FREE ESSAY ON TREATY OF VERSAILLES

TREATY OF VERSAILLES

The Treaty of Versailles was intended to be a peace agreement between the Allies and the
Germans. Versailles created political discontent and economic chaos 1in Germany. The
Peace Treaty of Versailles represented the results of hostility and revenge and opened
the door for a dictator and World War II.
November 11, 1918 marked the end of the first World War. Germany had surrendered and
signed an armistice agreement. The task of forming a peace agreement was now in the hands
of the Allies. In December of 1918, the Allies met in Versailles to start on the peace
settlement.2 The main countries and their respective representatives were: The United
States, Woodrow Wilson; Great Britain, David Lloyd George; and France, George Clemenceau.
At first, it had seemed the task of making peace would be easy.3 However, once the
process started, the Allies found they had conflicting ideas and motives surrounding the
reparations and wording of the Treaty of Versailles. It seemed the Allies had now found
themselves engaged in another battle.
Woodrow Wilson (1856 - 1924), the twenty-eighth President of the United States (1913
--1921).4 In August of 1914, when World War I began, there was no question that the
United States would remain neutral. Wilson didn't want to enter the European War or any
other war for that matter.5 However, as the war continued, it became increasingly obvious
that the United States could no longer 'sit on the sidelines'. German submarines had sunk
American tankers and the British liner, 'Lusitania', in May 1915, killing almost twelve
hundred people, including 128 Americans.6 This convinced Wilson to enter World War I, on
the allied side. As the war continued, Wilson outlined his peace program, which was
centered around fourteen main points. They (fourteen points) were direct and simple: a
demand that future agreements be open covenants of peace, openly arrived at; an
insistence upon absolute freedom of the seas; and, as the fourteenth point, the formation
of a general association of nations.7 The fourteen points gave people a hope of peace and
lay the groundwork for the armistice that Germany ultimately signed in November 1918.
Although the United States was instrumental in ending the war, Wilson was still more
interested in a peace without victors8 than annexing German colonies or reparations
(payment for war damages). However, as the Allies began discussions of the peace treaty,
the European allies rejected Wilson's idealism and reasoning. It soon became increasingly
obvious that the allies were seeking revenge and Germany was destined to be crippled
economically and socially by its enemies.
David Lloyd George (1863 - 1945), who was the Prime Minister of Great Britain (1916 -
1922), governed through the latter part of the war and the early post war years.9 Britain
and Germany were, historically, always rivals. Before the war, for instance, Germany
challenged Britain's famous powerful and unstoppable navy by dramatically increasing the
amount of money spent on their navy. In terms of losses, Britain absorbed thirty-six
percent of the debt incurred by the allies and seventeen percent of the war's total
casualties.10 After the war, Britain faced tough economic problems. Their exports were at
an all time low due to outdated factories, high tariffs, and competition from other
countries. As a direct result, Britain suffered from high unemployment, which of course,
affected the well being of the country. Britain had its pride and nationalism stripped.
The Treaty of Versailles would provide an opportunity to seek revenge for their losses.
They were also seeking annexation of German colonies in Africa.
Georges Clemenceau (1841 - 1929) was the Premier of France (1906-1909) and (1917-1920).11
As Britain, France had a rivalry with Germany but the French's ill feelings were even
more intensive. Nationalism created tensions between France and Germany. The French
bitterly resented their defeat in the Franco - Prussian War and were eager to seek
revenge. Moreover, they were determined to regain Alsace - Lorraine.12 This gave the
French the motivation of increasing their military strength and ultimately, destroying
their life-long enemies. During the war, France's portion of the war debt amounted to
twenty percent. Their loss, in terms of war casualties, was thirty-three percent.13 Most
of the battles were fought on French soil. This resulted in the destruction of ten
million farm acres, twenty thousand factories and six thousand public buildings.14 After
the war, France suffered terribly, economically. Inflation and a deflated French Franc
spurned the French to take advantage of the armistice. Clemenceau wanted revenge as well
as security against any future German attack.15 He also wanted a huge amount of
reparations, to annex the coal rich Saar Basin, the return of Alsace - Lorraine and an
independent Rhineland for a buffer zone between Germany and France.
All the leaders had different opinions and motives regarding the Treaty of Versailles.
