Early unpopularity

• What was the 'stab in the back' theory?

  Many Germans felt like they could've won the war, they felt stabbed in back by Ebert and his government who signed the armistice

  > the "November criminals"
• What were the general terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

  • Germany must pay £6.6 billion in reparations to allies
  • Germany to accept blame for war (Article 231, 'War guilt clause')
  • Huge loss of land + German colonies > lost 13% land, 12.5% population
• What were the military terms of the ToV?

  • Not being able to join with Austria
  • Demilitarisation of the Rhineland
  • Restrictions : max 100,000 soldiers, 15,000 sailors, 6 ships, 0 submarines or armoured vehicles
• Land terms of the ToV

  • Germany lost 13% of land and 10% population
  • Their overseas empire was given to France, they lost 11 colonies
  • Lost land where coal and iron were produced, lost 48% of all coal production
  • Lost Alsace-Lorraine, returned to France