The Treaty of Versailles - Essay Example

The war reparations were excessively high and would have been to the equivalent of 385 billion dollars in today's economy. They were only paid off last year, but the final payment was supposed to have been paid in 1988.

Politically, Germany was forced to relinquish its colonies and European provinces. The treaty was not accepted as it was considered as a "Diktat" of a sign of Guilt. It was eventually signed in 1919. The existing government resigned, and the Weimer Republic was established. Nationalistic tendencies were alight as "those who had not supported the war had agreed to the signing of the treaty" (members of the Weimer Republic, Jews, Communists, and Socialists)

Having been the most impacted by the Treaty, the Germans did not like the results because they felt it dealt too harshly with Germany and they had expected leniency thanks to Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points. The treaty forced them to give up some of their most valued land resources, people, and money. Since German leaders were not allowed to participate in the treaty conference, and because they refused to sign and new leaders were put into place that would sign the treaty, Germans felt as if the treaty was imposed upon them. There were also many German's who refused to believe that the German military had been defeated. They saw no sign of an invasion of Germany so in turn believed, that Germany had not lost the war. German's also thought it was unfair that Germany was stated as benignity to blame for the war when the first shot was a Serbian shooting an Austrian.  

Outline

1. Introduction:
2. End of World War 1

B Geographical Situation of Germany

1. Treaty of Versailles
2. Principal Clauses
3. Clauses involving Germany
4. Sign of Guilt
5. Giving up of territory
6. payment of reparations
7. a) equivalent of $328 billion today
8. b) paid offset year
9. c) scheduled for final payment in 1988
10. Economic ramifications
11. Payment scheme
12. English demand
    1. Hyperinflation - definition
    2. Devaluation of the mark
    3. a) different attempts to recuperate
    4. b) valuation of mark to grain
    5. Removal of the gold standard
    6. Change of currency
    7. Effect on the country
    8. Political Scheme

                1.the Weimar Republic

    2. Growth of Nationalism
    3. Political Dissent