How did the treaty of versailles affect the rise of adolf hitler to power in germany? : france used the treaty to force the german people to choose between hitler's nazi party and the german communists. many germans believed the treaty was unfair and humiliating, and hitler used their anger to gain support. the treaty outlawed the german parliament, making it easy for hitler to achieve one-person rule. the treaty formed an alliance between germany and the soviet union that allowed hitler to occupy eastern europe?

 Many Germans believed the treaty was unfair and humiliating, and Hitler used their anger to gain support.

Explanation/details:

The harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles put Germany in a situation that allowed the rise of Hitler and the Nazis, leading to World War II.

The Treaty of Versailles, which came out of the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, was very punitive towards Germany.  Germany was forced to admit responsibility for causing the Great War (World War I).  We now call that "the war guilt" clause of the treaty.  Germany also was forced to pay large reparation payments to the Allies (who opposed Germany in the war).   Germany also had to give up large portions of its territory and lost colonial territories.  And the German military had major restrictions imposed on it -- it had to be a volunteer military only, of no more than 100,000 men, and they could not have an air force.

The German economy and national pride were deeply wounded by the terms imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.  Coupled with that, the Great Depression (which had worldwide impact) made the economic situation even worse.  The bad situation in Germany made it possible for a radical leader like Hitler, making all sorts of bold promises, to win over enough people to rise to power.  Hitler promised a return to national greatness and fiercely rebuilt Germany as a military machine.  The rise of Hitler and the Nazis brought about World War II in Europe.

on this day in 1939, in response to hitler’s invasion of poland, britain and france, both allies of the overrun nation declare war on germany.

the first casualty of that declaration was not german—but the british ocean liner athenia, which was sunk by a german u-30 submarine that had assumed the liner was armed and belligerent. there were more than 1,100 passengers on board, 112 of whom lost their lives. of those, 28 were americans, but president roosevelt was unfazed by the tragedy, declaring that no one was to “thoughtlessly or falsely talk of america sending its armies to european fields.” the united states would remain neutral.

as for britain’s response, it was initially no more than the dropping of anti-nazi propaganda leaflets—13 tons of them—over germany. they would begin bombing german ships on september 4, suffering significant losses. they were also working under orders not to harm german civilians. the german military, of course, had no such restrictions. france would begin an offensive against germany’s western border two weeks later. their effort was weakened by a narrow 90-mile window leading to the german front, enclosed by the borders of luxembourg and belgium—both neutral countries. the germans mined the passage, stalling the french offensive.