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Monday, February 12, 2007

The Treaty of Versailles

Click the link above to view excerpts from the Treaty of Versailles. Choose two of the points, and comment on them. How do these specific points prevent lasting peace in Europe? Conversely, how do these points foreshadow future conflicts?

Due: MIDNIGHT, Monday, Feb. 12

posted by RJS at 8:37 AM

7 Comments:

  • The first major point I would like to comment on involves the French utilization of Germany's Saar coal mines "unencubered and free from all debts of any kind". It seems that this is one of Germany's most important sources of natural resources, one that would provide power for its other industries, and be exported, to earn the capital to pay off the reparation debts imposed upon it. The fact that Article 45 demands that Germany cede these mines to France would only draw out the pain of the repayment for Germany and most likely create tensions in the seized area, considering its breach of national borders (contradicting the ideals of Wilson) and the resentment of Germans working for the French.
    The second point would be the handing over of German colonies to the allies, colonies which had been held in high regard by the Germans, which had raised themselves up to the level of the other European powers. Now, because of the guilt clause, the allies were able to bully Germany out of its, if not particularly valuable, most cherished assets: its overseas territories. This was basically a humiliating act, meant to degrade Germany in the eyes of the world even further than it had been, removing Germany, albeit unrealistically, from the rest of the world, like a quarantine.
    This treaty obviously takes advantage of Germany, using guilt against it so the allies can satisfy every one of their wishes. Although now under international surveillance, the potential for conflict hangs over Germany and the rest of Europe.

    By Blogger Victoria, at Monday, February 12, 2007 4:56:00 PM  

  • First and foremost, I apologize for my less than enthusiastic resonse to this assingment in class. I was under the impression that the entire treaty was being assigned to us, and not just a handful of imortant articles. With the treaty at a manageable length, this blog can be quite enjoyable.
    Articles 49 and/or 51 caught my eye, those being in which Germany is forced to seed back to France the territories of Alsace and Lorraine. These bordering territories have been fought over in previous wars, and will be fought (very briefly) over in WWII. The point is, giving these to France, the spoils of a completely unrelated conflict, stings Germany. It diminishes even further the justness of the treaty and makes later German (such as Hitler) very eager to reclaim the land. The German occupation of France in 1940 was doubtless very sweet to all Germans alive who remembered this division of land.
    More interesting and fun is Article 160, which limits the amount of troops in Germany to 100,000. A later Washington conference in 1920 would also limit Germany's batteships to 1.75/5 of Britain's. This demilitarizing action, far from keeping Germany down, increased sympathy for Germany, and further diminished the treaty's credibility to any outsider. Besides, Germany found a way around the limitations- they simply trained a group of soldiers, sent them into retirement, trained another group- so that their actual combat ready men was much higher than their standing army. When Hitler came to power, he openly disregarded the military limitations, and the lack of Allied response emboldened him even further. So in a way, Aritcle 160 provided a way for the allies to look weak in front of Hitler. Ironic that crippled, restricted Germany would soon have the greatest military force in continental Europe.

    By Blogger ThomasBatson, at Monday, February 12, 2007 6:00:00 PM  

  • I choose articles 42 and 232 for this assignment. Article 42 is the de-occupation of the Rhineland, more specifically preventing fortifications from being built in that area between Germany, Belgium, and France. This was to be Hitler's first blatant pre-war occupation, as he sent troops into the Rhineland and fortified the French-German border against the Maginot Line in flagrant violation of the treaty, without truly being reprimanded in any way for this act. This was the first completely tangible warning sign of what was to come, and it was not handled at all correctly.

    The other article, 232, defines the necessity of German reparations no matter what, immediately following the war guilt clause. this completely put Germany in a corner, as it wouldn't allow an obedient government any room, but one willing to take on this treaty was given all the room they needed and encouraged to fight to eliminate the debts by this article. This would completely prevent a really peaceful Europe, as it gives Germany nowhere to go but attack the allies.

    By Blogger Unknown, at Monday, February 12, 2007 9:53:00 PM  

  • The two articles I found most interesting were Articles 156 and 232. Article 156 caught my eye because Germany had to 1) give up all rights, titles, and priveleges and 2) give them up to Japan. So not only did this most likely tick Germany off because they're being told what to do (and nobody likes that), but I have to wonder if by giving the Japanese all these rights, the Allies unknowingly contributed to Japan's ability to attack China and the United States some 20 years later.
    Article 232 is also interesting because the Allies decide that Germany has insufficient resources and those lost resources will be added to Germany's reparations. Well the war did just divide Europe and previous articles in the Treaty (42, 51, 119) demand that Germany give up land. After this, there is no doubt Germany had lost most of their resources. Once again, in this article you can see how the Treaty was similar to children fighting or parents telling their children what to do. I don't know about everyone else but I don't particularly like being told that I suck and I'm not good enough. And that's basically what the Allies say to Germany right? I think Germany's huge debt contributed to the Great Depression and therefore gave the Nazis their chance to rise to power, because the German people would probably go for anything that they thought would help.
    Articles 156 and 232 basically defamed Germany and most likely contributed to their political discontent, which would prevent lasting peace in Europe.

