The year was 1919, in the capital city of France, Versailles. Leaders from around the world met and discussed a treaty, known as the Treaty of Versailles. It was meant to reduce Germany's military and economic power, in an attempt to punish them for World War I, and to make reparations to those countries that had been affected. The actual result, though, was quite the opposite of what was intended.
World War I had made huge economic and geographical impacts on Europe, all of which was blamed on Germany. Europe's leaders wanted to punish Germany, while at the same time repairing their own economy. The result was that Germany was forced to pay monthly sums, totaling one hundred thirty-two billion gold marks, as reparations. Unfortunately, Germany had gone through great economic strain because of the war, and therefore was unable to make proper payments, relying on foreign loans to pay it off.
English: Mass demonstration in front of the Reichs...
The Versailles Treaty that established the Interna...
Signing of the Treaty of Versailles in the Hall of...The people of Germany were infuriated by what they believed to be nothing more than an attempt to eliminate all hope of restoration and growth.
Germany also lost much of it's land area, over one million square miles. Within that area there lived over six million people. Whereas that land was previously only two countries, it was divided into eight. Some of the land that Germany had possessed before the war was taken away, impacting the economic developments that had taken place there. East Germany was effectively split in two, to allow Poland access to the sea.
The final result of the Versailles Treaty was the political impact. The treaty triggered a number of political reactions. First, the government of the day resigned, having refused to sign it. The incoming government had no choice but to sign the treaty but was accused by some of stabbing...