02. GERMANY - DEPTH STUDY: THE IMPACT OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES

01. GERMANY - DEPTH STUDY: THE IMPACT OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES. Germany lost 10% of its land, all its overseas colonies, 12.5% of its population, 16% of its coal and 48% of its iron industry. There were also the humiliating terms, which made Germany accept blame for the war, limit their armed forces and pay reparations.

1. DEPTH STUDY NAZI GERMANY THE IMPACT OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES 02

2. THE STAB IN THE BACK THEORY The German Government agreed to sign the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919, to make peace. This action was very unpopular in Germany. Leaders of the German military did not admit that they would be beaten on the battlefield or did not want to take responsibility for this. They placed the blame for defeat on the politicians who agreed the treaty. They claimed these officials had 'stabbed Germany in the back ' by ending the war.

3. WEIMAR GOVERNMENT = NOVEMBER CRIMINALS Several of the politicians who signed the treaty were leaders of the Weimar government. Their opponents began to call them the 'November Criminals' and accused them of betraying the German army and people .

4. WEIMAR GOVERNMENT=NOVEMBER CRIMINALS The terms of the Treaty were very damaging to Germany for some reasons: Land was taken from Germany and given to other countries. Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war. Germany had to pay fines of £6.6 billion . Germany's armed forces were reduced , and they were not allowed an air force. It left many Germans feeling humiliated .

5. BLAME THEORIES The ideas of the ‘November Criminals’ and the ‘Stab in the Back’ were used in many of Hitler’s speeches to turn people against the Government.