Germans reacted with fury to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. While Germany expected some punishment for World War I, the treaty's terms went far beyond expectations and were seen as an imposed diktat rather than a negotiated agreement. massive protests erupted across Germany over the harsh reparations payments, loss of territory, and military restrictions. The treaty deeply undermined the new Weimar Republic and fueled nationalist sentiments, as Germans felt the nation was not truly at fault for starting the war.

1. Germans’ reactions
to the Treaty

2. There was fury across
Germany at the signing of the
treaty, even from moderate
Germans who were not
supporters of extreme left- or
right-wing groups.
Although Germany had
expected punishment, this
went well beyond what had
been anticipated.

3. Germans regarded the treaty as
a diktat – an enforced
agreement, rather than one
which was negotiated.
As a result of the signing there
were huge protests in cities
across Germany, as well as at
the Reichstag building. Some
even advocated re-starting the
war rather than sign the deal.

4. Germans were angry for a variety
of reasons:
• They did not believe they were
to blame for the war starting
• They felt they could not afford
the reparations
• They worried their reduced
military left them vulnerable
to attack
Cartoon from the German satirical
magazine Simplissimus, 3 June 1919

5. German anger at the treaty was
aimed at different groups.
Within Germany, the politicians
that signed up to the deal were
attacked, giving further weight
to the ‘stab in the back’ idea.
This in turn undermined the
entire idea of democracy and
the Weimar Republic, leading to
right-wing revolts.

6. Germans that supported
signing were also criticised;
rumours spread of Jewish
involvement in the treaty.
Germans were also angry at the
Allied countries that had
devised the treaty. Britain and
the USA were the target of
German fury, with France in
particular being resented. ‘Clemenceau the Vampire’ - from the German
newspaper Kladderadatsch (July 1919)

7. Opinion was divided in the Allied
countries about the treaty.
France wanted harsher
conditions and was angry at the
outcome; Prime Minister Georges
Clemenceau lost power in 1920.
Britain had wanted Germany
punished, but senior politicians
voiced doubts, believing that the
treaty had gone too far.

8. The USA was also divided by
the treaty’s details.
Many politicians – especially
from Irish and German
backgrounds – felt the treaty
helped Britain too much.
The US Congress never agreed
to the treaty, so a separate
peace between the USA and
Germany was signed in 1921.