Hitler Denounces the Versailles Treaty
I gave you this document in class. Read the document, and answer the following questions along with the normal questions.
What are Hitler's main points?
How does this document reflect Hitler's oratorical skillls? Can you see how people would be willing to listen to him?
How does this document foreshadow future events in Germany? Do extra research if needed.
Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Feb. 20
What are Hitler's main points?
How does this document reflect Hitler's oratorical skillls? Can you see how people would be willing to listen to him?
How does this document foreshadow future events in Germany? Do extra research if needed.
Due: MIDNIGHT, Tuesday, Feb. 20
posted by RJS at
10:13 AM
7 Comments:
I feel like I'm beating a dead horse in discussing Hitler's main points. He was fueled by several idealogies which he held as perfect in all circumstances- nationalism, anti-Semtitism, "socialism." Based on simply these values, of course he would reject the Versaille treaty. And he was partly right. I especially like his phrase that the Treaty of Peace was a betrayal of Peace. His pride is wounded by the debilitating status forced on Germany by the treaty.
Yes, for the first half of this speech, Hitler says nothing that I do not agree with. Versaille was wrong, Germany indeed deserved better than which it received. The last few paragraphs, however, are rather ominous. He wants to set aside the Peace Treaty. This will later mean rapid military build-up, annexation of Austria, Czechoslovakia, etc. He wants unifciation of all Germans. Not only does this mean acquiring lands with German speaking people on them, but removing those who are not nationals from the land. Of course, I refer to the Holocaust. Finally, Hitler wants Lebensraum. He felt the heartland of Germany was in the Ukraine area. Gee, right where the U.S.S.R. is sitting. A Soviet invasion was already on his mind.
We also see a master politician at work. One of his paragrahps makes a point of saying that the Nazis are on the same level as the average citizen- betrayed by the Republic. He offers Nazism as an escape from the weak Republic. Furthermore, his word choice is excellent. He uses first person plural in all his assertions. The last paragraph has a nice visual image of Hitler honing the German nation into a powerful sword.
The nature of Hitler's character or at least his goals should have been evident in his speeches to outsiders, however seductive they may have been to Germans. However, outsiders in pre- WWII were weak. So we have Chamberland: "I have brought peace in our time!" It just doesn't seem that anyone took Hitler seriously until it was far too late for action. As Hitler himself said,"I do not think those people who were laughing then are still laughing today!"
By
ThomasBatson, at Tuesday, February 20, 2007 6:39:00 PM
From the opening sentence, Hitler defends Germany's pride, exiting nationalist feelings against the foreign powers behind the treaty of Versailles. When "the armistice begins the humiliation of Germany", then the movement to war would only gain back its glory. This was what Hitler hinted at first off in his denouncement of the peace treaty. Not long afterwards, he provides a scapegoat, an enemy from within: the Weimar Republic on which his persuaded followers will soon turn. vividly he describes how the actions of the Republic led to the degradation of the Germans in the world's eyes, and the personal humiliation orchestrated by the French army, which had occupied parts of Germany. Every chance Hitler gets, he mentions another example of the German nation being oppressed, and then provides a solution: social reform to throw off the oppressors, to put the Fatherland first in the name of unity and land to feed the nation. Cause, effect, solution, the all encompassing speech. considering it tapped into the general discontent and even hatred of the treaty, it definitely opened the way for the Nazi party's acceptance in German politics.
By
Victoria, at Tuesday, February 20, 2007 9:07:00 PM
Hitler's main points are of course extreme nationalism, the faults of the Versailles treaty, and future plans for German expansion. Hitler's oratory skills are apparent as he exclaims often, puts forth his own point as well as discredits others' points, and at the end compares the German nation to a hammer, anvil, and sword. I can obviously see how people would be willing to listen, as the German people will listen to anything to get out of their current mess, as long as it has a voice and a plan. This document begins to set out just what Hitler plans to do, as he basically declares a casus belli against all nations containing a fairly sizable German population, and even any that just has plenty of "land and soil". He is clearly aiming for war, and this was not heeded well enough by the allies from 1933 on until September 1st, 1939.
