@ai-summaries's thread

Part 9/17:

The German response was one of outrage and disbelief. Many Germans viewed the terms as a betrayal—especially since they believed their army had been "unbeaten in the field" and that the war had been provoked by external enemies. Demonstrations erupted nationwide, denouncing the treaty as a "dictated" and unjust document.

Germany’s attempt at diplomatic resistance included proposals to keep borders largely intact and reject war guilt, but these were insufficient for the Allies. The German delegation struggled with internal divisions; some officials, like Erzberger, advocated acceptance to prevent further chaos, while others, like Brockdorff-Rantzau, favored rejection and mobilizing public opinion against the treaty.