To what extent was the Treaty of Versailles a “dictated” and harsh peace?

The Treaty of Versailles was definitely a dictated and harsh peace. The “Big Three” did not
give Germany any chance to defend itself in the conference (Germany was not even invited)
and forced Germany into signing it. Indeed did the “Big Three” argue that Germany was to
blame for the Great War (Article 231), and that Germany forced Russia into the treaty of
Brest Litovsk in March 1918, but still the Treaty of Versailles treated Germany unnecessary
unfair and punished Germany both physically and psychologically. This is visible in countless
clauses, and shows what a harsh peace it imposed.

The biggest reason why the Treaty of Versailles was “dictated” was the fact that Germany had
no choice but to accept the already completed treaty. This alone proves the fact that it was
dictated. Germany was taken the right to decide their own fate, they were just imposed the
already finished clauses. If Germany would have not accepted the Treaty, it would have
allowed the Allies to completely invade and take over Germany. The only way to avoid that
was that the German Emperor had to accept the treaty. That Germany was not able to choose
to accept that treaty shows that it was dictated. The definition of dictated is that one is forced
into doing something. This was exactly the case. 1919 Germany was “dictated” into signing
the harsh Treaty of Versailles. This shows that the Treaty of Versailles is “dictated” to a
maximum extent.

Another reason why it was dictated was that Germany was not even invited to the peace
conference. The “Big Three”, Georges Clemenceau, Woodrow Wilson, and Lloyd George,
did not invite the country dealt with the conference. The only time Germany was involved in
the treaty, was the time Germany was “dictated” into signing it. Germany was left no option
to send a representative to Versailles that could defend German interests. Germany was forced
to accept clauses that enemy countries that have hatred towards them, work out among
themselves without any Germany presence. This also stresses the fact that the Treaty of
Versailles was dictated.

A reason why the Treaty of Versailles can be classified as “harsh peace” is that the terms of
the treaty can be considered unfair and “harsh” towards Germany. The main idea of the
Treaty of Versailles was to clarify that Germany was to blame for the war, and to charge
Germany reparations for the war. The Treaty of Versailles charged Germany to pay 5 billion
pounds reparations before May 1921. In addition Germany was to hand over all Merchant
ships which weigh more than 1600 tons, and half of the ones between 800 and 1600 tons. ¼
fishing ships were to be handed over to the allies as well. Germany had to hand over an
additional amount of 200 000 tons of shipping to the allies of the next 5 years. The Treaty of
Versailles caused huge territorial loses on German side. Germany had to give up all their over
seas colonies (which was Germany’s pride – psychological punishment), the area of West
Prussia and Posen, the sea-port Danzig, Eupen and Malmedy, Alsace & Lorraine, and Memel.
Overall Germany lost 10% of its land and 12.5% of its population. It was impossible for
Germany to pay the reparations sum charged on it. The Treaty of Versailles left the German
economy in ruins. Germany could by no means pay this large sum. The Treaty of Versailles
limited the German army to 100,000 infantry-men, no conscription, no armoured vehicles, no
air force, no submarines and only 6 battle ships. Considering the huge size of the German
empire, this left Germany defenceless. In case of a revenge attack of France or Russia,
Germany would have no chance to defend itself. It left it virtually unprotected. After 1919 due
to the Treaty of Versailles, Belgium had three times as many infantry soldiers as Germany,
even though it was just the fraction of size of the German empire. German was imposed
extremely harsh restrictions. Germany’s economy was in ruins, the Germans angry and
demoralized, the government devastated. Germany had no possibility of paying the
reparations sum, since the allies destroyed all opportunities to raise money. This makes the
Treaty of Versailles an extremely harsh peace, taking into account Germany was by far not
the only country to blame for the war (refer to “To what extent was Germany to blame for the
outbreak of WWI?” essay) .

An argument for the “Big Three” to make the Treaty of Versailles as harsh as it turned out to
be was the Germany had forced Russia into the harsh treaty of Brest Litovsk. In March 1918
Russia was just before defeat, also because of an internal Revolution going on. Because of
this, Germany forced Russia into the very harsh treaty of Brest Litovsk, as well “dictating” it
on Russia. The “Big Three” felt that Germany was already unscrupulous before in the treaty
of Brest Litovsk, so they should not expect any mercy and the ally’s side. Yet, this was
complete different situation. The treaty of Brest Litovsk was made during wartime. While the
treaty was discussed, Germany was still in war on the western front. Germany had to ensure
that its eastern front was definitely secured. Germany could not accurately estimate how long
the war would be going on, so they had to make sure that Russia was cripples under the treaty
of Brest Litovsk so they could now just focus on the western front, without Russia having a
chance to recover and re-enter the war, causing Germany to again, be dragged into a war on
two fronts. In conclusion, the treaty of Brest Litovsk was made under war conditions, and had
to be that harsh, in contrast to the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty of Versailles was arranged
after an armistice, and the allies did not have to worry that Germany would rise up and attack
them during the conference. They theoretically would have had the opportunity to be as
generous as they wanted with the treaty, but they chose to be as harsh as possible with
Germany.

In concluding remarks, the Treaty of Versailles was extremely harsh on Germany. It can be
called “harsh peace” because it forced peace upon Germany, since Germany was not given the
chance to rebuttal. Disobedience in the Treaty of Versailles would of ment war. Germany was
not invited to the conference and had no representative to defend its interest. The Treaty of
Versailles was “dictated” upon Germany – it suits the definition of dictated. The Treaty of
Versailles imposed an immense reparations sum for Germany to pay. In addition, the Treaty
of Versailles put Germany’s economy to ruins, taking all resources. For the peace Germany
had to give a huge portion of its land and population, leaving behind a crippled and devastated
Germany. The Treaty was dictated and harsh to a maximum extent.