IB History Germany: Emergence of Democratic States Notes

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

• The Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, officially ended the First World War between Germany and the Allied powers.
• Germany was excluded from negotiations and forced to accept the treaty, which many Germans described as a dictated peace (diktat).
• The treaty imposed harsh political, economic, and military penalties on Germany.
• These terms caused deep resentment, weakened support for democracy, and contributed to the rise of extremist movements, including Nazism.
• Many Germans blamed the Weimar government for accepting the treaty, damaging its legitimacy.

War guilt and reparations

• Article 231 (War Guilt Clause) forced Germany to accept sole responsibility for causing the war.
• This clause was deeply humiliating and angered many Germans.
• Germany was required to pay reparations to the Allies for war damage.
• In 1921, reparations were fixed at 132 billion gold marks, a sum widely seen as impossible to pay.
• Reparations placed severe strain on the German economy and contributed to economic instability.

Territorial losses

• Germany lost around 13% of its European territory and all overseas colonies.
• Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France.
• Parts of West Prussia and Silesia were given to Poland, creating the Polish Corridor and separating East Prussia from Germany.
• The Saar region was placed under League of Nations control for 15 years, with its coal given to France.
• The city of Danzig became a free city under League of Nations protection.

Military restrictions

• Germany’s army was limited to 100,000 volunteer soldiers.
• Conscription was abolished, and the General Staff was disbanded.
• Germany was banned from having tanks, aircraft, submarines, and heavy artillery.
• The Rhineland was made a demilitarised zone, with Allied troops stationed there for 15 years.
• These restrictions were designed to prevent Germany from becoming a military threat again.