Teresa Guillaume
WRTG 1150-006
9:00 AM
Final Writing Project
For this final project, I wanted to explore in-depth the history of why World War I
started, but I wanted to do it from a neutral standpoint because I don’t have a strong
opinion one way or the other. So I thought that a textbook chapter would be a good
choice. I worked hard to create a design and layout that looks professional and would
catch the interest of my audience, which is students in high school who are learning
about this period of history for the first time.
FLASHBACK; Chapter 6: World
War I, 1914-1918. World War I
is often seen as the start of
World War II. But first, one
must understand the causes
of WWI, before they can see
how they relate to the causes
of WWII. Europe has always
been known for its wars due
to the constant want and
need for more territory. In
fact, one of the last
intercontinental wars fought
on European soil was the
Franco-German war in 1870
which with Frances loss, gave
Germany the coveted
Alsace Lorraine territory in the
north eastern region of
France. This would prove to
be quite crucial in the Treaty
of Versailles at the end of
WWI. The Europeans were to
some extent almost
expecting a war. They were
so used to countries being in
constant conflict that they
soon began fearing those
other countries were secretly
taking up arms and plotting
against them. So, to an
extent, suspicion was a cause
of WWI. Countries began
signing treaties with each
other in fervor and building
up their armies “in the event
of a war” they would be
ready. And with all the pieces
in place, the trigger they
needed for the war to begin
was the assassination of the
Arch Duke Ferdinand.
Chapter 7: The Interwar
Years, 1918-1939.
The Armistice, Treaty of Versailles
and the Shattered German Spirit
Millions of men lost their lives in the First World War. As a
matter of fact, more men lost their lives in this war, than all of the wars
combined from the century prior. Due to this no country wanted to
surrender. They all refused to believe they had sacrificed so much for
nothing. (Andelman) WWI was a total war. The only outcome could
be total surrender or total victory, meaning each country was
essentially fighting to the death. The end of WWI in 1918, on the
eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month; was marked
as a most famous time in history. It signified the end of the worst war
mankind has ever seen.
Due to the tremendous losses the Big Four, known as
President Woodrow Wilson representing the U.S., Georges
Clemenceau who was known as the tiger of France, Vittorio Orlando,
sent from Italy and Prime minister David Lloyd George of Britain,
focused their efforts on preventing another war to that extreme from
ever happening again. With this, they created the Treaty of Versailles.
It was one of the many treaties created during the Peace of Paris in
1919; however, most historians argue that it was by far the most
important as it laid the foundations for the second world war to begin.
(Andelman).
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The War Guilt Clause, also known as Clause 231 in the Peace Treaty of Versailles
allocated all of the blame of the war on Germany. “…Germany accepts the responsibility of
Germany and her allies for…all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated
Governments… have been subjected as a consequence of the war.” It forced Germany to pay
reparations for all of the damages and losses in the war. This
was a task deemed as impossible for any nation to accomplish at
Reparations- compensation in
this time; an estimated $337 billion dollars. (Lentin). This
money, material, labor, etc.,
essentially ostracized Germany from the rest of the world, as it
payable by a defeated country
to another country or to an
forced her to accept full responsibility for a war that nearly tore
individual for loss suffered
the world apart. It also had a great political effect on Germany.
during or as a result of war.
With Kaiser Wilhelm II’s abdication shortly before the end of
Kaiser Wilhelm II – King of
World War I, Germany was forced to create a new political
Prussia, Emperor of Germany.
structure; the Weimar Republic. The Treaty of Versailles in its
(1888-1918) Abdicated to
entirety held much of the responsibility for the fall of the
flee from guilt of the war.
Weimar Republic. (Weitz). Germany, after its defeat in World
Weimar Republic – The
German government
implemented by the Treaty of
Versailles.
War I was humiliated. It was forced to sit out of the Treaty of
Versailles, which after distributing the blame of the war entirely
on them, she was forced to sign. The treaty in whole revoked
much of Germany’s privileges, for which France and Great
Britain were to blame. (Andelman). Germany was supposed to in essence rid itself of the
fragmented remains of its army. It was being forced to pay a sum which no nation could afford
and a vast amount of its land had been taken away, here comes into play the importance of
Alsace-Lorraine. Given that they lost the war, Germany was in no position to oppose the terms
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laid out in the treaty, as their military had been drastically reduced. The German spirit was
broken and needed nothing more than someone to reestablish the Germany that the world once
knew. (Kershaw).
