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© Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 23
Germany and the End of
World War I
Nazi Germany
For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation.
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What we will learn today
In this presentation you will learn:
1. Why the German government decided to surrender
to the Allies at the end of World War I.
2. What the main issues were for the peacemakers.
3. Why the peace treaty which they produced was
considered too harsh by many German people.
4. Why the German government nevertheless
accepted it, and with what results.
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Learn some key vocabulary
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Events in 1918
In late 1918, the Allies were prepared to discuss an end
to hostilities, but only on the understanding that Kaiser
Wilhelm made his country more democratic.
When the Kaiser refused, his people rose up in revolution.
The Kaiser was forced to abdicate and a German
republic was established.
In November 1918, the new rulers signed the Armistice
which brought hostilities to an end.
The following year, they signed the Treaty of Versailles,
which laid out detailed peace terms.
For detailed events in 1918, see the next slide.
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Events in 1918 – timeline
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Should Germany sign the Armistice?
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What were the results of the Armistice?
Friedrich Ebert, the leader of
the Social Democrats (SPD)
became the first elected
president of the Weimar
Republic. The government
was called this because it
established itself in the small
town of Weimar, rather than
the unstable Berlin.
Signing the Armistice in November 1918 gave the new
republic some breathing space. The country’s first free
elections were held in January 1919.
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How did Germany react to Treaty of Versailles?
The Germans were expecting to be treated fairly under the
Treaty of Versailles. They had got rid of the Kaiser and
elected a democratic government as the Allies had asked.
However, the Allies did not allow the Germans to take part
in negotiations. The Treaty was very harsh on Germany.
The German navy scuttled (sank) itself in protest, but it
made no difference.
The German government signed the Treaty just 90
minutes before the deadline the Allies had set them.
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The signing of the Treaty of Versailles
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What issues were dealt with by the Treaty?
When the leaders of the Allied countries met to discuss
how to treat Germany, they were faced with five key
questions.
You can remember these using the keyword TRAWL:
Territory: What land should be taken from Germany?
Reparations: How much compensation money should
Germany be forced to pay?
Armaments: How far should Germany's armed forces be
limited?
War guilt: Should Germany be held responsible for the
war breaking out?
League of Nations: Should Germany be allowed to join
this new peacekeeping institution?
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Territory – further information
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Reparations – further information
The Allies were keen that Germany should pay for the
cost of the war.
France had lost 1½ million men and 750,000 homes in
the war. Britain had also been drained, having lost a
million men.
Both France and Britain were
left heavily in debt to the USA
as a result of the war.
Germany argued that massive reparations would leave
the country destitute. This would make Germany
vulnerable to revolution or civil war, which could lead to
more international instability.
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Armaments – further information
The Allies felt that Germany’s massive armed forces
had created a country that was desperate for war.
They were very keen to limit the size of the German army.
The Germans argued that this would leave their country
defenceless against attack, and that this could make
another war more, not less, likely.
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War Guilt – further information
To justify their demands for territory, reparations and
arms restrictions, the Allies felt it would be necessary to
blame Germany entirely for the war.
The causes of World War I were very complicated. The
Germans felt that it was unreasonable that they should
take full blame for the war, and warned that it would only
create a desire for revenge later on.
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League of Nations – further information
The US president Woodrow Wilson was very keen to set
up an international parliament to prevent more wars
breaking out in the future.
Wilson proposed a League of Nations to settle
international disputes and prevent war.
The Allies disagreed about whether Germany should be
allowed to join this body or not.
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Territory – the terms on paper
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Territory – the terms on the ground
Germany split by
the Polish Corridor
Alsace-Lorraine
returned to France Germany was also
forbidden to unite
with Austria or
Hungary
How did each of these terms affect Germany?
Which was the most serious, and why?
Saar coalfields
now under French
rule for 15 years
African colonies
taken away.
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Other terms
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Summary
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles can be summarized as:
Territory: Land lost to Britain, France, Belgium, Poland
and Denmark.
Reparations: Germany forced to sign a ‘blank cheque’,
later settled at £6,600 million.
Armaments: Army reduced to 100,000 men. No air
force, 6 warships, no conscription. Rhineland
demilitarized – German troops were not allowed there.
War guilt: Germany held entirely responsible for the war
breaking out.
League of Nations: Germany not allowed to join.
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What was the impact on Germany?
Look at the areas dealt with in the Treaty of Versailles.
Which do you think was the most serious for Germany?
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Conclusion: reaction of the German people
The Treaty of Versailles was hated by Germans.
Rathenau, the foreign minister, was assassinated in 1922
for signing the treaty.
The Armistice had not led to a fair settlement. The Weimar
politicians who signed it were called November Criminals
because people felt they had betrayed Germany.
Which was more damaging for the new
German Republic – losing the war or signing
the Treaty of Versailles?
Explain your answer carefully.
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Revision of some key vocabulary
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Discussion point
What was the main aim of the Treaty of Versailles?
(a) punish Germany
(b) reward the winners of the war
(c) provide a lasting peace?
Support your answer by referring to the terms of
the Treaty.
Was it to: