as a struggle for economic and political power which grew in size as more nations joined because of national pride and alliances. When Germany and their alliances lost the war, the Treaty of Versailles was created. Wilson wanted the treaty to guarantee independence and develop the League of Nations on the other hand, Clemenceau of France had plans to make Germany pay and strongly weaken their forces so they would never rise again. The grief and desperation Germany had as a result of the harsh treaty later helped influence the rise of Hitler. The Treaty of Versailles was created in hopes of stabilizing Europe and ensuring another world war would never happen again. Unfortunately, the Treaty actually helped cause World War II by fueling Germany’s anger against their territorial losses, military restrictions, economic reparations, and the War Guilt Clause.
The territorial losses caused by the Treaty of Versailles hurt Germany’s economy majorly and helped influence Hitler to write a novel based on the hardships that he faced. The territories lost by Germany were major coal producers which helped bring their primary source of income. According to Treaty of Versailles (1919), “The Treaty took coal-producing areas away from Germany, reducing German coal production by 40%” (German Territorial Losses). Although East Prussia was still in German control, the access to it was very difficult because of the loss of the Polish Corridor. Without the Polish Corridor, Germany could not reach East Prussia without crossing Enemy territory. As a result of the territorial losses caused by the treaty, Germany’s coal production was greatly reduced which harmed the economy and brought Hitler to urge the Germans to fight.
The military restrictions created by the Treaty of Versailles left Germany weak, humiliated, and helpless. The restrictions required Germany to have an army no larger than “one hundred thousand men, including officers”, as stated in the Treaty of Versailles (1919), meanwhile, France had an army totaling around 6,760,000 men (Art. 160). The army Germany had was less than half the sizes of the armies of the neighboring nations. Even Belgium’s army was bigger than Germany’s by approximately 502,000 men. The Treaty of Versailles also states (1919), the role of the army had been changed to protect “order within the territory and to control the frontiers” (Art.160). As a result of the military restrictions created by the treaty, Germany had almost no power or protection and felt threatened by France and their allies. The economic reparations assigned by the Treaty of Versailles put full blame and consequences of the war on Germany’s shoulders. The Treaty of Versailles states (1919), Germany was required to “make compensation for all damage done to the civilian population of the Allied and Associated Powers and to their property” (Art. 232). The money Germany owed, however, was highly unrealistic to the amount their government had, especially with the loss of their major coal producers. France expected Germany to pay 132 billion gold marks within thirty years after May 1, 1921, but in 1933, Hitler came to power and stopped all payments. As a result of the economic reparations assigned by the treaty, Germany was left angry, humiliated, and poor. All of these reasons contributed to the desperation of the people, which gave Hitler an opportunity to rise in power.
The War Guilt Clause was written as the part of the Treaty of Versailles which gave full responsibility of losses and damage from the war to Germany. The Treaty of Versailles states (1919), “Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage” which gave Germany full blame for the consequences of the war (Art. 231). The clause itself was a direct hit to Germany’s pride and Laurence V. Moyer believes (1995), “most Germans saw it as an atrocious injustice, an evil thing which must be destroyed” (Victory Must Be Ours). With this in mind, Hitler’s rise recovered their sense of pride and self-respect, making him the ideal figure to look up to. His idea was to change the way Germany was seen by the world. As a result of the War Guilt Clause, Germany was given full responsibility of the war and the citizens were humiliated and weak. Their desperation and depression helped lead Hitler and the Nazi regime’s rise to power.
Although the Treaty of Versailles was created in hopes of stabilizing Europe and ensuring another world war would never happen again, the treaty had still helped cause World War II. The plans Clemenceau had to weaken Germany did not go as expected and primarily strengthened the fighting spirit the nation had. Germany gained in strength with the hardships that they faced. Hitler could not have risen to power so easily without the desperate devotion he had from his followers. In any case, the treaty helped cause WWII by provoking Germany with territorial losses, military restrictions, economic reparations, and the War Guilt Clause.
Works Cited
Keynes, John Maynard. (1920). The Economic Consequences of the Peace.
Mee, Charles. (1919). The End of Order: Versailles.
Moyer, Laurence V.. (1995). Victory Must Be Ours: Germany in the Great War 1914-1918.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 160.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 231.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 232.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). German Territorial Losses.