The Weimar Republic and its Failures
The Weimar
shadows of the end of WWI,
for upholding the conditions
out by the allies from the
with the other mandates in
republic was essentially
start.(Weitz). The other
were calling for their
debt. However, this was
debt to pay off herself. So
payments with inflation.
CRITICAL THINKING: One must
understand the importance of
this German spirit. To recap from
Chapter 5, Germany was just a
budding nation when WWI broke
out. Germany in the early 1800’s
was nothing more than broken up
pieces of land that shared a
common language. Throughout
the 1800’s there was fervor in
Eastern Europe for the creation of
a German state. It was due to
much of the German people’s
patriotism that Otto Von Bismarck
and several others inspired, that
a German federation was made
possible. In 1871 the fragments of
land, became the nation state
under the rule of the Prussian
King, Kaiser Wilhelm I, Germany.
Republic, formed in the
was essentially responsible
in the war guilt clause laid
Treaty of Versailles along
the treaty. This meant the
doomed from the
countries involved in the war
reparations to pay off their
problematic as Germany had
Germany tried to evade
Until the end of 1923, the
German mark was already
rapidly losing its value and
the inflation only caused it to
become worthless. France,
feeling as though Germany was trying to evade her duties of reparations occupied the Ruhr and
took what little means of economic growth that Germany had. Politically, Germany was forced
into being a democratic nation which probed controversial from the start. The Junkers, those
holding a vast amount of power and influence in Germany revolted against the republic, they
wanted a monarchy. In growing numbers the Junkers were against a constitutional Germany.
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Appeasement - to yield or
concede to the belligerent
demands of (a nation, group,
They felt it was un-German. However, from 1924 until 1929 Germany
person, etc.) in a conciliatory
seemed to be enjoying an economic boom with the loans from the
effort, sometimes at the
United States. This of course all ended with the Stock Market Crash in
expense of justice or other
October of 1929. About 6 million Germans became unemployed and
principles.
the German people were again beginning to look to other forms of
League of Nations - an
international organization to
promote world peace and
leadership. The Republic had a task greater than it could handle, thus
desperately causing Germany to be in need of change.
cooperation that was created
by the Treaty of Versailles in
1919.
Adolf Hitler; Influence and Rise to Power
Adolf Hitler becomes a prominent figure in history at this time.
He came to be the head of a new German party in 1933, known as the
Nationalist Socialist party, or Nazi’s for short. One of his primary arguments for new leadership
in Germany was based on riding the fatherland of the traitors that brought Germany’s
depression to life, those who had abided by the Versailles settlement.
Hitler’s party promised to rid Germany of the constricting Treaty of
Versailles, which was a primary tool in promoting German
Nationalism. (Giblin).
Appeasement; The Deadly Mistakes of the
League of Nations
Appeasement of Germany, was by far the League of Nations
FUTHER THINKING: Before one goes and
condemns the League, it is imperative to
realize their reasons behind their minor
involvement. If one reflects back to the very
beginning of the chapter, there is a brief
summary of the major losses of life. Neither
France nor Great Britain had the man
power to stop other countries from
violating the codes set out in their
organization. Also, on another point, both of
these countries did not want to make
enemies with the other more aggressive
countries, because again they were still
suffering from the devastations and impacts
of WWI.
biggest mistake. In 1933 Germany quit the League of Nations. Without the
binds placed on it with membership into this group focused on collective security, Germany was
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Manchuria – Large piece of land
in northeast Asia, often seen as
part of Chinese territories.
Lebenstraum – German for living
space. Hitler’s primary goal when
he was first placed in power.
free to do as she pleased. With Hitler in power, as promised he
began to repudiate the treaty of Versailles and began to rebuild
the German Militia. (Hitler). Before Hitler was officially in
charge of the Nazi party, and through the remainder of the short
lived life of the League, he observed the League of Nations.
Treaty of Locarno – Separated
Europe into Eastern and
Western based on the borders of
Germany.
