The "Stab-in-the-Back" Myth: How a Dangerous Lie Shaped Modern History

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Disclaimer: This image is AI-generated for illustrative purposes and does not depict real people or events directly.


When Germany lost World War I in 1918, it caused not just political and economic chaos, but also one of the most dangerous and lasting conspiracy theories of the 20th century: the "stab-in-the-back" myth (Dolchstoßlegende). 

This false narrative  shaped German society, accelerated extremism, and paved the way for Adolf Hitler's rise to power.


Birth of the "Dolchstoßlegende"

Germany’s Post-War 

At the end of WWI, the Germans found it difficult to accept the defeat. German troops had not been overrun in their own country; in fact, the front lines were still far from German soil when the war ended.

This made it easier for certain leaders particularly the military high command to shift blame away from themselves. 

Instead of admitting that Germany had lost due to superior Allied forces, poor military decisions, and internal exhaustion, they came up with a Consolation claim, that;

 "The German army was not defeated on the battlefield. It was betrayed at home."

Thus, the stab-in-the-back myth was born.


Specific Claims in the "Stab-in-the-Back" Narrative

The myth targeted several groups within German society, accusing them of undermining the war effort:


1. Blame on Democratic Politicians ("November Criminals")

Claim: Liberal, socialist, and democratic politicians  especially those who signed the armistice in November 1918 had betrayed Germany.

Targets: Leaders of the new Weimar Republic, like Friedrich Ebert and Philipp Scheidemann.

Reality: These leaders acted after military defeat was inevitable; the German army had already requested an armistice.


2. Blame on Jews

Claim: Jewish citizens were accused of profiting from the war and sabotaging Germany’s war effort.

Targets: Jewish bankers, businessmen, and intellectuals.

Reality: Around 100,000 Jewish soldiers fought for Germany during WWI, many of them highly decorated.


3. Blame on Socialists and Communists

Claim: Leftist movements and labor strikes weakened national unity at a critical time.

Targets: The Spartacist movement and other socialist organizations.

Reality: Social unrest grew after military defeat became clear, not before.


4. Blame on Pacifists and the Media

Claim: Peace activists, newspapers, and intellectuals were accused of spreading defeatism.

Reality: War-weariness was a natural result of four years of brutal, total warfare that drained Germany's resources.


5. Army Leadership’s Role

Key figures like Erich Ludendorff and Paul von Hindenburg (both high-ranking generals) embraced the myth publicly to preserve their own reputations.

Hindenburg famously told a Reichstag committee:

"The German army was stabbed in the back."

Thus, by 1919, a significant portion of German society believed the army had been betrayed by “internal enemies”  not defeated by the Allies.


 Hitler and the Nazis

1. Central to Nazi Ideology

The Nazis built their entire worldview around the idea that Germany’s defeat was the result of a Jewish-Marxist conspiracy. Hitler made this argument a central part of Mein Kampf, his manifesto written in 1924.


The myth helped explain:

  • The humiliating Treaty of Versailles.

  • The collapse of the German economy.

  • The loss of national pride.

It offered an easy scapegoat for complex problems.


2. Fueling Antisemitism and Anti-Communism

Through Nazi propaganda, Jews were portrayed not just as scapegoats for defeat, but also as the masterminds behind global communism ("Jewish Bolshevism").


This  combination:

  • Justified violent repression of communists and socialists.

  • Laid the groundwork for the racial policies that led to the Holocaust.


3. Undermining the Weimar Republic

By presenting the Weimar government as a traitorous regime, Nazis portrayed democracy itself as weak and treacherous.

Only a strong leader (like Hitler) could restore Germany’s "honor."

Posters, speeches, and rallies consolidated the idea that the German people had been betrayed by politicians in 1918 , and that only radical change could fix it.


4. Justifying Militarization and Expansion

Because the army was "never truly defeated," Hitler argued that Germany had a right even a duty to:

  • Rebuild its military (defying the Treaty of Versailles).

  • Reclaim lost territories.

  • Expand eastward into new lands (a policy called Lebensraum, or "living space").

The myth made rearmament and aggression seem like justice, not provocation.


Real-World Impact.

Without the stab-in-the-back myth, it was hard for Hitler to gain the mass support. It turned widespread anger and confusion into deep hatred.

It Illegitimized democracy. It allowed the Nazis to unify Germans against imagined enemies.

Finally, the myth helped to lead Germany and the world  into another,  devastating war; The SECOND WORLD WAR, And millions of innocent people paid the price.


The stab-in-the-back myth shows how dangerous lies can reshape history.

When leaders refuse to accept responsibility and instead blame imaginary enemies, it does not only distort the past  it can destroy the future.

Understanding how such myths spread, and how they are weaponized, is crucial to protecting democracy and preventing history from repeating itself.


Related topics:

Crises in the Capitalist system.

https://historyforumtz.blogspot.com/2020/05/crises-in-capitalist-system.html

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