"Historians still often see the end of the war as meaning nothing more for Germany than lost territories, lost participation in colonization, and lost assets for the state and individuals. They frequently overlook the most serious loss that Germany suffered"

Gustav Stresemann's quote recommends that historians often neglect the most severe loss that Germany suffered at the end of World War I. This loss was not simply the loss of territories, colonization, and properties, however something far more profound. Stresemann implies that the most major loss was the loss of Germany's sense of nationwide identity and pride. The war had a terrible effect on the German people, leaving them feeling humiliated and defeated. This loss of national identity and pride was a significant factor in the increase of the Nazi party and the subsequent World War II. Stresemann's quote works as a tip that the repercussions of war are not just physical, but likewise psychological. The loss of nationwide identity and pride can have an enduring impact on a nation and its people.