Did the Treaty of Versailles Make World War Ii Inevitable?
Did the Treaty of Versailles make
World War II inevitable?
JANUARY 8, 2008
STUDENT ID: 081404078
ABSTRACT
This essay analyses the origins of the Second World War by briefly summarizing the events from 1919-1939. However, most emphasis is put on the amount of responsibility the Treaty of Versailles deserves for the outbreak of war. Other than analysing the Treaty of Versailles on its own, it also analyses the effects of the 1929 Wall Street Crash on the world, the rise of Fascism and Nazism, as well as the rise of Adolf Hitler, the failure of the League of Nations and the appeasement of the Fascist and Nazi regimes by Britain and France throughout the 1930s. Hence the Treaty of Versailles plays a substantial but not definitive role in the outbreak of World Ward Two.
The First World War was the bloodiest and the most catastrophic war the human race had ever suffered prior to 1914. The Peace of Paris ended global warfare but the Treaty of Versailles created massive bitterness and resentment in Germany. It is therefore undeniable that this humiliation contributed substantially to the outbreak of the Second World War. Nevertheless it is crucial to take into account other factors such as the world economic crisis, the rise of Hitler in Germany, the failure of the League of Nations and the appeasement of the Nazi and Fascist regimes to evaluate the extent to which the treaty of Versailles caused World War Two.
The 439 articles in the Treaty of Versailles “mutilated and humiliated Germany (Khanna, 1996, pg.197).” First of all, according to Article 231, also known as the “War Guilt Clause,” the Germans were held accountable for the outbreak and the devastation of the war. This meant that they had to accept full responsibility and pay reparations which summed up to about 6.6 million pounds. Also, Germany’s military was reduced significantly. The size of the army was limited to about 100,000 soldiers, they were not allowed to
World War II inevitable?
JANUARY 8, 2008
STUDENT ID: 081404078
ABSTRACT
This essay analyses the origins of the Second World War by briefly summarizing the events from 1919-1939. However, most emphasis is put on the amount of responsibility the Treaty of Versailles deserves for the outbreak of war. Other than analysing the Treaty of Versailles on its own, it also analyses the effects of the 1929 Wall Street Crash on the world, the rise of Fascism and Nazism, as well as the rise of Adolf Hitler, the failure of the League of Nations and the appeasement of the Fascist and Nazi regimes by Britain and France throughout the 1930s. Hence the Treaty of Versailles plays a substantial but not definitive role in the outbreak of World Ward Two.
The First World War was the bloodiest and the most catastrophic war the human race had ever suffered prior to 1914. The Peace of Paris ended global warfare but the Treaty of Versailles created massive bitterness and resentment in Germany. It is therefore undeniable that this humiliation contributed substantially to the outbreak of the Second World War. Nevertheless it is crucial to take into account other factors such as the world economic crisis, the rise of Hitler in Germany, the failure of the League of Nations and the appeasement of the Nazi and Fascist regimes to evaluate the extent to which the treaty of Versailles caused World War Two.
The 439 articles in the Treaty of Versailles “mutilated and humiliated Germany (Khanna, 1996, pg.197).” First of all, according to Article 231, also known as the “War Guilt Clause,” the Germans were held accountable for the outbreak and the devastation of the war. This meant that they had to accept full responsibility and pay reparations which summed up to about 6.6 million pounds. Also, Germany’s military was reduced significantly. The size of the army was limited to about 100,000 soldiers, they were not allowed to
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