In 1939, Germany invaded Poland and started World War II. Germany started a narrative in 1919 that claimed the Versailles Treaty was a "stab in the back" for Germany who had never really lost World War I. Critique the Versailles Treaty by selecting the type of factor that most contributed to international instability.

Question

A) diplomatic factors
B) economic factors
C) military factors
D) informational factors

Answer 1

The most significant factor that contributed to international instability following the Versailles Treaty is primarily B) economic factors.

The Versailles Treaty imposed heavy reparations on Germany, which caused severe economic hardship and contributed to hyperinflation in the early 1920s. This economic distress created widespread discontent among the German populace, undermining trust in the Weimar Republic and contributing to the rise of extremist political movements, including the Nazis, who capitalized on the grievances stemming from the Treaty. The economic instability not only affected Germany but also had broader consequences for Europe, as it disrupted trade and exacerbated the global economic conditions leading up to the Great Depression.

While diplomatic, military, and informational factors also played roles in international instability during this period, the economic repercussions of the Versailles Treaty were critical in fostering the conditions that ultimately led to the outbreak of World War II. Thus, economic factors are the most salient in critiquing the Versailles Treaty in the context of international instability.