Coming to a consensus was difficult. The Treaty had to be revised several times before
the final copy was signed on January 18, 1919. There was scarcely a section of the treaty
which was not attacked, just as there was scarcely a section of the treaty which was not
attacked.16 The German's were reluctant to agree to such harsh terms. Even the most
humble German was appalled by the severity of the treaty.17 France and Britain were both
eager to have revenge on Germany but selfishly wanted each other's benefits. Clemenceau
pointed out that the British were making no effort to placate the Germans at the expense
of British interests. They offered no proposals to reduce the number of German ships to
be handed over, or to return Germany's colonies, or to restore the German Navy, or to
remove the restrictions on Germany's overseas trade. Instead, it was always at the
expense of French interest that concessions were to be made.18 Wilson thought both France
and Britain were being too vindictive and unreasonable. The allies used Wilson's Fourteen
Points program to convince Germany to sign an armistice. However, once Germany complied,
these points were ignored. The French, for example, had no intention of abandoning what
Wilson castigated as the old diplomacy, with its secret understandings and interlocking
alliances.19 Therefore, in the end, the European Allies, including France and Britain,
received what they wanted from the treaty.
The actual costs, for Germany, included: the guilt of the entire war and, paying 132
billion gold marks in reparations. Germany also lost one eighth of its land, all of its
colonies, all of its overseas financial assets and limiting their once powerful
military.20 Britain and France would receive large sums of the reparations and German
colonies in Africa as mandates.21 France also received its wishes with Alsace-Lorraine.
France would recover Alsace-Lorraine outright.22 However, the main delight for France and
Britain was seeing Germany suffer.
The biggest problem Germany had with Versailles was the war guilt, which was stated in
article 231 of the Versailles Treaty. The Allies were astonished to find this particular
paragraph was the most violently disputed point in the entire treaty. Article 231 stated:
The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of
Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and
Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the
war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.23 It seems weird that
they would treat Germany that way after they too had been in the war. Fighting and
killing were done by both sides but only the Germans were punished. If our army and our
workmen had known that peace would look like this, the army would not have laid down its
arms and all would have held out to the end.24 All Germany became very upset about the
whole treaty. This aroused intense nationalist bitterness in Germany.25 The future looked
grim and had no cause for optimism in the near future.
After Versailles was 'in stone', Germany became a very weak country, seeking to avenge
the vindictiveness and total lack of empathy shown by the allies. The German people could
not resist, but, in unanimity, they could still hate.26 Germany suffered from great
economic problems after the war. They had already lost many lives and things during the
war, but now they were responsible for paying the reparations. The Germans tried paying
their debts by borrowing and printing more money. They were shocked to find that
incredible inflation was the result. The hardships caused by the inflation of the 1920's
contributed to the political unrest of Germany after WWI.27 After the war, Germany became
a republic (called the Weimar Republic). The Weimar Republic had many problems from the
very beginning. Many Germans despised it (the Republic) because its representatives had
signed the hated Versailles Treaty.28 There were revolts by both a communism party and a
fascism party. In the end, the fascists party was favoured because they were extreme
nationalists, who denounced the Versailles Treaty and opposed the democratic goals of the
Weimar Republic.29 With the rise of fascism came the rise of Hitler and his Nazi Party.
Adolph Hitler, of the Nazi Party, preached a racist brand of fascism. His party kept
expanding, benefiting from growing unemployment, fear of communism, Hitler's
self-certainty, and the difference of his political rivals.30 When Hitler became
chancellor in January 1933, he began rebuilding a promising future for Germany.31 He
promised jobs and benefits to all classes of people. Almost all Germans felt compelled to
listen and obey Hitler's extreme ideas of fascism because for some, he was their last
hope. Hitler knew how to win people's obedience, through their fears and insecurities.
Hitler successfully appealed to a Germany that was humiliated by defeat in World War I
and the Treaty of Versailles of 1919.32 Hitler succeeded and began to regain Germany's
strength. Germany was too powerful to be suppressed for long.33 Hitler broke many rules
contained in the Treaty of Versailles. For example, Hitler sent troops into the
demilitarized Rhineland and the French did not respond.
This and scenarios gave Hitler the incentive to invade other countries and ultimately,
invade Poland and started World War II. With WWII came the dreadful horrors of the
Holocaust. Hitler had ordered the deaths of at least five million Jews.34 Not only did he
orchestrate these mass murders, but he also influenced countless individuals to think and
act in the same disgraceful manner. Hitler may have had sick and shameful ideas but he
certainly knew how to be a manipulative leader. He played on the fears and insecurities
of the people and used their weaknesses to win their loyalty.
In conclusion, The Treaty of Versailles was supposed to represent the peaceful ending to
World War I, however, it became the prelude to another war. It was originally an effort
to restore order and provide a peaceful conclusion to World War I. The ill feelings and
economic upheaval that resulted provided the perfect climate for Hitler's dominance, in
post-war Germany. The contributors/participants of Versailles had other motives behind
the 'peace agreement' other than a peace settlement. Their selfish actions resulted in,
not only the economic hardship of Germany, but inflation and unemployment in all of
Europe. The severity of the reparations contained in this document set the stage for
history to repeat itself. Therefore, the very way in which the Treaty of Versailles was
forced on the German people stored up the material for the next round.35