The Treaty of Versailles
After World War I, the treaty of Versailles was drawn, and it was forced upon Germany. The treaty was signed by the allied countries that had won the war. The treaty was drafted and signed in France, the map of Europe was changed, and Germans’ lives were significantly impacted. The treaty had five terms: reduced military, reparations, lost lands, lost colonies, and a guilt clause.
Blames That Hitler Assigned to The Treaty of Versailles
Hitler believed that the treaty of Versailles made Germany a colony to the outside world; he blamed it for the suppression of Germany’s workforce. Hitler blamed the state of the German economy on the treaty. According to him, the reparations that Germany was expected to pay effectively meant that the product of Germany’s workforce went towards paying reparations and not growing their economy (Hitler, 1921). He also blames the treaty for the weakening of Germany’s military and sovereignty. Hitler also argues that because of the Reparations Commission, Germany no longer had an independent Reich.
Blames That Hitler Assigns the Jews
Hitler felt that the Jews profited from Germany’s misfortune. He argued that they were responsible for Germany’s economic misfortunes because they seemed to prosper as Germany’s economy struggled under the weight of financial commitments to the treaty of Versailles (Hitler, 1921). Hitler also blamed the Jews for Germany’s loss and eventual surrender in World War 1. He also blamed the decline of Germany after the war on Jewish influence. Most of Hitler’s blame on the Jews was based on propaganda against the Jews and his antisemitic agenda.
How Hitler’s Comments Foreshadowed World War II
Hitler felt that the treaty of Versailles took away Germany’s sovereignty and independence. His vision of a robust and influential Germany would not be possible under the conditions of the treaty that he felt were meant to pacify Germany. His comments pointed to a siege mentality that he drummed into the German citizenry and his nationalist agenda. It meant that inevitably Hitler would have to lead Germany into violating the treaty, which could only lead to war. Hitler’s comments that Germany had become a colony of the international community and must rise against oppression foreshadowed World War II.
Adolf Hitler also talks about the lands that Germany lost in the treaty and the need to reclaim them to restore Germany to its former glory (Hitler, 1921). His comments about how the treaty of Versailles led to the loss of Upper Silesia foreshadow his attempts to reclaim lands taken from Germany after World War I. It was, in fact, Hitler’s decision to reoccupy Rhineland, a demilitarized zone, that began the violation of the treaty of Versailles that would eventually lead to World War II. Hitler’s comments in his speech about the nationalist agenda also foreshadow the rise of fascism which was a contributing factor in World War II. Hitler’s brand of fascism was racist, specifically aimed at the Jews. This fascism that Hitler alludes to in his speech was the early steps that would result in the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis that became a significant influence in World War II. In his speech, Hitler refers to the treaty of Versailles as a crime. He reminded the audience that he was opposed to it from the start. These sentiments foreshadow how Hitler would eventually violate the treaty and begin the country down the path to World War II.
Reference
Adolf Hitler. Adolf Hitler Speech of 1921.