Katlin Cap

Treaty of Versailles DBQ

Western Civ. Period 5

World War I took the lives of ten million soldiers and 7 million more civilians.The Treaty of
Versailles was signed by the Allied nations, Great Britain, France, and the United States, at the end of
WWI. The treaty was put into place to stabilize Europe and ensure that another catastrophic war would
never happen again. So how did it cause another World War in less than 20 years after being signed?
The Treaty of Versailles is blamed for WWII because it humiliated Germany with its harsh policies and
restrictions. Germany underwent territorial losses, military restrictions, economic reparations, and the War
Guilt Clause.
The Treaty of Versailles weakened Germany with territorial losses. The punishment Germany
faced was very harsh. The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to give up all its remaining colonial
possessions. The treaty stripped Germany of Lorraine, Alsace, Polish Corridor, and part of Denmark. The
land that was given away was richer in resources and industry so this caused Germany to struggle even
more (Doc A). This land transaction led to a 40% reduction in Germanys coal production. Because of this
transition of territories, people often resented their new country and stayed loyal to Germany.
Another thing that the Treaty of Versailles enforced that led to World War II is the military
restrictions placed on Germany. Germany went from being a military power house, to having one of the
smallest militaries in Europe. The new military was to be devoted exclusively to the maintenance of order
within the territory and to control the frontiers (Doc B). Germanys military was reduce down to 100,000
and that made citizens of the country feel very insecure and unprotected.
Economic instability in placed by the Treaty of Versailles also led to World War II. Germany was
forced to pay heavy reparations. These reparations were outlined by Article 232 of the Treaty of
Versailles, they payed for damage done to civilians and property of the Allied nations during the war (Doc
C). The total amount that Germany owed was $341 billion in 2010 U.S. dollars. This amount of money
was too high for Germany and they could not keep up. When Hitler came to power in 1933, they stopped
paying completely.
The final way the Treaty of Versailles contributed to WWII was the War Guilt Clause. Article 231
said the Germany and their allies accepted all responsibility for the war (Doc D). This statement made
Germany think the Treaty was completely unfair and humiliated them. Germany felt it was an atrocious,
injustice and an evil thing that must be destroyed. This statement led to Hitlers rise to power because he
restored a sense of pride that was damaged with this article, he reawakened a sense of self-respect that
brought Germany higher in the worlds view.
Although the Treaty of Versailles was put into place to ensure another World War would never
happen again, its harsh policies gave way to World War II that was more destructive than the first.

Germanys suffrage with territorial losses, military restriction, economic instability, and humiliation caused
by the Treaty of Versailles led to World War II.
Works Cited

Hitler, A., & Manheim, R. (1972). Mein Kampf. London (3 Fitzroy Sq., W.1): Hutchinson.

Moyer, L. (1995). Victory must be ours: Germany in the Great War, 1914-1918. New York: Hippocrene
Books.

Treaty of Versailles(1919). Article 160

Treaty of Versailles(1919). Article 232

Treaty of Versailles(1919). Article 233