Dylan West

Treaty of Versailles DBQ

Western Civ 5

During WWI over 60% of the German army was killed. Because Germany was robbed of their
imperialistic colonies, given militaristic restrictions, extreme reparations, and the War Guilt Clause from
the allied power, they seeked a strong militaristic leader to guide their country through tough times. Once
Germany found Adolf Hitler to lead and rally their country he drastically changed the policies and
standpoint of Germans. The main reason why Germany was enraged was because of the Treaty of
Versailles and its outrageous policies. The treaty took colonies, imposed military restrictions, charged
large reparations, and the Guilt Clause.
After the Treaty of Versailles shook Germany, they were robbed of colonies by France. The
colonies included Lorraine Alsace, Denmark, and parts of the Polish Corridor. The loss of the Polish
Corridor angered Germans the most because it was their only warm water port. Inside the taken colonies
life was tough for Germans who now lived in another country but loved Germany still. To combat the
taking of the colonies Hitler told the citizens to ignore the Treaty and fly their German flags. Hitler used
this as an excuse to start WWII.
Also imposed on Germany from the treaty was Article 160 that said Germany had to limit its
military to 100,000 troops and those troops could only be used as a police force. The 100,000 troop limit
could not even suppress internal riots in Germany. This angered Germany because it made Germany
feel insignificant compared to Frances hundreds of thousands of troops. Eventually, Adolf Hitler ignored
this rule and still trained more troops than that.
Yet another unfair and angering regulation placed on Germany was that they had to pay all WWI
war reparations. Germany was told to pay 132 billion gold marks in 30 years or less. In todays economy
that would be $367 billion. Thankfully, for Germany, France reduced the amount to 112 billion in 1929
making it $341billion today. Germany was outraged by this unbelievable amount of money and how only
they had to pay for it when it was everyone's fault. Once Hitler came to power he stopped paying all
reparations immediately. Before Hitler Germany was still only making small efforts to pay the reparations.
Germany was expected to sign Article 231 or the War Guilt Clause which said that Germany was
responsible for all fighting, damages, and any following complications. This part was only to embarrass
Germany and make them feel guilty about all the problems of WWI and after. Germany had to take full
responsibility and that enraged them because they knew it was not all their fault.
Because of all the impositions on Germany from the Treaty of Versailles they seeked a strong
leader to put their trust in. Once they found Adolf Hitler he rallied the people and changed the policies
and disobeyed all allied rules. This enraged the allies and Hitler started a war with them and their allies
causing WWII. And that is why the Treaty of Versailles caused WWII.

Works Cited
The Treaty of Versailles (1919). Article 231
The Treaty of Versailles (1919). Article 160
Hitler, A. (1926). My Flight. In Mein Kampf (1st ed., Vol. 1, p. 124). Mariner Books