Why was there opposition in Germany to the Treaty of Versailles?

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  • Created by: Lollipop
  • Created on: 30-05-12 17:25
Summary

The Germans hated the Treaty of Versailles because they had not been allowed to take part in the Conference.   They thought they had been tricked and betrayed, and they hated the Treaty.

1.       The Germans hated Clause 231 (which blamed Germany for causing the war), because it was the excuse for all the harsh clauses of the Treaty, and because they thought Russia was to blame for starting the war.  

2.       Germany’s military power was reduced, and it was not allowed any troops in the Rhineland.   Germans said this left them powerless against even the tiny countries.   Yet at the same time, Germany was not allowed to join the League of Nations – an insult.

3.       Germany had to pay £6,600 million ‘reparations’, a huge sum which Germans felt was just designed to destroy their economy and starve their children.  

4.       Finally, Germans hated the loss of land.   Alsace-Lorraine was given back to France – a national humiliation.   Germany’s colonies were given to France or Britain, which Germans saw as empire-building.   Worst of all, huge areas of Germany were given to countries like Poland, and Germany was not allowed to unite with Austria.   The Germans thought this was unfair, because other nations were given self-determination – but many Germans LOST the right to be part of Germany.

 

Why the Germans disliked the treaty:

·         Thought it was unfair

·         Germany had not taken part in the Conference.  

·         The terms were imposed upon Germany – when Germany disagreed, the Allies threatened to go to war again.

·           The Germans were treated like

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Nuha

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great! There was some repetition though.