Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The war had a devastating impact on the entire continent, both psychologically and financially. From a continent of creditors, Europe turned from one creditor, and  Europe turned into one of the debtors. Unfortunately, the Weimar Republic was being made to pay for the sins of the old empire. The republic carried the burden of war guilt and national humiliation and was financially crippled by being forced to pay compensation. Those who supported the Weimar Republic, mainly Socialists, Catholics, and Democrats, became easy targets of attack in the conservation nationalist circles. They were mockingly called the November criminals.

The new generation of ____ was forced to pay for the Old Empire.