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10
26
Absolutely! Not at all!
Debate Score:36
Arguments:29
Total Votes:43
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 Absolutely! (8)
 
 Not at all! (20)

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(S3-06) The Treaty of Versailles was justified

At the end of WWI, Germany signed an armistice with the Allies and hoped that the new Weimar government would be looked on favorably. However, the Treaty presented to them shocked the Germans and they were left with two options - sign the Treaty of Versailles, or risk a naval blockade that would lead to an eventual invasion. Was the war guilt clause justified, i.e. was Germany responsible for causing WWI? The fairness of the terms of the Treaty hinges on this core issue! 

Justified - To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid:

Absolutely!

Side Score: 10
VS.

Not at all!

Side Score: 26
1 point

The Treaty of Versailles was justified. The French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau described France's position best by telling Wilson: "America is far away, protected by the ocean. Not even Napoleon himself could touch England. You are both sheltered; we are not." They needed the Treaty of Versailles to weaken Germany to prevent future invasions.

Side: Absolutely!
XinJoel(3) Disputed
1 point

Germany after the Treaty of Versailles could not defend its own country, let alone invading other countries. France could have after the war could have invaded Germany and Germany would not have been able to defend itself. It is indeed too harsh for Germany. Germany did not have air force to defend from air raids. It had no good amount of battleship to protect its own water. There was only 100,000 personal with no equipments.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

This Treaty of Versailles was justifiable because many countries wanted to weaken Germany's military power and make pay back for their damages were to prevent invasions from Germany and teach them a lesson

Side: Absolutely!
Tantosochan(3) Disputed
2 points

Even though it is mainly Germany's fault for WWI. The treaty was too harsh and the treaty did not end the war, it started another one 20 years after the Treaty.

Side: Not at all!
taufiqmmhd(2) Disputed
1 point

But was it fair for them to suffer? With millions of men who went for war, unemployed roaming in the streets? Was it Germany's fault for being the ultimate cause and not Austria-Hungary who started the war between them and Serbia? Germany just came in to assist Austria Hungary, was it fair to blame them and make them the ones to pay?

Side: Not at all!
Lord_Ian(8) Clarified
1 point

The treaty was very harsh. Germany was limited to 100000 soldiers. With it's vast territory , Germany will not be able to defend itself and this will instead, give France a chance to invade Germany instead.

Side: Absolutely!
WalterKoh(2) Disputed
1 point

Isn't it too harsh to punish them by crippling their defence? What if it leads to the rise of communism in Germany? Also, by crippling their defence, they may be easily invaded by other countries.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

Germany caused the damage and scars of war. They used war as an excuse to carry forward their interests.

Side: Absolutely!
kimtsw2000(4) Disputed
1 point

Other countries also caused many damage and scars of war. All of the participants in the war did incredible damage to the other sides. It would not be fair or accurate to say that one side or the other did 'most' of the damage.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

During WW1, France was one of the major powers during the war. Of the members of the Triple Entente, France had the largest army and had the most number of casualties being more than 500,000. As such, France's say should be more considered due to our contributions to the war.

Side: Absolutely!
ChuaShueiRay(4) Disputed
1 point

Even though we mourn for your losses, common sense must prevail.

The terms France set out for Germany are too harsh, destabilizing their economy and removing military protection of their country. Although this stopped Germany from being a threat for a short period of time, the unhappiness and political upheaval resulting from the Treaty ultimately outweighed the potential benefits.

Side: Not at all!
Yadunand(1) Disputed
1 point

Your fact that France had the greatest army is wrong. Germany had the greatest army of 11 million soldiers sent to war. France had only 8.4 million. Also, Germany had 400 thousand more dead as compared with France. Germany had 1, 152, 800 missing soldiers while France had only 537, 000 missing. Thus, I feel that Germany should have had a say in the treaty of Versailles.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

The Treaty of Versailles was justified as in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk which was signed in 1918, the Germans were very harsh on the punishments to Russia as well. Not only did they have to give up almost half of Russia's European territories, which were rich in resources.

Side: Absolutely!
1 point

It is justified as I think this Germany deserved something bad in return for even starting the war. Furthermore, it reduced her population by 7.5 million Germans, which affected many. it was fair as Germany even though not involved in deciding had fair judgements.

Side: Absolutely!
0 points

The treaty was justified because Alsace-Lorraine, which was a part of France which Germany took over previously, was returned back to France

Side: Absolutely!
4 points

Americans wanted to have eternal peace. Out of the 14 Points, we can see that they wanted to have a fair punishment and allow Germany to recover instead of a brutal treaty that force a country to never rise again. Also, America never signed the Treaty of Vasailles thus it was never justified

Side: Not at all!
myatnoe(3) Disputed
0 points

Since America did not even sign it, the say should to France. In addition, when anything happens in Germany, compared to all of the other countries, France will become the most affected. As such, our ideas must be most considered.

