Chapter 1 An age of Turmoil

The Second World War-Impact of the Treaty of Versailles

Worksheet 6
Name: _________ class: _____ ( ) Date: ____________ Marks: ______

Historical Concept: Chance and continuity,

History is interpretation
Skill Training: Critical thinking

Study the sources below and answer the following questions.


A German politician’s comment on the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, is a treaty formulated under enmity [仇恨] and
anger. … Today, William II, the former German Kaiser, has fled to the Netherlands.
Although militarism has collapsed in contrast to the fully armed Allied forces and despite
an elected parliament and a government led by a president and a prime minister … that
represent the German race. … However, this insane treaty deprives the reputation of 70
million German people and disarms the nation.


A historian’s view on the Second World War

The Second World War was, in large part, a repeat performance of the First. … The link
between the two Wars went deeper. Germany fought specifically in the Second World
War to change the verdict of the First and destroy the settlement which followed it. Its
opponents fought, though less consciously, to defend that settlement; and this they
achieved–to their own surprise.

1. What was the German politician’s view on the Treaty of Versailles in ? Cite
relevant clues form the source to support your answer.
View: The German politician regarded the Treaty of Versailles as
 ______and______.

Clues: He thought the Treaty of Versailles was made under ‘_______’ and
‘_________ ’. He also used ‘__________ ’ to describe the Treaty.

2. What can you conclude from  about the historian’s view on the relationship
between two World Wars?
The historian believed that the World War was the ___________ (noun) of the Personal
view
First World War. The Second World War was caused by Germany’s
___________ of the peace treaty.

3. Do you agree with the historian’s view in ? Explain your answer with reference to
the sources above, and using your own knowledge.

Free answer. However, students should provide a comprehensive answer

showing agreement and disagreement.
To a certain extent, I agree with the historian’s view. Viewpoint

Source  shows that the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles aroused great Put some
_________ and a strong desire for __________ among the Germans  This nouns
paved the way for another world war. with
negative
Source also shows that Germany started the Second World War in order to meaning.
__________ the Treaty of Versailles.

However, we cannot ignore other factors leading to the Second World War, Counter-
such as _______ ’s discontent of the peace treaty,________ ’s ambition and the Argument:
a_________________ policy of Britain and France, etc. Other
factors