Impact on WWI : Treaty of Versailles (FAIR) Flashcards
Germany had imposed easily harsh terms on other defeated countries at the end of the wars.
The Treaty of Versailles was a fair treaty because Germans had imposed equally harsh terms on other defeated countries at the end of wars. For example, Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk that imposed terms on Russia, when she left the war early in 1918, that was harsher than the Treaty of Versailles. Russians gave up 34% population, 32% of agricultural land, 50% of its industry and 80% of its coal mines. Russians also had to play Germany reparations of 300 million gold roubles. Thus the Treaty of Versailles was as harsh and took reference from the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Moreover, it was argued that Germans would too have imposed a treaty just as harsh on the allies if they had won the war. Therefore, the Treaty of Versailles was fair as it continued the cycle of harsh punishment on countries that caused or lost wars in Europe.
