Originally Posted by
Hipper
I have just ordered the books on the Versaille Treaty (Peacemakers) . . . the Treaty led to WW2.
The war ended with an Armistice and not a Surrender. The German Army was not defeated in the field but believe it was betrayed by the politicians.
They were to pay punitive reparations which they would still have been paying now. They defaulted.
The treaty was to be supervised and enforced by the victorious powers but the US had withdrawn and relied on the League of Nations. Britain reverted to a maritime stance with no standing army in Europe. The French were too weak.
The National Socialists exploited these grievances, wanted a fairer deal and rearmed knowing that the allies would do nothing. The Spanish Civil War was a useful precursor.