June 28th: The Day Germany Signed the Treaty of Versailles

Versailles Leaders

The Treaty of Versailles was a turning point in World War history. June 28th 1919 saw the Weimer Government of Germany finally sign the Treaty, effectively ending their involvement in World War 1. Germany was officially on the naughty step. The harsh penalties and constraints of the Treaty were generally aimed at the Germans, and many historians believe it was this that provoked the uprising of Adolf Hitler and World War 2. In that case, that's one hell of a backfire!
   Eight months earlier, Germany signed the armistice, officially surrendering to their enemies. It was during the Paris Peace Conference that these enemies, 'The Big Four' (plus guests) decided on the terms of Germany's surrender, and the punishments necessary. 'The Big Four' consisted of PM George Clemenceau of France, PM Lloyd George of Britain, President Woodrow Wilson of America, and PM Vittorio Orlando of Italy. Although there was initially a conflict of ideas about what to do to the Germans: Clemenceau wanted to enforce tremendously strict penalties, whereas Wilson thought a simplified, fairer way would be submit his 'Fourteen Points'. Unfortunately for Germany, the Allied Powers met somewhere in the middle in their decision, and ended up crippling the country financially, politically, socially, truly, madly, deeply. 

Rise of Hitler

   The 'Fourteen Points' had generally been forgotten by June 28th, meaning Germany were left with no choice but to sign the Treaty, or resume fighting. Due to the weakness of their country and armed forces in 1919, they had no other option. One of the most brutal conditions of the Treaty was the 'War Guilt Clause', the implications of which are pretty much in the name. Basically, Germany had to accept ALL the moral and financial responsibility for the entire war...bit harsh, maybe?!
   So from the moment the Weimer Government has lifted the nib of his pen from the paper after signing the Treaty, Germany spirals downhill. The economy flopped, unemployment grew, and more and more people started to turn on the Weimer government for agreeing to such self-destructive terms. Soon enough, far-right politicians, such as the Nazi party, came into the limelight, and by 1933, Hitler had controlled the government, dissolved Weimer, and established the Third Reich. He was the country's only hope of rescuing them from ongoing disaster, and it appears this would not have been the case had the Treaty of Versailles not been signed. Having said that, you can't blame it all on the Treaty, the Nazi's may have been planning their rise to power all along... Thoughts?