Consequences of the Treaty of Versailles

The Deal Itself

            In 1919, the final version of the treaty in Versailles was signed by two German representatives. This treaty involved the following:

-     -Limitations on the German military [not just in numbers, but weapons as well]

New Weimar Republic

-     -Forfeit of claimed lands: Austro-Hungary, Sweden, Poland,        Lithuania

-     -War Reparation Payments [20 Billion]

t    Implications

            The treaty devastated the German economy. Struggle over power began as the old Germany lost all global political ground. The new Weimar Republic sought to stabilize its country. The DVP, Deutsche Volkspartei, promised Weimar an industrial wave and to represent a constitution, system of government. The important SPD, Social Democratic Party, was influential in holding the country together. Both parties politically struggled for what was to come in Weimar. This eventual rise and fall of the Weimar Republic, 1924-1933, led to disastrous events.

Rise of NSDAP

                After the Great World War, the Jewish population became the scapegoats of the severe loss for Germany. The turmoil caused by the Treaty led the way for Hitler’s totalitarian ideals to spread. Under the two main parties lied the NSDAP, National Socialist German Worker’s Party. This party, while having undertones of racist beliefs towards Jews, appealed to the middle class of Germany.

            When the Republic began to fail in 1933, Hitler’s persuasive promises influenced a scared nation to follow him. In 1932 the election of Reichstag, reflected the mood of this broken nation. 

The NSDAP

NSDAP in 1921- the Beginning

had “doubled it already substantial percentage of the vote”. IN 1933 the fall of Weimar Republic, lead the way for the NSDAP, most popular party at this time, to take control.

The Treaty of Versailles led to the rise of the NSDAP

            After reading these three chapters, it is my opinion that the treaty contributed to the rise of the NSDAP. This may be evident, yet I will explain anyway. The loss of the Great War left Germany in a dire state. Without adding the reparations, annexations, and limits on manufacturing, Germany already lost much of its men. The cost of the war alone left Germany in debt. Now adding the limited means of rebuilding, along with the reparations due, Germany had little hope of maintaining itself. Building upon these costs,  the German people felt influenced by the worker’s party, which promised them a brighter tomorrow. In drawing upon the League of Nations peace treaty, complete blame may not rest on the German people alone. Unfair releasal from the constraints of the treaty, lead to the damaged economy, and need for a party to correct these issues. And in the eyes of the German people of the 1930's, that party was the NSDAP.

NSDAP Propaganda

Birth of German Nationalism

"Black for the trim, Red for the coats, Gold for the buttons" (p.106)

In 1806, the Germanic people had yet experienced a country of their own. Previously encompassed in the Prussian Empire, an independent German nation had yet to thrive. A number of factors influenced the independence of the German Nation. Most importantly was the pressure of the French. Many citizens began to feel the Prussian Empire was weak in comparisons to the French nation. Influenced by this, many scholars and writers became outspoken (p.104-105)

Let unanimity be your church! Make hatred of the French be your religion, and let freedom and fatherhood be the saints to whom you pray.

                                                                                 Ernst Moritz Ardnt

         Words like this fuel the national movement coming. One could argue that this strong belief in unity influences later decisions made by the German people, i.e. world war.

Battle of Leipzig- Freiheitskriege

The War of Liberation truly gave the people the excitement of the “German Nation” (p. 106). Civilian outcry led to violence when completion of a new nation constitution was not being completed.  To squash revolutionary movements, the kingdoms of Prussia and Austria ended talks.

     Unrest spread through the land, yet actions were not taken. Small town life ruled these two years of long awaited peace. Underground, revolution was afoot. Not just in Prussia, but across Europe, beginning with Paris in 1830. In Prussia, the German national movement made its appearance at an All-German Festival. The movement multiplied in force ranging from the original university students to farmers.

     The crisis of 1840 greatly influenced the desires of German nationalism. The ideology of physical fitness and national defense went with this desire of nationalism. Throughout history, one can observe these traits in German culture. Continuous rebellions lead the way to the demand of the German Confederate to form a unified Nation.

Monarchs of German Confederation meet
in Frankfurt in 1863.

