The finalized Treaty of Versailles was presented to the German delegation on May 7th, 1919. The delegates were shocked by the severe terms of the treaty; they had expected it to be based on Wilson’s Fourteen Points (Bonhomme and Boivin 1205). They fought to revise the terms but failed; as Britain had the German ports blockaded and controlled all food deliveries (Bonhomme and Boivin 1211). The German representatives signed the Treaty of Versailles on June 28th, 1919, the 5-year anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
The Treaty of Versailles was despised in Germany. The War Guilt clauses, which forced Germany to accept all responsibility for WWI, humiliated and demoralized Germans (McDougall). A Reparations Commission demanded 132 billion marks, a sum far beyond what Germany could pay. This amount was lowered several times and never completely paid, but still had a debilitating effect on the already weak post-war German economy. The German public had never fully accepted their defeat, believing civilian government officials betrayed Germany by surrendering while the military remained undefeated (McDougall). With this “stab in the back” mentality, the German people viewed the diplomats who signed the Treaty of Versailles to have sold out their country by agreeing to unjust terms. The Nazi party used the "stab in the back" myth to undermine the Weimar Republic, the democratic government that ruled Germany between WWI and WWII ("Treaty of Versailles").
The Allies were also dissatisfied with the treaty. The economic clauses were heavily criticized in Britain (McDougall). The Treaty of Versailles wasn’t even ratified in the United States, as Wilson couldn’t get it through Congress because he had alienated so many potential allies with his inflexible attitudes. The U.S. never joined the League of Nations. Since the United States wasn’t part of the League, Wilson’s plan for collective security failed, and France didn’t have the security it needed against further invasion. Neither Britain nor France succeeded in enforcing the treaty. They allowed Germany to slowly chip away at the treaty until 1939, when not a single clause held and Europe was plunged into the second World War. Foch, a prominent French general, accurately prophesied: “This is not a peace, but a truce for twenty years.”
The Treaty of Versailles was despised in Germany. The War Guilt clauses, which forced Germany to accept all responsibility for WWI, humiliated and demoralized Germans (McDougall). A Reparations Commission demanded 132 billion marks, a sum far beyond what Germany could pay. This amount was lowered several times and never completely paid, but still had a debilitating effect on the already weak post-war German economy. The German public had never fully accepted their defeat, believing civilian government officials betrayed Germany by surrendering while the military remained undefeated (McDougall). With this “stab in the back” mentality, the German people viewed the diplomats who signed the Treaty of Versailles to have sold out their country by agreeing to unjust terms. The Nazi party used the "stab in the back" myth to undermine the Weimar Republic, the democratic government that ruled Germany between WWI and WWII ("Treaty of Versailles").
The Allies were also dissatisfied with the treaty. The economic clauses were heavily criticized in Britain (McDougall). The Treaty of Versailles wasn’t even ratified in the United States, as Wilson couldn’t get it through Congress because he had alienated so many potential allies with his inflexible attitudes. The U.S. never joined the League of Nations. Since the United States wasn’t part of the League, Wilson’s plan for collective security failed, and France didn’t have the security it needed against further invasion. Neither Britain nor France succeeded in enforcing the treaty. They allowed Germany to slowly chip away at the treaty until 1939, when not a single clause held and Europe was plunged into the second World War. Foch, a prominent French general, accurately prophesied: “This is not a peace, but a truce for twenty years.”