Three Baltic states – Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia were given independence from German control. This was the fairest possible thing to do considering that there no German speaking people in these areas and that Germany had annexed the three Baltic states from Russia a year before.
Alsace and Lorraine were rightly returned to France, the land did justly belong to France. The Treaty of Versailles demilitarised the Rhineland for German soldiers, to protect France it was agreed that the Rhineland should be occupied by Allied troops for a period of 15 years.
The Treaty of Versailles fairly and rightly put strict controls on the German armed forces. Germany was banned from using tanks and armoured cars, there was to be no German airforce, the German navy was limited to six battleships and there were to be no German submarines. The army was also limited to just 100,000 men. These restrictions were a good idea; they will have vastly reduced the chance of German aggression against their neighbours.
Germany was ordered to leave Belgium, this was just – Belgium was aggressively invaded by Germany and was unfairly treated by Germany. Germany had absolutely no right to Belgium.
Argument stating that the peace treaties of 1919 – 1923 were unfair:
The Treaty of Versailles was extremely unfair. Germany was used as a scapegoat and made to take almost entire blame for a war, which was only partially Germany’s fault. Germany suffered huge losses herself in the war and had suffered hugely; Germany was forced to pay ridiculously high reparations – basically for just losing the war. The reparations Germany was forced to pay were enormously high, the German economy had suffered hugely during the war. The huge reparations would only worsen the German economy and cause extreme poverty throughout Germany.
Argument stating that the peace treaties of 1919 – 1923 were fair:
The Treaty of Saint-Germain was fair and just, Austria was forbidden from ever seeking unification with Germany and her army was limited to 30,000 men. Austria-Hungry was a danger to future peace in Europe and quite rightly a large chunk of Austria was divided into 3 new states – Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia. The Treaty of Neuilly took land away from Bulgaria and gave it to Greece, Yugoslavia and Romania. The Treaty of Sèvres gave much of Turkey’s land to its enemy – Greece. Colonies in the Turkish Empire were confiscated; France took charge of Syria whilst Britain took control in Israel (Palestine), Jordan and Iraq. Turkey was also made to pay reparations. This was fair, Non-Turkish people in the Turkish Empire had the right to be free and have their own governments. The Treaty of Sèvres angered Turkey and the Treaty was revised in 1923 and Turkey regained the land that it lost to Greece and no longer had to pay reparations. The Treaty of Trianon weakened Hungry; whilst Hungry were united with Austria it was a country that posed a danger to Britain and France. The Treaty of Trianon weakened Hungry giving two thirds of its territory to Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Romania. Her army was also limited to 35,000. This was fair and justified action, the territory Hungry was forced to give away was a good decision, the majority of people in that territory did not want to remain part of Hungry.
Argument stating that the peace treaties of 1919 – 1923 were unfair:
The Treaty of Saint-Germain was incredibly unfair on Austria, Austria was forced to give up some of her wealthiest territory – over 6 million German speakers were placed in a new state. Austria was reduced to a small, mountainous country – the Treaty of Saint-Germain humiliated a proud country and was bound to cause discontent. The Treaty of Sèvres was very unfair on Turkey; nearly all of her land was given away to her enemy Greece. Turkey will have been incredibly upset at losing much of its land and they will have been especially annoyed that it would have went under Greek control. Turkey was also forced to pay large reparations, which it could not afford. Whilst Turkey had lost much of her empire Britain and France were adding to theirs by taking Syria, Israel, Jordan and Iraq – Turkey will have been annoyed at this too. The Treaty of Sèvres gave Turkey a very bad deal. The Treaty of Trianon was unfair on Hungry, two thirds of Hungary’s territory was lost – this reduced Hungary’s population to just 7 million from 18 million.
Conclusion
Some of the treaties made after WWI probably were unfair however the Treaty of Versailles was not unfair. Germany lost little territory and any punishment that they did receive was probably deserved. Millions of allied soldiers – British and French as well as American soldiers lost their lives fighting a bloody battle that could have been averted had Germany not gone to war. Some of the other European treaties were unfair but to make treaties that left everyone happy and everyone thinking that they were fair would have been impossible. It was difficult enough for three allies – Britain, USA and France to agree on a treaty.
