Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Treaty of Versailles- Fair or Unfair?
World War I was the first war of its kind. No one could forshadow the amount of destruction it would eventually cause, not just in war casualties, but economic, political and physical destruction as well. When the war ended, the Allied Powers, specifically Great Britain and France, inflicted heavy consequences on Germany of which they would never recover from. Do you think the treaty was fair, considering the damage that was caused? Can you blame Great Britain and France for their demands? If there was one aspect of the Treaty of Versailles that you could change, what do would it be and why?
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I do not think that the Treaty of Versailles was fair, because Germany is a fellow European country, and France and Great Britain were just looking for a vulnerable, powerless scapegoat for the war. I can blame Great Britain and France for their spiteful demands. I would change it so that Germany would be given supplies to rebuild factories and thus pay off their debt.
ReplyDeleteGermany did not actually start the war, Serbia and Austria did. But Germany did take part in making the war unnecessarily big. so yes, i think Germany did deserve punishment but i do not think it was fair. Germany could have paid for about 60% of the cost of reparation because Germany itself was in a political and financial turmoil so it was a very harsh punishment that did not fit the crime. Germany shouldn't have been made to pay the whole price because France and Britain also took part in destroying the continent of Europe. I i could change it, I would make Germany pay about half of the cost and make France and Britain pay the other half.
ReplyDeleteI think that Germany should have paid consequences because they did lose the war but I do think that they should not have been so extreme because all the other central powers were didnt not really receive extreme consequences and everyone is blaming Germany and it isnt there fault for the war. I do not blame France and Britain for there demands but they were far to harsh for what had happened and its not like Germany was in a better situation then France and Britain so they obviously couldnt meet the demands. I would change the treaty so that Germany would not be taking all of the blame and that the demands were not as harsh.
ReplyDeleteI do not think the Treaty of Versailles was fair. Germany was in the same position as all of the other European countries at the time, in debt and weak. However, Great Britain and France at least still had their government in tact, Germany's was falling apart. Germany was not in any way able to pay off all 30 billion dollars and carry out all of the other punishments. I can't blame France and Britain, because they won and they wanted money and Germany to suffer, but why just Germany? All of the central powers are to blame. The Allies could've at least been a little less harsh. It wasn't even Germany's fault in the first place so the Allies had no right to put all the blame on Germany and make them pay everything. They should've at least made all of the Central Powers pay up. This is what I would've changed, making all of the opposing countries, not just Germany, pay. It was not fair that Germany had to take the blame for Austria-Hungray's actions. The Allies took advantage of Germany's loss in World War I and the Treaty of Versailles is proof.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Germany was blamed back in World War I, Austria-Hungry was the main reason for the start of World War I. So, I think the Treaty of Versailles was reasonably fair. I do not blame Great Britain and France for demanding payment for their losses, they were low on money at the time, but so was Germany. Germany had to owe 30 billion dollars. I believe that every country should pay other countries to each other depending the prices for the losses. It would be fair and equal.
ReplyDeleteI think the Treaty was fair because even though Germany didn't start the war, they gave Austria-Hungary a blank check. So Germany was to blame the only thing I think is unfair is that Germany was experiencing the same problems as France and Great Britain, so Germany should have been given time to get in a good financial situation.
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ReplyDeleteI personally agree with most of what the treaty encompassed. I agree in part with the consequences Germany was sentenced to. Although Austria-Hungary technically started WWI by declaring war on Serbia, Germany took the declaration as "Yeah, and lets kick everybody else's a$$ while we're at it!". The reason why I agree with it "in part" is not because the consequences seemed to harsh, it is because Germany had absolutely NO WAY of coming up with that kind of money ESPECIALLY with all the economic restrictions put on the country. It would have made more sense to moderate the consequences a little bit. But I really cannot blame the other countries for sending out this harsh punishment, especially France, as this was the 3rd time that Germany had invaded the country. Also, Germany DID rearm, in secret and the Nazis killed 6 million Jews, starting WWII. But that also might be because of a grudge from this treaty!
ReplyDeleteWar destruction is devastating to many aspects including political, economical, physical states. Plus the amount of casualties lost during the war. World War I was one of these wars during 1914-1918. After the endless destruction of the war, peace would be made in the Treaty of Versailles in which only Great Britain, France, and the United States were involved in creating. Germany who was also at a great loss from the war, was to pay reparations for war damage up to 30 billion dollars, which is equivalent to trillions today, an amount that was almost impossible to reach. Germany had to accept full responsibility for causing the war, limit its military size, give up two french speaking cites to France and give up it's oversea colonies. These terms are brutal and unfair towards an already damaged Germany who didn't even cause the war. I think one person caused the war, Princip from the Black Hand group of Serbia who assassinated the Archduke of Austria. Germany only financially assisted Austria in its revenge war on Serbia. And then the allied countries had to get involved. Austria had every right to declare war on Serbia and with this, World War I began.
