Ben Larson

Treaty of Versailles DBQ

WC Period 5
How the Treaty of Versailles caused World War II

Germany lost in World War I, resulting in having to pay $367 million in reparation payments for
damage that took place during the war. Germany was blamed for WWI, including the damages in the war.
Germany was unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles. They were allowed no input at the League of
Nations, which was the meeting for world wide warfare peace. Germany had to pay reparations and had
accepted full responsibility for war. This then lead to WWII. The four main things leading to WWII were
nationalism, Militarism, Imperialism, and Alliance systems. Germany faced hardships, which lead to
depression and desperation. Adolf Hitler came forth as their new leader. Hitler came to power and
dropped all reparations. Germany was now out of the depression and back to an economic powerhouse.
As a result of WWI, Germany faced land losses, military restrictions, reparations, and guilt resulting from
the war. Hitler brought them back up, however he wanted to go back to war. If Hitler hadnt lead them into
war, then another leader would have most likely done the same.
One main cause of World War II was the loss that Germany suffered in WWI, resulting in having
to pay. Germany was on the losing end of World War 1. Germany had to give up land in the Polish
Corridor, Lorraine, Alsace, Danzig, and part of East Prussia. It was difficult for Germans who were still
living in the Lost Territories. They faced a new form of government, change of lifestyle, and hatred from
new people in the territory. This was one of the leading effects resulting in WWII, Germany wanted to fight
back. They wanted their economic power and land back.
Germany had restrictions for their military and economics. This was one of the restrictions of the
Treaty of Versailles for Germany. Germany could have no more than 100,000 militarians. They were to
have seven divisions of infantry and three calavories. The army they had left was instructed to be a
police force. Germanys people were scared and also under the control of France. Due to these
restrictions and limitations, the country of Germany was unsatisfied, insecure, and desperate. This lead
however to a rise from depression, due to desperation and to Hitler. This got them out of depression, and
also a start towards World War II.
Reparations were a main loss and punishment that Germany was certainly unhappy with, as a
result of World War I. They were forced to pay reparations of 132 billion gold marks, or $367 billion in US
dollars. However, Germany was humiliated and angry, so they refused to pay full price. They were set. by
the League of Nations, to be repay over a 30 year period. The reparations got reduced over time, and if
Germany failed to make quota then reparations could be postponed, or paid in another form other than
money. Germany was desperate, facing poverty, and in search of new leader. Hitler then came to power.
He dropped all reparations, since United States dropped out of League of Nations. The United States
created the original contract, no one could stop Germany at the time.

Germany lost WWI, the League of Nations met and wrote the Treaty of Versailles. Given full
blame for WWI and its damage, Germany was not going to just back down. The German people thought
the Treaty of Versailles was an atrocious and evil injustice.. They wanted it to be destroyed. Germany was
in a Depression and searched for a new leader. Adolf Hitler then came to power. He brought back a sense
of pride, self-respect, and cured poverty.However he also brought back an idea to start another war. As
Hitler rebuilt his economy, he also started to economically prepare for the eventual start of the battle of
World War II.
Germany was depressed and blamed for World War I. However, they still rebuilt and became an
economic powerhouse. Germany faced reparations, military restrictions, land losses, and guilt. Hitler
came to German people in a time when they were desperate. Adolf restored the economy and pride
among Germans. It lead to start of World War II, as Germany was unhappy with the Treaty of Versailles.
However, if it wasnt Hitler who came to power then it would have been someone else.

Works Cited

Adolf Hitler. (1924). Mein Kampf.

Charles Mee. (1919). The End of Order: Versailles.
John Maynard Keynes. (1920). The Economic Consequences of the Peace.
Laurence V. Moyer. (1995). Victory Must Be Ours: Germany in the Great War 1914-1918.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 160.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919(. Article 231.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 232.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919). Article 233.