Did the harsh nature of the Versailles treaty (1919) make the rise of Nazism in Germany inevitable?

Arguments in favour:The Treaty of Versailles was undeniably harsh on Germany, which was due to the fact that the Allies (Britain, USA, France) saw Germany as responsible for the outbreak of WW1. As such, the German people and nation felt aggrieved immediately after their signing of the treaty. Further evidence that the treaty contributed to the rise of Nazism, beyond its intrinsic humiliating nature, can be found in the fact that Nazi leaders, particularly Adolf Hitler, often referred to the harsh nature of the treaty as cause for national redemption. So, we can say that the treaty itself as well as how it was used in Nazi propaganda can be said to have contributed to the rise of Nazism in Germany.Arguments against:However, few events in history are monocausal and it is therefore necessary to appreciate the importance of concurrent economic as well as political factors. One such factor was the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression. The economic hardship caused German's to doubt the effectiveness of ordinary political parties and politicians and therefore found the radical nature and rhetoric of Nazism more attractive as a potential means of improving their material wellbeing. Politically-speaking, we need also appreciate the weak foreign policy of other nations, particularly Britain, in allowing Nazism to gain ground with the disastrous policy of appeasement.Lastly, it is always worth noting that nothing in history is really inevitable, and that the benefit of hindsight can therefore work against the historian in this particular regard.

Answered by Thomas B. History tutor

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