International Relations
1900–1939
German Reaction to the
Treaty of Versailles
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Learning objectives
Learning objectives
What we will learn in this presentation:
The immediate German reaction to the
Treaty of Versailles.
The political problems that the treaty
caused for the new German state.
The economic impact of the treaty on
Germany.
The causes and consequences of the
occupation of the Ruhr.
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The Treaty of Versailles
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German reaction to the treaty
Imagine you are a German in 1919.
How would you have felt about your country signing the
treaty of Versailles?
Vengeance! German Nation
How does this
newspaper
consider the
peace
settlement?
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Today in the Hall of Mirrors, the
disgraceful Treaty is being signed.
Do not forget it. The German people
will with increasing labour press
forward to reconquer the place
among nations to which it is entitled.
Then will come vengeance for the
shame of 1919.
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The effects of Versailles on Germany
Germany lost more than just the war. The Treaty of Versailles
resulted in Germany losing:
10% of its land
12.5% of its population
The land lost was some of the most productive. Germany
needed the revenue from these areas to rebuild the country
and pay the £6.6 billion of reparations.
Most Germans saw the restrictions placed on the German
army as taking away Germany’s right to defend itself.
On top of this, Germany would have to bear the blame for
starting the war. Most Germans saw this as an attack on the
honour of the German nation.
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Germany after Versailles
Many Germans were angered by what
they saw as an unfair treaty.
Philipp Scheidemann who was the
German Chancellor in June 1919 resigned
rather than sign
“May the hand
the treaty, saying,
wither that signs
Germans referred
this treaty.”
to the new Weimar
government as the ‘November Criminals’
Scheidemann
(as the armistice ending the First World
proclaiming the
War was signed in November 1918).
new German
In reality, the Weimar politicians had had
Republic in 1918.
no choice but to sign the treaty.
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Protest and putsch
In the years following the Treaty of Versailles, there were many
protests and attempted revolutions (putsches) in Germany.
In 1919, the Spartacists (a Communist group) attempted
to overthrow the new German Government. They were
defeated not by the government, but by a force of rightwing ex-soldiers called the Freikorps.
In 1920, the Freikorps attempted a putsch of its own in
Berlin, led by Dr. Kapp. It failed when the people of Berlin
went on strike until the government was restored.
In 1923, a right-wing nationalist group led by Adolf Hitler
tried unsuccessfully to take over Bavaria. This group
would later develop into the Nazi Party.
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Protest and putsch
Groups like the National
Socialist German Workers
Party (Nazis) rallied support by
promising to overturn the terms
of the treaty and return Germany
to her proper place in Europe.
German foreign policy became
focused on the aims of regaining lost territory and wriggling
out of complying with the other terms of the treaty.
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Photograph courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, London.
Groups opposed to the new democratic German
government used popular resentment over the Treaty of
Versailles to win support.
Post-war economic problems
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Inflation
Political instability was increased by economic problems.
The German economy had been weakened by the war.
French demands for Germany to start to pay reparations
immediately led to great financial strain.
The result was that Germany
suffered from inflation.
Inflation is when the value
of money decreases, so that
people have to pay more and
more for goods and services.
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Inflation
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Invasion of the Ruhr (1923)
Germany managed to make its first reparations payment on
time, but because of inflation, Germany could not pay the
second instalment.
The French were determined to enforce the
treaty. French and Belgian troops occupied
the industrial Ruhr region of Germany in
order to take their reparations by force.
The German workers in the Ruhr
went on strike and refused to
produce goods for the French to take.
The workers became German heroes,
but the strike only made the economic
situation in Germany worse.
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In our cafes we put
up signs saying,
‘No Dogs or French
allowed!’
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Hyperinflation
The invasion of the Ruhr caused mere
inflation to escalate into hyperinflation.
Prices in Germany rose so fast that
people could barely keep up. Workers
had to be paid twice a day and given
half-hour breaks so that they could
spend their wages before they became
worthless.
People had to carry their money around
in wheelbarrows and laundry baskets.
Shops had to resort to measuring notes
by weight, as counting them took too
Unemployment rose.
long.
People’s savings were completely wiped out.
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Hyperinflation
Two men sell paper money by weight.
Their sign indicates that money is worth more
than bones, but less than rags.
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Occupation of the Ruhr (1923)
As Germany neared economic
collapse, the strike had to end.
The German government agreed
to let the French and Belgians
take some coal as reparations.
The Allies were persuaded that
Germany needed more time to pay
off the reparations. A new schedule
was drawn up which spread the
instalments over 59 years.
Germany was also lent money by
America to help her rebuild under
the Dawes Plan.
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Definitions
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Exam question
1. Which were more serious for Germany – the economic
consequences of Versailles, or the political consequences?
[10]
To answer this question you must first explain…
The economic consequences: how reparations and
lost territory, combined with an already weak economy,
led to hyperinflation. How serious was this?
The political consequences: the war guilt clause and
harsh terms of the treaty damaged the new German
government and led to revolts. Also caused resentment
towards other countries.
Come to a conclusion about which was more serious.
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