Redefining Germany

While the geo-political reorganization of European states created many multinational and multi-cultural states in Eastern Europe, German society became because of the country’s territorial and population losses ethno-linguistically more homogenous. Germans living inside and outside of Germany who had embraced a feeling of superiority experienced a rough awakening. While Germany and Germans living in Germany were punished by the Treaty of Versailles, Germans living in other countries from Czechoslovakia to Canada and the United States experienced hostility and the suppression of German institutions, organizations, and customs. Yet, the end of the war also provided an opportunity at democratizing German society. However, Germans were ill-prepared for the transition from monarchy to democracy and the financial burdens imposed upon Germany by the victorious powers caused politicians of all political backgrounds to abuse political power for avoiding paying reparations. German democracy was tainted by both the Treaty of Versailles as well as the Hyperinflation, which resulted from reckless policy-decisions of democratic governments.