The Treaty and Its Terms
The first 26 articles of the Treaty were outlining the League of Nations, which Germany were initially excluded from.
The last 440 articles of the Treaty can be separated into the sections:
- Military
- Territorial
- Financial
- General
Military
Article 159
'The German military forces shall be demobilised and reduced as prescribed hereinafter.' (Avalon.yale.law.edu, 2015)
Germany's treasured army was limit to 100,000 men, and were only allowed to take voluntary enrolment. The German army was also not allowed an airforce and was limited to 6 naval vessels and no submarines.
Article 159
'The German military forces shall be demobilised and reduced as prescribed hereinafter.' (Avalon.yale.law.edu, 2015)
Germany's treasured army was limit to 100,000 men, and were only allowed to take voluntary enrolment. The German army was also not allowed an airforce and was limited to 6 naval vessels and no submarines.
Territory
Land that Germany had gained was also taken and distributed between the Allied Powers, and other countries damaged by war.
Alsace-Lorraine was given to France
Eupen and Malmedy was given to Belgium
Northern Shelswig was given to Denmark
Hultschin was given to Czechoslovakia
West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia was given to Poland
Any overseas colonies that Germany had were taken control of by the League of Nations. Germany also had to give back the land from Russia that they had seized after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
Land that Germany had gained was also taken and distributed between the Allied Powers, and other countries damaged by war.
Alsace-Lorraine was given to France
Eupen and Malmedy was given to Belgium
Northern Shelswig was given to Denmark
Hultschin was given to Czechoslovakia
West Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia was given to Poland
Any overseas colonies that Germany had were taken control of by the League of Nations. Germany also had to give back the land from Russia that they had seized after the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
Financial
With the loss of major industries from the loss of land it became very difficult for Germany's economy to grow.
Article 235 'Reparations'
'In order to enable the Allied and Associated Powers to proceed at once to the restoration of their industrial and economic life, pending the full determination of their claims, Germany shall pay in such instalments and in such manner (whether in gold, commodities, ships, securities or otherwise) as the Reparation Commission may fix, during 1919, 1920 and the first four months Of 1921 , the equivalent of 20,000,000,000 gold marks.'
With the loss of major industries from the loss of land it became very difficult for Germany's economy to grow.
Article 235 'Reparations'
'In order to enable the Allied and Associated Powers to proceed at once to the restoration of their industrial and economic life, pending the full determination of their claims, Germany shall pay in such instalments and in such manner (whether in gold, commodities, ships, securities or otherwise) as the Reparation Commission may fix, during 1919, 1920 and the first four months Of 1921 , the equivalent of 20,000,000,000 gold marks.'
General
Article 231 'War Guilt Clause'
'The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.' (Avalon.yale.law.edu, 2015)
This section of the Treaty was the most humiliating for Germany, as they believed it was not their initial fault for causing the war. To be blamed for something that equally caused them significant damages and loses, being told that they were the ones at fault made Germany furious.
Article 231 'War Guilt Clause'
'The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.' (Avalon.yale.law.edu, 2015)
This section of the Treaty was the most humiliating for Germany, as they believed it was not their initial fault for causing the war. To be blamed for something that equally caused them significant damages and loses, being told that they were the ones at fault made Germany furious.