Terms of the Treaty

An analysis

into the terms

set in the

Treaty of

Versaille

s

-Mr K.J.C

ave

G. Clemenceau

D.LloydGeorge

Woodrow Wilson

Using a copy of the Treaty of Versailles, I shall annotate and comment the feelings of German people towards the terms set in the treaty

Term 1- Territorial1. 10% of Germany’s land is to be taken from

them. The following territories are to be captured and possessed by the stated Allied forces immediately:

• Alsace-Lorraine (to France)• Eupen and Malmedy (to Belgium)• Northern Schleswig (to Denmark)• Hultschin (Czechoslovakia)• West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia (to

Poland)

2. The Saar coal-fields, Danzig and Memel are to be put under the control of the League of Nations. The people of these regions are granted the choice to stay in Germany if they wished.

This was humiliation for Germany, andWeakened the economic state. 10% Germany’s land & 12% population was robber from them. The German people were opposed to this.

Term 2- Military1. Germany’s army is to be restricted to

100,000 men; no tracked military vehicles (tanks) allowed.

2. Germany is not permitted an air force.3. Germany’s navy is to be restricted to 6

naval ships; no submarines.4. The Rhineland is to be demilitarised and

immediately handed over to Allied forces.

This meant that no German soldier, sailor, pilot or weapon was permitted to be in the Rhineland.

The German People felt weak and

defenceless by this decision. With

their minute military, how were they

to defend from attacks?

Term 3- Financial1. Germany should be suffer a loss of vital

industrial territory to annihilate any attempts by Germany to rebuild her economy(Coal from the Saar and Upper Silesia in particular).

2. Germany is also forbidden to unite with Austria to form one super-state, in an attempt to keep her economic potential to a minimum.

Combined with the financial penalties linked to reparations, it seemed clear to Germany that the Allies wanted nothing else but to bankrupt her.

General Terms1. Germany is to admit full responsibility for

starting the war- Clause 231 - (the "War Guilt Clause“). 

2. 2. Germany, as she was responsible for starting the war as stated in clause 231, is therefore responsible for all the war damage caused by the Great War. Therefore, she is demanded to pay reparations, the bulk of which is to go to France and Belgium to pay for the damage done to the infrastructure of both countries by the war. The figure is put at £6,600 million       

3. A League of Nations was set up to keep world peace.                        

Germany at first was not given a set sum; they were made to sign a blank check which the Allies would cash when they wished. Obviously, Germany could not afford to pay this sum, leaving debt and starvation throughout t he country, that the innocent civilians were made to pay.

Germany reacted very badly with the terms set. The innocent civilians were being punished for something they did not commit, leading to corruption and hate in the Country, that would give the motive needed to cause an equally awful war. Germany was humiliated, embarrassed, defenceless and weak, but most of all furious at the terms set in the Treaty of Versailles.