A Perfidious Distortion of History: the Versailles Peace Treaty and the success of the Nazis

by J rgen Tampke

Overview

Controversially challenges the conventional wisdom that the Versailles Peace Treaty sowed the seeds for World War II.

The Versailles Peace Treaty, the pact between Germany and the Allies that ended World War I, has not enjoyed a positive reputation since its signing in June 1919. Conventional wisdom has it that the treaty’s requirements for massive reparation payments crippled the economy of the Weimar Republic and destabilized its political life. Ultimately, it is believed, the treaty prevented the seeds of democracy sown in the aftermath of the Great War from flourishing, and drove the German people into the arms of Adolf Hitler.

In this authoritative book, Jurgen Tampke disputes this commonplace view. He argues that Germany got away with its responsibility for World War I and its behavior during it; that the treaty was nowhere near as punitive as has been long felt; that the German hyperinflation of the 1920s was at least partly a deliberate policy to minimize the cost of paying reparations; and that World War II was a continuation of Germany’s longstanding war aims.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781925321944
Publisher:	Scribe Publications Pty Ltd
Publication date:	12/12/2017
Edition description:	US edition
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Jürgen Tampke was born 1944 in Brandenburg, Germany, and migrated to Australia in 1964. He graduated with first-class honours from Macquarie Universityin 1971 and with a PhD from the Australian National Universityin 1975. Jürgen occupied the position of associate professor at the School of History, University of New South Wales, before his retirement. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including Weimar and Nazi Germany and Czech–German Relations and the Politics of Eastern Europe.

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Chapter 1 Imperial Germany 1

Chapter 2 The Great War 37

Chapter 3 Paris 91

Chapter 4 Versailles 137

Chapter 5 Weimar 183

Chapter 6 Bonn 229

Acknowledgements 271

Bibliography 273

Notes 285

Index 303

Editorial Reviews

In this highly readable account Jurgen Tampke tackles the much-debated and perennially fascinating question of whether the Treaty of Versailles caused the Second World War. He comes down firmly on the No side and produces a wealth of evidence and careful analysis to back his arguments. Anyone who is interested in what remains one of modern history’s most important debates will want to read this.”
—Margaret MacMillan, author of Paris: 1919

“Gamely confronts the now-prevailing orthodoxy…deserves to be read.”
—Roger Moorhouse, The Times

“An intriguing and persuasive account by an experienced historian of the much-maligned Treaty of Versailles. This new book provides a fresh and often provocative account of a tangled story. It should help put to rest the persisting myth about the 1919 peace with Germany.”
—Emeritus Professor, David Walker FASSA, FAHA Board Member, Foundation of Australian Studies, China

“A fascinating and well-crafted account of how the peace-treaty of 1919 led to the Second World War—and the reasons may not be the ones you expect.”
—Chris Vening

“This is a fascinating and provocative re-assessment of one of the great conventional wisdoms of recent history, made all the more compelling by the Australian-based author's forceful and often witty delivery.”
—Eamon Delaney, Irish Independent

“This is an excellent book, which argues it case well. It should be widely read in the lead up to the centenary of the Armistice and peace settlement.”
—NZ International Review

From the Publisher

‘A fascinating and well-crafted account of how the peace-treaty of 1919 led to the Second World War — and the reasons may not be the ones you expect.’

Chris Vening

‘Gamely confronts the now-prevailing orthodoxy …deserves to be read.

The Times - Roger Moorhouse

‘This is an excellent book, which argues it case well. It should be widely read in the lead up to the centenary of the Armistice and peace settlement.’

NZ International Review

‘In this highly readable account Jurgen Tampke tackles the much-debated and perennially fascinating question of whether the Treaty of Versailles caused the Second World War. He comes down firmly on the No side and produces a wealth of evidence and careful analysis to back his arguments. Anyone who is interested in what remains one of modern history’s most important debates will want to read this.’

Margaret MacMillan

‘This is a fascinating and provocative re-assessment of one of the great conventional wisdoms of recent history, made all the more compelling by the Australian-based author's forceful and often witty delivery.’

Irish Independent - Eamon Delaney

‘An intriguing and persuasive account by an experienced historian of the much-maligned Treaty of Versailles. This new book provides a fresh and often provocative account of a tangled story. It should help put to rest the persisting myth about the 1919 peace with Germany.’

Emeritus Professor