Treaty of Versailles - June 28Th 1919

Treaty of Versailles - June 28th 1919

PROVISIONS CAN BE PLACED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

Psychological . War guilt . No membership of new League of Nations Economic . Reparations . Saar coalfields Military . Germany to disarm . Rhineland demilitarised . Army of occupation Territorial . German colonies to be handed over to the League . Polish Corridor created splitting Germany from East Prussia . Sudetenland becomes part of Czechoslovakia . Alsace-Lorraine returned to France . Anschluss forbidden

PROVISIONS IN MORE DETAIL:

Psychological War Guilt  Germany was to accept the “War Guilt” clause, which made Germany responsible for causing World War I 1. Of the central powers only Germany had to sign such a clause 2. With the advantage of historical research, historians have shown each of the European powers and Serbia had some responsibility No membership of new League of Nations  Germany to be excluded from membership of the new League of Nations which was set up as part of the Paris Peace Conference at Versailles

Economic Reparations  Principle was established that Germany should pay to compensate for damage caused to allied civilians & their property 1. The sum set would commit future generations to paying for a war they did not cause 2. Reparations were later set at 6.6 billion pounds in 1921 to be paid in annual installments Saar coalfields  To be administered by the League  France was to control the mines 1. Control of the mines was a form of reparation 2. The loss of this rich industrial area hindered German economic progress.  A League plebiscite (vote) was to be held in 1935 to determine whether Saar would return to Germany 1. 1935 vote was overwhelmingly in favour of a return to German control.

Military Germany to disarm  Army restricted to 100 000  Construction of ships over 10 000 tons prohibited as were submarines  Single-seated aeroplanes prohibited. 1. The Fourteen Points had called for disarmament by all countries 2. Germany was the only country required to disarm Rhineland demilitarised  Demilitarised zone to be established west of the Rhine river and 10 km to the east. 1. The intention was to secure France’s border Army of occupation  Was to be maintained at Germany’s expense until the conditions of the settlement were met.

Territorial German colonies to be handed over to the League  Humanitarian grounds were the reason for this, although Germany’s record in colonial affairs was no worse than the Allies  The colonies were administered by the allies as League mandates. Polish Corridor created splitting Germany from East Prussia  An independent Poland was established 1. An independent Poland had been removed from the map in 1815  The Polish Corridor, giving Poland access to the sea, was created in West Prussia (German Territory) and cut East Prussia off from the rest of Germany. 1. The German port city of Danzig became an International City 2. The Polish corridor included 1 million German inhabitants Sudetenland becomes part of Czechoslovakia  The old frontier as it existed between Austria-Hungary and the German Empire will constitute the frontier between Germany and the Czechoslovak State 1. No territory lost 2. However, over 3 million Germany speaking inhabitants resided in the Sudetenland Alsace-Lorraine returned to France  Germany had seized Alsace-Lorraine in 1871, having defeated France in the Franco-Prussian war. Anschluss forbidden  Germany acknowledges and will respect strictly the independence of Austria  The Anschluss (union of Germany and Austria) was forbidden under the St Germain Treaty The Treaty of Versailles – settlement with Germany Provision: Comment: Article 231: Germany was to accept the “War Guilt” clause, which  Of the Central Powers, only Germany had to sign made Germany responsible for causing World War I. such a clause.  With the advantage of historical research, historians have shown each of the European powers and Serbia had some responsibility. Article 232: Established the principle that Germany should pay  The sum set would commit future generations to reparations to compensate for damage caused to allied paying for a war they did not cause. civilians & their property. Reparations were set at £6,500,000,000 in 1921 to be paid in annual instalments Article 42: A demilitarised zone was to be established west of the  The intention was to secure France’s borders. Rhine and 10 kilometres east. No German military forces could be based in this zone. Article: Alsace-Lorraine was to be returned to France.  Germany had seized Alsace-Lorraine in 1871, having defeated France in the Franco-Prussian war. Article: The Saar coalfields were to be administered by the  Control of the mines was a form of reparation. League.  The loss of this rich industrial area hindered German  France was to control the mines. economic progress.  A League plebiscite (vote) was to be held in 1935 to  In 1935 the vote was over-whelmingly in favour of a determine whether Saar would return to Germany. return to German control. Article 102: An independent Poland was established.  An independent Poland had been removed from the  Posen & West Prussia were included. map in 1815.  This would create the Polish Corridor giving Poland  The Polish Corridor included 1 million German access to Danzig. inhabitants.  The port of Danzig became an international city.  East Prussia was separated from the rest of Germany Article 119: German colonies were to be handed over to the  Humanitarian grounds were the reason for this, League of Nations. although Germany’s record in colonial affairs was no worse than the Allies.  The colonies were administered by the allies as League mandates. Article 82: The Sudetenland was to be included in the new state of  The Sudetenland included 3 million German Czechoslovakia. inhabitants. Article 170-200: Required Germany to disarm.  The Fourteen Points had called for disarmament by all  Rhineland demilitarised (*Article 42) countries.  Army restricted to 100 000  Germany was the only country that had to disarm.  Construction of ships over 10 000 tons prohibited as were submarines.  Single-seated aeroplanes prohibited. Article 428: An army of occupation was to be maintained at Germany’s expense until the conditions of the settlement were met.