How did the Treaty of Versailles weaken the legitimacy of the Weimar Republic?

Correct answer: It gave people a reason to link the new government with humiliation

Direct answer: Option B is correct. The Treaty of Versailles weakened the legitimacy of the Weimar Republic because many Germans connected the new government with the humiliating peace settlement, even though the republic had not started the war and had limited control over the treaty. Follow the fact chain: Germany was defeated in the First World War; the monarchy fell; representatives of the new republic signed or accepted the treaty; the treaty imposed territorial losses, military restrictions, and reparations; opponents called the democratic leaders traitors and blamed them for national humiliation. Therefore, public anger was directed at the republic, making it harder for citizens to respect and defend democracy. Option A is wrong because the treaty restricted Germany’s military instead of giving it a new army. Option B is correct because it explains the connection between the treaty, humiliation, and the new government’s loss of public support. Option C is wrong because the monarchy was not immediately restored; Germany remained a republic. Option D is wrong because reparations were imposed rather than ended. A useful caution is that blaming the republic was politically powerful but not fully fair: the government did not cause Germany’s defeat or design all the treaty terms. Memory cue: Versailles was linked in people’s minds with defeat and humiliation, so Weimar suffered a legitimacy crisis.