Title: Why G Hated ToV
Headings: Why was there opposition in Germany to the Treaty of Versailles?
Why was there opposition in Germany to the Treaty of Versailles?
Summary

Content: Most of all, they hated reparations because they too had rebuilding work to do. Germany’s economy was ruined, but, instead of being able to pump investment into German industry, the country had to send abroad huge sums of money that German industry was not yet strong enough to earn. Finally, the territorial terms of the Treaty of Versailles also made the Germans angry. Germany lost 10% of its land. The Saar was a valuable coalfield, and West Prussia and Upper Silesia were rich farming areas, so their loss further weakened Germany’s economy. The loss of the Polish corridor separated East Prussia from Germany, and further damaged the German economy. Germany lost 16% of its coalfields and half its iron and steel industry. The loss of all Germany’s colonies to be mandates was seen as just so much British empire-building. The loss of Malmedy to Belgium, Schleswig to Denmark, Memel to Lithuania – and most of all Alsace-Lorraine to France – was also a national humiliation. The Treaty of Versailles also forbade Anschluss with Austria.