February 1920
3 February
The Allies hand over the list to Germany of those they demand to have extradited. The names on the list include Hindenburg, Ludendorff, Tirpitz, and Bethmann-Hollweg. The head of the German peace delegation rejects this demand and resigns.
[Overesch/Saal, p. 88]
8 - 10 February
The last remaining German troops are pulled out of the Memel Territory and Gdansk.
[Büttner, p. 775]
10 February
In North Schleswig, a referendum is held on the future nationality of the inhabitants. The results are in favor of Denmark. Consequently, North Schleswig breaks away from Germany and becomes part of Denmark.
[Büttner, p. 776]
24 February
The US Senate refuses to join the League of Nations, thereby also rejecting the Treaty of Versailles. The decision is made to negotiate a separate peace treaty with Germany and Austria.
[Overesch/Saal, p. 91]
At the suggestion of Adolf Hitler, the German Workers’ Party (DAP) changes its name to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) during a meeting in the Munich Hofbräuhaus. Furthermore, a new party platform is adopted that includes points such as forming a union of all Germans in a “Großdeutschland” (“Greater Germany”), repealing the Treaty of Versailles, and stripping Jews of their rights and persecuting them. Yet it also contains anti-capitalist demands.
[Büttner, p. 195]
26 February
The German generals and admirals from World War I announce during an assembly in Berlin that they will not appear to be tried in any foreign court.
[Overesch/Saal, p. 91]
27 February
The film “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” by Robert Wiene is premièred.
[Büttner, p. 776]
29 February
Defense Minister Noske orders the disbandment of the Erhardt and Löwenfeld Freikorps On the following day, General von Lüttwitz refuses to obey this command.
[Overesch/Saal, p. 92]