Was the Treaty of Versailles- fair or unfair? Justify.
I feel that it was quite fair, or at least as fair as anyone could make it. I think the Germans were to blame. When I say Germans, of course I do not mean the whole of Germany and every citizen, I mean the ones who started the war; the ones who needed to be blame for causing such a commotion.
Many Europeans believed in punishing the Germans and they were to blame, no one else. The 'Great War' went on for just over 4 years! The German society had a lot to pay and give back. In fact, they had to pay $33 billion dollars! Here are a few "rules" Germany had to go by:
80. Germany will respect the independence of Austria.
81. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Czechoslovakia.
87. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Poland.
119. Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas
countries.
159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not
to exceed 100,000 men.
181. The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers,
12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included.
198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or
naval air forces.
231. Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all
the loss and damage to the Allied Powers.
233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population
and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at
$33 billion].
428. To guarantee the execution of the Treaty, the German territory
situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied
troops for fifteen years.
431. The occupation forces will be withdrawn as soon as Germany
complies with the Treaty.
81. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Czechoslovakia.
87. Germany recognizes the complete independence of Poland.
119. Germany surrenders all her rights and titles over her overseas
countries.
159. The German military forces shall be demobilized and reduced not
to exceed 100,000 men.
181. The German navy must not exceed 6 battleships, 6 light cruisers,
12 destroyers, and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines are to be included.
198. The Armed Forces of Germany must not include any military or
naval air forces.
231. Germany and her Allies accept the responsibility for causing all
the loss and damage to the Allied Powers.
233. Germany will pay for all damages done to the civilian population
and property of the Allied Governments. [The figure was later set at
$33 billion].
428. To guarantee the execution of the Treaty, the German territory
situated to the west of the Rhine River will be occupied by Allied
troops for fifteen years.
431. The occupation forces will be withdrawn as soon as Germany
complies with the Treaty.
"Many Europeans were more interested in punishing the Germans than in preventing another world war. After all, the United States had been at war for just one year. Its European allies had been fighting for over four years. David Lloyd George of Britain demanded that Germany pay for the trouble it had caused; Vittorio Orlando of Italy insisted on a share of
Germany’s colonial empire. And France’s Georges Clemenceau required not only the return of the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, but also assurances that his nation would be safe from future German aggression."
-Treaty of Versaille
