1.4.1 Reactions: Germany & France Flashcards
Why did the Kaiser (Emperor of Germany) abdicate after the war?
The British saw him as the main culprit for starting the war
Why did the Germans feel humiliated after the TOV?
The Germans felt that they had been humiliated by the loss of their land, their army and their colonies as well as having to accept full responsibility for causing the war. The Germans had previously been very proud of their military, colonies and empire.
What did the Germans feel about the Weimar Republic after the TOV?
They thought that the government that had been set up and signed the Treaty of Versailles was too weak. The Weimar Republic (government of Germany) was democratic, a system which the country wasn’t used to and the German people felt that they couldn’t control the country after the war, partly due to the harsh terms imposed by Versailles that the people couldn’t vote on.
Why did the German people think that there was no need for further punishment after the Kaiser abdicated?
People felt that the person who was responsible for the war (the Kaiser) had been punished, so there was no need for further punishment
The German people felt the treaty was forced on them and they were not allowed to negotiate the terms. What did they call this?
‘Diktat’
What does ‘Diktat’ mean?
Dictated peace
How did the Germans feel vulnerable after the TOV?
The German people felt that they were vulnerable to an attack from other neighbouring countries such as France. They were hated by their old enemies and because they had lost most of their armed forces as a result of Versailles, they felt that they didn’t have the forces to adequately defend themselves.
Why did the German people feel ‘stabbed in the back’?
They had been told they were winning the war, so felt they had been stabbed in the back and betrayed by the government. People called those who had signed the armistice the ‘November Criminals’
What did the German people call those who had signed the armistice?
The November Criminals
Why were the German people starving during the war and after the TOV?
The people were starving because Britain had blockaded the German ports during the war, so little food had been important into Germany. They were desperate and needed help; they did not see how they could cope with the punishments they were facing
Why did German people hate the fact that Germany’s land had been lost after the TOV?
6 million German people found that they were no longer living in Germany; they didn’t like how they had a new nationality
What was Georges Clemenceau pleased with about the TOV? (2)
- France gaining Alsace-Lorraine
- Germany having no army present in the Rhineland
What was Georges Clemenceau not pleased with about the TOV? (3)
- The reparations: the French thought Germany should pay more
- Germany being allowed to have an army, even a small one
- The Rhineland not being completely taken away from Germany
What were French people pleased with about the TOV?
Gaining control of the Saar and its coalfields for 15 years
What were the French people not pleased with about the TOV and how did they react?
- They felt that the treaty was nowhere near harsh enough and that Germany should suffer as much as France had during the war
- People felt Clemenceau had not done enough to get revenge for France and he was voted out in the next election
