The Treaty of Versailles

Date: 28th June 1919  Gy informed of terms in May  had to sign – Allied blockade, allied troops in
the Rhine
Signed by: Allies (The Big Three) and Germany (Weimar Republic)
It was not a negotiated treaty, it was imposed on Germany (the former German chancellor called it a
“Diktat”: an imposed settlement.)
2 CLAUSES
 LEAGUE OF NATIONS  first item in all peace treaties
International “police force” (Germany was not allowed to become a member until it showed it was a
peace-loving country).
Gy had to accept Covenant of LoN

 WAR GUILT CLAUSE (Article 231)

Germany had to admit blame for starting the war.  Provided moral basis for Allied demands for Gy
to pay reparations and pay for all the damage caused.
Three main categories:

- TERRITORIAL LOSSES
o German colonies  Gr overseas Empire taken away
 Her colonies in Africa (e.g. Togoland and Cameroon, South-West Africa, East Africa), Far East,
and Pacific islands became “mandates” they were run by the League of Nations (on paper)
until they were ready for self-governing, should bear in mind the wishes of colonial inhabitants
(in fact they were controlled by the Allied-nations – Fr and GB).
 GB: Togoland, Cameroons, German East Africa – Tanganyika
 Fr: Togoland, Cameroons
 Japan: Mariana Islands, Caroline Islands, Marshall Islands, Shantung. (Gr possessions in China and
Pacific North Equator).
 Australia: New Guinea
 New Zealand: Samoa
 Belgium: Ruanda-Urundi
 South Africa: German South-West Africa
 Italy: Juba valley (E Africa)
o Germany territory
 Given to:
 France: Alsace & Lorraine, Saarland (for 15 years to the League).
o Under authority of League
o To work coal mines to rebuild industry – populated by Gr-speaking ppl.
o Plebiscite after 15 years carried out by League to determine whether ppl wanted to belong
to Fr or Gy  99.8% chose Gy in 1935
 Poland: a corridor to the Baltic Sea – The Polish Corridor (Posen and West Prussia) and Upper
Silesia
o Gr-speaking ppl
 Belgium: Eupen & Malmedy and Moresnet.
 Denmark: Northern Schleswig
 New countries that German had taken away from Russia in Treaty of Brest-Litovsk 1918
(cancelled): Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (received Memel) set up as independent states-
 Danzig: made a free city (controlled and administered by the League of Nations).
o International port city to give access to sea and allow Poland to trade without tariffs. Both
Poland and Gy had access.
o Population overwhelmingly German  transfer might have created unstable situation  LG
wanted to maintain Poland as small as possible
o To be presided over by High Commissioner appointed by LoN and to form Customs Union
with Poland
 Czechoslovakia: Hultschin
o Plebiscites (later on)
 Western Upper Silesia (1921)– voted to remain German
 Eastern Upper Silesia (1921) – voted to become Polish
 Marienwerder (1920) – voted to remain German
 Northern Schleswig (1920) – voted to join Denmark
 Southern Schleswig – voted to remain German
 Allenstein (1920) – voted to remain German
 Saarland / Saar Basin (1935)

- MILITARY CLAUSES  Wilson’s principle – disarmament – restrict Gy’s ability to wage war
o The Rhineland was demilitarised (Germans were forbidden to place troops or carry out military
activities, build fortifications).
 Allied Army occupation on west bank of Rhine for 15 years.
o Army:
 Cut to 100,000 men.
 Conscription was abolished.
 No war-time heavy artillery / weapons allowed.
 No armoured vehicles.
o Navy:
 No capital ships – warships of largest and most heavily armoured class
 No more than 6 battleships and no submarines.
 12 destroyers
 6 light cruisers When asked how he thought he had done at the
 12 torpedo boats Versailles Conference, Lloyd George replied:
“Not badly, considering I was seated between
 Limited to 15,000 men
Jesus Christ and Napoleon”.
o Air Force: Was banned “A war will happen in 20 years’ time.” L.G
o Alliance with Austria (the “Anschluss”) was
forbidden.

- REPARATIONS
o Germany had to pay some reparations in money (£ 6600 million) to the Allies. (most affected
countries) – Agreed in 1921, set by Reparations Commission. (terms changed under Young Plan
1929)
 1st – Fr (55%), 2nd– Belgium (20% -awarded full compensation for losses), 3rd – GB (25%)
 To be paid in goods (coal), Gr merchant fleet handed over to Allies.
 Meantime – interim payment of 20 billion gold marks, raise further 60 b through sale of bonds.