Autumn revision S3 Flashcards
What was Germany like before the First World War?
Before 1870 what we now know as Germany, was a collection of small states. The biggest state was called Prussia. All of these states were linked by similarities in language and culture.
What was the impact of WW1 like on Germany
In 1914 the support for WW1 was very high. There was a lot of excitement and people thought that it would be over quickly.
This changed during the war as time went on people became sick and they turned against the Kaiser. There were shortages of food, clothes.
Peoples attitudes also changed when their loved ones started dying.
What was the ‘Weimar Republic
After Germany was defeated in World War I, a constitutional convention was convened in Weimar, Germany to establish a new socialist democratic government commonly called the Weimar Republic. Lasting only 14 years, the Republic was plagued with debt and other issues.
The terms of the Treaty Of Versailles - Loss of land.
Loss of land: Alsace and Lorraine returned to France. Independent Poland. Anschluss forbidden. Rhineland demilitarised. German colonies surrendered.
The terms of the Treaty Of Versailles - League of Nations.
Germany was excluded from the League of Nations which was set up to prevent wars.
The terms of the Treaty Of Versailles - Reparations.
Germany was told to pay 6,600 million compensation.
Germany was given 42 years to pay.
The amount was reduced in 1929.
The terms of the Treaty Of Versailles - War guilt clause.
Germany forced to accept the war was their fault.
The terms of the Treaty Of Versailles - Military Restrictions.
German army was limited to 100,000 men.
Rhineland demilitarised.
Conscription forbidden.
What was Germany’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles - Too harsh?
Germany thought the Treaty was too harsh. They lost to much land, factories, farms, mines and people. Reparations were too high and their ability to make money was reduced, leaving them feeling humiliated and angry.
What was Germany’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles - Diktat?
Germany expected there to be a discussion and negotiation about the terms of the Treaty. Instead, they were told exactly what would happen to them and weren’t allowed any say in it.
Germany’s loss of land after the Treaty of Versailles.
Germany lost mines, farms, factories as well as land. They needed them to make money so that they could pay the reparations. Germany lost people and skills and as their population dropped Germany became less important. Germany lost the power of having an empire which meant they lost trade, money and industry.
Germany’s military restrictions after the Treaty of Versailles.
Germany was angry because they didn’t have enough troops to wage a war and they couldn’t defend themselves from other countries. They couldn’t control the population and keep them safe.
The Treaty of Versailles’ war guilt clauses.
Germany was made to sign an agreement that stated that it was Germany’s fault that the war happened. They argued it wasn’t just their fault and that the only reason they were being forced to do this was because it would give the allies legal rights to make them pay reparations. Lots of people in Germany hated the government for signing the war guilt clause.
The Treaty of Versailles’ reparations.
Reparations are like compensation. Germany thought that they were set too high. They had to pay all this money back while they were losing money from the land that had been taken away from them. Britain and the USA was scared that if they punished Germany too much, they might want revenge and another war may break out. They were also scared that Germany would turn to communism.
