Why couldnt the Germans accept defeat after WWI?

Answer 1

Why couldn't they accept defeat? It was because they were completely and utterly insulted, that's why.

Allow me to type up a novel to explain...

After WWI, the Big Three (Britain, France, US) got together to make sure that a war like WWI would never erupt again. They created a treaty, called the Treaty of Versailles.

Now, in the eyes of the Big Three, Germany was to fully blame for the outbreak of WWI. Their way to prevent another world war would be to make sure Germany could never rise to power again. So they basically stripped everything Germany had.

Germany was not allowed to have a navy or an airforce. It could only have a land army of 100,000 men. It's colonies around the world were taken away and divided among the Big Three. Most of all, the Treaty of Versailles blamed Germany for all the damages caused by WWI. Because of this, the Treaty stated that Germany would have to give recompense and this would amount to a huge amount of money. As a result, Germany was forced to print excessive amounts of money, leading to inflation and evidently a depression.

Now, Germany couldn't even say that they wouldn't sign the Treaty. They were given two choices: Sign the treaty or start another war right there and then. They had nothing left to fight with so signing was their only option.

So you tell me now if you would accept defeat after all of that? Of course not. Germany was determined to get back what was theirs and this is why Hitler was supported by the people. Until, of course, he went crazy.

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And if you're wondering how exactly Germany rose to power after the Treaty of Versailles "made sure" such a thing could never happen again.. It was quite clever on their part.

For example, the Treaty stated that Germany could not have a land army of more than 100,000 men. So what Germany would do is train a 100,000 men, send them home, train another 100,000 men and keep doing this. This way, when they marched into Poland, they had a huge army and still, technically, followed all the Treaty said.

Plus, the Treaty sent Germany into a depression earlier than the rest of the world. This also means that Germany rose out of depression earlier than the rest of the world - giving them an advantage.

Really, instead of preventing another world war, the Treaty of Versailles made path for a much worse and much bloodies world war.

Answer 2

Because during 4 years they had not seen a British or a French soldier on German soil.... Simple. And because people like Hitler immediately told them that they had been stabbed in the back and betrayed by the Jews and the Communists. Concerning the communists, il was partly true because Communists started unrest, sabotages and revolts agains the war at the end of the war..but the war was already lost anyway and in the end it was pure lies. In 1918 America was pouring 200,000 men every month on the battlefields of Northern France. Germany after 4 years of war could not stand that output of fresh blood and armaments.

Answer 3

Because of the conditions imposed on germany.

Germany was to cede Alsace-Lorraine, Eupen-Malmédy, North Schleswig, and the Memel area. Poland was restored and most of the Posen, and the West Prussia, and some areas of Upper Silesia were reincorporated into the reformed country after plebiscites and independence uprisings. All German colonies were to be handed over to the Allies. The left and right banks of the Rhine were to be permanently demilitarised. The industrially important Saarland was to be governed by the League of Nations for 15 years and its coalfields administered by France. At the end of that time a plebiscite was to determine the Saar's future status. To ensure execution of the treaty's terms, Allied troops would occupy the left (German) bank of the Rhine for a period of 5–15 years. The German army was to be limited to 100,000 officers and men; the general staff was to be dissolved; vast quantities of war material were to be handed over and the manufacture of munitions rigidly curtailed. The navy was to be similarly reduced, and no military aircraft were allowed. Germany and its allies were to accept the sole responsibility of the war, and were to pay financial reparations for all loss and damage suffered by the Allies.

Answer 4

France and Britain put forth many oppressive and harsh demands and penalties on Germany after World War 1. This created an economic and political climate for someone like Hitler to step in and rally the Germans around his philosophies.

Answer 5

First, they're human and as such, don't care to lose. Second, the conditions set forth in the Treaty of Versailles:
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0861782.html

Just because there is a date signifying the end of a conflict, as in "Mission Accomplished", doesn't mean the "losers", suddenly agree with the "victors". The Civil War didn't end in 1865, for hosts of people. The end of WWII did not end nazi ideology nor did it eliminate believers. They just went "underground" worldwide.

Pardon the rant.

Answer 6

It is hard to admit defeat and the Allies didn't make it any easier. When Hitler came with his message that the Jews were responsible for the loss too many people were only willing to hear that and forget everything else.

Answer 7

there was not one of the Allied Countries who tried to held Germany rebuild after their defeat. if the Allies had helped Germany rebuild like they helped those defeated after WWII then the outcome might have been very different.

Answer 8

Because they didn't know what was going on during the war until the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.