Friday, December 4, 2009

Leslie- indecisive toward the government

As a German citizen, I am split in my opinion of the Weimar Government. I am disappointed by our loss in the Great War, and angered by the decisions made by the government in response to it. Why did we pull out? Miles from Paris, and our military proved incapable of getting the job done. It is shamefull to pull out of this war that we held in our grasp for so long. And I am ashamed that our government took that action. It is also embarrassing to me, and the country as a whole, to accept the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. And I condemn the Weimar Government for doing so. Germany should not own up to instigating the entire war because we are not entirely at fault. The War Guilt Clause is a humiliation, and our economy is failing due to the $33 billion we now owe in war reparations. Having said that, I also slightly sympathize with the government. Because we lost the war I understand we have little to gain. Germany is backed into a corner by the Allied Forces because they proved victorious. But the willingness to comply with the enemy is what angers me most. The Weimar Government should have at least put up a fight to prove they're loyalty to Germany and its people. A compromise could have been made; something that proves Germany is not able to just be walked on. The most devastating blow is the lands that we have lost. Though the reparations were are forced to pay are outrageous regardless, it becomes even more difficult to make this payment when our boarders and population are reduced. Alsace-Lorraine, Eupen and Malmedy, Northern Schleswig, Hultschin, West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia are all lost to us. They were surrendered knowingly and without conflict. These regions hold resources essential to our economy, being large industrial regions of Germany. I am convinced my country is taking a turn for the worst.
The people, like me, are losing faith in their country. It has taken a combination of the effects of war as well as the effects of the treaty to bring down our economy. Our soldiers have returned home, only to find that there are no jobs to take up. Unemployment is on the rise and threatens my family's security. My sons have returned, one injured and one healthy, but are unsuccessful in the job market. I no longer hope for my injured son to be employed when so many healthy citizens are denied work. Lucky my husband and I are able to support the entire family for the time being. But as the Weimar Government continues to fail us, I cannot be sure. They speak such great ideals: that we, the people, may have rights, that we can vote, that we have an influence in Germany. But the government proves incapable to grant us with these possibilities. It cannot even provide the people with work, and the economy continues to fail... I want to believe in the Weimar Government, but their many failures and instability make me turn away.

1 comment:

  1. Sources:

    Belk notes

    Source 1

    http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm

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