The conditions of the Treaty of Versailles met with harsh protests in Germany from both the government and the population. Germans were shocked by the severe territorial losses and viewed the war guilt clause and reparations payments as excessively punitive. Mass demonstrations opposed the treaty's terms, and ordinary Germans felt anger that their government agreed to the ceasefire without their knowledge of Germany's dire military circumstances. The widespread opposition contradicted claims by some in France and Britain that only a minority stirred up discontent with the treaty.

1. TREATY OF VERSAILLES
CONSEQUENCES
GERMAN’S
PROTESTS AGAINST
THE TREATY

2. Mass Demonstration in front of the Reichstag
against the "Brutal Peace" (May 15, 1919)

3. The conditions of the
Treaty of Versailles met
with harsh protest in
Germany, from both
the government and
the population alike.
All parties summarily
rejected the territorial
transfers in the west
and east, as well as the
reparations
payments, which were
regarded as excessively
high.

4. The strongest criticism, however, was reserved
for the “War Guilt Clause,” which laid the blame
for the war solely on Germany.
Demonstrations leading up to the conclusion of the
treaty sought to prevent Germany's leadership from
accepting the harsh peace.
In the face catastrophic food shortages and the
helpless state of the military, however, the coalition
government of the Social Democratic and Centre
parties saw no alternative to signing it.
The radical right subsequently used the Treat of
Versailles as an excuse for nationalist agitation.

5. A German postcard, produced about
the time of the Treaty of Versailles,
showing the land where Germans
lived.
The areas in red are the lands given to
other countries by the Treaty of
Versailles, (including the land lost by
Austria).
Its title is 'Lost but not forgotten land'.
The poem under the map reads:
You must carve in your heart
These words, as in stone -
What we have lost
Will be regained!

6. Another German postcard produced
about the time of the Treaty of
Versailles.
Its title is 'Hands off German
Homeland'.
On the stone (bottom left) is written
'd.ö.' standing for Deutsch-Osterreich
(German Austria).

7. Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why
it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself:
According to this source, how did Germans react to the announcement of the terms of
the Treaty? What actions were opponents of the Treaty planning?
What does this source suggest about the strength of opinion towards the Treaty?
Some politicians in France and Britain claimed that a small minority was stirring up
opposition to the Treaty in Germany. Does this source support or contradict that view?

8. Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why
it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself:
According to this source, how did Germans react to the announcement of the terms of
the Treaty? What actions were opponents of the Treaty planning?
What does this source suggest about the strength of opinion towards the Treaty?
Some politicians in France and Britain claimed that a small minority was stirring up
opposition to the Treaty in Germany. Does this source support or contradict that view?

9. Study this source carefully. It contains information that could be helpful in deciding why
it was so hard to make peace. As you study the source, ask yourself:
According to this source, how did Germans react to the announcement of the terms of
the Treaty? What actions were opponents of the Treaty planning?
What does this source suggest about the strength of opinion towards the Treaty?
Some politicians in France and Britain claimed that a small minority was stirring up
opposition to the Treaty in Germany. Does this source support or contradict that view?

10. Germany had not been present at the Versailles
Treaty which meant that when the Treaty was
announced, many in Germany were shocked and
appalled by what had been agreed by the Allies.
German losses as a result of the treaty were severe.
Germany lost all her imperial possessions, 10
percent of her land, and an eighth of her
population.
In addition to the military restrictions which were
placed upon Germany, the war guilt clause was
perhaps the biggest source of outrage.

11. Ordinary Germans were furious with the
government for agreeing to the ceasefire.
Many of the German citizens had not been aware of
the dire state of the German armed forces in the
war, so when the harsh terms were announced the
citizens of Germany were caught off guard and
surprised by the harsh nature of the treaty.
Many believed that Germany should have been at
the Paris Peace Conference.

12. Reparations were also seen as unfair as the
economy of Germany was not strong enough after
the war to sustain such levels of reparations.
There was a worry that the payment of
reparations would ruin Germany significantly.
Initially, the German government would not sign the
peace treaty and the remnants of the German
Navy sank their own battle ships.
Ebert, the leader of Germany signed the Treaty on
28th June 1919.