Can France be blamed at all for WW2?

Question

My history teacher told me that the French were the major force behind making Versailles so harsh on Germany and basically that they forced Germany into an economic recession through collecting on debts, political isolation and by occupying the Rhine. In past classes I had, the nation of France was generally portrayed as a victim state.

I realize it's a subjective question, but did France really have a hand in the German recession or the harsh results of the Versailles treaty?

Answer 1

Versailles is widely regarded as the major force leading to WW2. Without it, most people say, the German people never would have elected someone like Hitler. And yes, France did play a large part in making the treaty, as did England, Italy and the United States (the "Big Four"). Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States, argued against many of the war guilt and reparation provisions in the treaty, but in the end still agreed to it. I don't know if France can be blamed more than England and Italy, but all of them bear some blame for not being more forward-thinking and for deliberately creating the socioeconomic conditions which led to WW2.

However, it might be useful to differentiate between the French leadership and the French people. I don't know to what degree the French people supported the Treaty of Versailles, but it was the French leaders who signed the treaty, and ultimately the French people who suffered (in WW2) because of it.

Answer 2

I don't remember who insisted on what at the WWI settlement but it is quite possible that France was a major force behind the harshness of the settlement. England, however, also benefited quite well in terms of naval superiority and acquisition of lands in the Middle East so may also be guilty. I hope you get some more answers that will sort out the question. Remember that at the moment it is in fashion to blame the French and treat the English as friends. It is interesting that what in France in WWII was the Resistance is in Iraq and Afghanistan the Insurrectionists.

Answer 3

France was partly responsible for the failure of Versailles Treaty.

George Clemenceau, the leader of the Third French Republic, was insistent that Germany be demilitarized so that they would never be able to attack France again. IN order to demilitarize Geramny that would require a few things, like taking all their key industrial centers. Germany lost the Ruhr Valley, Rhineland, Saar Coal Fields, Sudetenland, port of Danzig, and Schleswig/Holstein. These were all major industrial centers which limited Germany's ability to compete in the world market...thus leading to a poor economy.

Another major factor was France and Great Britain's insitence on reparations. Since most of the Fighting was done in France, therefore most of the damage, it seemed only fair that Germany should pay for the damage. $60 Billion dolloars in reparations were required of Germany. They of course now had no industry to create any kind of wealth so they had to borrow it. From whom did they borrow it....the US. They then paid of France and GB whom paid off war debts they had with the US. The US was basically paying itslef through it's loans to Germany.

When the Great Depression occurred in the US it then struck Germany and the rest of Europe since US loans dried up and we raised tariffs to prevent foreign countries from selling goods in the US. Of course other countries then raised their tariffs to stop the US from selling and pretty soon world trade stops.

Throughout this economic depression...people like HItler and Mussolini were able to manipulate the populations to blame democracy and the west for Germany and Italy's problems. HItler and Mussolini looked like sensible alternatives to western democracy.

So, if France and England had not pushed de-industrialization and repartions, there is a good chance that people like Hitler and Mussolini may not have risen to power.


hope this is helpful

Answer 4

Tim has definatly hit the nail on the head here folks, but lets not forget somethign here. The entire battleground of the Western Front was Northern France,many of its northern cities had been ruined and the land was devastated for years to come. This wasnt a war, it was slaughter on an industrial scale.

Can we blame the French, and with it us Brits, Italians and Americans, fot a harsh treaty?

Answer 5

The harshness of the Treaty of Versailles caused economic ruin for Germany. However, that does not justify Hitler's hateful actions and genocide. Nor does it justify Japan's imperialism.

Answer 6

Unfortunately French leadership insisted on strict penalties against Germany after WW1 which did cause alot of economic hardship. Also when Hitler wanted to attack Czechaslovakia France and Britain actually convinced the Czech government to cede the Sudatenland to Hitler as a way to prevent war. And when Hitler violated their agreement and invaded anyway France and Britain refused to go to war over it. So yes I would say French and British AND American leadership could have easily prevented WW2.

Answer 7

the first answer grew to develop into into magnificent--the blitzkrieg, some element that Germany were perfecting in education, it done seamlessly in France in 1940. Its astounding how in a timely fashion they took the large us of a of France even as in evaluation with the trenches interior the first conflict. yet there is a few element else i ought to opt to operate. The British and French quite, quite, quite did now not opt to strive against. they in ordinary words did now not have the opt to strive against lower back. the first conflict, 25 years earlier were a brutal, stressful journey for Britain and France, and they have been very reluctant to take the Germans heavily. They, although having declared conflict on Germany, let the Germans take Poland unmolested, and made 0.5-hearted tries to mobilized. The era between the August 1939 announcement of conflict and the fall of France and starting up up of the conflict of england the subsequent 3 hundred and sixty 5 days is called the Phoney conflict, because of actuality it grew to develop into into deceptively quiet. in reality after Hitler had taken France did the allies get severe, and for France, that grew to develop into into too overdue.

Answer 8

To a small degree they share the blame, yes.
I think they have reaped the worlwind.

Answer 9

David w took the words,sincerly,right out of my mouth!

Answer 10

You can blame almost anything on the French.