The November Criminals

Many Germans believed that they had not actually lost WW1 but instead had

been ‘stabbed in the back’.

Some Germans nicknamed he leaders who signed the armistice the ‘November

Criminals’.

The Treaty of Versailles

German anger at having surrendered was made

worse the following year.

Germany was given a harsh punishment as part of the Treaty of Versailles, the legal agreement to

end the war.

Versailles details

• Germany took the blame for starting the war

• Germany lost territory, including areas with large

German populations• Germany’s military was

reduced (smaller army, no air force)

• Big reparations were to be paid

Arguments for influence

One of the Nazis’ main promises was to reverse the Treaty of Versailles, winning

them support.

The reparations led to hyperinflation, causing economic problems and

anger, again winning votes for the Nazis.

Arguments for influence

The harshness of Versailles meant that moderate

Germans who might have supported the Republic

were disillusioned.

In this way the Allies’ actions helped the Nazi rise

to power.

Arguments against influence

Not all economic problems were caused by reparations; the

Depression was a global event.

Also it was not guaranteed that Versailles would result in Nazi support; Hitler’s

political skill helped achieve this too.