How far was the treaty of Versailles responsible for the Second World War?
How much was the Treaty of Versailles responsible for World War II?
How far was the treaty of Versailles responsible for the Second World War?
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the most controversial treaties among the international treaties. The main allegation against it is that the Treaty of Versailles was indirectly responsible for World War II. Historians have called it a forced peace or ‘’A dictated peace’’. The discriminatory treatment of the German nation by this treaty indirectly gave rise to World War II. Historian Ryker commented - No great nation like Germany can submit indifferently to discrimination in the matter of armament and other things. In fact, the main purpose of the Treaty of Versailles was to make Germany irrelevant in international politics by weakening Germany politically and economically. The hatred and animosity towards the German nation that was aroused by this treaty was reflected in the events that followed Hitler's rise.
1. Lack of political foresight on the part of the framers of the Treaty of Versailles. Long before the Treaty of Versailles was signed, the European leadership had a hostile attitude towards Germany. As a result, they did not show any courtesy to the defeated Germany during the treaty. Germany had no role in implementing the treaty. This political short-sightedness turned the Treaty of Versailles into a biased treaty.
2. Disrespectful treatment for Germany: - The Treaty of Versailles was based on two principles - (a) taking punitive action against Germany solely responsible for the war and (b) ensuring that Germany does not take any offensive role in the future. In the light of these two principles, all the terms of the treaty were intended to cripple Germany. This vindictive attitude and abusive behavior infuriated the German nation. Only with the rise of Hitler did that anger manifest itself.
3. The burden of unjust and unreasonable compensation on Germany: - All the conditions imposed on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles were unethical and unreasonable. Although Germany suffered heavy losses in the war, the huge amount of compensation imposed on it - was in no way possible for Germany to pay. The framers of the treaty rejected all kinds of international principles and ethics while implementing the treaty.
4. Impact of economic and trade conditions: - All its rich territories were taken away from Germany. Germany was also denied any rights over various minerals. Germany's main industrialized fertilizer region was taken away. Most of Germany's territories and colonies were taken away and brought under Allied rule. It was then very natural that those harsh and coercive conditions should lead to the reunification of the German nation and a spirit of revenge against the European powers.
5. Discrimination against Germany in the policy of European restructuring: - Although Europe was reorganized after the First World War in the Treaty of Versailles, there was severe discrimination against Germany. Many parts of Germany were annexed by Poland and Czechoslovakia. This coercive attachment later gave rise to many international problems.
6. Inequality in Establishing the Nation's Right to Self-Determination: - In the Treaty of Versailles, the US President spoke of the nation's self-determination. But this ideal did not apply to Germany. The self-determination of the German nation was completely neglected. The treaty severely undermined Germany's sovereignty. As a result, it was not uncommon for the German nation to reunite and demand self-determination later on in the question of self-determination.
7. Impact of Military Conditions: - In accordance with the Treaty of Versailles, all European countries adopted a policy of reducing arms. But the victorious powers never lost their strength. But this policy was strictly applied to Germany. German troops and naval forces were disbanded, and Allied forces were deployed in Germany. This discriminatory policy could not last long. As a result, with the rise of Hitler, Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles in 1936.
8. Unsuccessful attempts to subdue the German nation: - The huge sums of compensation imposed on Germany could not be paid by Germany and on the one hand; Similarly, it was not possible for the victorious forces to realize it. Although Allied forces were deployed in various parts of Germany, including the Rhine, it did not pose a major obstacle to Germany's recovery.
9. Polish and Belgian policy hurts Germany's ethnic dignity: - The terms of the treaty made neighboring Belgium stronger than Germany. The various prosperous regions of Germany were annexed to Poland. In addition, the framers of the treaty damaged the dignity of the German nation by building a "Polish corridor" through Germany. The Germans, believing in their own theory of ethnic superiority, therefore quickly sought to establish themselves. The result was World War II.
10. The British and French policy of appeasement: - Within a decade after the treaty Hitler's rise, Britain and France began to appease the Germans for political gain. As a result, Germany stopped paying compensation in 1932, but no action was taken against it. Then, in 1936, all the terms of the treaty were revoked from the Rhine region. In 1936, Hitler occupied Austria. Thus the appeasement policy of Britain and France encouraged Germany to play an irresistible role.
In conclusion, although the terms of the treaty temporarily weakened Germany, it was not possible to permanently subdue it. Because on the one hand there was the belief in the ethnic superiority of the German nation and on the other hand there was the rise of Hitler. Under the influence of these two, the latent possibility of retaliation by Germany came to the fore within the next decade. The ultimate manifestation of this was Hitler's invasion of Poland and the outbreak of World War II.
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