Transcript Adolf Hitler’s Speech on the Treaty of Versailles (April

Adolf Hitler’s Speech on the Treaty of Versailles
(April 17, 1923)
• With the armistice begins the humiliation of Germany…So long as this
Treaty stands there can be no resurrection of the German people; no
social reform of any kind is possible! The Treaty was made in order to
bring 20 million Germans to their deaths and to ruin the German nation.
But those who made the Treaty cannot set it aside. As its foundation our
Movement formulated three demands:
1. Setting aside of the Peace Treaty.
2. Unification of all Germans.
3. Land and soil [Grund und Boden] to feed our nation.
• Our movement could formulate these demands, since it was not our
Movement which caused the War, it has not made the Republic, it did
not sign the Peace Treaty. [The movement] desires to make the German
once more National…It desires to teach our people to understand afresh
the truth of the old saying: He who will not be a hammer must be an
anvil. An anvil we are today, and that anvil will be beaten until out of the
anvil we fashion once more a hammer, a German sword!
German
economy
devastated
German banknotes being
used as wallpaper
EQ: TWE was the Treaty of
Versailles appropriate?
Read Wilson’s 14 points and answer
the following questions:
• 1. Which points were about specific territorial
issues in Europe and elsewhere?
• 2. Which, if any, would be beneficial to powerful
nations like the U.S.?
• 3. Which, if any, would be beneficial to weaker
nations?
• 4. Which, if any, would likely be regarded as
taking away some of the power of the U.S. as a
sovereign nation?
• 5. Was this a realistic way to settle the war?
Paris Peace Conference
(Dec 1918 – June 1919)
• Ended war between
Germany and the Allies
• Signed 28 June 1919
• “Big Three”
– British PM David Lloyd
George
– French PM Georges
Clemenceau
– U.S. Pres. Woodrow
Wilson
• Presented 14 pts
– (Italy and Japan left)
“Big Four” at Paris Peace Conference, May 27,
1919 (L - R) PM David Lloyd George (GB), Premier
Vittorio Orlando (Italy), PM Georges Clemenceau
(France), Pres. Woodrow Wilson
Wilson did not bring any leading
member of the Republican party
=
BIG MISTAKE
Treaty of Versailles
• Read summary and answer Qs:
– Who was blamed for war? Was this appropriate?
– What parts of the 14 points were included in Treaty?
– What do you think of Article 10 of the League
Covenant?
• “The Members of the League undertake to respect and
preserve as against external aggression the territorial
integrity and existing political independence of all Members
of the League. In the case of any such aggression or in case
of any threat or danger of such aggression the Council shall
advise upon the means by which this obligation shall be
fulfilled.”
Ratification of Treaty
• 2 groups in Senate that
opposed:
– irreconcilables (would not
accept at all)
– reservationists (would
accept with changes)
• Henry Cabot Lodge
• objected to Article X of
League Covenant
• Wilson would not
compromise
Wilson’s tour of the U.S.
Discuss!
• EQ: TWE was the Treaty of Versailles
appropriate?
• Groups – What changes should be made
to Treaty?