Side: Absolutely!
Lord_Ian(8) Disputed
2 points

It is because of our participation that blockade German navy and it's cargo, thus turning the tides. Thus , America's idea should be the most considered instead.

Side: Not at all!
2 points

Also, America wanted the colonies of Germany to be freed. However, instead of freeing the Colonies, they redistributed them and thus caused more conflicts

Side: Not at all!
1 point

The part where they admit to starting the war was justified. However, the reparations part was absolutely brutal. Germany defaulted on the payments. Plus, the German people resented the treaty from the outset. This obviously led to resentment, and we all know what followed, the rise of the Nazis.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

Germany was stripped of its military. Germany's manpower was reduced to less than a fraction of what it started with. And it is unfair that Germany could only keep 100 thousand soldiers kept out of the 7 million. Many soldiers returned to Germany jobless and this caused them to be upset and stir unrest.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

Britain wanted to make a fair deal as it feared that if Germany was treated unfairly, it would become breeding grounds for communism, making them a threat for Europe. It also believed that the whole of Germany should not be punished for the Kaiser's actions.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

Britain wanted to make a fair deal as it feared that if Germany was treated unfairly, it would become breeding grounds for communism, making them a threat for Europe. It also believed that the whole of Germany should not be punished for the Kaiser's actions.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

The Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany. Germany was not invited to the treaty and they are forced to sign it otherwise they risk the allies invading Germany. The treaty of Versailles led the rise of Nazism which led to WWII hence the Treaty of Versailles is not justifiable.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

They needed to pay a huge amount of money and on top of that soldiers were reduced to 100 k so Germany is now vulnerable to attack from other countries. They also caused alot of pain and sadness for the Germans and lastly they had no tanks air force or submarines so any country can come and invade Germany any time

Side: Not at all!
1 point

Then France Military should strengthen instead or maintain a better relationship and thus, the other countries wont invade France again.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

The treaty was not justified as the sole reason Germany was ever involved in WWI was because Kaiser made the choice solely by himself to get involved in it , when WWI ended, Kaiser was Exiled , which meant that the cause of Germany being involved in WWI was banished so USA, Britain and France had no reason to blame the people of Germany for solely its previous leader's fault

Side: Not at all!
1 point

Ultimately for the British, The Treaty of Versailles was not justified.

With the heavy terms of the Treaty of Versailles weighing on Germany, it caused the German people to be extremely unhappy with the Treaty and the Powers whom crafted the Treaty. This created opportunities for political parties within Germany, including communist parties, to be able to gain greater political power within Germany and pose a threat ot the rest of Europe (i.e. Nazi Party and WWII).

The Treaty of Versailles also placed Germany's economy at stake, which was undesirable by the British government as they needed the German economy to be strong to counterract the spread of communism from Russia as well as bolster the economy of the rest of Europe via trade, which was in shambles after WWI.

Although Britian did receive benefits from the Treaty, such as colonies from Germany and continued naval superiority, these benefits were not nearly enough to outweigh the consequences and prevent a second World War from happening, which was the main goal of the Treaty of Versailles.

In conclusion, the Treaty of Versailles was not justifiable, because it failed to prevent a second World War and instead accelerated the process to a second World War.

Side: Not at all!
1 point

The TOV was unfair to germans as it was Russia who started the war. Demilitarization would leave Germany powerless against small nations. 6.6 billion that Germany has to pay will leave severe consequences on Germany and we will not have enough money our people. Given up the Saar coal field further weakens Germany's economy.

Russia has a super big army of 1 million men sitting on the Austria-Hungary border. Russia was the 1st country to mobilise it's army, which pushed Germany into war!

The Versailles treaty placed a number of restrictions on Germany and put them in financial ruin and put them in a state of hyper-inflation. Such as they could have no more than 100 000 soldiers, x number of tons of ships and other military restrictions. It also made them responsible for all damage in WW1 so in turn they had to repay all the damage. This caused inflation to sky rocket to the point that the average German could not live.

It was the Versailles treaty which really put gave Hitler power. The German people have a strong sense of national pride and now they were being humiliated, they were in ruin. They seeked a saviour and they got Hitler. He promised to bring back Germany on the world stage, to create jobs, wealth, infrastructure. He did all this but this was because he ignored the treaty by starting to rebuild the military and not paying war reparations thus reducing inflation and creating more jobs.

Side: Not at all!