The Political Effects

The end of the first Great War, as well as the peace treaties formed among the great powers resulted in
major changes among the political landscape across Europe, as well as changes in the individual countries
themselves. Other changes included the end to the Austria-Hungarian empire as it was now broken into
smaller pieces, a massive, while temporary, change in power struggles across the continent, and major
changes in political types of government formations (Lyons, 2000).
Italy-Political
While the assuredly negative impacts of the Treaty of Versaille would be felt immediately in Germany,
the effects were just as quickly spoken about and touted in Italy as a way to promote fascism there, and
allowed Mussolini to rise to power in 4 years. While Italy had recently changed its support to that of the Allied
Nations towards the end of the war, many in France and Britain felt that this was only a friendship of
convenience when they began to see that their alliance with Germany was not going to be prosperous. The
political landscape in Italy immediately following the war did nothing but continue to prove these suspicions
(Lyons, 2000).
Italy-Economic
The economic landscape in Italy further propped up the negative feelings towards the Allied powers and
helped stir up support for the change in government. Resources were in very short supply, and even with the
annexation of various territories, Italy was upset at how things failed to fall into their favor, despite their support
of the Allied nations at latter part of the Great War (Lyons, 2000).
Germany-Economic
No effects more poignant than the squeeze that Germans felt so soon after the treaties were formed.
Without their presence at Versaille and after being beaten into submission by the Allied forces, German leaders
had an easy time convincing their constituents of the problems they were facing. Germany was upset at the
unfair economic consequences they would now encounter; having to pay back for preparations for what they
caused France would be nearly impossible and the private sector in Germany was all too aware of this fact
(Lyons, 2000).
Germany-Political
While Germany was initially compliant in their post-war actions, trying to show obeisance to everything
that was being asked of them, including moving voluntarily towards a more democratic regime, it became
clear that by the early 20s, German political leaders would use the heavy burden placed on them, and the
private sector as well, to garner support of those leaders who would build of a new war machine (Lyons, 2000).
As political agreements with Russia began, training their armies in tank warfare, buying arms and other
war materials while against the treaties, did not stop the German government from sneaking behind France,
Great Britain and the USs back to move forward with arming themselves once again. The political support was
there, due mostly to propaganda about how unfair the treaties were for them, and the real economic problems
that the German private sector saw with their lack of ability to rebuild while paying back France (Lyons, 2000)