The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the new Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1924 was more damaging economically than politically.

The impact of the Treaty of Versailles on the new Weimar Republic between 1919 and 1924 was more damaging economically than politically.

The Weimar Republic came into power at a time of confusion and chaos right after Germany had lost the First World War.

The Weimar Republic faced opposition from the outset in 1919, after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The defeat in the war came as a huge surprise to the German people. Many Germans felt their country had received a very harsh deal in the treaty and resented the government for agreeing to its terms.

The treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for starting first world war and punished her militarily, territorially and financially. This had enormous impact on the German economy and led to an economic crisis in 1923.

The Weimar Government was inexperienced and had no idea how to deal with the complex problems of economic depression it had inherited. The Weimar Republic had to figure out how to pay reparations of the war and made the mistake of paying too much money for the reparations. Germany also had to pay 6 billion pounds as war compensation.

The Versailles Peace Treaty at the end of the First World War did not only dispossess Germany of its territories and resources (Germany lost 13% of it’s territory, 15% of its arable ground, as well as 75% of its iron ore), but its pride as a nation. As a result of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany’s ability to produce revenue-generating coal and iron ore decreased. This created hyperinflation.

The country plunged into chaos and economic hardship gripped the whole nation and led to uprisings and assassinations. People were starving and hated the government for signing the armistice and Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate his throne and fled Germany for Holland.

References
1. Harold Nicolson, Peacemaking, 1919 (London, 1934)
2. Manfred F. Boemeke, Gerald D. Feldman and Elisabeth Glaser (eds), The
Treaty of Versailles: a Reassessment after 75 Years (Cambridge, 1998)
3. William R. Keylor, Versailles and International Diplomacy, in The Treaty of
Versailles