The Impact of the Versailles Settlement on Germany

Question 1

11 November 1918

Answer 1

Armistice agreement to stop fighting on the western front.

Question 2

7 May- 16 June 1918

Answer 2

German delegated the document containing the first draft terms of the treaty
Germans were given 7 days to sign the treaty.

Question 3

22 June- 28 June 1918

Answer 3

Reichstag voted to accept the treaty
German delegates signed the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 4

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Territorial losses-

Answer 4

They lost 70,000 km+ of territory (13%), lost 75% of iron ore, 68% of zinc ore, 26% of coal, and 15% of its arable land. All of Germany’s overseas colonies in Africa and the Far East were placed under League of Nation’s control.

Question 5

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Disarmament of Germany-

Answer 5

They had to surrender all heavy weapons and dismantle fortifications in the Rhineland. Conscription of German armed forces was illegal and the army was limited to 10,000 men. The army was forbidden to use tanks of gas, and the navy was allowed max. 6 ships but no submarines and a small number of costal defence vessels. They were forbidden from having an airforce.

Question 6

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles,
War guilt-

Answer 6

Under Article 231 of the Treaty, Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war. The ‘war guilt clause’ made Germany reliable to pay reparations to the Allies. £6.6 billion

Question 7

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles,
The Rhineland-

Answer 7

The left bank of the Rhine (western side) and a 50km strip on the right bank (eastern side) was permanently demilitarised. An allied army of occupation was based in the Rhineland to ensure Germany fulfilled its treaty obligations.

Question 8

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles,
The Saarland-

Answer 8

This area of south-western Germany, which contained rich reserves of coal, was separated from Germany and placed under League of Nation’s control for 15 years, so Germany would supply France, Belgium and Italy with free coal as part of the reparations agreement. France was allowed to exploit coal mines in the area.

Question 9

Terms of the Treaty of Versailles,
Other terms of the treaty-

Answer 9

Austria was forbidden from uniting with Germany; Germany was not allowed to join the new League of Nations; The Kaiser and other Germans were to be put on trial for war crimes.

Question 10

What was the German’s initial reaction to the treaty?

Answer 10

Horror and disbelief.
Neither ordinary people nor the German military service were aware of the severity of the situation.

Question 11

German objections to the treaty:

Answer 11

-The separation of East Prussia from the rest of Germany and the so-called Polish Corridor was a major source of resentment.
-The ‘war guilt clause’ was seen as an unjust national humiliation.
-Reparations were a major cause of anger because the Germans believed it would cripple Germany.
-German nationalists were outraged by the outlawing of nationalist groups and banning of German patriotic songs and festivals in areas under French control.
-The disarming and its exclusion from the League of Nations were seen as unjust discrimination.

Question 12

Who in the German government were for and against the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 12

Scheidemann and some of his ministers wanted to reject the treaty.
The majority of the cabinet and SPD members believed Germany had no other choice.

Question 13

Who resigned due to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 13

Scheidemann and a new coalition cabinet led by Gustav Bauer was formed.

Question 14

What did the army think about the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 14

With the support of Hindenburg, they were discussing the possibility of resisting the signing of the treaty through military action. Ebert told Groener he would support this if there were any chance military action would be successful. Groener said no.

Question 15

What did the SPD do to ensure there would be less backlash for signing the treaty?

Answer 15

They asked their main opponents in the DNVP, DVP and DDP to state that those who had voted for the treaty to be signed were not unpatriotic.

Question 16

What is the policy of fulfilment?

Answer 16

The government complied with the terms of the treaty whilst negotiating modifications to it.

Question 17

What was the real damage the Treaty of Versailles did?

Answer 17

Turned people against the Weimar Republic. It alienated moderates who had been happy to accept the new constitution but could not stomach politicians who appeared to have betrayed an unbeaten country.
The treaty caused political demoralisation.

Question 18

Which political “group’s” resentment towards the government was worsened?

Answer 18

Right-wing.
The signing of the treaty was the final straw and led many to join groups committed to overthrowing the Republic.
They had ‘betrayed the “fatherland”’.

Question 19

Who were the ‘November criminals’?

Answer 19

Those who signed the Treaty of Versailles, their actions of betrayal were known as a “stab in the back”.
Ludendorff and Hindenburg promoted the ‘stab in the back’ myth.

Question 20

What responsibility fell to the army for the 1918 defeat?

Answer 20

The army bore no responsibility. Ludendorff warned the Kaiser in late September 1918 that the army was on the verge of defeat but this was conveniently forgotten.

Question 21

Who was the English prime minister at the time the treaty was signed?

Answer 21

Lloyd George

Question 22

What was the British public’s reaction to Germany’s loss and further payment?

Answer 22

They were satisfied that Germany had lost its overseas empire and would not be a threat to European peace.

Question 23

What were Lloyd George’s private concerns about the weakening of Germany?

Answer 23

Germany shouldn’t be too weak as it would not be able to resist the expansion of the USSR and he wanted Germany to become a string trading partner with Britain again.

Question 24

Which terms in the treaty of Versailles were french demands?

Answer 24

Recovery of Alsace-Lorraine, the demilitarisation of the Rhineland and the payment of reparations.

Question 25

What did the French think about Germany’s signing of the treaty?

Answer 25

They felt they had suffered most of all and wanted to seek revenge at Versailles.

Question 26

What did the USA think about the Treaty or Versailles?

Answer 26

There was a widespread opinion that the treaty had been unfair to Germany and that Britain and France had used the treaty to enrich themselves.