The weapons were silent since November, 1918, but not until seven months later, the First world war was officially ended. Because Germany felt the peace Treaty as unjust, agreed to it only under Protest.
Mass protests against the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, in Berlin
Philipp sheath man unfulfilled remained hopes of mitigating circumstances. In Germany the Revolution which the previous Chancellor held the at the Paris peace conference agreed decisions is unacceptable. “What Hand would not wither which placed us in such bondage?”, the social Democrat asked. For man, the 9 brought vagina. November 1918 had proclaimed the Republic in Berlin, the prevalent mood in the home at the point. The peace Treaty proved to be a heavy mortgage for the newly-emerging democracy.
The German Empire was committed to billions in reparations, lost its colonies in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and had to surrender 13 percent of its territory to other States. Among other things, Alsace-Lorraine went to France, West Prussia, for the most part Poland. In addition, the United States, Britain, France, and Italy listed victory declared powers, such as Germany and its allies alone for the beginning of the war responsible. They would have forced their opponents to the war “” and as the “author for all the losses and damages”.
Winner in Versailles (v. l. n. r.): The heads of government of David Lloyd George (Britain), Vittorio Orlando (Italy), Georges Clemenceau (France) and Woodrow Wilson (USA)
28. June 1919 the peace Treaty in the Palace of Versailles in Paris, without the signature of the resigned, heads of government, man vagina sealed. But even so, Germany signed only under Protest, after the war had threatened the winner with the invasion of their troops. The Rhineland was already since the ceasefire of 11. November 1918 occupied. Due to the harsh conditions of the Treaty of Versailles in the German perception was a “dictated peace”. The Marburg historian Eckart Conze thinks that this allegation in the DW-Interview for “undoubtedly” justified. The Germans had not been involved in the peace negotiations and would have had to the embodiment of the Treaty, no portion.
The “dictated peace” was later mitigated
Even if Germany had been imposed hard conditions, it can be a strong nation-state in the middle of Europe remain. In addition, the first, not specifically stipulated reparation has been adapted to load the German’s ability to pay and its economic performance. In June 1921, the victorious powers laid down a 132 billion Mark was able to push Germany up to the end of the decade, due to renegotiations on 36 billion. “Given the world economic crisis, the payments in 1932 have been set completely,” recalls Conze of Germany, at least financially positive development.
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The starting point for the next disaster
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The end of the First world war and its consequences in Europe
Nevertheless, after the first venue of its constituent Assembly, named the Weimar Republic stand permanently on the edge. The many enemies of democracy – monarchists, national socialists – to fought the Republic from the first day. In your eyes alone the democratic forces were to blame for the results of the peace conference and not that of the authoritarian Empire, which had lost the war. “This perfidious line of reasoning was so effective, because the German population rejected the Treaty of Versailles almost closed,” says historian Conze.
Adolf Hitler ignored the peace agreement total
However, there is no direct way in the Nazi dictatorship in 1933, had led. Also for the people of the year 1919, the future was open. But the right of the Republic of the opponent had used the Versailles Treaty as an Instrument, “to the democracy, and, finally, destroy combat”. Political assassinations were not uncommon. The most famous victim was foreign Minister Walter Rathenau, who was shot dead in 1922 by right-wing extremists in Berlin. For them, the liberal was a Democrat a hated symbol of the so-called “policy of Fulfillment” to the victorious powers of the First world war.
The German foreign Minister Walter Rathenau was on 24. June 1922, shot and killed by right-wing extremists in Berlin
The hopes for a permanent peace were not fulfilled with the Treaty of Versailles. With the coming to power of Adolf Hitler in the period of German reluctance is over. The national socialists upgraded despite the ban and forged new alliances with fascist countries like Italy and Spain. Britain’s appeasement policy (Appeasement) missed the target, the United States of America played in Europe is no longer an active part. And also in the framework of the peace Treaty established the League of Nations proved too weak to prevent the next global catastrophe.
Emmanuel Macron warns of the old “old demons”
Eckart Conze has analysed the reasons for the Failure in a book: “The great Illusion. Versailles 1919 and the reorganization of the world”. After the Second world war, the victorious powers had tried to draw Lessons from the Situation after 1918. “The unconditional surrender of the German Wehrmacht and the Assumption of Supreme governmental power in Germany by the allies belong.” But above all you have tried, after 1945, to develop international structures and institutions should prevent a return to the confrontational nationalism and the political unilateralism.
Historians Eckart Conze, University of Marburg
At least in the Western world would have developed under the leadership of the United States, “multilateral organizations and a rule-based international System,” says Conze. This order seemed to be after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the end of the Cold war on the whole world spread. “Today, however, it is facing greater challenges than ever.” A new nationalism and unilateralism, fed by populism and authoritarianism, threatening the stability of the international order. The French President, Emmanuel Macron warns, therefore, against the “old demons” of the inter-war period, and are awakened to new life. “That’s also why we ‘Versailles’ again closer all the time,” says Conze.