This was considered a very important issue, inasmuch as Hitler had used the surrender of the civilian government, but not of the military, in 1918, to create the "stab in the back" argument.
Dette blev anset for at være en meget alvorlig sag, idet Hitler havde brugt den civile regerings overgivelse i 1918 - udenom militæret - som grundlag for at skabe dolkestødslegenden.