Germany's Reaction to the Treaty of Versailles

What was Germany's reaction to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

A large majority of Germans felt the treaty was far too harsh for several reasons, including the negative impact it had on the nation.

Why did the Germans think the reparations in the Treaty of Versailles were too harsh?

There were 4 important reasons why the German people thought the reparations in the Treaty of Versailles were too harsh.

• ❖ The Treaty of Versailles set reparations at £6.6 billion. The German people disagreed with this.
• ❖ The reparations bill was very heavy. Germans felt it didn't take into account the economic difficulties caused by the First World War.
• ❖ Germany not only had to pay reparations, but also lost land and resources it needed for recovery. Many Germans felt they were being punished twice.
• ❖ However, Germany had imposed a very harsh peace on Russia in March 1918, with the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which took 25% of Russian land. Germany's objections were seen as a double standard.

Why did Germany call the Treaty of Versailles a 'diktat'?

The German government objected to their country being given no choice or chance to negotiate the treaty. They weren't consulted about what it said and had no choice but to sign.

Why did Germany object to the war guilt clause in the Treaty of Versailles?

The Germans felt they weren't solely responsible for the outbreak of the First World War and that it was unfair to lay all the blame on them.

Why was Germany angry about disarmament after the Treaty of Versailles?

Disarmament left Germany feeling vulnerable. 100,000 soldiers was not enough to effectively protect Germany's borders or deal with uprisings.

What did Germany think about Wilson's 14 Points and the Treaty of Versailles?

Germany was horrified by the terms of the treaty. It was clear from the severity of many of the clauses that the British and French did not agree with many of Wilson's 14 Points:

• ❖ The 14 Points hadn't mentioned war guilt or reparations, yet the Versailles settlement forced Germany to accept full blame and pay reparations.
• ❖ The 14 Points supported disarmament for all, not just the defeated nations. Germans argued that having to disarm alone as set out in the Versailles settlement, made them vulnerable.
• ❖ Wilson's ideas about self-determination didn't apply to the Sudetenland, Austria or West Prussia under agreements made at the Versailles peace conference.
• ❖ Wilson's League of Nations was set up following the talks, but Germany was forbidden to join, under the Versailles settlement.
• ❖ However, the 14 Points were just suggestions and the Allies were not obliged to follow them.