|
| |
|
When they ended the war, many Germans were hopeful that the peace would be based on the 'Fourteen Points' proposed by American President Woodrow Wilson, rather than on the rather harsh tems of the Armistice. They were brutally disabused of such illusions during the Conference which drew up the Treaty of Versailles – they were excluded from the negotiations, and presented with the terms as a fait accompli: |
Going DeeperThe following links will help you widen your knowledge:
|
The Main Points of the Treaty [BRAT]The first 26 Articles of the Treaty set out the Covenant of the League of Nations (qv); the rest of the 440 Articles detailed Germany's punishment: 1. Germany had to accept the Blame for starting the war (Clause 231). This was vital because it provided the justification for... 2. Germany had to pay £6,600 million (called Reparations) for the damage done during the war. 3. Germany was forbidden to have submarines or an air force. She could have a navy of only six battleships, and an Army of just 100,000 men. In addition, Germany was not allowed to place any troops in the Rhineland, the strip of land, 50 miles wide, next to France. 4. Germany lost Territory (land) in Europe (see map, below). Germany’s colonies were given to Britain and France. You will see it claimed that Germany lost 13% of its land, 10% of its population, and 13.5% of its economy. (Also, Germany was forbidden to join the League of Nations, or unite with Austria.)
|
Source AWhich hand, putting us and itself in chains like these, would not wither? Frederick Scheidemann, the German Chancellor (June 1919)
Source B This cartoon appeared in the German satirical magazine Simplissimus, 3 June 1919 Click here for the interpretation
|
The German Reaction at VersaillesOn 7 May, the victors presented their Treaty to the small German delegation. Count Brockdorff-Rantzau angered the Allies by giving a long speech criticising the Treaty; then the delegation left and set about countering it. A little later, they sent their counter-proposal (based on the Fourteen Points) – their reply was so good that one of the British delegation said it was much better than the Allies' suggestions, and even Lloyd George wondered for a time if they ought to rethink the treaty. Then the delegation went home. Many Germans wanted to refuse to sign the treaty; some even suggested that they start the war again. So it was with great difficulty that the President got the Reichstag to agree to sign the treaty, and the imperious way the two German representatives were treated when they were forced to sign made things worse.
The Germans HATED the Treaty of Versailles [BRAT-U]1. The Germans hated Clause 231; they said they were not to Blame for the war. The soldier sent to sign the Treaty refused to sign it – ‘To say such a thing would be a lie,’ he said. Clause 231 did not physically harm Germany, but it hurt Germany's pride – and it was this, as much as anything else, that made them want to overturn the treaty. 2. The Germans hated Reparations; they said France and Britain were trying to starve their children to death. At first they refused to pay, and only started paying after France and Britain invaded Germany (January 1921). 3. The Germans hated their tiny Army. They said it left them helpless against other countries. At first they refused to reduce the army, and the sailors sank the fleet rather than hand it over. 4. The Germans also hated the loss of Territory – they claimed that the treaty was simply an attempt to destroy their economy. Other nations were given self-determination – but the Treaty forced Germans to live in other countries. Germans were also angry that they could not unite with the Germans in Austria. 5. Most of all, the German delegates argued that the Treaty was morally Unfair – a 'Diktat' (IMPOSED settlement). They had not been allowed to take part in the talks – they had just been told to sign.
|
Primary Sources Brockdorff-Rantzau on the economic articles of the Treaty - difficult but worthwhile.
Source CThe disgraceful Treaty is being signed today. Don’t forget it! We will never stop until we win back what we deserve. From Deutsche Zeitung, a German newspaper, 28 June 1919.
Source DWe are told that we should acknowledge that we alone are guilty of having caused the war. I would be a liar if I agreed to this. We are not trying to avoid all responsibility for this world war. However, we emphatically deny that the German people should be seen as the only guilty party. Count Brockdorff-Rantzau, leader of the German delegation to Versailles (15 May 1919).
Source EThose who sign this treaty, will sign the death sentence of many millions of German men, women and children. Count Brockdorff-Rantzau (15 May 1919).
|
Simple Essay: 
Source F
A German postcard, produced at the time, shows the lands where Germans lived.
The areas in red are the lands given to other countries by the
Treaty of Versailles (including land
lost by Austria).
|
Source G
Source F is another German postcard produced at the time. Its title is 'Hands off German Homeland'. |
Did You Know?Modern historians argue that the Treaty was not unfair to Germany – they suggest most of it was propaganda put out by the German Foreign Ministry. What is important for us, however, is that most Germans of the time believed absolutely that it was unfair ... and this was a major problem for the Weimar government which signed the Treaty.
Consider:Study Sources A-G and extract all the reasons you can find as to WHY Germans hated the Treaty of Versailles. Analyse them into two sets:
• arguments which appealed to the heart.
|
|
| ||
