Effects Of The Treaty Of Versailles

According to Woodrow Wilson, “It must be a peace without victory…. Only a peace between equals can last. Only a peace the very principle of which is equality and common participation in a common benefit”. The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty that was signed by the countries that were in war in World War I. The treaty had many different effects on Germany and many different conditions in it. Many people had hated the treaty and others had agreed with everything that the treaty had said. During World War II, the Treaty of Versailles impacted Germany’s government. First, the Treaty of Versailles was created for a variety of reasons. Secondly, there were many conditions in the Treaty Of Versailles. Finally, the Treaty of Versailles had many
long-term effects on Germany.
First, the Treaty of Versailles was created for a variety of reasons.
The Treaty of Versailles, was a peace settlement that was signed after World War 1 ended in 1918. It was created and signed on June 28th, 1919 after many months of arguing among the “The Big Three.” They were consisted of David Lloyd George, Clemenceau, and Woodrow Wilson. “Germany should be brought to its knees so that she could never start a war again”(Trueman 1). The German government were not allowed to participate in the treaty. This had later angered the Germans because they had believed that they had not started World War 1. The Germans were also angered when a Spanish-flu hit Europe and all the countries thought that they were the cause of the flu. Germany was the main reason that World War 1 had started and were main reason for the creation of the Treaty of
Versailles. Secondly, there were many conditions in the Treaty Of Versailles. One of the conditions of the treaty was that the german army was limited to only 100,000 men in all of their ranks. The Germans were also not allowed to use large artillery, tanks, or aircraft after World War 1. The land that the Germans had taken from other countries was returned back to the certain country that had the city as part of their territory before. “Germany was very upset by the conditions laid out in the treaty”(World War One and the Destruction of the Old Order 1). Germany’s unhappiness that was caused by The Treaty of Versailles had many bad results on European history 20 years later. The countries that had fought with the Germans created separate treaties and signed them. Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Yugoslavia all became smaller nations that were broken down from Austria-Hungary. These conditions made it a little less harsh on the Germans, who the allies believe started World War 1. There were many conditions in the Treaty Of Versailles and many impacted Germany. Finally, the Treaty of Versailles had many long-term effects on Germany.
The Germans had lost 10% of their land and had also lost 12% of their population. Germany’s wealth was given to their enemies and also lost 16% of their coalfields. Germany had no way to defend themselves after they lost many important items to protect them from war. Western Germany had to be de-militarized to protect the French from invasion. “Largely influenced by Clemenceau, Clause 231 gave the peacemakers the right to punish Germany, and they tried to prevent war by weakening the Germans so they would never be able to go to war again”(ToV & Germany 1). Germany had lost their richest farming land, West Prussia which was a major loss because West Prussia help them increase their money massively. The Germans were forbidden to unite with Austria which was ensured to keep the Germans weak. All of effects on Germany had left them weak and vulnerable all for one cause, so they could never start a war again. To conclude, the Treaty of Versailles had impacted Germany’s government in many different ways during World War II. The Treaty of Versailles was created for many reasons, there were different conditions in it, and it had many long-term effects on Germany. Hitler had used the Treaty of Versailles to help him by remarking the treaty. He also had started to point about how the “outsiders” had wanted to destroy Germany. He used the treaty in many ways to convince people about how he was right in everything
he said. The Treaty of Versailles had helped hitler become stronger in many different ways.