Treaty of Versailles

Question 1

War Guilt Clause

Answer 1

Germany had to accept total blame for causing WW1
Once Germany admitted its guilt, the Allies could make it pay reparations
Formed the basis for the limitations, territorial’s reductions, and reparations

Question 2

Territorial reduction/changes

Answer 2

Much of the land that that belonged to Germany and Austria before the war had to be redistributed amongst the Allied powers
* Germany lost 10% of its land and 12.5% of its population
* Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France
* Germany lost all overseas territories – colonies in Africa given to Britain and France. Colonies
in Asia were given to Japan
* East Prussia was divided from the rest of Germany by a ‘Polish corridor’ giving Poland access
to sea
* Austria and Germany were forbidden to unite ever again
* Industrial region of Saar was to be run by the LON until 1934 – profits were given to France
* Rhineland became a demilitarised zone – Germany could not have troops there

Question 3

Disarmament/demilitarisation

Answer 3

To impose tight limitations so as to decrease Germany’s armed forces
* Army limited to 100,000 men
* Navy limited to 15,000 men
* 6 batteships
* 24 smaller ships
* No submarines, air force and tanks
* Rhineland demilitarised; stripped of all German troops
* Rhineland occupied by Allied troops for 15 years

Question 4

Reparations

Answer 4

• Germany to pay for all losses and damage caused in WW1
• 6,600 million pounds over 50 years
• When Germany did not pay on time, French sent its army into the Ruhr industrial region of
  Germany to confiscate coal and other goods as payment. Eventually led to a strike of the
  German workers in the Ruhr.