How valid is the view that Germany was treated leniently in
The treaty of Versailles was signed on the 28th of June 1919 by the Weimar government. The French, British, and American governments designed the peace settlement in order to place blame on Germany for starting the war. The consequences being that the German government would have to pay reparations, as well as loss of one third of land and most of the colonies. This caused total out rage within the German public, as they had always been led to believe that it had been a defensive war, through propaganda. There is much historical debate over how leniently the German's were treated in the settlement. John Maynard Keynes supports the view that Germany hadn't been treated fairly, although facts such as the treaty of Brest-Litovsk point to a more lenient approach. In this essay a full examination of how Germany was treated in the settlement, and if it is a valid view that the settlement was lenient will be given, with close reference to factual evidence and historic debate. The German public were outraged after the signing of the treaty, as popular belief was that it had been a defensive war and in no way was Germany to blame. The treaty was looked upon as harsh and unfair, with a grave humiliation placed over Germany. "Today Germ
Proving that the power did take a lenient approach to Germany in the settlement. Although one of the aims of the treaty was to arrange boundaries on the basis of nationality, e. each national group should be contained within it's own country. An other consequence of the settlement was that Austria and Germany would never be allowed to unite in the future. Thus crippling her as the removal of Alsace and Lorraine an important industrial area would make it harder for Germany to pay the reparations back. Also restrictions were placed on her army and industries were taken over, such as the Rhineland. While the removal of Alsace and Lorraine from Germany to France was not really severe if it is taken into consideration that Germany had taken it from France in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian war. Thus causing Russia to lose 9/10ths of her coalmines, half her industries and a 1/3 of her population. The fact remains that Germany had invaded Belgium while it was still neutral, leading to Britain having to step in due to an agreement, which they had made previously with Belgium. In my opinion the treaty was slightly harsh, however in the long run the view that Germany was treated lenient in the settlement is correct. Showing that detail in the treaty was unfair, and that Germany was not treated leniently. an honour is dragged to the grave", one paper's view on the settlement.
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