In what way and for what reasons did the Treaty of Versailles cause political problems in the 1920s in Europe for both the victorious and defeated nations? (May 2001)
Many people have blamed the Treaty of Versailles for the problems Europe experienced throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Certainly both the victorious and defeated nations suffered though political and economic crisis between wars. In defeated nations the issue of self-determination caused individual governments many problems. While in victorious nations extremist parties fought for support and control. This is a time when the political face of Europe fundament immense change. While the Treaty was criticised by all nations, how is it said that its outcome was political chaos?
Country such as Austria-Hungary was also involved in peace Settlement. As a result of the peace settlement Austria-Hungary lost their some part of the territory because they were given to other countries. For example provinces of Bohemia, Moravia and Slovakia were given (converted) to Czechoslovakia. This decision resulted as an economic and also political problem. The Treaty of Versailles forced Austria-Hungary to divide into two parts. So this meant that Austria and Hungary just independent countries. This led Austrian politic to lose identity. The problem with dividing was that Austrians never wanted to be divided; they wanted to stay as Austria-Hungary or join to Germany. As the result of the dividing Austria-Hungary there was a steady decline of democracy. Then there was a political rivalry between political parties. There were parties such as Christian Socialists and Social Democrats. So then in Austria there were two parties fighting with each other and this was a political instability in Austria-Hungary. Also Austria had to deal with the economic problems such as food shortage and she had to import most of her raw materials. This crisis led to dictatorial rule in Austria-Hungary, which was the result of the Treaty and because of the depression. The Treaty caused a problem to Austrian government by dividing (splitting) Austria-Hungary, because of divide there was a government rivalry between Christian Socialists and Social Democrats. There is a rivalry because the Christian Socialists almost take all places on government and accuse Social Democrats wanting to introduce Austria ‘Austro-Marxism’. So then because of the economic and political problems in Austria there was a dictatorial rule. The reason for Treaty to divide Austria-Hungary was to punish her and to give two states a ‘independence’.
