Chapter 78 Who Else but the Nazis?

"...You want us to take full responsibility for the war. If I say so, I would be lying. Germany and the German people still firmly believe that they are fighting a defensive war, and I strongly oppose Germany taking full responsibility. Since November 11, 1918, hundreds of thousands of innocent German citizens, women and children have starved to death because the blockade continues. They died precisely because of your victory and your greater security. I ask you to think of them when you talk about guilt and punishment."

This was the desperate cry of Count Brockdorff-Lanzao, the head of the German delegation to the Paris Peace Conference, when he first saw the draft of the Treaty of Versailles.

The Paris Peace Conference was not a bargaining between the victorious and defeated countries, but the five victorious countries of Britain, the United States, France, Japan and Italy drafted the treaty, and then asked the defeated countries and other small and weak countries attending the conference to sign and seal it. So there were many people who were so angry that they wanted to vomit blood after seeing the treaty or hearing the content of the treaty. And Count Brockdorff-Lanzao must be the most desperate person among them...because for Germany, this treaty is too harsh.

The loss of territory, population and resources reached a point that was unacceptable to the Germans. According to the treaty, Germany would lose 13.5% of its territory, 12.5% ​​of its population, all its overseas colonies (including German East Africa, German Southwest Africa, Cameroon, Togo and German New Guinea), 16% of its coal production and half of its steel industry!

The ceded native lands alone included Alsace and Lorraine, North Schleswig, West Prussia, Posen, part of East Prussia, part of Upper Silesia, East Upper Silesia, Danze, Euben, Sarmidi and Klaipeda. The Saar coal mining area was mined by France for 15 years, and its administrative power was managed by the League of Nations for 15 years, and then its ownership was decided by a referendum.

In addition, Germany must also guarantee that it will never merge with Austria and recognize the independence of Luxembourg.

This degree of ceding land has far exceeded the original commitment of the Allies - which is also the basis for peace talks that the German Ebert government and most Germans believe!

In addition to the cession of territory, there was also a shocking amount of reparations. According to the decision of the Allied Compensation Commission, Germany needed to immediately pay 20 billion gold marks (paid in gold and in kind) - this was just the first installment. The Allies would also set up a "compensation committee" controlled by France to calculate the total amount of compensation that the German government should pay before May 1, 1921.

In fact, it was this 20 billion gold marks of reparations that had announced the death sentence of the Weimar Republic - a suspended death sentence! This is not sensational, but related to the financial and monetary system prevailing in the world at that time.

At that time, the world implemented a "precious metal standard" monetary system. Paper money must be linked to gold and silver, and the paper money issued by the central banks of major countries are "redeemable" paper money. It is not an "irredeemable" paper money that can be swiped as much as you want. The initial compensation of 20 billion gold marks has already caused the Weimar Republic to lose most of its gold and silver reserves, and the value of the mark has become precarious.

When the Allied Reparations Commission finally announced that the Germans had to pay 226 billion gold marks, there was no need to wait for the payment, which could bring a devastating blow to the German economy, because this huge debt directly reduced Germany's theoretical gold reserves to negative tens of thousands of tons!

Therefore, the Weimar Republic could no longer establish a stable monetary system according to the rules of the gold and silver standard, and the German mark would become waste paper in the foreseeable future! And the economy of the Weimar Republic would also be fragile and turbulent for a long time.

Even if someone later invented the "real estate mortgage mark" to link the mark with real estate and temporarily curb inflation, there was still no way to truly establish the credibility of the mark. The credibility of the real estate mark and the national mark of the Weimar Republic was based on "scarcity" and American loans, which would trigger a series of economic problems - these problems are difficult for a democratic government to overcome - and eventually led to the Weimar Republic being replaced by the Third Reich...

In addition, the treaty also stipulated that Germany must compensate for the part that could not be paid in cash with mineral resources and industrial equipment. This provision was later partially implemented. France and Belgium armed forces occupied the Rhine demilitarized zone, dismantled the machinery and equipment there, and forced German workers to produce for France and Belgium... Such behavior would certainly become the driving force for the vigorous development of the Nazi Party.

The victorious countries such as Britain, France and the United States certainly knew that Germany would find it difficult to withstand the blow of the treaty. In order to prevent the Germans from taking risks again, they came up with another self-proclaimed clever way - to weaken the German army to the greatest extent. It seems that without a strong German army, Germany would become a weak country that is harmless to people and animals.

The Treaty of Versailles stipulates:

1. The territory on the west bank of the Rhine (Rhineland) will be occupied by the Allied forces for 15 years, and the German army shall not be fortified within 50 kilometers of the east and west banks.

2. The army is limited to less than 100,000 personnel, and it is not allowed to have offensive weapons such as tanks or heavy artillery, and the establishment of the German General Staff will be abolished.

3. It is not allowed to have a navy. In terms of ships, there can only be 6 battleships with a displacement of 10,000 tons, and submarines are not allowed.

4. The air force shall not be organized.

5. No weapons can be imported or exported, and an additional 26% fee will be levied on exported goods.

7. No chemical weapons can be produced or stored.

8. The compulsory military service system will be abolished, and the service period of non-commissioned officers and soldiers will be extended to 12 years and that of officers to 25 years.

In addition, the treaty also stipulated that Germany must admit full responsibility for the war and its crimes against the civilians of the Allied Powers. It also required the trial of war criminals headed by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

"Why did they do this! How could they treat us like this?"

"The treaty is unacceptable! Germany can only fight!"

"Fight on! Fight them!"

When the draft of the peace treaty was transmitted back to Germany, the General Staff in König Square seemed to have become a madhouse. Most of the people seen by Hessmann, who had just returned from Russia, were shouting loudly.

Schleicher, who considered himself to be Hessman's elder brother, was relatively calm. On the way to Hindenburg's office, he lowered his voice and said, "It's so harsh, even I didn't expect it... By the way, it's almost the same as what you predicted in the report! Oh, you are such a magical jinx, when can you predict Britain, the United States and France?"

"Well, I'll predict it." Hessman said, "The Allies are going to break up!"

"Really?"

"Of course!" Hessman sneered, "Britain and France took all the benefits, and the United States got nothing... Oh, that's what it looks like on the surface! Woodrow Wilson had no way to convince most Americans. After all, the United States is a democratic country. Just watch, this country will regret joining the war soon."

"That's good news..." Schleicher frowned, "If we reject the treaty, will the Americans still help Britain and France fight us?"

"The question is, do we still have the strength to fight now?" Hessman shook his head. "There is no other way... I think this treaty has to be signed!"

"But if such a treaty is signed, Germany will be finished!"

"Germany will not be finished, but the people who sign the treaty will be finished!"

"Who?"

"The Social Democratic Party! Aren't they against the war? Don't they believe in Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points of Peace?" Hersman sneered, "Aren't they the only real anti-war force in Germany? I believe that as long as they are in power, Germany will not rearm itself to fight... But the Allies are now using the treaty to destroy the Social Democratic Party. I don't think the Social Democratic Party's cabinet can last too long. Maybe it will step down at this time next year!"

"Haha, this is the best prophecy I have ever heard!" When Schleicher spoke, he and Hersman were already standing outside Hindenburg's office. He did not knock on the door, but continued to talk to Hersman. "Who will come to save Germany? Ludwig, can you predict it?"

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