1. War Guilt Clause: The treaty placed sole responsibility for the war on Germany, the infamous "war guilt clause." This was a major blow to German national pride and created a sense of injustice and resentment among the German population.
2. Territorial Losses: The treaty resulted in significant territorial losses for Germany. Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France, Eupen-Malmédy to Belgium, North Schleswig to Denmark, and West Prussia, Posen, and Upper Silesia to the newly formed Polish state. These losses were significant not only in terms of land area but also symbolically and emotionally for the German people.
3. Economic Reparations: The treaty imposed heavy reparations on Germany, totaling 132 billion gold marks (around $33 billion at the time). These reparations were seen as excessive and burdensome, especially considering the already weakened state of the German economy following the war. The reparations payments caused economic instability, hyperinflation, and widespread poverty in Germany.
4. Rhineland Demilitarization: The treaty demilitarized the Rhineland, a region west of the Rhine River. This limited Germany's ability to defend its western border and was perceived as a humiliating restriction on German sovereignty.
5. Loss of Colonies: Germany lost all its overseas colonies as a result of the treaty. These colonies had provided raw materials and markets for German industries, and their loss further weakened the German economy.
6. Danzig and the Polish Corridor: The creation of the Polish Corridor, which separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany, further angered the German population. Additionally, the city of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) was declared a Free City under the League of Nations, which was seen as another territorial loss for Germany.
The combination of these factors led to widespread resentment in Germany and contributed to the rise of extremist groups, most notably the Nazi Party. The harshness of the Treaty of Versailles is often cited as one of the contributing factors to the outbreak of World War II.