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Post-WWI Germany How the `peace treaty` of Versailles helped sow the seeds of WWII Germany Accepts a “Humiliating” Peace • By 1918, the German army was being defeated and pushed back towards Germany. • The German Kaiser (king) abdicated and the government was then left to civilians. • To avoid invasion and occupation and total defeat, the German government requested an armistice (cease fire). • They created a new, democratic government known as the Weimar Republic (named because it met in the town of Weimar) • It was this new German gov`t who was forced to accept the Treaty of Versailles (along with the anger of the German people for its harsh terms) • No Allied soldiers ever invaded Germany and the vast majority of German civilians saw almost nothing of the fighting in WWI • Gov`t propaganda had spoken of `victories` and the success of the army, even as it was in retreat • Most Germans were surprised by the government’s seemingly sudden surrender • The army High Command claimed that they were technically undefeated and that the loss of WWI was the fault of “traitors, cowards and the Weimar Government “ • The army claimed they had been `stabbed in the back` by the Weimar Gov`t –a popular idea for a German public who felt beaten and demoralized Problems in Post-WWI Germany Debt & Inflation Economic Depression Anger & Fear Political Instability Debt & Inflation • Germany had massive debts from the war • The gov`t did not have the expected conquered resources (from victory) to pay the war debts • The loss of colonies meant even fewer resources • The German Mark ($) was worth very little Economic Depression • Many of Germany`s former trading partners had become enemies during the war • The Great Depression created a lack of trade and investment • There was massive unemployment in Germany Political Instability Anger & Fear • Democracy was new, strange and seemed inefficient • Weimar Gov`t couldn`t seem to solve problems • The parliament (Reichstag) was too divided to get much accomplished • New radical parties were being formed (Nazis, Communists) • Political violence between parties (assassinations, brawls, riots) spilled into the streets • German soldiers felt they had done well in battle, but the Weimar Gov`t had still surrendered -- The myth of a brave German army that had been `stabbed in the back` (betrayed) by a weak gov`t was born • Conditions in Germany were desperate with inflation, unemployment, violence and food shortages • The German people felt surrounded by enemies How did the Treaty of Versailles worsen, or even help create, these problems? Debt & Inflation • The massive reparation payments to the Allies drained the German gov`t of money • The gov`t printed more $ to pay the Allies, but this lead to rapid and massive inflation • Suddenly, the price of goods skyrocketed and people needed millions of Marks just to buy groceries Economic Depression • Germany was stripped of her colonies, losing those resources and the industries they supported • Germany lost wealthy industrial territories such as the Saar Basin • The cost of reparation payments made it impossible to invest in building new industries to create jobs Political Instability • The Weimar Gov`t could not gain legitimacy or support as it was blamed for signing the Treaty of Versailles and `betraying Germany` • The crushing reparation payments prevented the gov`t from providing for citizens • The Weimar Gov`t seemed weak (pushed around by the Allies) • Terrible conditions became a breeding ground for radical groups with extreme `solutions` Anger & Fear • The Treaty (Article 231) forced Germans to accept blame for a war that they believed the Allies had started • They felt unjustly punished by the Treaty`s harsh terms • The `Great German Army` (pride of the nation) was reduced to a tiny, poorly armed shadow of itself • Parts of Germany were lost to other nations • The promised New German Empire was lost • The y felt that the point of the Treaty was to keep Germany weak (no army) and ripe to be conquered When people are desperate... • All of these issues collided to create a endless stream of problems in Germany • The Weimar Gov`t was paralyzed by division, squabbling and fear (of Communist revolution) • Conditions were terrible and the German public were willing to listen to anyone who offered hope and promised them solutions They do desperate things. • The conditions in Germany were perfect for the rise of a strong-willed manipulator who could use fear, prejudice and violence to achieve his goals. • The frightened and beleaguered German people would turn to a power-hungry thug to save them, a man whose goal was to restart the very madness that had brought Germany to this low point, war. • That man was Adolf Hitler Debt & Inflation Economic Depression Treaty of Versailles Political Anger & Instability Fear The Rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party The Rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party