Reasons for the Early Unpopularity of the Republic

• Who were the allied leaders that decided the terms of peace after the armistice was signed?

  Woodrow Wilson for the USA, George Clemenceau for France, and David Lloyd-George for Britain
• What does the term 'diktat' refer to in the context of the Treaty of Versailles?


  It refers to the peace terms imposed on Germany without their input.
• When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

  28th June 1919
• How did the German people react to the Treaty of Versailles?

  They were unhappy and referred to the officials as the 'November Criminals'.
• What was the German perception of the treaty regarding their military situation?

  They believed they had been 'stabbed in the back' as the army had not been defeated. Dolchstoss.
• What were the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

  • War Guilt Clause: Article 231 - Germany was solely responsible for WW1.
  • Reparations: £6.6 billion fixed in 1921.
  • Saar coalfields output to France for 15 years.
  • Army limited to 100,000 men.
  • Navy limited to six battleships.
  • No submarines allowed.
  • Rhineland demilitarised.
  • Loss of all colonies.
  • Loss of 13% of European territory and 10% of population.
  • Loss of 50% of iron and 15% of coal reserves.
• What was the War Guilt Clause in the Treaty of Versailles?

  Article 231, which held Germany solely responsible for WW1.
• How much reparations did Germany have to pay according to the Treaty of Versailles?

  £6.6 billion
• For how long did Germany have to send the output of the Saar coalfields to France?

  15 years
• What was the limit placed on the size of the German army by the Treaty of Versailles?

  100,000 men
• How many battleships was Germany allowed to have according to the Treaty of Versailles?

  Six battleships
• Were submarines allowed in the German navy after the Treaty of Versailles?

  No, submarines were not allowed.
• What happened to the Rhineland as a result of the Treaty of Versailles?

  The Rhineland was demilitarised.
• What territories did Germany lose as a result of the Treaty of Versailles?

  All its colonies and 13% of its European territory.
• What percentage of its population did Germany lose due to the Treaty of Versailles?

  10% of its population to France, Poland, Belgium and Denmark.
• What were the economic impacts of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany regarding its resources?

  Germany lost 50% of its iron and 15% of its coal reserves.
• Once the armistice was signed, the allied leaders (Woodrow Wilson for the USA, George Clemenceau for France, and David Lloyd-George for Britain) decided the terms of peace. It was a diktat – Germany had no say in the terms.
• The peace treaty was signed at the Palace of Versailles, 28th June 1919 (the Treaty of Versailles).
• The treaty was unpopular with the German people, they called the officials the ‘November Criminals’ and said by signing a treaty when the Germany army not been defeated, they had ‘stabbed Germany in the back’ (dolchstoss).
• The Terms of the Treaty of Versailles 1-5

  1. War Guilt Clause: Article 231. Germany was held solely responsible for WW1.
  2. Germany had to pay reparations to the Allies, fixed at £6.6 billion in 1921.
  3. The output of the Saar coalfields had to go to France for 15 years.
  4. The army was limited to 100,000 men.
  5. The navy was limited to six battleships.
• The Terms of the Treaty of Versailles 6-10

  6. No submarines were allowed.

  7. The Rhineland was demilitarised.

  8. Germany lost all its colonies.

  9. Germany lost 13% of its European territory; 10% of its population was lost to France, Poland, Belgium and Denmark.

  10. Therefore Germany lost 50% of its iron and 15% of its coal reserves.