What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919—exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand?
France gained control of Germany’s Rhine River Valley.
Germany was to pay the full cost of the war damages.
British troops occupied Germany for the next two decades.
Germany was stripped of all offensive military capability and its overseas possessions.
The terms of the Treaty of Versailles signed on June 28, 1919, were as follows:
1. Territorial Changes: Germany lost significant territory, including Alsace-Lorraine, which was returned to France. The provinces of Posen and West Prussia were given to Poland, and parts of Upper Silesia, Danzig, and Memel were under international supervision. Germany also lost its overseas colonies.
2. Military Restrictions: Germany was limited to a maximum army of 100,000 soldiers and was forbidden to have an air force or submarines. The German navy was also significantly reduced.
3. War Reparations: Germany was held responsible for the damages caused during the war and was required to pay reparations. The exact amount was not specified initially but was later set at 132 billion gold marks (equivalent to about $33 billion).
4. War Guilt Clause: Germany was forced to accept full responsibility for causing the war (Article 231), commonly known as the War Guilt Clause. This clause later became a major source of discontent in Germany.
5. League of Nations: The Treaty of Versailles created the League of Nations, which aimed to prevent future conflicts and maintain international peace. Germany was not initially allowed to join the League, but it would be allowed later in 1926.
It is important to note that while these were the main provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, there were additional agreements and treaties signed with Germany in the following years that modified some of these terms.