Sunday, June 29th, 1919

The Berlin Times

Germany forced to submit with tail between legs: Treaty of Versailles

sparks outrage among citizens

The German Press

BERLIN, GERMANY- The Paris Peace Conference presented the fruits of 6 months of deliberation yesterday between the
allied powers: a treaty whose terms outline harsh punishment for Germany as a whole. The Treaty of Versailles was offi-
cially signed by representatives of both Germany and the Allied Powers on June 28th, beginning what will surely be a
time of depression for all German citizens.

This Saturday, the Paris Peace Conference pushed two German delegates to agree to the terms of their established
treaty. The meeting occurred at the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, France. The signing of The Treaty of Ver-
sailles marks the beginning of the end for the prosperity of Germany as a country. Under the terms of this treaty, begin-
ning in January, Germany must surrender 10% of its land to the Allies and begin to pay reparations to the tune of 132 bil-
lion gold marks. The punishments, however, do not end there. Any individual reviewing the treaty will come to find the
special clause, dubbed the ‘War Guilt Clause’, that blames Germany for the entirety of the war and damages dealt by it
as consequence. In addition to this, Germany is also forced to cut down significantly on its military and naval forces.

Among the German representatives in attendance was Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau, Germany’s foreign minister. On
May 7th, upon seeing the draft of the treaty for the first time, he spoke on behalf of the German people on the matter:

“We are required to admit that we alone are war-guilty; such an admission from my lips would be a lie. We are far
from seeking to exonerate Germany from all responsibility for the fact that this world war broke out and was
waged as it was. The attitude of the former German Government at The Hague Peace Conferences, their actions,
and omissions in the tragic twelve days of July may have contributed to the calamity, but we emphatically com-
bat the idea that Germany, whose people were convinced that they were waging a defensive war, bears the sole
guilt.”

Germany’s ex-military leader, General Paul von Hindenburg, met the news of the treaty’s terms with similar disdain. He
lamented the future of his great country this Saturday, having retired from military service upon the loss of the war in
1918. In an exclusive interview, he stated that the allies “do not yet fully understand the fire they have lit underneath the
feet of the German citizens.” He likened the situation to a dog being backed into a corner: once desperate, it will do any-
Sunday, June 29th, 1919 The Berlin Times

thing to escape. In this situation, Germany is the dog. “I have served my country for many years,” he said. “I know Ger-
many and its citizens at an intimate level. Mark my words: we will find a way to endure, for better or for worse.”