The Treaty of Versailles, was made at the final end of World War I, or as known as the The Great War at the time. On the 28th of June, 1919, the treaty was signed. Coincidentally or purposely, that was the exact date five years ago when assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which was the main cause of why the war started. The Treaty of Versailles was directed at Germany for possibly the reason that a part of the "Big Three" (consisting of David Lloyd Jones, Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson) wanted Germany to be thrashed. The following treaty states the agreements that Germany had to make after defeat.
"Therefore the treaty contained the following articles:
80. Germany will respect the independence of Austria.
81. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Czechoslovakia.
87. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Poland.
119. Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas countries.
159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not to exceed 100,000 men.
181. The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included.
198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces.
231. Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all the loss and damage to the Allied Powers.
233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at $33 billion].
428. To guarantee the execution of the Treaty, the German territory situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied troops for fifteen years.
431. The occupation forces will be withdrawn as soon as Germany complies with the Treaty."
80. Germany will respect the independence of Austria.
81. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Czechoslovakia.
87. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Poland.
119. Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas countries.
159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not to exceed 100,000 men.
181. The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included.
198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces.
231. Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all the loss and damage to the Allied Powers.
233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at $33 billion].
428. To guarantee the execution of the Treaty, the German territory situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied troops for fifteen years.
431. The occupation forces will be withdrawn as soon as Germany complies with the Treaty."
(From Reading One: Treaty of Versailles)
In my opinion, around 60% of it would be fair, but the other 40% wasn't. I do agree from lines 80-119, 231,431 and 428. I do think that respecting and recognizing the independence of Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland, giving back the overseas countries that Germany had taken, and that the troops will go from Germany as soon as the treaty was signed was fair to Germany. On the other hand, I didn't agree with lines 159-198 and 233. The lines 159-198 clearly allows.. "159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not to exceed 100,000 men. 181. The German navy must not exceed 6
battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included. 198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces." That's just basically saying that Germany has barely any forces in case of a plot against other countries. However, the treaty should have stated that if Germany needed any troops in the event of an attack by a country, another country should have helped Germany. Though, the case of a country attacking Germany, then when Germany has more forces both Germany and another country turn against the Allied Forces and work together to create another war. That conspiracy would be a perfectly good argument against the thoughts of allowing more troops in case of war though. On line 233, it shows that.. "233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at $33 billion]." The thing is that Germany wasn't the ONLY country that took part in the war against the Allied Forces. There was also Austria-Hungry, Bulgaria, and Turkey who took sides with Germany. Why would they only pinpoint this on Germany, when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was by a Serbian? The answer could either be that Germany was declared the leader of the war, or the possibility that people wanted revenge on Germany. The treaty only lasted around 20 years, and when that time was up, Adolf Hitler had plans already to conquer Europe.
battleships, 6 light cruisers, 12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included. 198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or naval air forces." That's just basically saying that Germany has barely any forces in case of a plot against other countries. However, the treaty should have stated that if Germany needed any troops in the event of an attack by a country, another country should have helped Germany. Though, the case of a country attacking Germany, then when Germany has more forces both Germany and another country turn against the Allied Forces and work together to create another war. That conspiracy would be a perfectly good argument against the thoughts of allowing more troops in case of war though. On line 233, it shows that.. "233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at $33 billion]." The thing is that Germany wasn't the ONLY country that took part in the war against the Allied Forces. There was also Austria-Hungry, Bulgaria, and Turkey who took sides with Germany. Why would they only pinpoint this on Germany, when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was by a Serbian? The answer could either be that Germany was declared the leader of the war, or the possibility that people wanted revenge on Germany. The treaty only lasted around 20 years, and when that time was up, Adolf Hitler had plans already to conquer Europe.
"This is not peace, it is an armistice for twenty years." -Ferdinand Foch
Sources:
Reading One: The Treaty of Versailles
-R
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