The Long-Term Consequences of the Treaty of Versailles (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)
Revision Note
Author
Zoe WadeExpertise
History
Europe's Reaction to the Treaty
There was a mixed reaction in Europe to the Versailles Settlement in 1919
By 1923, Europe’s reaction to the Treaty of Versailles began to change
In Britain, the public thought that the treaty was too harsh on Germany
People began to fear the USSR more than Germany
Britain wanted a strong Germany to defend Europe from communism
November Criminals and the 'Dolchstoss'
Many Germans argued that the Weimar Republic should not have signed the Treaty of Versailles
They believed that German politicians committed a ‘dolchstoss’ - or a ‘stab in the back’
The politicians who signed the Treaty of Versailles were called ‘November Criminals’. This was because November was the month the government signed the armistice
Many Germans felt humiliated and weaker than the rest of Europe
The Treaty of Versailles’ territorial terms increased nationalism in Germany
The Polish Corridor separated Germany into two
Around 4 million Germans lived in the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia
The Rise of Hitler
The Treaty of Versailles had a devastating impact on Germany
Reparations caused two economic depressions in a decade
The German government continued to follow the treaty’s terms
This caused public resentment
Extremist parties like the KPD and the NSDAP gained support
The government arrested Hitler after he attempted the Munich Putsch
While in prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf (‘My Struggle’)
A key belief in Mein Kampf | Summary of the belief |
|---|---|
The superiority of the Aryan race |
|
Lebensraum |
|
Revise the Treaty of Versailles |
|
Grossdeutschland |
|
Hitler believed that, when he gained power, it was right to break the Treaty of Versailles because:
Some of the terms had already been reversed
For example, the Allies changed Germany’s reparations in the Dawes and Young plans
Other countries had not kept promises made at the Paris Peace Conference
The ‘Big Three’ agreed to the creation of the League of Nations
The League aimed to encourage worldwide disarmament
Countries like France refused to disarm
Hitler feared the power of the countries bordering Germany
France had already invaded the Ruhr in 1923
Germany had no air force and 100,000 soldiers. It could not defend itself
Hitler had public support
In July 1932, the Nazi Party received 38% of the vote
It became the biggest party in the Reichstag
Worked Example
Describe the main aims of Hitler’s foreign policy
4 marks
Answers:
Hitler wanted to create a Grossdeutchland (1). He wanted to incorporate all German speakers into Germany including through achieving Anschluss with Austria (1). He wanted to revise the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1). He wanted to expand eastwards to achieve Lebensraum (1).
Exam Tip
This style of question does not require you to explain your answer. The Cambridge IGCSE gives you a point for each relevant piece of information that you write. Therefore, do not spend any additional time trying to describe or explain each reason.
How Did Hitler Break the Treaty of Versailles?
Worked Example
Describe how Hitler broke the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
4 marks
Answers:
When Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, he broke many terms of the Treaty of Versailles. In 1933, he began to secretly rearm (1). In 1937, he tested out the Luftwaffe in the Spanish Civil War (1). In 1938, he successfully captured the Sudetenland (1). In 1939, he captured the whole of Czechoslovakia (1).
Exam Tip
In four mark questions, ensure each detail you select is as specific as possible. The worked example above provides dates for each of Hitler’s actions that broke the Treaty of Versailles.
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