2) The Impact of the Versailles settlement on Germany Flashcards
What happened with the peace settlement of Versailles 1919
Conference to settle peace terms between Allied forces and Germany met at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris in January 1919
Germans were not invited to attend or allowed to see the terms of the treaty until seventh of May
The German government suggested changes to the treaty that the Allies agreed to very few
on 16th of May gave the German government seven days to accept the treaty provoking a political crisis in Berlin and leading to the formation of a new coalition government
On 28th June the Treaty of Versailles was signed by all the powers
The treaty imposed much harsher conditions on Germany than most people expected or prepared to accept and because Germany were not allowed to participate in the conferences the treaty was regarded by Germans as a dictated peace
Hatred of the treaty and of the politicians who had found it would continue to cause political divisions
What were some of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
Territorial loss: The treaty removed over 70,000 km (13%) of German territories and all Germany is overseas colonies: alsace-lorraine was returned to France
Disarmament of Germany: Germany had surrendered all heavy weaponry and demilitarise the Rhineland. Conscription to the German Armed Forces was forbidden and the German army was limited to a maximum of 100,000 men. Forbidden to use Tanks, gases,submarines and an air force
War guilt: article 231 of the treaty said Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war and making them liable to pay reparations to the Allies to cover the cost of damages suffered in the war. The final amount of reparations was fixed at £6.6 billion
The Saarland: contained reserves of Coal so was separated from Germany and placed on the league of Nations control for 15 years, So Germany could supply France, Belgium and Italy with free coal as part of the reparations agreement
Why was the Treaty of Versailles treated with hatred by the German people
Until 1914 Germany had been one of the greatest military powers in Europe
The German people were made to believe that victory in the war seemed only a matter of time in official propaganda, even after the Allies began to force the German army to retreat.
German people or ordinary soldiers were told how desperate Germanies military situation on the Western front had become by the autumn of 1918
Despite the hardships caused by Allied blockade support for the war was very strong
The abdication of the Kaiser and the subsequent signing of the armistice profoundly shocked millions of Germans followed by the signing of a humiliating and dictated peace treaty.
Germans would not except moral responsibility for filling the terms of the treaty and there are huge resentment
What was some German objections to the Treaty of Versailles
President Wilsons 14 points stressed the importance of the right of national self-determination as a basis for a just peace, this right was denied to the Germans themselves. Millions of people who spoke German and considered themselves to be German were now living in non-German states such as Poland
Reparations were a major cause of anger partly because the Germans felt that the level was too high and would cripple the German economy and they did not accept the war guilt clause which justified the reparations
Allied occupation of parts of western Germany and French control of the soul and coal mines lead to continue frustration because they outlawed nationalist groups and banned German patriotic songs and festivals under French control
The disarmament of Germany and its exclusion from the league of Nations were seen as an unjust discrimination against the proud and once powerful nation
How justified were German complaints about the Treaty of Versailles
Wilsons 14 points and the armistice agreement had made it clear that Alsace-Lorraine would have to be returned to France, that Germany would be expected to hand over some of her assets and that considerable German disarmament would be expected
The treaty was not as severe as it might have been. The French president wanted the French border to extend into the Rhineland ensuring that Germany was not a threat to France again but the other allies wanted Germany to be strong enough to combat communism.
Germany’s war aims of 1914 had included the annexation of territories from its enemies, the expansion of Germany colonial empire and a very severe reparations bill to be paid by the defeated allies
what was the political crisis of June 1919
May 1919 the terms of the treaty was seen by the German government and all parties shared the view that accepting it would go against German honour, was able to negotiate at this time.
As a result of big changes demanded by Germany they were given 7 days to accept creating a crisis
scheidemann and some of his minister wanted to reject the treaty, while the majority of the cabinet and SPD members believed that Germany had no choose
scheidemann resigned and a new coalition government was set up under Gustavo Bauer
What were the thoughts of high-ranking officers in the German army about the Treaty of Versailles
They were discussing the possibilities of resisting the signing of the Treaty through renewed military action
President Ebert told general Groener that he would support rejection of the treaty if there was a chance that military action could be successful
Groener said that military resistance would be futile and Germany had no alternative but to accept the treaty
What were the reactions of a pro Republican parties
The SPD and its allies in government in 1919 were aware that signing it would have a problem for them
They were so concerned that they asked their main opponents in the DNVP, DVP and DDP to state that the people who signed the treaty was not unpatriotic
What is the policy of fulfilment
The idea that the best solution was to outwardly comply with the terms of the treaty whilst negotiating modifications to it in the coming years
How did pro Republican people feel about the Treaty of Versailles
Some turned against the Wymore Republic
Real damage was in alienating moderates who were happy to accept the new constitution but who could not stomach politicians who appeared to have portrayed the country
The treaty caused political demoralisation at the centre of government
What were the reactions from the right about the Treaty of Versailles
Right-wing resentment for the Republic was intensified by the signing of the Treaty
German Nationalists cannot accept the fact of Germany’s military defeat or the establishment of the new Republic
Many joined the groups committed to overthrowing the Republic because they believed the politicians who governed Germany lacked any legitimacy because they had betrayed their father land several times-dethroning the Kaiser, signing the armistice and accepting the treaty
Politicians became labelled the November criminals and the actions of betrayal were referred to as the stab in the back.
Where did soldiers sit on the political Spectrum of the republic at the start
Not all soldiers who returned to Germany were hostile to the Republic.
Working-class soldiers who had previously been members of trade unions supported the SPD and the new democratic system
Others towards the Communist
Many did not adjust to civilian life, found difficulty in finding employment, Comradeship and a sense of purpose after the war
These men gravitated towards freikorps and right-wing nationalist groups
What was the reaction of the British towards the Treaty of Versailles
British public opinion was satisfaction that Germany had lost its overseas empire, its large fleet and would not be a threat to European peace for a generation
Privately Lloyd George believed that Germany should not be so weak that it would be unable to resist the expansion of the USSR and wanted Germany to become a strong trading partner with Britain
Many in Britain saw France as greedy and there was a growing feeling in Britain that Germany had been unfairly treated at Versailles
John Maynard Keynes argued the levels of reparations were too high
What were the reactions of the French to the Treaty of Versailles
The French felt they had suffered the most out of all the nations and wanted revenge at Versailles.
Recovery of Alsace-Lorraine, the militarisation of the Rhineland and payment of reparations were key French demands
Still many French people felt the treaty was too lenient on Germany. The president lost his next general election in 1920 as a result
What were the reactions of the United States to the Treaty of Versailles
Generally negative. Widespread opinion that the treaty had been unfair on Germany and that Britain and France had use the treaty to enrich themselves at Germany’s expense
Republicans opposed the treaty and failed to win the congressional vote to ratify the treaty leaving the USA to make a separate peace with Germany in 1921
USA refused to join the league of Nations and retreated from involvement in European affairs
