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How did the Versailles Treaty lead to World War Two

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[[File:LLoyd's_News_Placard_announcing_Versailles_signing.jpg|thumbnail|300px250px|left|Lloyd's News reporting the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.]]__NOTOC__The guns fell silent on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. Over four years of incredible destruction came to a silent end. For the belligerent Central and Allied Powers, the armistice brought uncertainty. The Kaiser had just been overthrown, and a new alliance of Liberals and Socialists announced a democratic regime at Weimar, Germany. The other Central Powers had collapsed in disarray and revolution. Russia, out of the war in early 1918 , was in the midst of a deepening Civil War. Many of the Allies were exhausted and drained.
The delegates that crafted the treaty that ended the First World War believed that they had brought lasting peace to Europe. President Wilson felt that the war had made much of the world safe for democracy to spread. However, conflicting goals, the harsh terms of the treaty , and Germany’s response to those terms would lead to the most destructive conflict in world history - World War Two.
== What were the goals of the Allies after World War I? ==
[[File:Versailles_1919.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Georges Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson at the Formal Signing of the Treaty.]]
The delegates of the victorious powers met in Paris to discuss the terms of the peace, followed by the treaty's signing at the former French royal palace of Versailles. Led by the "Big Four," the U.S., France, Italy, and Great Britain. Each had its own goals and vulnerabilities. While the U.S. President Wilson adhered to an idealistic view of collective responsibility and ethnic self-determination, France was driven largely by one thing: revenge. France sought to avenge its humiliating loss almost fifty years earlier in the Franco-Prussian War that resulted in a united Germany.
====Deliberations====[[File:Versailles_1919This idea of revanchism had consumed generations of French policy, and a clear opportunity finally presented itself.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Georges Clemenceau France demanded terms that would have completely de-industrialized and Woodrow Wilson at the Formal Signing of the Treatydemilitarized Germany.]]The delegates of the victorious powers met French floated proposals that included breaking up Germany proper and creating a client state in Paris to discuss the terms of industrial Rhineland. France demanded harsh reparations for the peace, followed by the treaty's signing at damage done to its country and Belgium during the former French royal palace of Versaillesconflict. Led by the "Big FourUltimately," Germany was forced to pay $31 billion in reparations under the U.Streaty.<ref>Roekmeke, FranceFeldman, Italyand Glaser, and Great BritainEditors. Each had their own goals and vulnerabilities<i>[https://www. While the Uamazon.S. President Wilson adhered to an idealistic view com/gp/product/0521621321/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521621321&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=23707e21c609bf040f6ea201065827fb The Treaty of collective responsibility and ethnic self-determinationVersailles: A Reassessment after 75 Years]</i>, France was driven largely by one thing(New York: revengeCambridge University Press, 1997. France sought to avenge its humiliating loss almost fifty years earlier in the Franco-Prussian War that resulted in a united GermanyPage 90. </ref>
This idea == How did France dominant the treaty conference after World War I? ==Each of revanchism had consumed generations the powers represented at the treaty conference came out with some disappointments. The British goal of French policy stability was largely subverted by revolutions across Europe and a clear opportunity finally presented itself. France demanded terms that would have completely de-industrialized and demilitarized 's demand to increase Germany's punishment. The French floated proposals that included breaking up Germany proper and creating a client state Italy did not receive territory promised in secret deliberations during the industrial Rhinelandwar. The largest shortfalls appeared for France demanded harsh reparations for the damage done to its country and Belgium during the conflict. Ultimately, Germany was forced to pay $31 billion in reparations under the treaty. <ref>Roekmeke, Feldman, and Glaser, Editors. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521621321/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521621321&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=23707e21c609bf040f6ea201065827fb The Treaty of Versailles: A Reassessment after 75 Years]</i>, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997. Page 90United States.</ref>
====Shortfalls====Each President Wilson's lofty goals of internationalism fell asunder in the postwar reality. The emerging League of Nations lacked the powers represented at teeth needed to prevent aggressive power from emerging and destroying the treaty conference came out with some disappointmentsfragile peace. The British goal Rather than creating a series of stability was largely subverted by revolutions independent democracies across Eastern Europe and Francethe Middle East, conflict raged for years, leading to opportunities for Hitler's demand for increasing punishment for Germanyand Stalin's Russia. Furthermore, the United States never signed the Treaty of Versailles and joined the League. The U.S. Italy did not receive territory promised in secret deliberations during Senate never ratified the warTreaty, destroying Wilson's grand vision. <ref>Graebner, Norman and Bennett, Edward. <i>[https://www.amazon. com/gp/product/1107647487/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1107647487&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c74d9defaf3a45523aa17dfc019a9d1c The largest shortfalls appeared for France Versailles Treaty and Its Legacy: The Failure of the United StatesWilsonian Vision]</i>, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011.Pages 86-87)</ref>
