Exam (elaborations)
The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the new Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1924 was more damaging economically than politically. Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)
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Charlotte CorriganThe impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the new Weimar Republic
between 1919 and 1924 was more damaging economically than
politically. Assess the validity of this view. (25 marks)
The Treaty of Versailles was incredibly punitive and undermined the Weimar
Republic, both politically and economically. The Treaty of Versailles was
implemented in order to make Germany pay as a result of their loss in the First
World War. The Treaty punished Germany for their, perceived, role in the war
and for the damage to life and property caused as a result of the war. However,
whilst the Treaty had a profound impact economically on the German economy,
it had a more damaging effect politically upon the Weimar Republic. The Treaty
of Versailles wounded Germany as a result of the ‘war guilt clause’, which forced
Germany to accept responsibility for the First World War and the Treaty denied
Germany of their right to national self-determination. Furthermore, the Treat of
Versailles highlighted the vulnerability of the Weimar Republic leading to
mistrust on behalf of the German people. This undermined support for the
Weimar Republic and resulted in the German people blaming the new Weimar
Republic for the surrender. The economic and political consequences
implemented by the Treaty of Versailles seemed to ‘bleed’ Germany ‘dry’ and
many Germans viewed the Treaty of the Catalyst which sparked hyperinflation
and a period of serious political instability.
Notably, Germany’s economic losses, as a result of the Treaty Versailles, were
significant leading to crippling debts, damaging the German economy. Notably,
13 % of German territory was taken along with 75% of Germany’s iron ore
supplies and 15% of arable land was also taken. The loss of this valuable
industrial land and these resources seemed to make it harder to repay the high
wartime debt. Germany relied heavily on these industrial resources for trade with
other European powers and the reduction of German territory led to the decline
in Germany’s Gross National Product. These territorial terms of the Treaty
significantly reduced German economic prosperity and subsequently, forced
Germany into a period of inflation. Furthermore, the reparation fees of £6.6
billion contributed to the economic struggle, forcing the country to experience a
turbulent period of inflation. Whilst the reparation fees seemed extortionate, this
figure was only a fragment of the wider economic issue in Germany. Before the
reparations were introduced, Germany had accumulated a large amount of debt
due to military costs during the First World War, placing Germany in a vulnerable
position. These reparations arguably worsened Germany’s debts and positioned
Germany in a vulnerable, economic state. The reparations seemed to cast an
economic shadow over the early years of the Weimar Republic. Notably,
Germany was already nearly bankrupt from the war and the Weimar Government
believed they had almost no chance of being able to meet the payments.
Furthermore, this was exacerbated by the loss of Germany’s land, which made it
even harder to rebuild the economy. Reparations arguably made it increasingly
difficult for Germany to recover and this in turn led to hyperinflation.
However, whilst the economy evidently suffered, the bigger impact was the
political consequence of the Treaty of Versailles, which had a profound impact
upon the Weimar Republic creating instability and creating a weak foundation for
German society. Notably, the Treaty of Versailles led to directly to the Kapp
Putsch in 1920. The Kapp Putsch was an armed revolt against the Weimar
Republic by the Freikorps. The Kapp Putsch demonstrated the hostility towards
the Weimar Republic. Dr Kapp and General von Luttwitz, right-wing politicians,
were determined to overthrow the Government. Dr Kapp was a fascist, who
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