Why might the German people be angry over the Treaty of Versailles? (Use your outside knowledge as well as the document.)
they were not in favor of the war so should not have to pay
they gained territories and military power
they did not lose the war so should not have to pay
they lost major military power, territories, and had to pay for the cost of the war
- The German people may feel angry because they did not believe they were solely responsible for starting the war, and therefore should not have to bear the burden of paying reparations.
- The loss of territories, particularly in the form of territorial concessions to neighboring countries, could be seen as a humiliation and a blow to national pride.
- The severe limitations placed on the German military, naval forces, and armaments by the Treaty of Versailles could be viewed as crippling and unfair, especially for a nation that had a strong military tradition.
- The sheer scale of the reparations demanded from Germany, which amounted to billions of dollars, could be seen as excessive and impossible to pay without causing severe economic hardships for the German population.