Key points of the Treaty of Versailles stripped Germany of its overseas colonies and required Germany to pay reparations.

Question

What else did the treaty require?
Responses

Italy would gain territory from Serbia.
Italy would gain territory from Serbia.

Germany would accept blame for the war.
Germany would accept blame for the war.

Austria would give territory to France.

Answer 1

In addition to stripping Germany of its overseas colonies and requiring it to pay reparations, the Treaty of Versailles included several other key stipulations:

1. War Guilt Clause: Germany had to accept full responsibility for causing the war (Article 231), which is often referred to as the "war guilt clause."

2. Territorial Losses: Germany was required to cede territory to various countries:

   • Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France.
   • Parts of Prussia were given to Poland and the establishment of the Free City of Danzig (Gdańsk).
   • The Saar Basin was placed under the administration of the League of Nations for 15 years, with a plebiscite to determine its future.
   • Territories in the east and west were given to Belgium and Czechoslovakia.

3. Military Restrictions: The treaty imposed strict limitations on the size of the German military. The army was limited to 100,000 men, and conscription was banned. Additionally, Germany was not allowed to have an air force, tanks, or submarines.

4. Disarmament: Germany was required to disarm and to dismantle its military fortifications, particularly in the Rhineland, which was to be demilitarized.

5. League of Nations: Germany was initially excluded from the League of Nations, which was established to promote peace and cooperation among nations.

These conditions aimed to weaken Germany militarily and economically and to prevent it from becoming a military threat again in the future.