Why did the Germans hate the Treaty of Versailles?

• Diktak:

  > When the Germans heard about the Treaty of Versailles, they felt ‘pain and anger’. It was a 'Diktat' – an imposed settlement. They had not been allowed to take part in the talks, they had just been told to sign.
• Diktak:

  > This led people to believe in the ‘Stab in the Back’ myth, that the ‘November Criminals’ (the new Weimar Government) has betrayed the German people by signing the Treaty.
• Social:

  > The Germans hated Clause 231; they said they were not to blame for the war. Clause 231 did not physically harm Germany, but it hurt Germany's pride.
• Economic:

  > The Germans hated reparations; they said France and Britain were trying to starve their children to death. At first they refused to pay, and only started paying after France and Britain invaded Germany (January 1921).