The Versailles Treaty
Essay submitted by Unknown
In the peace settlement Germany was forced to accept sole responsibility for causing
World War I. This was a totally justifiable demand on the part of the victorious powers.
The Treaty of Versailles was enacted into history in June 1919 with Germany forced to
accept sole responsibility for causing World War I. Since then there has been
considerable debate concerning the war but even today historians still cannot fully
agree upon the causes. Some support has been given to the theory that Germany was
totally responsible for the war however substantial evidence does not support that
view. Therefore the insistence by the victorious powers to include in the Treaty that
Germany accept total blame cannot be justified. This essay examines certain events
and actions prior to the July crisis. These caused tension and hostility among nations
but did not have a direct bearing upon the war. Also it has been determined that there
were decisions and courses of action taken by several nations following the
assassination of Franz Ferdinand heir to the Austrian-Hungarian throne which did have
a direct bearing upon World War I.
Development of political and military alliances caused tension and hostility among
nations leading up to World War I. Two major alliance systems developed due to
The Essay on The Great War Germany Germans America
... (Germany During World War One, Holburn). On November 11, 1918 (thereafter, known as Armistice Day), Germany signed the Treaty of Versailles, ending World War One. ... of the United States of America, most major nations were at war due to allegiances or direct involvement. By February ... nothing less than war against the government and people of the United States; that it formally accept the status of ...
conflicting national interests which had been evident during the past two decades
throughout Europe. These were the “Triple Alliance” of Germany, Austria-Hungary and
Italy and the “Triple Entente” of Britain, France and Russia. Also several smaller
countries became indirectly involved in the alliances which effectively divided Europe
into two “Armed Camps”. Russia pledged to support Serbia in order to prevent further
Austrian-Hungarian expansion into the Balkans. Germany stated its support for
Austria-Hungary and Britain had given its support for Belgium’s neutrality in 1839.
However while these political and military alliances existed there is no direct evidence
to indicate that any nation declared war on that basis. There had been several ‘crisis’
during the period 1905-1913. First the Moroccan crisis involving France and Germany
during 1905 and 1911. No wars eventuated only tensions and fears regarding Germanys
aggressive expansionist policies. Britain supported France being involved in Morocco and
France conceded some territory in the Congo to Germany. Second the 1908 Balkans
crisis eventuated because of the collapse of the Ottoman [Turkish] Empire.
Austria-Hungary annexed the provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Serbia was insensed
and sought Russian assistance. Germany became involved and Russia backed down.
Finally two wars developed in the Balkans. The first Balkan war [1912] was between
Turkey and the Balkan League [Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece] with Turkey being driven
out of the Balkans. The second Balkan war !
[1913] occurred between Bulgaria and Serbia/Greece. Winning this war strengthened
Serbs position and this gave Austria-Hungary concern regarding its influence in the
Balkans. The main significance of the Balkan wars was the position of Britain and France
placing restraint on Russia and Germany restraining Austria-Hungary. This did not
happen with the July crisis of 1914 which resulted in World War I. [Condron – The
The Research paper on Pre-World War II Germany and What Led to Holocaust
IB Extended EssayThe Special Conditions and Situations in pre-World War II Germany that led to the Creation and Acceptance of the Idea of the HolocaustThe actual word holocaust simply refers to any widespread human disaster. However, The Holocaust has a much more powerful definition. It was the almost complete destruction of the Jews in Europe by Nazi Germany (Encarta). The beginning of the ...
Making of the Modern World] Also the two Balkan wars resulted in renewed antagonism
between Bulgaria and the other Balkan states especially Serbia and caused general
dissatisfaction because of the interference of the great powers in Balkan
politics.[Grolier – World War I]. Evidence does support that while the various events
discussed did not contribute directly to World War I they did indeed contribute to
extreme tensions and suspicions between the great powers and certainly fueled the
arms race which in effect prepared nations for the total disaster that was to follow the
July crisis.
The arms race which mainly involved Britain and Germany began in 1896 when Germany
took the decision to significantly expand its navy. This intense competition which
developed created significant tensions between nations. The intensity to expand was
further fueled following each major crisis which developed during the period 1905-1913.
