WWII DBQ

During the early 1920s, World War I had just ended, and many countries were not happy with the outcome. The Treaty of Versailles was a poor settlement to World War I, and left three particular countries unhappy; Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Treaty of Versailles left many limitations on Germany, and failed to give Italy and Japan the recognition they deserved. During the 1930s, these countries decided to take action, and fight for what they wanted. Though both appeasement and collective security were taken in response, collective security proved to be the more effective response to the aggression. Followed by World War I, Germany had received many limitations from the Treaty of Versailles. The leaders at the Paris Peace Conference decided they wanted to get “revenge” on Germany, and decided to take everything they valued away. The Treaty of Versailles took Germany’s army, and their air force. It also made them pay everyone who was involved in World War I’s war debt. This enraged Germany, but would later feed them the fuel they needed to rebuild the country. When Hitler came to power, he was more than ready to rebuild Germany to its normal status. The second he got a chance to do this, he took it. “Berlin, March 7-Germany today cast off the last shackles fastened upon her by the Treaty of Versailles when Adolf Hitler, as commander-in-chief of the Reich defense forces, sent his new battalions into the Rhineland’s demilitarized zone.... “After three years of ceaseless battle,” Hitler concluded, “I look upon this day as marking the close of the struggle for German equality status and with that re-won equality the path is now clear for Germany’s return to European collective cooperation” (The New York Times, Doc 3). Here, this is showing that Hitler knew what he had to do to get what he wanted, and did it. In order for him to rebuild Germany, he needed supplies. All of Germany’s natural resources were located in the demilitarized zone, and Hitler needed it.