1. Loss of territory and prestige: Germany lost significant territories as a result of the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. This included the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to France, Eupen-Malmédy to Belgium, North Schleswig to Denmark, and West Prussia, Posen, and Upper Silesia to Poland. Additionally, Germany lost all of its overseas colonies. These territorial losses were seen by many Germans as a humiliation and a betrayal of their country.
2. Economic difficulties: The German economy was in shambles after World War I. The country was burdened with heavy war reparations, and the value of the German currency (the mark) had plummeted, leading to hyperinflation. This economic crisis caused widespread poverty and hardship among the German population. Many people blamed the government for their economic woes and felt that they had been betrayed by those in power.
3. Rise of the Nazi Party: The Nazi Party came to power in Germany in 1933, promising to restore Germany's greatness and to avenge the injustices of the Treaty of Versailles. The Nazi regime engaged in a program of aggressive expansionism and military conquests, which led to World War II. Many ordinary Germans initially supported the Nazi Party and its policies, believing that they were acting in the best interests of the country. However, as the war progressed and Germany began to suffer defeats, many Germans came to realize that they had been misled by the Nazi propaganda and felt betrayed by the regime.
4. Post-war occupation and denazification: After World War II, Germany was occupied by the Allied forces. The country was divided into four zones of occupation, and the Allies implemented a program of denazification to remove Nazi influence from German society. This process involved the arrest and punishment of Nazi officials and supporters, as well as the removal of Nazi symbols and propaganda from public spaces. Many Germans felt that they were being punished unfairly for the crimes of the Nazi regime and that they had been betrayed by the Allies.
These factors combined to create a sense of betrayal among many ordinary Germans after World War II. They felt that they had been let down by their own government, the Allies, and their own countrymen who had supported the Nazi regime. This sense of betrayal contributed to the widespread disillusionment and moral crisis that characterized German society in the aftermath of the war.