stab in the back
Quick Summary
The "stab-in-the-back" myth (Dolchstoss im Rücken) was a historical misconception that emerged after World War I. This legend claimed that the German Army was not defeated on the battlefield but was instead betrayed by civilians and politicians on the home front who undermined the war effort and signed the armistice.1
This myth was promoted by German generals, including Erich Ludendorff, who sought to avoid admitting the military's dire situation in 1918 and to preserve the honor of the German armed forces. Right-wing political groups, notably Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, adopted and amplified this narrative, blaming politicians like Matthias Erzberger (who signed the armistice) and Social Democrats for Germany's defeat and humiliation. The myth contributed to the political instability of the Weimar Republic and fueled extremist ideologies.12
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20th-century international relationsReaction to the treaty…German army had been “stabbed in the back” by Socialists and defeatists, the “November criminals” who signed the Armistice, and the liberal parties who signed the Versailles Diktat. The war-guilt clause was particularly damaging, since any historical evidence suggesting that Germany did not bear sole guilt for the war…
Read More…German army had been “stabbed in the back” by Socialists and defeatists, the “November criminals” who signed the Armistice, and the liberal parties who signed the Versailles Diktat. The war-guilt clause was particularly damaging, since any historical evidence suggesting that Germany did not bear sole guilt for the war…
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World War IThe Armistice…“stab in the back” (Dolchstoss im Rücken). This legend’s theme was that the German Army was “undefeated in the field” (unbesiegt im Felde) and had been “stabbed in the back”—i.e., had been denied support at the crucial moment by a weary and defeatist civilian population and their leaders. This…
Read More…“stab in the back” (Dolchstoss im Rücken). This legend’s theme was that the German Army was “undefeated in the field” (unbesiegt im Felde) and had been “stabbed in the back”—i.e., had been denied support at the crucial moment by a weary and defeatist civilian population and their leaders. This…
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