Q: Compare and contrast the victorious Allied Powers' treatment of Germany after the First World War with their treatment of Germany after the Second War. Analyze the reasons for the similarities and differences.
After the First and Second World Wars, the Allied powers had learned how to deal with Germany. They learned that the way they dealt with Germany’s punishment in WWI wasn’t safe, and ultimately resulted in WWI. When the wars were over, the Allied Powers treated Germany the same in terms of economic assistance, but dealt with them differently in terms of political consequences.
After the WWI, the Allied Powers met together and formed the Treaty of Versaille in 1919. In the treaty of Versailles, there was a War Guilt Clause that Germany was required to sign. The War Guilt Clause required Germany to pay 33 billion dollars in reparations for being responsible for the war, and thus, responsible for the damages. While the staggering amounts were to hard to struggle, the Allied Powers, specifically the United States, reached out to Germany to offer them the Dawes Plan. The Dawes Plan allowed Germany to take out loans on the reparations they owed to be able to stabilize them economically and deal with their social post war issues such as starvation. After World War II, Germany was also struggling economically again, so the Allied Powers (once again, specifically the United States) offered a relief program to West Germany to help them stabilize themselves and reach a level of economic balance to save their country. Through economic relief offers, the Allied Powers treated Germany the same both after World War I and after World War II.
The difference in how the Allied Powers treated Germany after the First World War and after the Second World War is that they were politically nicer after the Second World War. In the Treaty of Versailles from the First World War, the Allied Powers’ treatment of Germany was extremely harsh. They put heavy restrictions on their military, navy, weapon use, and there would be occupation in Rhineland for at least 15 years. Because these conditions were so harsh, it helped contribute the Second World War. After the second World War, the Allied Powers had learned their lesson, and treated Germany a little differently. Instead of imposing harsh laws, they simply divided germany into 4 occupations. The U.S.S.R. would have one portion, England one, the United States one, and France a portion. By approaching is in a softer way, the Allied Powers were able to keep a watch on Germany while still being friendly and avoiding another war.
Because of the political failure, but economic success, of the treatments of Germany after the First and Second World War, the Allied Powers treated them differently politically, but similarly economically.
After the WWI, the Allied Powers met together and formed the Treaty of Versaille in 1919. In the treaty of Versailles, there was a War Guilt Clause that Germany was required to sign. The War Guilt Clause required Germany to pay 33 billion dollars in reparations for being responsible for the war, and thus, responsible for the damages. While the staggering amounts were to hard to struggle, the Allied Powers, specifically the United States, reached out to Germany to offer them the Dawes Plan. The Dawes Plan allowed Germany to take out loans on the reparations they owed to be able to stabilize them economically and deal with their social post war issues such as starvation. After World War II, Germany was also struggling economically again, so the Allied Powers (once again, specifically the United States) offered a relief program to West Germany to help them stabilize themselves and reach a level of economic balance to save their country. Through economic relief offers, the Allied Powers treated Germany the same both after World War I and after World War II.
The difference in how the Allied Powers treated Germany after the First World War and after the Second World War is that they were politically nicer after the Second World War. In the Treaty of Versailles from the First World War, the Allied Powers’ treatment of Germany was extremely harsh. They put heavy restrictions on their military, navy, weapon use, and there would be occupation in Rhineland for at least 15 years. Because these conditions were so harsh, it helped contribute the Second World War. After the second World War, the Allied Powers had learned their lesson, and treated Germany a little differently. Instead of imposing harsh laws, they simply divided germany into 4 occupations. The U.S.S.R. would have one portion, England one, the United States one, and France a portion. By approaching is in a softer way, the Allied Powers were able to keep a watch on Germany while still being friendly and avoiding another war.
Because of the political failure, but economic success, of the treatments of Germany after the First and Second World War, the Allied Powers treated them differently politically, but similarly economically.