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The Impact of the Versailles Treaty on Germany
The first 200 words of this essay...
9-Sep-01
The Impact of the Versailles Treaty on Germany
Why did so many Germans not expect a harsh Treaty?
* Have set up a democratic republic (expect lenient treatment) Kaiser has gone + members are not responsible for conduct of war
* Germany had huge problems: economic / political, expecting allies to pity them or help
* Hadn't actually been defeated militarily - people didn't know
* Population felt it was the leaders at fault + other nations (War Guilt Clause 231) fabrication of responsibility
* Wilson's 14 points - looked fair / lenient - national self-determination, no reparations (punishment ignored) not harsh
* Thought Lloyd George would want to be kind
How did the treaty affect Germany?
* Territorially - Polish corridor, E. borders, Alsace-Lorraine, N. Schleswig, Eupen Malmedy, Danzig, 6 million Germans told they are no longer German, 13% land changed hands
* Militarily - army 100,000, no air force, no conscription, 6 warships, no subs., no heavy artillery - de-militarised Rhineland, only allowed 7 years service - army worse than Belgium
* Economically - Saarland output to France, £6.6 billion reparations - not announced till 1921,
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