Transcript Why did the Germans hate the Treaty of Versailles?

 Starter
28 June 1919 Germany signed up to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles formally ending WWI.
How do you think the artist of this cartoon viewed the outcome of the Treaty for Germany?
Who do you think the people are in this picture?
‘Big Three’, Lloyd-George, Clemenceau & Roosevelt
Lloyd-George
Clemenceau
Wilson
Finally, Germany had no choice, but to accept.
On 28 June 1919 German representatives
reluctantly signed the Treaty. But they called it
‘the
shameful diktat of Versailles’.
SHP,
p.16

Aims
Why did the Germans
hate the Treaty of
Versailles?
To identify the key terms of the Treaty
of Versailles and understand how
Germans reacted to them
 Your task

Read p.16 and note down the reasons why
Germany initially felt optimistic about the Paris
Peace Conference (1919).
Delegates outside the Palace of
Versailles
Reasons for optimism
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Abdication of Kaiser
New democratic govt
Expectations the Allies
would help the new
Weimar Govt
President Wilson’s desire
for fairness – 14 Points
Other countries were not
blameless
?
What do you think Chancellor Ebert
was thinking on the eve of the Paris
Peace Conference?
 Your task
Reparations
War Guilt
Why did Germans
of
Germany’s colonies
hate the Treaty
Versailles?
Military restrictions
Territorial losses
War guilt

Article 231 of the Treaty stated that Germany was to
blame for causing the war.
Why did many Germans resent this clause?
Reparations
Why did many
Germans
complain about
reparations?
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As Germany was held responsible for the war, the allies could
claim reparations for the damage caused
In 1921 a special commission fixed a sum of £6,600 m. to be
paid in annual instalments
The Treaty also took away 10% of Germany’s industry and 15%
of its agricultural land
Germany’s colonies

Germany’s colonies were handed over to the League
of Nations, who gave them to Britain and France to
run
Why did many Germans resent the League of Nations running their colonies?
Military restrictions
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Air force was disbanded
Army limited to 100,000
soldiers
Navy limited to 15,000
sailors, six battleships
and no submarines
Which country was keen to restrict Germany’s navy? Why?
Military restrictions
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Rhineland occupied by
the Allies for 15 years
No German troops
allowed in this area
Why were the Germans especially unhappy about
these terms?
Territorial losses
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Alsace-Lorraine returned
to France
West Prussia and Posen
(Polish Corridor) lost to
Poland
Saarland taken over by
the League of Nations
for 15 years
Which of the territorial losses would have angered the Germans most?
 Plenary

A myth emerged after the Treaty of Versailles
that it was a stab in the back for Germany. Do
you agree with this description?
 Homework
Write a short speech to deliver to the new German
Parliament explaining why you hate the terms of
the Treaty of Versailles so much.