Alyssa Larsen

Treaty of Versailles DBQ

W.C. Period 4

How did the Treaty of Versailles help cause World War II?
World War I, a war to end all wars due to the brutality, and mass loss of life. It was a war that
took the lives of ten million soldiers and seven million civilians, and wounded ten million more
(Background Essay). The treaty was put in place to end World War I but inevitably caused another was by
confiscating territories, reducing Germanys military to nothing more than a police force, imposing
economic reparations, and by forcing Germany to accept responsibility for all losses and damages, also
known as the War Guilt Clause.
Ironically, World War I ended up causing another was by confiscating territories in Germany. As a
result of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany lost the territories of the Polish Corridor, Alsace Lorraine, and
a piece of Denmark (Document A). Life for the Germans who lived in these territories may have been
difficult due to the lack of any sense of loyalty to their nation. Also, the Germans may have been resentful
towards these other nations, and discriminated against by the citizens of the countries that fought war.
The territorial and population loss was difficult for Germany to sustain because the territories were
valuable in industry and resources, making Germans resentful and loyal to Germany.
Another cause that contributed to World War II was reducing Germanys military to nothing more
than a police force contributed to causing World War II. According to Article 160 of the Versailles Treaty,
Germany was only allowed 100,000 German military troops. The role of the army is defined by the Treaty
of Versailles Shall be devoted exclusively to the maintenance of order within the territory and to the
control of the frontiers (Document B). In other words, the German army is meant to ensure that Germany
uses its forces for German people and order. Overall, the provisions in the Versailles Treaty caused the
German military to be substantially reduced. Germanys weak military led to the widespread feeling of
insecurity that in addition to the unfairly and excessively punished Germany, was desperate to rearm in
order to protect itself.
The Treaty of Versailles was created to end was, but imposing economic reparations ended up
causing more trouble, Germany was required to pay reparations for World War I because of the damage
done to civilian populations and property to the allied powers. In addition, the reparations were imposed to
punish Germany for its role in the was. In 1929, The reduced amount of reparations Germany was
required to pay was 112 billion gold marks, which equals 341 billion 2010 U.S dollars (Document C). The
refusal or inability to pay suggests humiliation and anger and a cause for World War II.
Lastly, World War II was a result of forcing Germany to accept responsibility for all loss and
damages. This became known as the War Guilt Clause.Germans had a great sense of humiliation, as
they and their wartime allies were held responsible for the death and destruction of World War I.
According to historian Laurence Moyer (1919), Many Germans admired Adolf Hitler as he came to power,

because he was able to make Germans feel proud of themselves and Germany, by criticizing the Treaty
of Versailles and refusing to pay reparations or follow the disarmament rules (Document, D). Hitler
restored German pride from the humiliation they had about their loss of World War I, which led to military
build up and invasions that started World War II.
Although the Treaty of Versailles was put in place to end World War I, the Treaty inevitably
caused another war by confiscating territories territories, reducing Germanys military to nothing more
than a police force, imposing economic reparations, and by forcing Germany to accept full responsibility
for all losses and damages, or the War Guilt Clause.

Works cited
Treaty of Versailles. (1919) Article 160.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919) Document A.

Treaty of Versailles. (1919) Document B.

Treaty of Versailles. (1919) Document C.
Treaty of Versailles. (1919) Document D.