what was the most significant event in German history
In considering the process of change in the development of Germany over the whole period 1890-1991, how far can the treaty of Versailles been seen as a key turning point?
Jonathan Sokolov
The Treaty of Versailles was a monumental stage in German history, helping to shape German history for arguably the best part of thirty years. It can be argued that the Treaty was the most significant event since the unification of Germany in 1890. The short term consequences were also highly prominent as over 300,000 Germans fled to America in the years 1917-23. Moreover many Germans were aggrieved by the Treaty, this lead to public exploits (Kapp Putsch and Munich Putsch) that lead to casualties accumulating into the 1000’s. With so much death and despair in Germany in the 1920’s the Treaty of Versailles effectively crippled Germany both economically and mentally. Furthermore the effects did not only stretch to the late 20’s, Hitler used the Treaty as a major campaigning point to secure chancellorship in 1933. Hitler still held severe indignations over the Treaty of Versailles and still held a personal vendetta with the parent countries that imposed such harsh terms on Germany in 1917. Although the Treaty of Versailles was a pivotal stage in shaping German history there are other corresponding factors such as the erection of the Berlin wall in 1961, consequently perpetually separating East and West Berlin for 28 years. After the wall came down in 1989, Germany became reunified in 1990, arguably the most significant turning point in German history as it enabled Germany to prosper as a whole nation, since then Germany has gone on to establish itself as a world superpower, both militarily and economically. It is difficult to come to a definitive answer on what the biggest turning point is, however I plan to analyse pivotal points in German history, dating from 1917-1990.
The war in 1914 was the second time Germany had invaded France, resulting in over 1million casualties this
Jonathan Sokolov
The Treaty of Versailles was a monumental stage in German history, helping to shape German history for arguably the best part of thirty years. It can be argued that the Treaty was the most significant event since the unification of Germany in 1890. The short term consequences were also highly prominent as over 300,000 Germans fled to America in the years 1917-23. Moreover many Germans were aggrieved by the Treaty, this lead to public exploits (Kapp Putsch and Munich Putsch) that lead to casualties accumulating into the 1000’s. With so much death and despair in Germany in the 1920’s the Treaty of Versailles effectively crippled Germany both economically and mentally. Furthermore the effects did not only stretch to the late 20’s, Hitler used the Treaty as a major campaigning point to secure chancellorship in 1933. Hitler still held severe indignations over the Treaty of Versailles and still held a personal vendetta with the parent countries that imposed such harsh terms on Germany in 1917. Although the Treaty of Versailles was a pivotal stage in shaping German history there are other corresponding factors such as the erection of the Berlin wall in 1961, consequently perpetually separating East and West Berlin for 28 years. After the wall came down in 1989, Germany became reunified in 1990, arguably the most significant turning point in German history as it enabled Germany to prosper as a whole nation, since then Germany has gone on to establish itself as a world superpower, both militarily and economically. It is difficult to come to a definitive answer on what the biggest turning point is, however I plan to analyse pivotal points in German history, dating from 1917-1990.
The war in 1914 was the second time Germany had invaded France, resulting in over 1million casualties this