TREATY OF VERSAILLES

TREATY OF VERSAILLES

The Treaty of Versailles was the most important of the peace treaties that brought World War I to an end. The Treaty ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. 

14 Points by Woodrow Wilson

These points reflect U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s vision for post-war peace, aiming to prevent future conflicts and promote self-determination and cooperation among nations. Some notable points include:

1. Abolition of secret diplomacy
2. Free navigation at sea for all nations in both war and peace.
3. Removal of economic barriers between nations.
4. Reduction of armaments (military forces and equipment).
5. Impartial adjustment of colonial claims with regard to the populations’ interests.
6. Evacuation of Russian territory by other nations.
7. Restoration of Belgium
8. Liberation of France and restoration of Alsace and Lorraine (taken by Germany in 1871).
9. Adjustment of Italian borders to align with ethnic nationalities.
10. Self-government for Austria-Hungary’s peoples.
11. Evacuation of Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania and access to the sea for Serbia.
12. Self-government for non-Turkish peoples of the Ottoman Empire.
13. An independent Poland with secure access to the sea.
14. Creation of a general association of nations to preserve peace, which later became the League of Nations.

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

1. Territorial Losses in Europe: Germany lost territories to neighboring countries and the Allies. For example:
   • The Saar region (a coal-rich area) was placed under French control for 15 years.
   • Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France.
   • Parts of East Germany were given to Poland.
2. Colonial Losses: Germany lost its African colonies, including Cameroon, Togo, and parts of Tanzania, which were placed under the supervision of the League of Nations as mandates.
3. War Reparations: Germany was forced to pay war reparations to the Allies for the damage caused during the war. Although the exact amount was not initially fixed, it was eventually set at £6.6 billion in 1921.
4. Limitations on German Armaments: Germany’s military forces were severely restricted, limiting the size of its army to 100,000 troops. No conscription, tanks, armored cars, or aircraft were allowed, curbing Germany’s military capabilities.
5. Demilitarization of the Rhineland: The Rhineland was permanently demilitarized, preventing Germany from stationing troops or military equipment there. The left bank was to be occupied by Allied troops for at least 10 years.
6. War Guilt Clause: Article 231, commonly known as the War Guilt Clause, placed full responsibility for the war on Germany and its allies, justifying the reparations and penalties.
7. League of Nations: The treaty led to the formation of the League of Nations, aimed at maintaining peace and preventing future conflicts between nations.

German Objections to the Treaty of Versailles

1. Dictated Peace: Germans were excluded from the negotiations and were simply expected to sign the treaty, leading them to view it as unfair and imposed on them.
2. Not Based on Wilson’s 14 Points: The Germans argued that the treaty’s harsh terms were not aligned with Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points, which had proposed more lenient and fair post-war settlements.
3. Inability to Create a “Greater Germany”: The treaty forbade Germany from uniting with ethnic Germans in Sudetenland, Austria, and other regions, preventing the formation of a larger unified German state.
4. Loss of African Colonies: Germany’s colonies in Africa were taken and administered as mandates by Britain and France, causing further resentment.
5. Complete Disarmament and War Guilt: Germany was forced into full disarmament and had to accept sole responsibility for World War I, a clause that Germans deeply opposed.
6. War Reparations: The £6 billion reparations imposed on Germany were seen as excessive and crippling. This massive financial burden led to economic difficulties, with much of the money going to repay loans to the USA.

Impact of the Treaty

• Germany’s Resentment: The treaty left Germany temporarily weakened but also humiliated and angry. This resentment laid the foundation for future violations of the treaty. Flow of events:
  • The treaty was viewed as a humiliation by Germans → This created widespread resentment → Hitler exploited this resentment to provoke the people → The rise of Nazism and German rearmament → Eventually, these factors led to World War II.
• Rise of Nazism: Adolf Hitler’s rise was fueled by the treaty’s harsh conditions and the resentment it caused. He promoted Nazism, a racist and ultra-nationalist ideology, which led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in history.
• Division of Colonies: France and Britain gained control of Germany’s former colonies, increasing resentment from other nations who were dissatisfied with the unequal distribution of territories.
• Franco-British Dominance: The failure to reward Japan and Italy for their support in World War I pushed them into alliances with Germany in World War II.
• German Economic Crisis: The economic effects of the treaty, particularly hyperinflation and financial instability, created fertile ground for the economic and social crisis that contributed to the outbreak of World War II.
• Failure of the League of Nations: The League of Nations was supposed to prevent further conflicts, but it failed to enforce the treaty or stop aggression, contributing to its inability to prevent World War II.
• World War II: The treaty’s terms, combined with the rise of Hitler’s racist ideology and militarization, directly led to World War II. The war drastically altered global power structures and had catastrophic consequences for humanity.

The Treaty of Versailles created conflicting goals among the victors, leading to a compromise that failed to address the concerns of Germany and other nations. Germany was neither pacified nor conciliated, leaving them humiliated and resentful. The treaty has often been viewed as one of the key causes of World War II, as it directly contributed to the rise of Nazism and global instability.