Treaty of Versailles & League of Nations: Origins of WWII

Posted on Nov 5, 2024 in History

The Treaty of Versailles and its Aftermath

Differing Perspectives on Germany

Woodrow Wilson (USA)

  • Lenient approach towards Germany to prevent future resentment and promote recovery.
  • Focus on strengthening democracy in defeated nations.
  • Advocated for self-determination for smaller countries formerly part of empires.
  • Championed international cooperation.

David Lloyd George (Britain)

  • Moderate stance on Germany due to commercial interests and a desire to avoid further conflict.
  • Sought a reduction in German naval power.

Georges Clemenceau (France)

  • Harsh stance towards Germany, aiming to weaken the nation and prevent future aggression.
  • Viewed the treaty as an opportunity to secure French borders.

Key Provisions of the Treaty of Versailles

  1. War Guilt Clause: Germany was forced to accept full responsibility for starting World War I.
  2. Reparations: Germany was required to pay substantial reparations to the Allied powers for war damages.
  3. Territorial Losses: Germany lost 10% of its territories and all its colonies.
  4. Military Restrictions: Demilitarization of the Rhineland and significant limitations on the size and strength of the German military.
  5. League of Nations Exclusion: Germany was initially excluded from the newly formed League of Nations.

Consequences for Germany

  • Political instability, including the Kapp Putsch, which was ultimately defeated by a general strike.
  • Economic hardship due to the burden of reparations, leading to the occupation of the Ruhr by France and Belgium in 1923.

The League of Nations and its Failures

Aims and Objectives

  • Peaceful resolution of international disputes.
  • Collective security through mutual defense agreements.
  • Improvement of global living standards.

Challenges Faced by the League

  • American isolationism and reluctance to commit to international involvement.
  • Concerns about the dominance of France and Britain within the organization.

Case Studies of League Ineffectiveness

The Corfu Incident (1923)

  1. Assassination of Italian General Tellini, for which Mussolini blamed Greece.
  2. Italian occupation of Corfu, prompting Greece to appeal to the League.
  3. League’s weak response, ultimately requiring Greece to pay reparations to Italy despite the unjustified aggression.

Disarmament Efforts (1926)

  • Germany’s admission to the League and limited naval disarmament agreements.
  • Lack of comprehensive disarmament across major powers.

The Manchurian Crisis (1931)

  • Japanese invasion of Manchuria, driven by economic hardship during the Great Depression.
  • Japan’s withdrawal from the League, rendering sanctions ineffective.
  • League inaction due to existing diplomatic ties with Japan.

The Abyssinian Crisis (1935)

  • Italian invasion of Abyssinia (Ethiopia).
  • League’s ineffective response due to economic ties between Italy, France, and Britain.
  • Further erosion of League credibility.

The Road to World War II

German Rearmament and Expansionism

  • Hitler’s rise to power in 1933 and subsequent rearmament policies.
  • Violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the bolstering of Nazi support.
  • Remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936, exploiting perceived threats and British appeasement.
  • Anschluss (1938): Annexation of Austria with limited international resistance.

Appeasement and the Sudetenland Crisis (1938)

  • Policy of appeasement aimed at avoiding conflict with Hitler.
  • Sudetenland crisis and Chamberlain’s acceptance of German demands.

The Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939)

  • Non-aggression pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, driven by mutual distrust of Britain and France.
  • Secret agreement to divide Poland, paving the way for World War II.

Post-War Developments

Yalta Conference (February 1945)

  • Allied planning for the post-war order and the future of Germany.

Potsdam Conference (July 1945)

  • Meeting following Germany’s surrender and Hitler’s death.

The Iron Curtain and the Truman Doctrine

  • Emergence of the Iron Curtain, dividing Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe from the West.
  • Truman Doctrine and the policy of containment to prevent the spread of communism.

The Marshall Plan and Post-War Recovery

  • Marshall Plan to provide financial aid to war-torn European countries.
  • American economic boom in the post-war era.

The American Economic Boom

Factors Contributing to Growth

  • Industrial strength and wartime production.
  • Republican economic policies.

Challenges in the Farming Industry

  • Falling agricultural prices and overproduction.
  • Increased competition and declining exports.