- Germany believed that the Treaty was too harsh as they had to pay reparations when economic recovery would be slowed through the removal of resources that are the source to gaining money to pay reparations
- Others believed that this was justified as Germany punished Russia with Teraty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918 similarly.
Diktat
- Germany argued that the Treaty was a dictated peace/"diktat" as Germany had no say in negotiations at the peace conference except for small changes about the writing of the terms and the holding of a plebiscite at Upper Silesia
- They were not able to refuse as the Allied naval blockade would be resumed and so would the war, which Germany had a bad situation in.
Dissatisfaction on War Guilt Clause (Article 231)
- Germany believed that this clause was unfair as the first offensive action was arguably the militarisation of Russia in July 1914.
Dissatisfaction on Disarmament
- Germany claimed 100,000 men were not enough for defending its borders
- Argued that it would be difficult to deal with domestic affairs and opposition.
Dissatisfaction on Fourteen Points
- Germany signed the armistice under the impression that the Treaty would be based on the Fourteen Points
- There was no mention of the Fourteen Points anywhere on the Treaty
- There was a request for all countries to disarm in the Fourteen Points, but the victors did not have to do this at all.
- Fourteen Points emphasised self-determination, which did not apply to several territories lost by Germany such as Austria, Alsace Lorraine.
- Germans felt that the Treaty was unfair and that they had been deceived
- However, it is argued that there was no promise that the Treaty would follow the Fourteen Points but instead indicated using them as guiding principles.
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