2.3 Why did Germans hate the
Treaty of Versailles?
How was Germany treated?
The Treaty of Versailles was a list of terms Germany had to follow
It stated:
o The war was Germany’s fault
o The 6.6 billion in reparations to pay for the cost of war had
to be paid in installment until 1988
o Germany could only have 100,000 soldiers, 6 battleships and
no submarines, tanks or air force
o Germany must lose its colonies
o Germany must give land to create new countries
o German must not unite with Austria
o German soldiers prohibited in Rhineland
Germany was not invited to the discussions but forced to accept
terms else they would be invaded by the allies
German government decided to sign on 28th June 1919
German Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles
German people hated 3 main aspects
o They felt that it was too harsh
They lost land and hence industry and infrastructure
They had to pay large amount of reparations
They felt humiliated and angry
o They were forced into signing it. A diktat
o Some thought they did not lose the war and thought Germany
could carry on fighting
Felt betrayed by ‘November Criminals’
Field Marshall Hindenberg (a war hero) supported
this view
Diktat – the nickname given by many Germans to the hated Treaty of
Versailles; translated as ‘dictated peace’
Reparations – the payments made by Germany to some of the winning
nations of the First World War for the damage done by fighting
Treaty of Versailles?
How was Germany treated?
The Treaty of Versailles was a list of terms Germany had to follow
It stated:
o The war was Germany’s fault
o The 6.6 billion in reparations to pay for the cost of war had
to be paid in installment until 1988
o Germany could only have 100,000 soldiers, 6 battleships and
no submarines, tanks or air force
o Germany must lose its colonies
o Germany must give land to create new countries
o German must not unite with Austria
o German soldiers prohibited in Rhineland
Germany was not invited to the discussions but forced to accept
terms else they would be invaded by the allies
German government decided to sign on 28th June 1919
German Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles
German people hated 3 main aspects
o They felt that it was too harsh
They lost land and hence industry and infrastructure
They had to pay large amount of reparations
They felt humiliated and angry
o They were forced into signing it. A diktat
o Some thought they did not lose the war and thought Germany
could carry on fighting
Felt betrayed by ‘November Criminals’
Field Marshall Hindenberg (a war hero) supported
this view
Diktat – the nickname given by many Germans to the hated Treaty of
Versailles; translated as ‘dictated peace’
Reparations – the payments made by Germany to some of the winning
nations of the First World War for the damage done by fighting
