In our history class we started reading the German chapter. Our teacher told us to analyse, in pairs, 5 sources which we can found in our history book. I worked with Valentina Re. This is our work:
Source 1:
From this source we can understand the hatred towards the Treaty of Versailles, that Hitler and the german population had. Most of the points of this treaty were not beneficial at all for the german citizens. They were forced to pay reparations, they lost land and most importantly, they had to accept the blame for starting the war. All these things, humiliated her in front of the other countries. Hitler and the german society, felt the Treaty of Versailles was done to damage her and that’s what the german dictator is trying to express through these words. Although Germany was partly responsible for the World War 1, as well as other states, and for causing damage in a lot of countries, it was not entirely her fault.
Source 3:
In this source we can see the retelling of a woman who was present during the occupation of the Ruhr by the french and belgian troops. As the germans were unable to pay one of the quotes they owed to the allies, the troops of France and Belgium decided to enter this german territory and took by force what they deserved. They violently started taking, in the form of raw materials, everything the germans owed them. This source describes how they rudely they treated the people living their, and how they acted as if it was their territory doing everything they wanted.
Source 4:
This image is a british cartoon from 1921. There are two people which are watching another one drown. The two watchers are symbolising the leaders of France and Britain, and the person drowning is symbolising Germany. Moreover we can see a life-belt which is symbolising a loan. We can understand how France and Britain, which are not having any economic problems, are watching germany is falling apart. At that time, the german economy was broken because of the damage she had suffered with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Because of this in the cartoon Germany is asking the leaders of France and Britain, whose countries are economically stable, a loan so that they could recover. However, these two are just watching, with no intention of helping her.
Source 9:
This british historian is trying to explain how the germans blamed the reparations she had to pay because of the treaty of versailles, and the Weimar republic for the hyperinflation they were suffering from at the moment. She blamed the reparations because these broke her economy and humiliated her as well. Moreover, she blamed the Weimar Republic because she accepted they had to pay reparations and these made the german population felt like their government was supporting the Treaty of Versailles which, in the eyes of the german people, damaged their country. Despite this, this historian is saying that the causes of hyperinflation are more complex that these.
Source 13:
This source is a poster of a film protagonised by Marlene Dietrich, which was one of the greatest international stars produced during this period of time in which the german cinema grew a lot. Germany, was now in a new period because of the appearance of Gustav Stresemann and his new government. During this time there was more freedom which allowed art and culture to flourish. This gave as a result the appearance of new films and international stars which made the cinema industry be more significant in the life of german citizens.