The Treaty of Versailles

By the end of World War I, Europe was exhausted. Lives had been sacrificed, money had been absorbed, and Europe lay in ruins, both physically and figuratively. Public sentiment hoped for an end to the war and its disastrous effects, but it also grew weary of what to expect from the war's aftermath. Europe needed to stabilize itself and the Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, became the source of hope for Europe's revitalization. However, the negotiations reached in the treaty did not attempt to mask the feelings much of Europe held towards Germany. Germany was forced to take the blame for the outcome of the war. The major powers overseeing the decisions for the treaty were Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the United States, and Germany's absence from the conference gave the other powers an opportunity to burden Germany with all sorts of reparations that Germany could not refuse. This cartoon illustrates Germany's muted position after the war, being force-fed terms from the main constituents of the treaty. Great Britain, France, and Italy, all in major debt to the United States, saw Germany as the scapegoat for their financial straits. Germany's territory was jabbed with as well as its military capabilities. The country was "demilitarized" and other nations' forces were sent to Germany to monitor the country. Germany entered the war, confident in their skills and determined to come out on top. Germany left the war without a functioning military, a barely afloat economy, a frustrated people, and the burden of the entire war. The Versailles Treaty had the intentions to resurface Europe, but its focus was imbalanced and favored. The major powers benefited, but other countries besides Germany suffered as well from the terms, having their territory reshaped or redefined; even Italy faced frustration when terms from the London Treaty were overlooked. The Versailles Treaty looked to immediate aid for Europe rather than creating prose that could last into the future; it's terms furthered tension between countries that would rise until the onset of WWII.