ReplyDeleteThe damage caused to Germany, France, and Great Britain were equal in a variety of ways. They are all to blame for participating in the war, not just Germany, and when Germany has to agree to the Treaties Terms, it only demoralizes the country further. The 3 countries, I believe should recover from their own damages themselves.
I can't blame Great Britain and France for their demands, because they lost millions of soldiers and amounts of money, although France additionally faced physical destruction of land and buildings. But so did Germany! I can't blame them either for the demands they would want.
If I were to change an aspect on the Treaty of Versailles, it would be the paying for war damage, because it would make Germany one of the weakest countries in the world and give Great Britain and France to be the most powerful nations in the world, and to recover. Even after paying war debt over centuries, it would still take Germany many many years to recover again, possibly in 2500 from the year 1915, when the brutal Treaty was formed!!
I think that the Treaty of Versailles was fair because they had caused a lot of damage and ruin. No, I don't blame Great Britain and France for their demands because I think that if Germany really had to do all of the damage they had caused they shouldn't get mad if they have to pull everything back together. The one aspect in the Treaty of Versailles I would change would be that Germany didn't have to take all of the blame for things and that the other demands weren't as intense or mean..
ReplyDeleteI think it is unfair because Germany was also war driven just like other countries in Europe (GB and France). But Germany should have to loose a lot of there army to reduce militarism in there country. militarism is what started the war in the first place. No i can not blame France and G.B> for there demands but i think they could have gone a little easier on them.
ReplyDeleteIn all the treaty was not fair, Germany had its faults in the war but so did all the other countries that participated. So basically there should be no blame on anyone they could try to repair everything by coming together at peace, or making organized groups to help pay off the debt to get the country back to where it was. In response to the demand I think that each legitimate demand that each country gives should be considered but allow representatives from each country to decide whether or not this is a good idea. I'm not saying I like Germany but I am making a fair game. Again within the the treaty there should be an organized court where they will decide the verdicts of who is responsible and who will pay etc. After all we could all use some peace in this world.
ReplyDeleteThe treaty wasn't fair. germany's disarment was probably the only reasonable demand, since GErmany was a threatening military power that almost took over europe. such a strong country could very well succeed if the tried a second time (they did, actually, and almost succeeded). GErmany shouldn't have to pay reparations for losses. All of the damage done to france's land was done by the french, and the british weren't affected by the war, except financially, and it's not germany's fault for killing their troops and destroying their equipment because that's THE ENTIRE POINT OF WAR. Germany shouldn't have had to take the blame for WW1 because it wasn't their fault; it was all of europe's fault, and war was bound to break out soon anyway. The most painfully stupid thing about the treaty was that it punished germany far too much. the unfair treatment of germany lead to german resentment of other european nations, which would cause more war. It also weakened germany and made it easy for Hitler to take control. I'd take away the need for an apology.
ReplyDeleteOver all, I'd say that the treaty wasn't completely fair. Yes, Germany might have made the war bigger than it had to be, and gave Austria-Hungary the funds to start the war in the first place, but there was hostility all over Europe, it wasn't just the Germans. I don't really blame France for it's demands, considering their country was totally destroyed and they had been invaded by Germany just a little while prior to this. Great Britain, however, didn't receive major damage from the war. Yes, the lost many soldiers, but everyone did. Their government stayed stable, and their country wasn't really physically affected, especially compared to France. If I could change one thing, I'd change that Germany had to take full blame for the war. This war wasn't a one way street, obviously. Germany played a major role, but all of Europe took part.
ReplyDeletei think that germany was responsible for most of the war because they used unrestricted submarine warefare and kind of asked for it. they declared war on a lot of countries and i think that the treaty was fair for the amount of damage done.
ReplyDeleteI think that the treaty of Versalies was fair and unfair depending on whos side it is viewed from. This is becasue based on France's views they treaty was fair because Germany had tried to take over there country twice lately and left France in ruins both times so they will want Germany permanintly crippled so they cant try a 3rd time. From Britans view it is mostly fair they don't perticularly care about haw much Germany is punished as long as they get money for getting dragged into a war they shouldnt have been in. From the US's view it does not make a very big difference becacue they didnt gain much except what Germany already owed them. But the US would have perfered that Germany wasnt punished for their loss in the war. Finally, form Germany's pont of view it is unfair because they they have no way of possably regrouping and becoming a power in the world again, so Germany would find the treaty unfair. If i could change one part of the treaty of Versalies it would be that it would allow Germany to still have a millitary becasue they wont be startng any wars anytime soon and if they have it they can still be a world power as well as protecting there country from out side invaders. This is what I would change if I could change one thing about the treaty of Versalies.
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