2_2 terms of the treaty

The Treaty of Versailles was signed after World War I and imposed significant penalties and territorial losses on Germany.

1) Exclusion from the League of Nations

• Germany was initially excluded from the League of Nations, established as a method of avoiding future conflicts.

  • Founded based on US President Wilson's Fourteen Points.

  • Germany was admitted to the League on 8 September 1926 under the Weimar Republic.

  • Future studies will delve into the League of Nations as it pertains to Paper Two.

2) Rhineland was to be demilitarized

• Article 42 mandated the demilitarisation of the Rhineland.

  • All fortifications and military installations within this area were to be dismantled.

  • Allied troops would occupy the western bank of the Rhine and bridgeheads for 5-15 years to enforce compliance.

3) Saar Territory & Compensation

• Article 45 granted the Saar region to France for 15 years.

  • The coal-rich Saar was compensation for damages during the war and contributed to reparations owed by Germany.

4) Germany had to make substantial territorial concessions

• Germany lost approximately 13% of its European territory and all overseas colonies.

  • Significant territorial losses included:

    • Alsace-Lorraine to France

    • Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium

    • North Schleswig to Denmark

    • Parts of Silesia to Poland

    • Saar, Danzig, Memel administered by the League of Nations.

  • Loss of territories conquered during the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.

5) Germany was forbidden to unite with Austria

• Article 80 forbade Germany from uniting with Austria without League consent.

  • This prohibition was ignored on 12 March 1938 when Germany annexed Austria (Anschluss).

6) Germany had to cut its army to 100’000 men

• Article 163 limited Germany's army to 100,000 men.

  • Organised into a maximum of seven infantry and three cavalry divisions (Article 160).

  • Conscription was banned, and the German general staff was dissolved (Article 175).

7) Germany could retain only 6 battleships and was to have no submarines

• Article 181, Germany was limited to 6 battleships with no submarines.

  • Other ships were relegated to reserves or commercial use.

• Article 183

  • The total naval personnel were capped at 15,000.

8) Germany was not allowed to have an air force

• Article 198 prohibited Germany from having any air forces.

  • Required Germany to surrender all aeronautical materials and prohibited manufacturing or importing aircraft/materials for six months.

9) Germany had to accept to have started WW1

• Article 231, known as the 'War Guilt Clause', forced Germany to accept blame for the war.

  • This clause was a basis for demanding reparations from Germany, viewed by many Germans as a national humiliation.

10) Reparations

• Article 232: Germany was required to pay $31.4 billion in reparations.

  • The reparations were steeply assessed at 132 billion gold marks (equivalent to approximately £284 billion in 2021).

  • Ultimate economic impact resulted in default in 1923, with Hitler later refusing to pay.

*Map of Territorial Changes

• Territories taken and demilitarised included regions like:

  • Baltic States: Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia became independent.

  • Rhineland: Designated as a demilitarised zone and parts assigned to Poland.

  • Saarland: Governed by the League of Nations until a plebiscite after 15 years.

  • Prohibition of Anschluss with Austria was clearly marked.