    By Blogger taylor, at Monday, February 12, 2007 10:48:00 PM  

  • dang it.. I just emailed it because the blog page wasn't working. sorry 'bout that Mrs. Stone.

    Here goes nothin':

    Article 22. Certain communities formerly belonging to the Turkish Empire have reached a stage of development where their existence as independent nations can be provisionally recognised subject to the rendering of administrative advice and assistance by a Mandatory [i.e., a Western power] until such time as they are able to stand alone. The wishes of these communities must be a principal consideration in the selection of the Mandatory.

    Here the Western Powers were testing their ability to assert power over weaker nations without consult. Such weaker nations felt distressed, even hostile, towards the ‘Peace’ for denying them their Self-determination. Obviously the world won’t be at peace with hostility. This choice to assert power could have even set the scales for who would be against whom at the start of a new war.

    Article 231. The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.

    Of course, Article 231 was aimed directly at Germany. The initial response that The Allied and Associated Governments would have wanted from this is that the “bad guy” responsible for the war was caught and made to pay. These said governments were simply looking for an easy way out to make someone pay war debts, and to keep Germany submissive to other governments, in turn keeping them from growing larger and more powerful. Many not allied and associated nations, not being in the league either, favored Germany because of the unfairness towards it, causing a rift between those countries and those of the allies. It was unfair to place the blame of an entire war upon one country, especially if that country also experienced the same devastations that every other country experienced. Rifts and unfairness cause war.

    By Blogger TeganLove, at Monday, February 12, 2007 11:37:00 PM  

  • Article 159, which states that Germany must deconstruct their army, I thought was interesting because surely the Allies could see that after the destructive effects of the war physically and emotionally that Germany would not be about to rebuild an enormous army and start another attack. This article was probably just another was for the Allies to feel successful by exerting unneccesary power over Germany. Also, leaving Germany's army weak, allows the Allies to take further advantage of the country since there is no way Germany could retaliate. Germany may have seen this article in these ways which added to the resentment felt toward the rest of the continent. When someone strips you of your comfort and security for no reason other than to make themseleves feel safer, espescially after you have already had everything taken from you, you aren't about to hug and hold hands. This can easilt foreshadow conflict since Germany would be eager to rebel against the rest of europe. So, europe says you can't have an army? What can they do to rebel? Build an army. Not just any army either, an angry, resentful, spiteful army.
    I also touhght Article 231, which says that Germany has to accept the blame for the war. Is it just me or when you tell someone to confess doesn't it take away from the sincerity of the confession? But the allies simply wanted to justify the fineing of Germany. "Say it was your fault Germany. Do it." "Ok, fine. It was our fault." "Good now pay us 33 billion dollars."
    sounds like fun. So of course Germany is going to be in emotional distress after this degrading bit of business. Once again, building resentment and spite toward the rest of europe. This could be seen as foreshadowing since now maybe Germany is looking for something to be blamed for. The weird kind of reasoning that says 'well it wasnt our fault the first time, but we took the blame, so lets do something to live up to that confession.' or something along those lines.

    By Blogger manxomefoe, at Monday, February 12, 2007 11:45:00 PM  

  • Reading the Treaty of Versailles, if only in part, makes it glaringly obvious Germany was allowed in no way to influence its contents. The articles that seemed particularly unfair were the ones concerning the Saar Basin mines and the areas of Alsace and Lorraine, which I believe were Articles 45 and a bit there after. Giving France the Saar Basin was in no way described as a way of repaying war debts or preventing further discord. It chiefly seems to be an action of economic greed in a time when the possessor of a much conveted area is, for all practical reasons, incapcitated and unable to retaliate. Such a low blow would undoubtably have a long lasting enmity and sting for the German people, as the loss of a valuable resource very much hampers any sort of post-war recovery. Also, the giving of Alsace and Lorraine to France seemed not even vaguely germane, as those territories had been acquired by Germany a good forty years prior and therefore have nothing to do with the war which this treaty was created to address. The loss of this territory would most likely add tension to this area.
    Another article that drew my attention was article 232. After taking Germany's over seas colonies, the Saar mines, and Alsace and Lorriane, the treaty states it realizes what ecnomic shambles Germany is currently in, but nonetheless expects full reparations. It seems very much like a snake attempting to devour itself. Nobody likes prolonged economic hardship, and with Germany under such pressure it could no doubt inspire quite a bit of social unrest, perhaps paving the way for widespread communist or socialistic movements.

    By Blogger laura, at Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:18:00 PM  

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