The

Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles?

Armistice to end fighting signed on 11th November 1918.
Treaty of Versailles signed in June 1919 had to sign or risk sever Ally invasion.
Germany was particularly angered by such defeat because the extent had not been previously realised due
to censorship.
The Treaty is based upon Woodrow Wilsons 14 points, which they hoped would result in fairer peace, but
Clemenceaus input made the Diktat harsher.
The Treaty blame lies at the door of the newly elected Weimar.

Territorial Arrangements?

Subject to plebiscite, districts of Eupen and Malmedy to be handed to Belgium.
Alsace and Lorraine provinces to be4 given back to France.
Due to plebiscite, North Schleswig handed to Denmark.
Germany surrender West Prussia and Posen to Poland, thus separating East Prussia from main part of
Germany, creating the Polish Corridor.
Reunification (Anschluss) of Germany with Austria was forbidden in order to prevent creation of a stronger
Germany.
Saar placed under control of the League of Nations for 15 years, which was administered by France.
Rhineland demilitarised from French frontier line to 50km east of Rhine. Remained part of Germany. But
no fortifications or military force permitted.

Economic Terms?

Reparations sum to be fixed later by Inter-Allied Reparations Commission in 1921, sum fixed at 6.6
billion.
More substantial payments in kind e.g. timber. Coal production in Saar to be given to France, depriving
major income sources.




The Treaty of Versailles

Military Terms?
Abolishment of conscription and reduction of the army to 100 000 men. No tanks or big guns.
Rhineland demilitarised.
No military aircraft.
Navy limited to 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats. No submarines.

Other?
Forced to sign War Guilt Clause 231, accepting all responsibility for causing loss and damage.
Treaty set out covenant of the League of Nations, but Germany were initially declined any such acceptance
in retribution.

A Diktat?
Germans found it impossible to understand why the guiding principle of self-determination was not
applied in cases Austria, Danzig, Posen, West Prussia, Memel, Upper Silesia, Sudetenland and Saar were
placed under foreign rule and excluded from German state.
Loss of colonies did not correlate with the 14 points, which called for impartial adjustment of colonial
claims.
Found it impossible to accept Article 231, arguing that they were not solely responsible they were
threatened by Ally encirclement.
Allied demand for reparations forced to sign a blank cheque.
Disarmament unilaterally disarmed while France and Britain remained heavily armed.
Undignified treatment.

More Balanced View?
Situation created by war, not just Anti-German feeling.
Paris Peace Settlement was not solely concerned with Germany; Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey
were forced to sign separate treaties.
Treaty became a compromise.
Application of self-determination was not unfair as Alsace and Lorraine voted French return and other
plebiscites were held.
Germany was never occupied during the war all damage upon foreign soil, so reparations were only fair.
Treaty appeared moderate to imposition of 1918 Brest-Litovsk annexation of Poland and Baltic states.
Army was only diminished still existent!