Title: In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles negatively impact Germany? - eNotes.com
Headings: In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles negatively impact Germany?
History
In what ways did the Treaty of Versailles negatively impact Germany?
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The Treaty of Versailles had several negative impacts on Germany. One negative impact was Germany had to pay reparations to the Allies. The $33 billion in reparations crippled the German economy leading Germany into a severe economic depression in the 1920s. Another negative impact is that Germany had to accept responsibility for World War I. Germany resented this idea because it was Austria-Hungary that declared war on Serbia, which led to the start of World War I. However, the Allies believed Germany could have prevented the start of World War I by refusing to support Austria-Hungary if Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Germany also lost some land and had its military weakened by the Treaty of Versailles. Germany had to give up some land, including the territory of Alsace-Lorraine, as a result of its defeat in the war. Germany also was allowed to have a military with defensive capabilities only. Germany wasn’t allowed to have a military that could go on the offensive. Germany resented the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.