Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles

The terms of the treaty

Guilt

• germany had to accept full responsibility for the war, this was article 231 of the treaty, know as the 'war guilt clause'

Compensation

• germany had to pay for all damage done during the war
• these rearations were set as £6,600 million, this could be also be paid in goods (coal)

Disarmament

• the German navy was to be restricted to 6 small battle ships, 6 cruisers and 12 destroyers. no submaries were allowed
• germany was forbidden from having an air force
• the army could be no more than 100,000 men, conscription was banned, as were tanks and heavy guns
• the Rhineland became a demilitarized zone
• the Saar was given to France
• an "Anshluss" with Austria was forbidden

Peace

• a League of Nations was created

What Germany had to lose

• Alsace Lorraine was returned to France
• the "Polish corridor" was created to give Poland access to the sea
• german colonies were taken away and ruled as mandates by the League of Nations
• 12.5% of its population
• 16% of its coalfields

Other treaties of the time

Treaty of St Germain (1919) - dealt with Austria

• separated Austria from Hungary
• confirmed that Austria was no longer a leading power
• Austria lost Galicia to Poland and land to Italy
• army was restricted to 30,000
• forbidden to ever unite with Germany

Treaty of Sèvres (1920) - dealt with Turkey

• lost territory 
  • Smyrna to Greece
  • Syria became a mandate under French control
• many…