Treaty of Versailles

1
Treaty of Versailles

• Effects on Germany

2
What were the political, social and economic
effects of the T.o.V. on Germany from 1919-1924?

• Introduction paragraph- Background information
  and thesis statement. You may include document.
• Political paragraph- Introduction sentence, your
  knowledge (notes), document to support your
  point. (Social, economic)
• Conclusion paragraph- Restate thesis and main
  points of essay, you may include a document.
• Your essay must include 5 documents used
  throughout your essay, if you do not use 5, your
  grade will be scored much lower.

3
Background

• Paris Peace Conference
• Germany did not participate
• Allies dominated the meeting
• France and Britain wanted to punish Germany
• Treaty signed on June 28, 1919
• The terms were harsh and put severe limits on
  Germany

4
Political Effects

• War Guilt Clause Germany forced to accept blame
  for damages caused by World War I
• Loss of power and status
• Territorial losses
• Alsace-Lorraine went back to France
• Danzig (Polish Corridor) given to Poland
• Land lost to Belgium, Denmark Czechoslovakia
• Lost colonies in Africa and Asia
• Weimar Republic was weak
• Germans blamed this government for the countrys
  defeat and the humiliation of the treaty

5
Political Effects

• Threats of revolution by monarchists and
  communists
• Beer Hall Putsch (1923) - a failed attempt at
  revolution that occurred on Nov. 8 and 9, when
  Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, Erich Ludendorff,
  and others unsuccessfully tried to seize power in
  Munich, Bavaria, and Germany.

6
Political Effects

• Hitlers Political Goals
• Lebensraum (Living space) get it by invading
  eastern Europe and Russia
• Regaining lost lands
• Combating communism
• Overturn the treaty, said it was an outrage

7
Social Effects

• Treaty viewed as attempt to punish Germany
• John Maynard Keynes said said it reduced them to
  servitude, degraded their lives and deprived them
  of happiness
• Germans want revenge for treaty
• It took away German pride
• Was seen as a slap in the face
• Change in borders causes loss of population and
  national identity
• Inflation has direct impact on peoples lives
• Poverty and despair
• Disease (tuberculosis)

8
Social Effects

• Anti-Semitism in Germany
• Germans blamed Jews for losing the war and the
  economic problems in Germany
• Rise of Hitler and Nazism
• Belief that Aryans are the master race
• Goal was to kill all Jews and inferior races

9
Economic Effects

• Reparations 33 Billion to France and Great
  Britain over 30 years
• Loss of resources, tax base, and industry
• Severe inflation
• Government printed money to pay war debts and
  reparations
• This devalued the mark
• People directly affected
• Unemployed or overworked

10
Economic Effects

• Costs of war and the terms of the treaty led to
  the collapse of German economy
• Dawes Plan (1924)
• 200 million loan from U.S. slowed inflation and
  stabilized German economy
• Germans dependent on U.S. support