     The German identity evolved out of an early unified volunteer army. They had something to fight for, and this drove them to fight for unity among their own peoples. The nation of Germany exudes the ideals of nationalism, i.e. Weimar Republic and NSDAP. Formed from the working class, this nationalism created a strong country, sung through music and painted into history.

            Nationalism is defined as “patriotic feeling, principle, or efforts”. The people of the Germanic lands felt this overwhelming desire to unify for a common nation. This is why Germany formed, through the rebellions of the working people to have a nation to call theirs. Many trials stood in their way, yet the greatest oppression came from foreign countries, England and France, wishing to not lose the current balance of power in Europe.

German Revolution of 1848

       Compared to other strong nations, the feelings of nationalism are as important as military power in maintaining power. Without the desire to stay unified, a nation stands little chance of remaining in history. Such is the case with the turn of the Prussian Empire and German Confederation to the newly formed Germany. As mentioned above, throughout history German nationalism can be observed. One could argue it is this nationalism that help Germany survive its lengthy and tumultuous past. 

Berlin

    A Militaristic Germany

The city of Berlin holds more history than I ever learned about America. The intertwining of events and their relation to one another is appropriately explained in the documentary.

Frederick the Great

Reaching back to 1700's, the militaristic mindset of Germany is exposed. Not even being a nation yet, the Prussian kingdom was reigned over by Frederick's father, who instilled in is son the military way of life. Much to his rebelliousness, Frederick embodied his father's beliefs.  He conquered lands through wars with neighboring lands to extend the limits of his empire. This conquerous mindset can be seen for centuries to come.

Moving forward to the 1900's, Germany fought for a unified nation. But Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht had other ideas for the newly formed nation state.

Rosa Luxemburg

Opposed to the communist ways, a volunteer military unit was sent into Berlin to rid the city of these communist. After removing them, Rosa and Karl faced a grim end in a notorious river. This would not be the last of the fight over communism. 

Organized and brought by Joseph Goebbels to Berlin, the nation party expressed promises of a "strong, racially pure Germany". Strong military involvement can be seen here as it was when Frederick the Great lead the Kingdom, highlighting again the militaristic nature of this country. Knowledge of the following events is all but taught to us since grade school. The real lesson here is the tension between the right and left wing parties that make up these lands. 

Nazi Germany

Even today, these political sides are expressed not only among the politicians, but in the streets among the people. Expressing ideals and beliefs in not a quiet act in Berlin. 

Division of Germany after WWII

After WWII, the nation of Germany was divided into two. East and West Berlin, communist ruled east lead to great oppression for more than 45 years. Oppressing more than just living conditions, a former resident of East Berlin explains how the story of Frederick the Great differed. After the cold war, the wall established to keep East Berlin citizens in, was taken down. 

Throughout history the military influence in Germany is very prevalent. Instilled at a young age Frederick the Great used this to expand his empire. Later the Weimar Republic, led by several different leaders, used military influence to establish and control the nation. 

The Idea that is Revolution

The Idea that is Revolution

Martin Luther set out to right the wrongs he saw in the Catholic Church. His beliefs in God moved him to stand for what he believed was the right way to follow God. He began his protest with the 95 thesis, what Luther didn’t know is how quickly and accepted his protest would spread. Luther originally set out to show the mistake he saw in the church, not a revolution. He was challenged by the church to rescind his statements, but his beliefs were too deep, and he refused. This began the Protestant Reformation and would later spark all different kinds of revolutions.

Martin Luther

Not seeking to make a political stance, Luther kept writing on his beliefs and understandings of what he read in the bible. He wrote of the fallacies in the Churches explanations of rituals. For example one explained by the scholars were the 5 sacraments, Luther understood the bible to only have 2. These were the things Luther wished to expose the Church for exacerbating for their own gains.  He believed in man’s personal relationship with God and while in exile/hiding he translated the bible from Latin to German. This allowed the common man to read it for himself.

This translation was not the only profound affect Luther had on the German culture. His cause sparked the idea of a revolution, one that could not be undone.  The printing press spread his writings like fire. 

