German reaction to treaty of Versailles

How did Germans react on May 7th when the terms were announced?

Horrified

Opinions on the War Guilt Clause

It was particularly hated. They did not feel they had started the war. They felt at the very least that blame should be shared

Opinions on the reparations

Germans believed the reparations were excessively harsh and crippling to their economy, fuelling resentment and a sense of injustice. They were bitter that they were expected to pay for all the damage caused by the war even though the German economy was severely weakened

Disarmament

They felt it was very unfair, an army of 100,000 was very small for a country of Germany’s size and the Army was a symbol of German pride.

Also, despite Wilson’s fourteen points calling for disarmament, none of the other allies were being asked of forced to disarm in the same way

German territories opinion

It was a major blow to German pride and to its economy. Both the Saar and Upper Silesia were important industrial areas.

Meanwhile, as Germany was losing colonies, the British and French were increasing their empires by taking control of German territories in Africa.

Opinion on 14 points and LofN

most felt the treatment of Germany did not comply with Wilson’s 14 points, e.g. while self determination was given to countries such as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, German-speaking people were being hived off into new countries such as Czechoslovakia to be ruled by non-Germans.

The Anschluss with Austria was forbidden

They felt further insulted when not being invited to join the League

Non-representation

They were angry their government was not represented at the peace talks and that they were being forced to accept a harsh treaty with out any choice or even comment.

Germans did not feel they had lost the war, so they should not have been treated as a defeated country