Britain hardened its position towards Germany. The arms race also extended to other
areas such as the expansion and modernization of armies. Evidence suggests that due
to the large increase in expenditure on navies and armies together with transport and
equipment Britain and the European nations were in fact preparing for a war that they
knew would eventuate at some stage. Germany ignited the arms race with its aim to
develop a navy two thirds the size of Britain’s to protect the vulnerable North Sea and
possibly through the fear of “encirclement” but evidence supports that Britain led the
arms race and thus this action contributed significantly towards the carnage and
destruction that resulted from World War I.
The assassination of Archduke, Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary
occurred on the 28 June, 1914. This crisis was seen as the key event that started
World War I. Austria-Hungary were presented with an opportunity to move against
Serbia and resolve it’s Balkan problems. Germany agreed to support Austria-Hungary
The Term Paper on Austro Hungary War Germany Serbia
... of a European war if Austro-Hungary took action against Serbia. Germany made many deliberate decisions which led to a world war. An example ... knew that had a world power like Russia for military support. "In 1914 both Austria-Hungary and Serbia engaged in brinkmanship. Displaying ... ambassador not to go to war. Arguably Germany could have stopped the war by not issuing support for Austria. It has also ...
and presented them with the infamous “Blank Cheque” resulting in unconditional
support. Austria-Hungary issued an ultimatum containing impossible demands in effect
provoking war with Serbia. However Serbia agreed to most of the demands. Germany
advised Austria-Hungary to negotiate but instead they declared war on Serbia (28 July
1914).
Russia immediately mobilised its troops and Germany supported Austria-Hungary.
By August 1914 all major European powers except Italy, had become involved. Britain
delayed its entry until German troops moved through Belgium in order to attack France.
The alliance system failed to prevent war as previously but perhaps nations did not
expect it to escalate outside the Austria-Hungary and Serbian borders. Russian
mobilisation may have been a show of strength for Serbia or perhaps it was in relation
to the Schlieffen Plan. However the speed with which the mobilisation of European
armies occurred would not have given time for negotiation. The Schlieffen plan was put
into action by Germany and controlled by the Generals rather than the German
government. It was apparently very rigid in nature and it was the Schlieffen Plan or
nothing even though Germany at that point had no specific quarrel with France.
However what really contributed to the commencement of World War I. Historians
today still cannot agree upon the causes. Nevertheless it is suggested that the events
leading up to the July crisis such as imperial rivalry, arms race, alliances and the Balkan
wars though not directly related must share some blame. This view can be supported
due to the immense tensions and hostility that was generated among Britain and the
European nations.
Evidence suggests that there was no single major cause for World War I but in effect
there was several major events associated with its commencement. For instance the
assassination of the Austrian-Hungarian heir Franz Ferdinand while an important event
because it triggered off a series of events did not have any direct bearing on the war.
However the Austrian-Hungary declaration of war upon Serbia did and this hatred for
The Essay on Austria Hungary War Germany One
... react later, if not sooner, to their declaration of war on Serbia. Austria-Hungary and Germany knew the consequences of their actions and still ... the Germans acted upon a plan to involve Russia and France in a Great War on the continent. Germany had been preparing for ... drew up battle plans in the event that Germany were to be in a war against Russia and France. Along with this plan, Germany began to ...
Serbia had been building up over many years. Also blame can be shared by Russia,
Germany and France over their mobilisation plans-particularly Russia who commenced
action first. Germany was further to blame for its totally unconditional support for
Austrlia-Hungary who was the aggressor in the war with Serbia. It seems their thinking
was that the war would be contained within the Balkans. Finally Britain must share
some blame because had they been more decisive in supporting France then Germany
would most certainly have had second thoughts about invading France under the
Schlieffen Plan.
Military alliances resulting in Germany’s encirclement, diplomatic mistakes, the arms
race, imperial rivalries and immediate causes combined to cause World War I eg/ July
Crisis. Each was a signficant factor, no one cause was the sole cause. It is clear that
the Articals of the Treaty of Versailles, claiming sole German responsibility for causeing
World War I was unjust, thus it was a shared responsibility for the cause of World War
I.