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!
ToV was justified!
Side Score: 37
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ToV was not justified!
Side Score: 25
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3
points
Germany was responsible as Germany had originally started the war. In the beginning, there were only threats laid out by Russia and Austria-Hungary, but Germany was the first one to declare war on Britain, France and Russia. Going more into detail, Germany also gave a blank check to Austria-Hungary, encouraging them to start war too. Side: ToV was justified!
1
point
The blank check was originally for the purpose of averting war, rather than starting it. This was due to Germany wanting Austria-Hungary to act quickly and take Austria while the world was still mourning the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Hence, Germany was not threatening a world war, rather Russia threatened Germany and so Germany had to declare war on all 3 world powers in order to fight against Russia's allies, Britain and France, who would have joined the war, regardless of whether Germany declared war on them. Side: ToV was not justified!
3
points
Russia threatened Austria not Germany. However, as Austria's ally, Germany had to take action. I also do not agree that Britain and France would have joined the war even without Germany declaring war on them, as Britain was only competing with the Navy of Germany. Side: ToV was justified!
Germany still declared war on all the other nations in which using the Schlieffen plan Germany had created.The Schlieffen plan was made to quickly destroy the neighbouring small country , this made germany to start attacking, thus germany should be blamed for WW1. Side: ToV was justified!
3
points
Germany was responsible for war as Germany started building military powers to protect their country. When Britain heard of Germany starting to build military powers, the tension between everyone increased. Germany later formed the Central Powers along with Austria-Hungary, Bosnia, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire. They declared war on Russia and later attacked France through Belgium. If Germany had not tried to increase their military power, he tension would not have increased and therefore no one would have declared war on anyone. War would therefore had not happened. Side: ToV was justified!
2
points
Compared to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, imposed on Russia by Germany in early 1918, Versailles was a "slap on the wrist" in the words of one eminent modern historian. The popular perception of Versailles being harsh and unfair has come from constant German whinging that it was so ever since - as Hitler once said,if you tell a big enough lie for long enough, people will come to believe it. Side: ToV was justified!
1
point
To quote the French Prime Minister of that time: "America is far away, protected by the ocean. Not even Napoleon himself could touch England. You are both sheltered; we are not." They wanted Germany to be crippled to a point where they are unable to threaten and/or go to war with France anymore. Side: ToV was justified!
2
points
It is true, france need to protect itself as it is in a vulnerable position and it have been invaded twice. It does not have any geographical protection and was located right beside a nasty neighbour that have the most advanced technology and that like to strike fast like a angry monkey and knock its neighbours out at once, so France have a reason to impose a treaty to disable Germany due to them being a deadly neighbour that can defeat france at one go. Side: ToV was justified!
1
point
Germany had already offered to rebuild much of Northern France even though they were not responsible for the war. Furthermore, Germany had her own losses to deal with as well as the recent conversion to a democratic government, and she was helping with the losses of other countries too. They would not be able to go to war with all these internal problems. Side: ToV was not justified!
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2
points
2
points
2
points
With the dematerialisation of the German Army, France could be more protected. As stated, America and Britain were protected by vast seas unlike France which was invaded twice. The dematerialisation will ensure that France can protect itself further. On the flip side, Germany would be more vulrenable to exterior attacks from other countries. However, Germany would have no need to defend herself if they don't instigate any attacks on other countries. Side: ToV was justified!
2
points
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: ToV was not justified!
What turned a small time assassination into a world war was not caused by Germany. There existed at the time a network of treaties among nations which drew nations from around the world into what was supposed to be a small, quick war between Austria-Hungary on one side and Serbia on the other. Events unfolded as follows: Russia bound by their treaty with Serbia decides to come to Serbia’s aid. Germany, with the recent treaty with Austria-Germany, declares war on Russia. France, bound by an existing treaty with Russia, now is at war with Germany by association. Germany then invades Belgium to have easy access to France. Britain, allied to France with an existing treaty, declares war against Germany. This was unexpected by Germany as they expected Britain to stay out of the war, due to the fact that the treaty with France was loosely worded and not entirely binding. However, Britain also had a 75 year old treaty with Belgium. So because of both of these treaties, they decided to declare war on Germany. With Britain now warring with Germany, Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa enter the war as they were colonies of Britain. Japan honors an existing treaty with Britain and declares war on Germany. Austria-Hungary declare war on Japan for declaring war on Germany. The U.S. tries to stay out of the war but in 1917 decides to enter due to Germany’s submarines hindering the United States’ commercial shipping because the U.S. was shipping a lot of supplies to the Allies. Article 231 wrongly blamed Germany for all damages caused during the war. Side: ToV was not justified!