Printing Press

Using these means, the peasant class of the Holy Roman Empire, mainly made up of the Germanic kingdoms, experienced uprisings like never before. Some in support of Luther and against the Church, others against the officials and the oppressive conditions of the peasant class. One could go so far in saying that Luther’s beliefs were the key to sparking the idea of revolution. Revolution had yet to fully be explained or used. Standing against power and authority had yet to be done during the medieval era, and Luther’s stance against the means and practices of servitude of God was a cause man found worth backing.   

His religious cause profoundly impacted the political equilibrium during this time. Heavily relied on the church and its authority, the kings and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire were at risk of losing great powers. If not for his [Luther] own king, Luther most likely would have in great danger. Luther offered him [his king] political leverage he need to secure more power.  

Luther defending his writings in front of the Germanic kings and the Emperor

Luther influenced not only religion by creating a separate denomination in which he wrote how the serve God, he influenced the German lands through translation of the bible and introducing the idea that is revolution.

Divided They Fall: How the Bubonic Plague and Serfdom Kept the Nation State of Germany from Earlier Establishment

            Divided into separate territories and cities, the empire in the 15^th century was a ways away from the modern nation we know. The hereditary order of serfdom divided social classes creating inequality for “peasants”. There was little to no rights for this class, leading to great tensions. This use of peasant for little reward hindered the establishment of a “free” market. Granting rights to this lower class could have brought about nationalism that would have stabilized the separated governments within the empire. The peasants were not the only peoples excluded from rights. In fact only a small portion of the population, during this time, were considered free. 

Art work displaying the oppressive nature of serfdom.

    Additionally, during this time the cities and territories were separately ruled. Division of the government would later prove to be a main hindrance in the establishment of a modern central nation. Similarities can be noted between American Colonies and its British Rule. The land separation of these was an advantage of the American Rebels during the later American Revolution. 

     In 1450, the Bubonic plague swept across Europe, killing nearly a third its population. The loss of valuable peasant workers and administrators left a void in the efficiency of all aspects of the empire. Uprisings began, farms became abandoned, and a fight over who should take over municipal governments began.

Art expressing the toll the Bubonic plague took on Europe.

This instability in the regional governments set back the establishment of a central German government by decades, potentially centuries. The significance of this series of events could explain how the power of the German Kings, who were emperors, did not establish a nation state. The division of territories established and separately ruled, allowed conflict over a singular ruling entity.

      In 1476 a peasant conspiracy began. Freedom from Kings, Queens, rulers, etc. is what Hans Behiem, Piper of Niklashausen, began preaching to peasant followers. His conspiracy to deliver his followers to freedom was cut short upon his capture, but he sparked continuing rebellion among this [peasant] class. Coupled with the plague, a window of opportunity to make permanent changes began.
      

Portrait of Hans Behiem

     Something to consider is how different European history would have been if an adopted modern centralized government, separation from serfdom, and continuous power of German kings would have affected thus. Advancement of countries stretching to the Americas would be forever altered. Leading countries and boundaries could have changed, and so changing the conflicts and unions there after.

In Anticipation

In Anticipation...  

In December I will be traveling abroad for the first time. I've taken a small vacation to the Bahamas before, but have never been introduced and submerged into a culture other than mine. Experiencing something like Germany has been an aspiration of mine for many years now. As I think  of what I will do and see there I can't help but think of many historical landmarks to be explored. The history of Germany is something I have studied and heard of since I was a child. My fascination with castles, old landmarks, and their story is definitely something I look forward to experiencing.
The picture above is of the Neuschwanstein Castle. This is what I most often think of when I picture Germany. 

    Along with the sight-seeing portion of the trip, exploring the many cities we will visit is most exciting to me. Not in just snapping pictures, I went there kind of way, but in meeting the people who call them home. I look forward to using the language skills I have learned to better connect with those I may eat, drink, or spend time with. The picture to the left is of a Nuremberg market. Events such as this will be great to explore and meet new people. 

    When deciding to go on this trip, I asked myself what I hope to gain from this. Perspective. Being an American, it wasn't until college that I fully grasped how isolated we are raised to believe we are. This ignorance, in my belief, is what has led to many misconceptions we have of other cultures. This trip is a way for me to get out of my American comfort zone.