Long-standing Resentment Towards the Paris Peace Conference Treaties

How did long-term resentments lead to the Second World War?

The treaties of 1919-1923, including the Treaty of Versailles, had long-term impacts on international relations which ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the Second World War.

How did the treaties cause long-term resentment?

Several countries left the Paris Peace Conference disappointed.

• ❖ Japan had hoped for more of Germany's trading rights in China and were humiliated by the refusal of the US to include a racial equality clause to the treaty. This turned the Japanese against the western powers.
• ❖ Italy had hoped for more of Germany's and Turkey's colonies, as well as former Austro-Hungarian territory in Europe. Mussolini and the nationalists called it the 'mutilated victory'.
• ❖ Germany hated nearly every aspect of the Treaty of Versailles and called it the 'diktat' peace.
• ❖ France had hoped Germany would be treated more severely and never trusted that the treaty was strong enough to ensure French security in Europe.
• ❖ The USA was concerned the terms were too severe for Germany and could lead to future conflict. In the end the US never ratified the treaty and signed their own peace treaty with Germany.
• ❖ Britain was concerned a weakened Germany could lead to increased Soviet dominance in Europe and a spread of communism into the West.
• ❖ Britain was also worried that the severity of the terms would lead to future conflict with Germany.

Why did Germany feel long-term resentment?

Although Germany was left very angry and resentful by the Treaty of Versailles, the settlement didn't permanently disable the country. Germany was able to recover its strength - but they remained dissatisfied.

How did long-term resentment contribute to Hitler's actions?

Hitler's foreign policy was effectively based around breaking the rules imposed by the Versailles Settlement. The unpopularity of the treaties in Germany meant that this gave him a lot of support.

Which of Hitler's demands were based on long-term resentment?

Many of Hitler's foreign policy demands were based on resentment of the Treaty of Versailles. He demanded:

• ❖ German rearmament and remilitarisation.
• ❖ Union with Austria (Anschluss).
• ❖ Union with the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia.
• ❖ Transfer of Danzig and the Polish Corridor to Germany.

How did long-term resentment affect the attitudes of Great Britain and France?

There were 3 important ways the long-term resentment affected the attitudes of Great Britain and France.

• ❖ The resentment over the post-war treaties affected the attitudes and actions of Great Britain and France in the long-term and ultimately led to the build up of tensions which eventually resulted in the Second World War.
• ❖ France always felt that the Treaty of Versailles wasn't harsh enough because it didn't permanently cripple Germany. When Hitler began to make demands in the mid-1930s, France didn't feel strong enough to stand up to him and so tended to act only with Britain alongside.
• ❖ In 1919, Britain was mostly happy that the Treaty of Versailles was harsh enough. By the 1930s, many British people believed that it had been too harsh on Germany, and so were sympathetic to some of Hitler's demands.

How did the inconsistencies of the treaties lead to long-term resentment?

Several features of the Versailles Settlement were inconsistent. This made it difficult to defend and uphold without applying double standards.

• ❖ Three and a half million Germans lived under Czech rule in the Sudetenland.
• ❖ Danzig, with its German population, was under League of Nations control.
• ❖ East Prussia was separated from the main body of Germany.
• ❖ The German region of the Saarland was under the control of the League of Nations and its coalfields were given to France for 15 years.