Die Zerstuckelung Deutschlands! [The Dismemberment of Germany!]

“5 1/2 Million Germans Are to be Separated from the Nation!” – Subtitle

This uncommon and inflammatory map reflects an increasingly popular mentality among the German people in the years immediately following World War I – the notion of betrayal by politicians and the international community with the Treaty of Versailles. How could a nation that had not given an inch of territory to enemy troops be forced to surrender so much of its homeland? The question is implied by the provocative image, which was published in Berlin by Gea Verlag G.m.b.H. around 1919.

A map of Imperial Germany’s (The Second Reich) pre-WWI borders is overprinted with red color that distinguishes the political status of lost territories on each frontier. A legend in the lower right provides further details, encouraging a feeling of victimhood among the audience. The loss of major strategic resources such as coal, iron, and critical foodstuffs is also noted.

The ‘Stab in the Back’ narrative was propagated by nationalist and right-wing groups, fueled by resentment and a sense of betrayal among Germans. The belief that Germany had been undermined by its own citizens (notably, Jews and Socialists) helped legitimize extremist ideologies and demands for revenge following the Treaty of Versailles. As Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party capitalized on these sentiments, they used the mythology to rally support for their expansionist agenda, contributing significantly to the outbreak of World War II.

Example at the Hoover Institution