Conditions Of The Treaty Of Versailles

Question 1

What was the war guilt clause of the treaty of Versailles

Answer 1

• The war guilt clause meant under article 231 of the treaty Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war. The clause made Germany liable to cover the costs of damage suffered during the war. The final amount of reparations was fixed at 6.6 billion.
• Germany also had to hand over to the allies most of its shipping fleet, locomotives and overseas investments

Question 2

What was agreed about the Saarland at the treaty of Versailles

Answer 2

This area of south western Germany, which contained rich coal reserves was separated from Germany and placed under French control for 15 years. This meant France could exploited the Saarland as they saw fit for coal

Question 3

What was agreed about the Rhineland at the treaty of Versailles

Answer 3

The left bank of the Rhine and a 50 km strip on the right bank was permanently demilitarised and a french army of occupation was based in the area to ensure Germany fulfilled its treaty obligations

Question 4

What was agreed about German territory at the treaty of Versailles

Answer 4

The treaty removed over 70,000km2 (13%) of German territory and all Germany’s overseas territories.

• Alsace Lorraine was returned to France
• Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium
• Northern Schleswig Holstein was given to Denmark
• Most of Posen , west Prussia and Pomerania were given to Poland
• Memel was taken by Lithuania
• Danzig ( a city with a majority German population) became a free state under League of Nations control

This all meant Germany lost 75% of its iron ore,68% of its zinc ore , 26% of its coal and 15% of its Arable land

-all of Germany’s overseas colonies were said to be under League of Nations control but in reality they were shared between the allies

Question 5

What was agreed about the disarmament of Germany under the treaty of Versailles

Answer 5

• Germany had to surrender all heavy weapons and dismantle forts in the Rhineland and the island of heligoland
• Conscription to the German forces was forbidden and the German army was limited to 100,000 men
• The German navy was limited to 15,000 men and it was only allowed a maximum of 6 battleships but no submarines and a small number of coastal defence vessels
• Germany was forbidden from having an Air Force

Question 6

What were other terms of the treaty

Answer 6

Austria was forbidden from uniting with Germany and Germany was not allowed to join the League of Nations

-The kaiser and other Germans were put on trial for war crimes