Was The Treaty Of Versailles A Success Or Failure Essay

Following the so-called Paris “Peace” Conference in 1919, World War I was proclaimed the “War to End All Wars.” This title was short lived, and within twenty-one years, Europe erupted into another World War. The Treaty of Versailles’s purpose was to carry out revenge rather than peace. This treaty played a significant role post-war discontent in both the Allied and Central Powers. The Articles of the Treaty of Versailles forced all blame on Germany: taking their land, money, and dignity. This dissatisfaction played a key role in later establishing wildly nationalist dictators, or fascists, and led to a war many were dreading. Crucial articles such as reparations (Article 232), German territory (Article 119), and the German military reductions (Article 160, 181, and 198) were the most essential drivers …show more content…
After the Treaty of Versailles, “the German government was forced to concede several territories in Europe and give up all its overseas colonies to the Allied Powers” (Wolf, “Treaty Failure?”). Coupled with the loss of land was the loss of dignity; German sentiment was that without their colonies their empire was stripped of its imperialistic strength. The introduction of fascism became more appealing. With the promise of glory, Hitler advocated for expansion and stated “’Today Germany; tomorrow, the world!’” (Farah and Karls 736). This Nazi ideology was later demonstrated in Hitler’s keen interest in the acquirement of “Lebensraum” or living space. German nationalism could have been decreased by allowing Germany to maintain most of their colonial possessions. The Treaty of Versailles took the colonies as mandates in a quest for revenge and weaken Germany unjustifiably. If France and Britain had wanted reparation payments, taking the colonies weakened Germany’s ability to do so. Allowing Germans to maintain their dignity may have resulted in a peace between the former Allied and Central