What was the impact of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany

Question 1

What were the terms of the treaty of Versailles

Answer 1

Blame - Had to accept full blame for the war and were not allowed to join the League of Nations
Reparations - Had to pay £6.6 billion in instalments until 1988
Army - Limited to 100,000, navy limited to 15,000 men and 6 battleships, air force destroyed and and no men were allowed in the Rhineland
Territory - Colonies in Africa were taken away, Saar taken and their union with Austria was banned.

Question 2

Why had the German people hoped for a fair settlement at the end of the war?

Answer 2

• They thought everyone would be keen to see peace across Europe
• They were starving and hoped for mercy.
• The kaiser had abdicated and fled the country so were an unstable country
• Believed they were no more responsible for the war than anyone else

Question 3

What were German peoples reactions to the harsh terms in the Treaty?

Answer 3

• Shock
• Anger that Germans were not allowed to take part in negotiations making it Diktat
• Fury at Article 231 which said they had to accept blame
• Anger at the new German Government for signing the treaty causing the population to feel they ‘stabbed Germany in the back’

Question 4

What was the impact of the treaty on the German people?

Answer 4

• 763000 died of starvation
• loss of pride due to loss of empire
• Border changes meany six million German speaking people lived outside Germany and were often given hate and abuse for it
• Humiliation after the loss of armed forces which were a source of pride for many.