The German public hated the treaty, especially the ‘War Guilt’ clause, as they did not feel that they had lost the war. They felt that the treaty was a ‘Diktat’ in that it was dictated to them and they had no say. They were very upset by the reparations because of the aforementioned reasons. The public felt let down by the government, who were socialist, because they signed the treaty and they were labelled the ‘November Criminals’.
The German Industrialists and Businessmen were also very angered by the payment of reparations, the occupation and the losses of vital industrial land such as Alsace and Lorraine. Before the war the german industry was one of the three main industrial powers in the world but having suffered from the treaty they were now nothing. They felt there was a hidden agenda by Britain and America and they were trying to weaken Germany o that they could become more powerful. The Industrialists were also upset at the losses of colonies because it prevented them from using raw materials found in Africa without importing them from other countries in Europe.
The press hated the treaty more than anybody, so much so that declared a day of national mourning. They were upset about the divide in the country which resulted In the loss of roughly 5000000 German people to neighbouring countries. The press said that they were being hypocritical as Germany could not unite with Austria and land with Germans in it was given away. The press all stated that the allies had stabbed Germany in the back.
The German Nationalists were also very upset by the treaty. They felt that the loss of the colonies was the biggest blow to national pride as it showed them to be weak. They were also upset by the separation of East Prussia. They felt that the treaty had severely weakened the country and blamed the problems on the Socialists.
The Socialists suffered because of the treaty of Versailles as the press and the public blamed them. They had expected the treaty to be based on Wilson’s 14 points and so they looked as if they had collaborated with the allies.
The treaty of Versailles angered, upset and affected every person in Germany. As shown above the once great country was damaged almost beyond repair. it was very important in how it shaped the future of Germany as everybody wanted revenge. A more immediate reaction from it was the hyperinflation of 1923 caused indirectly by the reparations. The treaty also resulted in the German people becoming desperate and I need of someone to help. This made them susceptible to anybody who could offer them security. One man who took advantage of this as Adolf Hitler who could promise the German public a more financially secure future. The German public didn’t care who saved them or how just as long as someone could get them out of their desperate situation.