Origins of World War II
After World War One ended, many attempts were made to restore and maintain peace from 1919 to 1920, peace treaties like the Treaty of Versaillethless.
The other attempt at keeping Germany weak was having a strong army and forming alliances with countries.
In conclusion, the peacemaking attempts made between 1919 and 1920 seemed to just get more and more people and their countries angry. Although the League of Nations was effective in solving a number of disputes it still could not achieve world peace. The Treaty of Versailles placed a harsh reparations payment on Germany, leaving Germany upset and eager for revenge. Will the world ever be a þySÌ Î ° T› Ð
" à=Ð/ Ð 8 d ÿÿÿÿ Ð
t < T
Origins of World War II
After World War One ended, many attempts were made to restore and maintain peace from 1919 to 1920, peace treaties like the Treaty of Versailles and leagues like The League of Nations were formed. People and countries reacted in different ways to such attempts like these.
In January 1919, 32 nations meet in Paris to draft a peace treaty ending the first World War. Among the nations were the five loser countries, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey. The Treaty was called The Treaty of Versailles, which delt with the defeated Germany. This was one way to attempt and restore peace.
The French Prime minister Clemenceau wanted a tough treaty to weaken Germany so she could never invade again, Lloyd George who led Great Britain also wanted to make Germany pay. When Germany eventually signed the treaty she was then forced to pay war debts better known as reparations of 6.6 million ($3.3 billion).
Many agree that these reparations were set to high at an unrealistic level beyond Germany’s ability to pay. Germany was also forced to disarm, no tanks were allowed, the German army was to be reduced to 100000 men and no airforce was permitted.
Due to the Treaty of Versailles Germany also lost alot of land, handing over 13.5% of her territory to neighbouring countries.
Another attempt to restore peace between countries was the setting up of a World Parliament, the first peace keeping organisation called the League of Nations.
The League of Nations was created in 1919 by the peace treaties at the end of World War One. The League not only aimed to keep peace between countries but also to make the world a better place for all people, like freeing slaves and stopping drug traffic. All countries which joined the League of Nations had to sign a promise not to go to war with any other member countries of the League, they also had to agree that if any other member attacked another the rest of the members would defend the country under attack, called collective security.
However the League did not have all the support they needed, three of the great powers were not members, the USA, the USSR and Germany - Who was not invited. Not having these countries in the League ment that the League had to rely on Britain and France. The League also had no army to enforce its decisions - anyone could defy it.
Germany’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles was described as a “Murderous proposal”
Germany felt as if signing the treaty was signing away Germanys freedom, pride and independence, they also felt that the treaty was unjust.
The Treaty of Versailles upset German people a great deal. They complained about the loss of territory, and that the Allied countries were trying to bankrupt Germany with their demand for high reparation costs. One major thing that upset Germany was that they had to disarm without garantee the Allied countries would do the same.
Germany was still a strong willed country and they swore to reconquer their place among the nations of the world and gain vengeance for the shame of 1919.
After Germany singed the Treaty of Versailles France was still concerned that Germany would ignore the rules of the treaty, rearm, threaten and attack France again.
The French reacted to this fear by keeping Germany weak. There were two ways France went about this. One was that they were to make sure Germany paid all the reparations over the time of 60 years. However when Germany declared that she could not afford to pay back any more war debts the French sent an army into Ruhr, an industrial area in Germany, to force reparation payments. But this was not successful. Instead German workers went on strike in protest of the French armys actions. The German Government became bankrupt and the Mark became wort peace?
reaty was called The Treaty of Versailles, which delt with the defeated Germany. This was one way to attempt and re -
{uq{ / 1 D F Ž Î Å E G è ]
_
·
D ’ .
0
qqk
à À! 0
Ö
s u
% 0
& ' Times New Roman @
Comic Sans MS Ð
à= Ð/ Ð 8 à= Ð/ Ð 8 d C o m p O b j ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ U ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ
