The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, officially ended World War I and primarily imposed penalties on Germany, one of the Central Powers. Although other Central Powers, such as Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria, signed separate treaties, the Treaty of Versailles chiefly set the terms for Germany.
Here are the key points of what Germany (and the broader Central Powers) gave up as a result of the treaty:
-
Territorial Losses: Germany lost significant territories. Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France, and parts of Prussia were given to Poland, creating the Polish Corridor. The Saar region was placed under the administration of the League of Nations, and the city of Danzig (Gdańsk) was declared a free city.
-
Military Restrictions: The treaty imposed severe limitations on the German military. The army was restricted to 100,000 troops, and they were prohibited from having tanks, an air force, and submarines. The navy was limited to a few specific ships.
-
Reparations: Germany was required to pay reparations to the Allied Powers for the damages caused during the war. The exact amount would later be set at 132 billion gold marks (approximately $33 billion at that time), a sum that placed a heavy burden on the German economy.
-
War Guilt Clause: Article 231 of the treaty placed full responsibility for the war on Germany and its allies, which was a significant source of national humiliation and resentment in Germany.
-
Colonial Losses: Germany lost all of its overseas colonies, which were handed over to the Allied Powers as mandates.
-
Economic Consequences: The loss of territory and resources, combined with the reparations, led to severe economic hardship in Germany, contributing to hyperinflation and political instability in the following years.
The Treaty of Versailles was controversial and was seen by many in Germany as a "Diktat" (dictated peace) due to the punitive nature of its terms, and it contributed to the political and economic conditions that led to World War II.