01. GERMANY - DEPTH STUDY: THE IMPACT OF THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES. Germany lost 10% of its land, all its overseas colonies, 12.5% of its population, 16% of its coal and 48% of its iron industry. There were also the humiliating terms, which made Germany accept blame for the war, limit their armed forces and pay reparations.

1. DEPTH STUDY
NAZI GERMANY
THE IMPACT OF THE
TREATY OF VERSAILLES
02

2. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY
THE STAB IN THE BACK THEORY
• The German Government agreed to sign the Treaty of
Versailles in June 1919, to make peace.
• This action was very unpopular in Germany.
• Leaders of the German military did not admit that they
would be beaten on the battlefield or did not want to take
responsibility for this.
• They placed the blame for defeat on the politicians who
agreed the treaty.
• They claimed these officials had 'stabbed Germany in the
back' by ending the war.

3. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY
WEIMAR GOVERNMENT = NOVEMBER
CRIMINALS
• Several of the politicians who signed the treaty were
leaders of the Weimar government.
• Their opponents began to call them the 'November
Criminals' and accused them of betraying the German army
and people.

4. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY
WEIMAR GOVERNMENT=NOVEMBER
CRIMINALS
• The terms of the Treaty were very damaging to Germany
for some reasons:
• Land was taken from Germany and given to other
countries.
• Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the
war.
• Germany had to pay fines of £6.6 billion.
• Germany's armed forces were reduced, and they were
not allowed an air force.
• It left many Germans feeling humiliated.

5. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY
BLAME THEORIES
• The ideas of the ‘November Criminals’ and the ‘Stab in the
Back’ were used in many of Hitler’s speeches to turn people
against the Government.