By
Unknown, at Tuesday, February 20, 2007 10:09:00 PM
Hitler discusses a couple of points in his speech that appertain to rebuilding Germany's morality-nationalism and expansionism. These points alone support his repudiation of the Versailles Treaty. Hitler believed that the treaty reduced the German people and also crushed the German nation. He stated that Germans needed to unite and stand up to this distrust from foreign countries.
This speech greatly reflects Hitler's oratorical skills because he was able to convince the German people that "the Treaty was made in order to bring 20 million Germans to their deaths and to ruin the German nation." His innate oratorical skills seemed to have come from nowhere because Hitler aspired to be a painter and had no interest in school, much less politics, from an early age. He definitely had a way with words and I can see how he made Germans believe the whole world was against them. Hitler incorporated propaganda and emotion in his speeches to convey his message. He used the phrase "betrayal of Peace" which would persuade his audience because 'betray' is such a strong word and peace is such an important thing. Also, Hitler's analogy of Germany and an anvil was clever. He said Germany would be beaten until the 'hammer' (foreign countries) wore out and the anvil (Germany) outlasted the hammer.
Hitler's third point-"Land and soil to feed our nation"-foreshadowed his annexation of Austria(Anschluss), the Czech lands, and his invasion of Poland. Again, the idea of unification comes up. Hitler wanted Austria under his control probably because it was his homeland and the Sudetenland districts of Czechoslovakia because they spoke German. And since the treaty inculded the surrender of land, his invasion of Poland exhibited his refusal of the Versailles Treaty. These German extensions also contributed to WWII.
By
taylor, at Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:02:00 PM
First, of course, Hitler maligns his own government. This approach would appeal the general public of Germany because most of Germany were angry at the government for stooping so low as to accept the "treaty." Then he talks of the unfairness about the treaty including complete submission of german soldiers to the Great Powers and of the ill favor of Germany because of the treaty. Hitler introduces his platform in three points: abolish the peace treaty, unite all germans, and gain more land for the unification of Germany. He says that his movement can meet these points because they did not agree to the treaty and cause discontent across the land, basically saying that the current government had no hope of fixing Germany. Talking about Germany gaining land for unification would lead germans to take land. Taking land means they will invade land; Therfore, Germany will invade neighboring land in the future to create a bigger and better Germany.
Hitler was an educated man and knew what the common people of Germany wanted to hear. If a man knows what people want to hear, and is willing to say it, he can get a crowd on its feet ready to do his bidding. Hitler was such a man.
By
TeganLove, at Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:15:00 PM
Sorry it's so late, the sickness you know...
Adolf Hitler, German that he is, feels cheated by the Treaty of Versailles. His main points pretty much outline why it was no peace traty, but a 'betrayal of peace', he points out that Germany was not only asked to may in material values but in their pride as well. He reaches out to those who wish for reform, which at this point was fairly everyone, and says that as long as Europe is keeping Germany down moraly, then they can never rise up again. He then outlines his plan which consists of throwing out the treaty, subsequently unifiying Germany, and then gaining land to feed the recently unified people.
Obviously people would listen to this. It's eloquent, persuasive, and says what the people want to hear. He tells them that the Treaty is wronging them, and that they will be able to form a unifying movement. Sure it foreshoadows future events, here's Hitler riling Germany up with his speech.
By
manxomefoe, at Saturday, February 24, 2007 7:15:00 PM
Hitler's primary focus appears to be absolute unity and evisceration of things he holds to threaten this unity. Namely, non-Germans, German controlled territory restrictions, and the humiliating and deabilitating conditions of the peace. He seems to persue this idea of perfect unity because he feels the German state can only be strong as a unified entity.
This reflects Hitler's oratorical skills in that he knows how to tell the people what they want to hear while also leading them towards his own goals. Like the way he described the integrity of the republic. He doesn't say it is the republic's fault, but merely that because of the circumstances of its creation it is viewed the way it is. Nor does he tell the German people they are wrong for seeing the republic as a symbol of humiliation. He simply tells him they have done what any person with pride would have in hating an apparent offspring of humiliation.
People would be willing to listen to him because of his definite goals and policies in a time of insecurity. Even if he is crazy.
The end sentences pretaining to once again fashioning Germany into a sword are a definite harbinger of war, and point 3. neccesitating 'land and soil to feed our nation', which obviously has to come from somewhere that will not be so willing to freely become part of Hitler n' friends.
By
laura, at Monday, February 26, 2007 8:00:00 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home