Was the Treaty of Versailles the Major Cause of World War Two?

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World War Two was the most devastating conflict in the history of humanity. It crippled many nations and caused millions of people to die. One of the major causes of this disastrous war was the Treaty of Versailles which ended the First World War. This treaty was destructive towards the Germans. Germany had to pay large amounts of reparations to the Allied nations at the end of World War One resulting in a Great Depression in Germany. Additionally, the Treaty of Versailles’ war guilt clause forced Germans to admit full responsibility for starting the war. Furthermore, to gain the support of the German populace, Adolf Hitler adopted an effective propaganda campaign. Adolf Hitler employed a successful propaganda campaign to gain the support of the German people combined with the Treaty of Versailles harsh economic and political sanctions ignited World War Two.

At the end of World War One, Germany was required to pay a large sum of money to the Allies consequently resulting in the German Depression. The sum Germany had to pay was set after the Treaty of Versailles was enacted at approximately six billion, six hundred million – twenty-two billion pounds, (World War Two – Causes, Alan Hall, 2010). The large amount of reparations that Germany had to pay resulted in a depression and angered the Germans because they thought it was an excessive amount of money to pay, (World War Two – Causes) The Germans hatred of the Treaty of Versailles was of significant importance in propelling the Nazis to power. Germany could not pay their reparations and was forced into a depression, (World War II – Causes). The Treaty of Versailles deprived Germany of its economic production and its available employments, (World War II – Causes). The German Depr...

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...on of these harsh terms on their nation. These Treaty of Versailles conditions together with Adolf Hitler’s proficient propaganda campaign prompted World War Two.

Works Cited
Hall, Allan. "Germany Ends World War One Reparations after 92 Years with £59m Final Payment." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers Ltd, 29 Sept. 2010. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
"Propaganda in Nazi Germany." History Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
"The Treaty of Versailles." History Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
"Treaty of Versailles, Text of Article 231, the "War Guilt Clause"" Facing History. Facing History and Ourselves, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
"War Guilt Clause." Treaty of Versailles and Nazism. N.p., 9 Nov. 2011. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
"World War II - Causes." Tripod. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.
"World War Two - Causes." History on the Net. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2013.

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