Historians’ Interpretations of the Treaty of Versailles

▪ Historians’ Interpretations of the Treaty of Versailles

• Some historians believe that the Versailles Treaty was unfair and too harsh on Germany. They argue that the treaty only made the Germans bitter and determined to take revenge resulting in the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
• The Treaty had also created more problems. For example, the newly formed states were weak & unstable, thus resulting in more tension & strife during the post-World War 1 period.
• Others argue that the Treaty was justified as Germany would have imposed a harsh treaty should the roles have been reversed. They highlight that Germany itself had imposed a harsh treaty on Russia in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk when it withdrew from the war in 1917.
• Historians also noted that although the Versailles Treaty was harsh on Germany, it was due to a wide public opinion in the Allied countries who would not accept a fairer treaty at that time. Hence, the leaders of the victorious powers had no choice but to impose a harsh treaty on Germany