1
point
Germany had no say in the treaty and they had the right to keep their land and property. They also asked for peace after the war. However, Germany ended up taking the blame for the war even though they had to deal with the losses of their people too. This is unfair to Germany and it is not their responsibility. Side: ToV was not justified!
3
points
Germany was responsible for triggering the start of the war as they were jealous of the strength of Britain'c navy. Germany then started expanding their military arms and that created tension between Britain and Germany. The competition of which navy was stronger could only be answered through war, therefore the start of WW1 was triggered. If Germany did not try to show off their power through military arms and their navy to compete with the strength of Britain, there would never have been tension and the war wouldn't have been triggered Side: ToV was justified!
2
points
In the first place, if they did not stir up the war, nothing would have happened. Without war, no one had to suffer. Therefore it is only justifiable that they (Germany) should bear the brunt and take full responsibility and suffer all consequences from their actions. Side: ToV was justified!
2
points
Germany caused the most damage in the war. They knocked out france quickly at the start of the war like a angry monkey and that must have caused a lot of damage to france. They also captured important part of russia. Even though the parts were returned, Russia lost a lot of prestige that cannot be returned and thus Germany should also punished for that. Germany changed their system as they were just trying to suck up to the Allies as the war is turing upon them so they asked for peace after the war to try avoid their punishment. Side: ToV was justified!
1
point
Germany admitted defeat in the war. They even changed the system of governance to a democratic. Germany also lost about 2.1 million military deaths and 430,000 civilian deaths. According to the Treaty of Versailles, Germany is to reduce their army size to 100,000 soldiers, six battleships and no airforce. So how is Germany going to protect itself after losing so many men and have a restriction on the size of their army. Side: ToV was not justified!
1
point
Germany even asked for peace after the war but they were simply ignored and the fact that they changed to democratic were not taken into consideration and thus was not taken into the discussion of their fate. Then came the horrible terms of disarming them to about 115,000 men left so how are they supposed to defend themselves from other countries if an invasion is to come? They simply want Germany to suffer and did not think of the outcome of Germany after this treaty. On top of their suffering of their people, they have to pay for all damages, where will they get all the money and still attend to their citizens? Side: ToV was not justified!
1
point
The main cause of the World War was not because of the German intervention but due to Austria declaring war. The treaty of versailles was totally inaccurate for saying that the Germans started the war. This was the first fact that showed a biased ideology towards the Germans. The punishment met out for the Germans was way too ridiculous. This was not only unbeneficial towards the German economy, but also to the whole Europe. The Germans did not lose World War one. Being at the gates of Paris, the French capital could have collapsed and fell into German hands any minute. The Germans agreed to discuss a peace treaty, not a unconditional surrender. Side: ToV was not justified!
0
points
Hostile Divisions in Europe resulted in the expansion of armies and navies thus leading to an arms race. (All armies were expanding their armies and making plans for war) In the days after the Archduke’s assassination, Austria should’ve taken some of the blame for the onset of war, Austria would not have acted unless she was sure she had Germany’s support (Austria was the first to strike). Nationalism was also a cause for WWI, Austria’s unfair treatment of the minorities in her empire caused the spread of Balkan nationalism, Serbia had been forced to hand over Bosnia and Herzegovina to Austra to obtain her independence Austria sent an ultimatum to Serbia which contained unrealistic terms. However, Serbia managed to meet all of them except one which would allow the Austrian army to occupy Serbian territory.(At this stage,Austria could have prevented war but she chose not to). Side: ToV was not justified!
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