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Wächter Article 3: Looking Back on the Cologne Agreement, Nearly 80 Years Later.
Looking Back on the Cologne Agreement, Nearly 80 Years Later.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀If you've payed much attention in History class, you've likely heard about the Cologne Agreement. It was the treaty that ended the Second World War in 1944. It was the most Important Treaty in history, Ending the Deadliest War ever fought. But what was in the treaty?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The first section of the Cologne Agreement established the Territorial Loss of Germany. Germany had lost East Prussia (Today part of Poland and Lithuania), Everything West of the Rhine, and some land near what is now Schleswig-Holstein. This had, to Nazis that remained in Germany, confirmed the fear that the Allies had wanted to forever stunt Germany's growth and turn it into a Backwater State. However, this never Materialized. While the Rhineland did contain many Large cities and industry, Germany has still become one of the Richest nations in the world.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The Second Section of the Agreement established the Demilitarization of Germany. The German Military was Totally abolished, and Germany was to be protected by the allies until 1960, When Germany became Permitted to hold an army of No more than 100k. These bans ran out in 1992. The Fourth Section established the fines Germany had to pay to the allies. Germany had to pay 21 Billion USD. (That's 312 Billion USD today.)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The Third Section was about Germany's new Status in the world. Germany was to be watched by the United Nations, especially Britain, France, and the US, to ensure nobody like Adolf Hitler ever rose to power again. It enabled the Allied Powers to launch an investigation into any and all political parties and groups, and Germany could not refuse any such request. Germany could also not join any alliance without Permission from the Allies.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But was the Cologne Agreement too harsh? Sure, The alternative to the Cologne Agreement was the much, much harsher Morgenthau Plan, which had become Semipopular in the US, But was this, more Relaxed treaty still too harsh? WW2 had killed anywhere from 40-70 Million people in total, By far the Deadliest ever, But many in Germany hadn't ever agreed with Hitler's Ideas and, in fact, harshy opposed it. However, the Idea that the treaty was too harsh has somewhat of a bad reputation, as many Neonazis had such opinion.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In a study conducted by Our World In Data, Around 34% of Germans think the Treaty was too harsh. These are Mostly concentrated in the West, specifically in Oldenburg, Westphalia, Hesse, and Waldeck. These states also have the most Neonazis. However, there are also some who think it's too harsh in Cities, especially Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen An Der Weser.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀We do not wish to try to convince people or force opinions on you. This article only shows the Facts, and allows you to form your own opinion.
Written by Dr. Marcus Reitter, January 1st, 2022
