Analyse the Main Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

Analyse the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles

The territorial provisions of the Treaty of Versailles saw Alsace-Lorraine restored to France.  The left bank of the Rhine and a fifty-kilometre strip on the right bank were permanently demilitarised, and an allied army of occupation stationed there. This army was to be progressively reduced every five years, provided Germany fulfilled her treaty obligations, and finally withdrawn in 1935.

The Saarland was placed under a League of Nations commission for 15 years and there were some frontier adjustments in favour of Belgium, and Denmark.  In the East, Germany suffered heavy losses with most of Posen and West Prussia incorporated in the new Polish state.  As a result, one-and-a-half million Germans came under Polish rule. Danzig, an indisputably German city, became a “Free State” under the League-of-Nations. Austria was forbidden to unite with Germany & she also lost all her colonial possessions.

Altogether Germany lost some 25,000 square miles of territory, approximately six-and-a-half million subjects, of whom half were German-speaking, and considerable proportions of her most valuable raw materials.

The disarmament clauses were also severe.  Germany had to destroy all heavy weapons & conscription was forbidden.  The army was to total 100,000 men and there were to be no tanks, aircraft for military purposes or submarines.  The navy was reduced to 15,000 men & six battle-ships.

Germany was also required to pay an unspecified sum in reparations to the Allies victorious powers.