After World War One the Treaty of Versailles was damaging to Germany and its economy. The Nazis took advantage of these difficulties to gain support.
The German Government agreed to sign the Treaty of Versailles in June 1919, to make peace. This action was very unpopular in Germany and was used by enemies of the Government to claim that it had ‘stabbed Germany in the back’ by ending the war.
The terms of the Treaty were very damaging to Germany for a number of reasons:
The link to the armistice and Treaty of Versailles had serious repercussions for the Weimar Government.
The accusations surrounding the ‘November Criminals’ and the ‘Stab in the Back’ claims, were used in many of Hitler's speeches in order to discredit the Government.