Why The Seeds Of World War 2 Were Sown In The Treaty Of Versailles

“The seeds of World War Two were sown in the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.”

The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty that was signed on the 28th of June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Background causes may have started World War One but the trigger was the assassination of the Archduke. After the war, France and Britain sought revenge for the damage done to their countries and people. The Allied forces wanted to crush Germany so that they would never be a factor of war again. A peace treaty was made and signed to create world peace and to assure no more wars. Not only did the Treaty of Versailles single out Germany as the sole cause of World War One, but it also had many negative impacts on Germany which helped pave the road for the next world war. Many changes were made to Germany’s military, the aftermath of World War One was very harsh and Germany lost much of its land and territory. To begin with, eleven million Germans enlisted in the war to fight, and many sacrificed their lives for their country. Germany’s military forces were
Germany’s population decreased, their taxes became smaller, along with their influence. All of Germany’s overseas colonies were taken from them, and Germany lost much of its land to neighbouring countries (Belgium was given Malmedy). In addition, France took Alsace-Lorraine back from Germany after writing it in the treaty. Germany lost 16 percent of its coalfields and France took the Coal-Rich Saar Basin (only for 15 years). The treaty had forced Germany to accept the independence of Poland, Czechoslovakia and Austria. Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria; this law was written so that Germany would have no help and they would stay weak. In summary, Germany lost much of its land, territory, population and coalfields due to the terms written in the