Treaty of Versailles Flashcards
What was the TofV?
Peace treaty between Germany and their opponents in WW1, signed in 1919.
What was the nickname given to the politicians who signed the armistice in Nov 1918?
‘November criminals’
scapegoats for Germany’s defeat
what is the stab in the back myth?
the army didn’t really lose WW1. Had been undermined by unpatriotic groups e.g. Jews.
Army leaders (Ludendorff) and Nazis used this to attach Weimar democracy and shift blame from army
What did the TofV order Germany to do to its military?
- abolish conscription
- reduce army to 100,000 men
- demilitarize the Rhineland
- no air force, only six navy battleships
How much did Germany have to pay the allies in reparations?
132 billion gold marks
$33 Billion
where did Germany lose territory?
Overseas colonies, West Prussia, West Posen, Alsace and Lorraine
What did the TofV forbid Germany to do with Austria?
Anschluss (political reunification)
Why did Germany hate the TofV?
- Territory seen as German was put under foreign rule
- did not accept full blame for the war
- believed reparations were too high
- Diktat - imposed treaty without negotiation
What was the significance of the TofV for the Weimar Government?
- associated with the defeat/humiliation
- stab-in-the-back myth weakened democracy from the start and undermined popular support for the government
