Main Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

  • War Guilt Clause (Article 231): Germany and Central powers had to accept full blame for causing destruction in the war and initiating the conflict
  • Disarmament: Restrictions weakened Germany's military might and threat of retaliating and causinng war
    • Germany army restricted to 100,000 soldiers
    • No conscription
    • No tanks, armoured vehicles, or armoured artillery
    • No military or naval air force
    • Navy restricted to 6 battleships, 12 destroyers, 6 light cruisers, 12 torpedo boats, and 0 submarines
    • The Rhineland was to be demilitarised, with no occupation of German troops and allowed occupation of Allied supervisation for 15 years.
  • Territory Loss
    • All German colonies in Africa and Far East transferred to Britain, France, and Japan (mostly to Britain and France)
    • Alsace Lorraine to France
    • Eupen, Malmedy, and Moresnet to Belgium
    • North Schleswig to Denmark
    • West Prussia, Posen, and parts of upper Silesia to Poland
    • Hultschin to Czechoslovakia
    • Saar Basin supervised by League of Nations for 15 years, in which a vote determining soverignty would be held at the end of this term. Profits of coal mines went to France
    • Memel to Lithuania
    • Danzig became a Free City supervised by League of Nations, ahd Poland could use the port for trade
    • Treaty of Brest-Litovsk cancelled, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania became independent
    • Anschluss, union of Germany and Austria was illegal
  • Germany had to accept terms of League of Nations despite being denied membership


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