Flashcards on Treaty of Versailles and Weimar Germany

Treaty of Versailles and Weimar Germany: Impact and Consequences

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Why did many Germans consider the Treaty of Versailles a betrayal and a humiliation?

Because it forced Germany to accept harsh terms, including lost territories and military restrictions, and some blamed Weimar politicians for 'stabbin

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Treaty of Versailles and German Reactions

17 cards

Card 1

Question: Why did many Germans consider the Treaty of Versailles a betrayal and a humiliation?

Answer: Because it forced Germany to accept harsh terms, including lost territories and military restrictions, and some blamed Weimar politicians for 'stabbin

Card 2

Question: What social problem did territorial losses cause for France, Belgium, Denmark, and Poland?

Answer: Many ethnic Germans ended up living in other countries, leading to social problems and conflicts.

Card 3

Question: What was the Polish Corridor, and what consequence did it have for German families?

Answer: The Polish Corridor separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany, causing many German families to migrate back to mainland Germany.

Card 4

Question: How did the treaty's military restrictions affect the morale of the German population?

Answer: They left citizens feeling defenseless and demoralized, as the army had previously been a source of pride.

Card 5

Question: Which right-wing groups protested against the Ebert government, and why were they problematic under the Treaty?

Answer: Groups of ex-soldiers, called the Freikorps, opposed the government; their very existence violated the Treaty's military restrictions.

Card 6

Question: What was the Kapp Putsch, and how did it end?

Answer: In March 1920, Wolfgang Kapp led an uprising to overthrow Ebert; it was defeated by a massive general strike by Berlin workers that paralyzed essentia

Card 7

Question: What effect did the Kapp Putsch have on the German political situation?

Answer: Although the uprising failed and saved the government, it increased chaos and bitterness in Germany, keeping political violence a constant threat.

Card 8

Question: Name two examples of political violence or assassinations related to the discontent after the Treaty.

Answer: The assassination of Foreign Minister Walther Rathenau in 1922 and Adolf Hitler's attempted coup in Munich in November 1923 (the Munich Putsch).

Card 9

Question: How was Hitler's attempted coup treated after its failure in 1923?

Answer: The coup was defeated, but Hitler received a trial with relatively light sentences, and it became clear that many people shared his hatred of Versaill

Card 10

Question: How much were the reparations Germany had to pay according to the Treaty, and what happened with the first installments?

Answer: Germany had to pay £6.6 billion; in 1921, it paid the first installment of £50 million, but nothing was paid in 1922.