Why Was The Treaty Of Versailles Inevitable

The treaty of Versailles made the World War II inevitable there is no doubt about it. It is one of the most significant event that changed the world we live in today. And have far-reaching consequences it was largely responsible for the major events which occurred in the rest of the century including the rise of Hitler and Nazi party World War II and much of the Cold War which occurred afterwards. The treaty was the result of the First World War this was unlike any other because it involved most of the countries of the world. The destruction caused by the war was unheard of size economic impact and the number of Casualties. It was the first war that featured the advanced technology such as submarines, aircraft, radio communication, poison gas.
Manufacturing advances also allowed production of weaponry including new items such as tanks and machine guns all this resulted in a total of 8,241,000 combat deaths, not to mention 25,000,000 people who died from Spanish flu immediately after the war. After the United States entered the war on the side of the Allies the tide was turned against Germany. US President Woodrow Wilson Came up with 14 point plan, how to end the war fairway and to ensure a lasting peace afterwards. German government was willing to end the war and accept the Treaty trusting that’ll be on the basis of Wilson’s 14 point Plan. Then the war ended and German military was dismantled and the four main allies’ leaders met at Versailles to determine the final terms of the treaty. But the victorious allies brought their 19th century prejudges with them. Germany and its allies such as Austria hungry were excluded from this discussions. The victorious allies with the exception of Wilson were determined to punish Germany. Even the French general folks said this is not peace, it is an armistice for 20 years. Folks prediction turned out exactly true, treaty was very one-sided in its punishment of Germany. Germany was required to give up large part of its territory, even the part of the population. They lost coal mines and industrial areas, had to dismantle its military was forced to admit the responsibility for the war and was required to pay large financial reparation of $32 billion equal to $393 billion in today’s money. The German public was shocked and German government was unable to oppose or alter the terms of the treaty. If Germany refused to accept the terms the Allies threatened to invade and now Germany had no means to fight back. One of the terms said that Germany was to turn over its entire Navy, angry at this Germany instead sank its remaining ships. The terms were so unpopular in Germany that the leaders who had to sign the Treaty of Versailles were referred as the November criminals as a result of this the German government at that time also lost the support. Instead German people increasing turn to more radical political parties both the left and right. Gaining popularity with the Communists on the left and the new emerging right-wing party called the Nazi Party and its charismatic leader World War I veteran Adolf Hitler. The French leader George Clemenceau was the most radical of the author of Versailles Treaty.
He was determined not only to punish Germany but to make sure they could never pose a threat to France again. He pushed for the terms which took away territory and population and restricted the rebuilding of Germany’s military. German army was limited to 100,000 was prohibited from having submarines, tanks or an Air force. British leader David George realized the terms are unfair to Germany but he did not say so publicly because the British people were determined to punish Germany as the French. George saw the immerging communists from Russian in east he wanted Germany to be strong enough to stop the communist extension. Behind the scenes he tried to be easy on Germany publicly he signed the Treaty. Italian leader Vittorio Emanuel Orlando was dismissed as irrelevant ignore the
negotiations. American Pres. Wilson though he was admired was not allowed to implement his fair 14 point plan for peace. The leader of Versailles agreed to one part of Wilson’s plan, which was the formation of the League of Nations this was an organization which was a forerunner of today’s United Nations. Its purpose was to prevent future Wars through negotiations and economic sanctions against any nations which engaged in aggression. Ironically even though the European countries joined the League of Nations the American Congress refused to approve Wilson’s idea and America did not become a member. Meanwhile reparation terms put immense pressure in German economy. When Germany failed to make reparation payments in 1922 French occupied the important industrial area increasing more distress to Germany. Industries went on strike contributing to the hyperinflation which destroyed the German Mark (currency) creating more economic distress. On top of this Germany’s colonies were taken away and given to France and England. Countries that already had numerous colonies, to add insult to injury the German public was angry about section 231 of the treaty which forced them to admit responsibility for the war. Further economic sanctions against Germany caused starvation even of children. Living in this humiliation and economic hardship the German public was eager to hear and agree with the dynamic Adolf Hitler. He promise to throw the Treaty of Versailles, he promised make Germany great again, to bring back his lost territories and people to avenge the humiliation of the allies and make Germany into a prosperous economic powerhouse. Just as Folks predicted one step at a time Germany Ignore the terms of the treaty and became economically strong and rearmed following the Nazi Party platform.
Hitler reunited with Austria and sabotage the restrictions on Germany’s military at first submarine crews were trained in other countries though it was prohibited Air Force many pilots were trained in and the hundred thousand army was much stronger because there called reservists. The allies’ power failed to respond to Hitler’s violations of the Treaty. So, after the first violations Germany ignored them completely, assembled powerful Air Force numerous advanced submarines and a large army complete with fast-moving tanks. German technology was among the best in the world and enabled Germany to launch blitzkrieg or lightning war. World War I radically changed the culture and Political map of Europe. The Treaty of Versailles cemented these changes. It led to numbers of significant developments without it the Nazi party would probably have never risen to power in Germany. Germany would not have rearmed and attacked other countries for revenge. The Soviet Union communism would not have extended, World War II would probably would not have been fought. We would be living in a much different world today. The Treaty of Versailles not only end the World War I, it also seeded the World War
II.

Henry Cabot Lodge, was very suspicious of Wilson and his treaty. Article 10 of the league of nation required the United States to respect the territorial integrity of member states. Personal enmity between Wilson and Lodge played a part. Wilson's fading health eliminated the possibility of making a strong personal appeal on behalf of the treaty. Ethnic groups in the United States helped its defeat. German Americans didn’t favor the treaty, Italian Americans felt they should get more land, Irish Americans didn’t like the treaty for failing to address the Irish independence. Extreme American isolationists didn’t want any global involvement. The stubbornness of President Wilson led him to ask his own party to not accept the treaty. The final results of all these factors had extreme long-term consequences. Without the involvement of the world's newest superpower, the League of Nations was doomed to failure. Over the next twenty years, the United States would look from outside the unjust Treaty of Versailles and the ineffective League of Nations. This would set even more serious problem later which turned out to be World War II. If I was at the Treaty of Versailles in Paris, I would have definitely involved Germany and their allies in the negotiation of the treaty. I would not include the clauses which would humiliate Germany and its people in anyway. I would also make them pay less reparation. Work Cited
http://www.ushistory.org/us/45d.asp