The Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was proposed to be a peace settlement between the victorious Allies and the defeated Germans at the outcome of World War I. The post-war reparations imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 and the subsequent economic disaster that Germany faced at the close of World War I, left the country vulnerable and looking for new leadership. The Treaty of Versailles was a culmination of hostility and revenge and provided the perfect environment for Hitler to rise to power, and set the stage for a second World War.
World War I came to an end on November 11, 1918. Germany had surrendered and signed the Armistice agreement. The Allies set about to the devising of a peace settlement with the defeated Germany. In December of 1918, the Allied leaders met in the Versailles Palace, outside of Paris, France, to start on the peace settlement. Representing the United States, Great Britain, and France, were President Woodrow Wilson, Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and Premier George Clemenceau, respectively. The Allies hoped that writing a peace agreement would be a quick and easy process; however, once the process of writing the treaty started, the Allies found that they had m

The policy of reducing Germany to servitude for a generation, of degrading the lives of millions of human beings, and of depriving a whole nation of happiness should be abhorrent and detestable… Some preach it in the name of justice. In the great events of man’s history, justice is not so simple (98).

had many conflicting ideas and motives.

Once the Germans signed, the fourteen points were ignored, and in the end, the European Allies had their wishes granted. This German political cartoon compares Germany’s future to a death sentence, as it shows Wilson, Clemenceau, and Lloyd George carrying out the execution.

Though the Treaty of Versailles was originally supposed to bring a peaceful ending to World War I, ironically, it laid the foundation for World War II. The feelings of hate and the economic disaster that resulted from its harsh reparations provided the perfect setting for Hitler's dominance, as Hitler was able to exploit Germany’s hopelessness. The European Allies at the Paris Peace Conference had other motives behind the peace agreement, than simply peace. Their selfish motives resulted in, not only the economic difficulties in Germany, but ultimately a murderous dictator who led the world into yet another Great War. John Maynard Keynes, a British economist living at the time of the treaty, stated:

When World War I began in August, 1914, the United States was certain that it would remain neutral. President Woodrow Wilson emphasized the fact that he did not want to enter the war. As the war continued, though, it became increasingly difficult for the United States to maintain its neutrality. Several American tankers had been destroyed by German submarines. The Lusitania, a British ocean liner, also fell victim to German submarine assault in May 1915. Nearly twelve-hundred people, including one-hundred twenty-eight Americans, were killed in the attack. These attacks convinced Wilson to join the Allies in the war. Now that the United States was involved, Wilson began to devise a peace program, centering on fourteen main points. They described a peace program in which a "League of Nations" was to be formed in order to preserve the peace. The fourteen points instilled a sense of hope and peace, and laid the groundwork for the armistice. Though the United States contributed significantly towards ending the war, Wilson’s main concern was peace, not annexing German colonies or holding them responsible for war debt. However, as the peace discussions commenced, the European Allies denounced Wilson's idealistic approach. They deemed Germany responsible for the war, and felt that they should pay dearly for their transgressions. The European Allies’ true motives became increasing clear. Historian Anthony Wood, in his book Europe 1815 - 1960, commented the "spirit of revenge" that the Europeans possessed :