Treaty of Versailles

Question 1

What was the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 1

It was a treaty between the Allies and Germany which signalled the end of the war.

Question 2

When was the treaty of versailles signed?

Answer 2

28 June 1919

Question 3

What land did Germany lose?

Answer 3

• 13% of land and 12% of population
• Much of Eastern Germany was lost with the formation of Poland
• Germany lost Alsace-Lorraine and Eupen to France and Belgium respectively
• Sarr (which was full of coal mines) was ‘lended’ to France for 15 years
• Alliance (anschluss) with Austria was forbidden

Question 4

What happened to the Rheinland?

Answer 4

It was under German administration however no fortifications could be made there and French and Belgium troops had to be present there (Germany had to pay the wages of these troops).

Question 5

What was war guilt?

Answer 5

Under article 231 of the treaty, Germany had to accept all responsibility for the war. This was known as the ‘war guilt clause’. It allowed the allies to justify the reparations they would set.

Question 6

What happened to Germany’s armed forces?

Answer 6

Under section 5 of the treaty:
- a German Air Force was forbidden
- conscription was to be abandoned
- the army was reduced to 100,000 troops
- no tanks or military aircraft allowed
- navy limited to 6 battleships, 6 cruisers, 12 destroyers, 12 torpedo boats
- submarines were banned

Question 7

What were Germany’s reparations?

Answer 7

Germany was made liable to pay for all the physical damage caused in the war.
- Article 232 dictated that Germany was to pay reparations to all Allies.
20,000 million marks were to be paid upfront while the Inter Ally Reparations Comittee decided on reparations

The allies came to a value of £6.6 billion over 30 years.

Question 8

How many ships were Germany forced to make?

Answer 8

• Germany were forced to hand over all merchant ships over 1600 tonnes
• Germany were forced to hand over half of all merchant ships between 800-1600 tonnes
• Germany were forced to hand over 25% of their fishing boats
• Germany had to build 200,000 tonnes of shipping material for the allies

Question 9

What happened to German colonies?

Answer 9

Germany lost every colony it had which meant that the German Empire was finsihed.
German East and West Africa was lost
Germany lost many islands in the Pacific
It lost it’s Chinese colonies