Treaty Of Versailles Dbq

The end of World War I was finalized by the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. It was signed by Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan but not the United States, as the U.S. drafted its own treaty with Germany in 1921. Many historians argue that the Treaty of Versailles was the major cause of World War II which occurred twenty years later. On the Treaty's most superficial level, the extreme punishment and fines that were levied by the Allied Powers on the Germans were causes enough for war. Historians argue that this and the international fallout that resulted most notably with the United States were simply too powerful to avoid war at all. The ramification of the Treaty sent the German economy into a severe depression
Ultimately, the Allied Powers settled on the astronomical sum of thirty-three billion dollars which the German government was mandated to pay but simply did not have the funds to do so. In addition to paying reparations, Germany had to severely limit military spending and personnel, relinquish land previously gained in the World War, and was barred from having any air force at all. The lack of American involvement, which was sorely needed at this time, had significant impacts on the actions of other key states. Sudden American withdrawal from the Treaty of Versailles sent France into a panic and their subsequent occupation of the Ruhr Valley in Germany. This action dealt a harsh blow to the Germany and British-French relations. The former came into economic conflict with France, creating hyper-inflation, and throwing Germany into a severe depression. Wheelbarrows of money were necessary to buy loaves of bread until the Deutsche Mark became so devalued that the bills were burned to provide heat to those living in
The Allies had learned invaluable lessons from the obvious failure of the Treaty of Versailles. While reparations were still severe, the Allied Powers served as conquerors rather than disciplinarians, separating Germany into four military zones, they then stripped it of industry, dismantled the government, and instituted a democratic system. Militarily, the Allies rounded up all German military forces and rendered them inoperative until they could be disarmed. Maritime and aeronautical shipping were all but eliminated and outlined specific orders that would ensure continued control over the region. Another important provision made was the Nuremberg Trials, which allowed the Allied Powers to punish those directly responsible for the