Pros And Cons Of The Treaty Of Versailles

The First World War came to an end on the 11th of November, 1918, when a defeated Germany accepted an agreement to lay down all arms and end all fighting. Understanding Germany as the central instigator of the war, the Allied Powers of Europe imposed a treaty of obligations upon the nation, known as the Treaty of Versailles. On the 7th of May, 1919, the treaty was presented to the German leaders at the vast Versailles Palace, near Paris. Among the Allies’ dignitary leaders were three of the most influential leaders following the Great War: David Lloyd George of Great Britain, George Cleamenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson of the United States of America. Although they sought different outcomes of the Treaty of Versailles, each nation could

The treaty would impose strict obligations on Germany to assure they were under no position to further create war. The foremost terms of the treaty were organised into four sections: territorial, military, financial and general. Germany was forced to return land to France, Belgium, Denmark, Czechoslovakia and Poland and all German colonies overseas were put under the authority of the League of Nations. The treaty demanded huge reparations which would sabotage the stability of the German economy, take away all personal savings of the middle class and prompt the enormous rate of unemployment. Within the military aspect of the treaty, German’s army was reduced to 100,000 men and the west of the Rhineland was made into a demilitarised zone, where no German soldier or weapon was allowed. Perhaps more than anything, the most humiliating fragment of the treaty for Germany, was the “War Guilt Clause” – Article 231. Germany was to accept complete responsibility for all war damaged caused by the First World War, a conclusion that they could not come to terms with. Finally, the efforts of the Western European powers diminished and isolated Germany and her democratic leaders. The League of Nations was created as a way to keep world peace and consequently, Germany was isolated from this organisation. The league meant France, Britain and the United States could determine the future of

France and its leader, George Clemenceau, or “The Tiger” had one simple view – Germany should be destroyed. The French leader aimed to demand enormous reparations from Germany as to bankrupt her so that she could never start a war like the one that had devastated his country again. Not only should she be financially destroyed, but Clemenceau believed, also deprived of military power - the German army should be banned and in turn could never threaten France again. France wished for independence for the Rhineland in Western Germany, which would mean they would be safe from another German invasion. Clemenceau also had other wishes for the land within and surrounding France. Prior to the war, in 1871, one of France’s most beloved cities, Alsace-Lorraine had been taken over by Germany, and Clemenceau urged that this land be given back as a term in the treaty. Indeed, this did become a term of the treaty, as did huge reparations, which pleased the French, however, realistically were inconceivable. In spite of this, France believed Germany had been broken and Clemenceau’s wishes had been met. At the time, the treaty appeared to meet the demands of Britain as well as France, however, it wasn’t until later years that the private concerns of David Lloyd George were