President WilsonHowever, it was France that had the most significant impact. France's lofty goals of internationalism fell asunder constant desire for revenge alienated its allies and sparked radical political movements in the postwar realityGermany. The emerging League French understood that Germany was utterly drained by the war, losing almost half of Nations lacked the teeth needed its youngest adult male generation. Paris developed a decidedly defensive posture, seeking various ways to prevent an aggressive power from emerging box in and destroying the fragile peacehumiliate Germany. Rather than creating a series France created alliances with many of independent democracies across the new Eastern Europe and the Middle EastEuropean states, conflict raged for years, leading to opportunities for Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russianone of which would adequately function. Furthermore, the United States never signed the Treaty France also produced a long line of Versailles and joined defenses along the Leaguenew Franco-German border. The U.S. Senate never ratified This Maginot Line proved to be less than up to the Treatytask in 1940, destroying Wilson's grand vision. <ref>Graebner, Norman and Bennett, Edward. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1107647487/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1107647487&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c74d9defaf3a45523aa17dfc019a9d1c The Versailles Treaty despite the substantial effort and Its Legacy: The Failure of the Wilsonian Vision]</i>, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011investment. Pages 86-87)</ref>
However, it was France that had the most significant impact. France's constant desire for revenge alienated its allies and sparked radical political movements in == How did Germany. The French understood that Germany was utterly drained by the war, losing almost half of its youngest adult male generation. Paris developed a decidedly defensive posture, seeking various ways React to box in and humiliate Germany. France created alliances with many of the new Eastern European states, none Treaty of which would adequately function. France also produced a long line of defenses along the new Franco-German border. This Maginot Line proved to be less than up to the task in 1940, despite substantial effort and investment.{{Mediawiki:TabletAd1}}====German Reaction==Versailles? ==
[[File:Mass_demonstration_in_front_of_the_Reichstag_against_the_Treaty_of_Versailles.jpg|thumbnail|left||300px|Mass Demonstration against the Treaty of Versailles at the Reichstag in 1919.]]
Naturally, Germany was less than thrilled about their situation. By November 1918, nary a square mile was under Allied occupation, and the Kaiser's troops still occupied a substantial part of Belgium. German propaganda had been announcing for months that their soldiers were very close to victory through much of 1918. And in many ways, they had been. The shock of defeat, coupled with the harsh terms proposed, carved an indelible mark in the German psyche. This unexpected defeat led to the famous "stab in the back" theory utilized by Hitler. The sight of American, British, French, and Belgian occupying the Rhineland pierced the brief calm after the fighting ended.
Versailles hung heavily on the German consciousness immediately. Various political parties, especially on the emerging far-right, desperately campaigned against the terms. Furthermore, armed militias often called the Stahlhelm (Steel Helmets) organized across the country burnished by Great War veterans and armaments. This militia helped lead to further undermine the unstable Weimar government, already accused by many of the right to be born on the empire's corpse. A bizarre combination of the new political party combined with militias led to emerging Communist and National Socialist conflict.
====Conclusion====Rather than foster long -term peace and stability, the Versailles Treaty's main goal of handling Germany instead sparked movements that would lead directly into World War II. The National Socialist Party used widespread anger about Versailles with the economic collapse of the Great Depression to come to power in 1933. Six years later , the world was again at war, this time far more destructive and incorporating widespread genocide. The inability for Wilson's ideals to come to widespread fruition led to further devolving situations in Eastern Europe and Asia also allowed for Soviet and Japanese expansionism. Far from preventing another war, in many ways , Versailles instead caused another one.
====Suggested Readings====
* Graebner, Norman and Bennett, Edward. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1107647487/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1107647487&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c74d9defaf3a45523aa17dfc019a9d1c The Versailles Treaty and Its Legacy: The Failure of the Wilsonian Vision]</i>, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011)
* Roekmeke, Feldman, and Glaser, Editors. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521621321/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521621321&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=23707e21c609bf040f6ea201065827fb The Treaty of Versailles: A Reassessment after 75 Years]</i>, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1997)
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[[Category:German History]] [[Category:Military History]][[Category:World War Two History]] [[Category:European History]] [[Category:European History]]
Updated January 18December 2, 20192020
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