Final answer:
The Treaty of Versailles taught that punishing a defeated nation harshly could lead to resentment and future conflict, as it did in Germany following World War I, indirectly contributing to the rise of Hitler and the onset of World War II.
Step-by-step explanation:
- The lesson that the 'Treaty of Versailles' invoked is that harsh punitive measures and severe restrictions can have unintended consequences and may lead to future conflicts. The Treaty ended World War I by imposing onerous reparations, territorial losses, military restrictions, and a war guilt clause on Germany.
- These factors contributed to a climate of bitterness, economic hardship, and the political destabilization of Germany, which allowed the rise of extremist parties, including Hitler's Nazi Party, and set the stage for World War II.
- The economic collapse and feeling of national humiliation that followed the Treaty of Versailles fed into a narrative of victimization and revenge, which extremists like Hitler exploited to build support. The Treaty also restructured the map of Europe by creating new states and redrawing borders, causing further ethnic and political tensions.
- Moreover, it showed that political leaders' decisions might pose significant risks when they do not adequately address the complex realities and sentiments of all parties involved.