Rhineland – Valuable piece of
(Baynes) He watched as other countries who were members
tested the League to see just how far they would go to prevent
another war.(Lentin). Hitler was delightedly surprised with the
results. When Japan added Manchuria to its territories in 1931,
land fought over for by Germany
and France. It also separates the
two countries on Germany’s
it received no sanctions from the League. In 1935 Italy invaded
Ethiopia and received minor sanctions from the League.
eastern border.
Essentially nothing more than a slap on the wrist. With both the
outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and the second SinoJapanese war in 1937, the League of Nations did nothing to
prevent, nor stop conflict. These measures taken proved to Hitler
that there would be nothing to stop him from attacking Poland to
begin his dream of Lebenstraum.
In 1935 Hitler began making moves for a war. He
repudiated the Treaty of Versailles which for far too long allowed
anger to fester in the hearts of the German people. With the
repudiation, Germany no longer had to oblige by its rules of no army,
as well as its duty to pay for the cost of the war. This wounded the
other great (but weakened) powers of Europe economically. The main
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powers of the League, Great Britain and France were in no position, economically or politically to refuse
the demands of Hitler, so they decided that their Appeasement of Hitler was a fantastic idea as a way to
prevent another war. Unfortunately, appeasement in this era of history means nothing more than pleasing
a territory hungry dictator. In 1936, Hitler repudiated the Treaty of Locarno which remilitarized the
Rhineland. The Rhineland was taken from Germany and was essentially given to Belgium. However, the
League did nothing in these situations. It is often believed that if Hitler was checked at the Rhineland then
WWII in itself may have never happened, as Hitler gave direct orders to his troops that if they were
resisted at all, they were to retreat immediately because his army was only ready to fight in theory, not
reality. (Kershaw)
Anschuluss – German for the
With this test failed by European powers, Hitler in 1938 began
unification of Germany and
Anshuluss. He had united Germany and Austria together allowing for
Austria. Hitler’s main goal.
an unbreakable alliance and an almost unbeatable power. Germany’s
empire was vast to say the least. She now had more soldiers to fight,
Luftwafft – German for the
newly formed air force in
more money to spend on the military and luftwafft and of course;
Germany which for the start of
more lebenstraum. The allied powers could do nothing at this point but
WWII seemed to be
begin to accept the idea of another global outbreak of war. They knew
untouchable.
appeasement did nothing but enable Hitler. They also knew that Hitler
was plotting his next move to attack Poland, and due to the alliance
signed in 1925, the powers would have no choice but to begin another war, and on September 1, 1939
Hitler invaded Poland, which was the commencement of WWII.
Section Summary
The world saw the Peace Treaty of Versailles as a blessing. It ended the four year long
continental turmoil of the European states. The Big Four felt that the War Guilt Clause of the treaty would
be beneficial to the victorious powers, but still justified towards Germany. However, Adolf Hitler used
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the Peace Treaty of Versailles, and most importantly Article 231 to his advantage to come to power. He
used it to show the necessity of German unification and the importance of nationalism, as he felt that the
treaty was being used by the rest of the world to punish Germany and to break her spirit. Article 231 of
the Peace Treaty of Versailles, better known as the War Guilt Clause, caused the fall of the Democratic
Weimar Republic and lead to the rise of the Dictatorial Adolf Hitler. Thus, with the end of one war, came
the foundation for another.
Bibliography
1. Andelman, David A. A Shattered Peace; Versailles 1919 and the Price We Pay Today.
New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2008.
2. Baynes, Norman H. The Speeches of Adolf Hitler. New York: Oxford University Press, 1942.
3. Giblin, James Cross. The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler. Illinois: Clarion Books, 2002.
4. Hitler, Adolf, Mein Kampf. New York: Educa Books, 2006.
5. Kershaw, Ian. Hitler. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1998.
6. Lentin, A. Lloyd George, Woodrow Wilson & the Guilt of Germany: An Essay in the PreHistory of Appeasement. Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1985.
7. Weitz, Eric. Weimar Germany. New York: Princeton University Press. 2007.
8. “Primary Documents - Treaty of Versailles, 28 June 1919”.
http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/versailles.htm (September 28, 2009)
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9. “Dictionary”
www.dictionary.com (December 7, 2009)
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