History of Europe

What were the consequences for Germany named in Versailles treaty?

Territorial Losses

* Germany lost Alsace-Lorraine to France. This region had been part of Germany since 1871 and was home to a large number of ethnic Germans.

* Germany lost Eupen-Malmédy to Belgium. This region was mainly German-speaking and had been part of Germany since 1815.

* Germany lost North Schleswig to Denmark. This region was home to a Danish minority.

* Germany lost West Prussia, Posen, and Upper Silesia to Poland. These regions were mainly Polish-speaking and had been part of Germany since the Partitions of Poland.

* Germany lost all of its overseas colonies, which included German East Africa, German Southwest Africa, German Kamerun, German New Guinea, and German Samoa.

Military Restrictions

* Germany's military was limited to 100,000 men.

* Germany was forbidden from having an air force or submarines.

* Germany was forbidden from importing or exporting arms.

* The Allies were allowed to occupy the Rhineland for 15 years.

Reparations

* Germany was required to pay reparations to the Allied Powers. The total amount of reparations was set at 132 billion gold marks.

* Germany's ability to pay reparations was severely limited by the economic crisis that followed the war.

* Germany made the final reparations payment in 2010, over 70 years after the war ended.

War Guilt Clause

* The Treaty of Versailles contained a clause that stated that Germany was responsible for starting World War I. This clause was deeply unpopular in Germany.

The consequences of the Treaty of Versailles were devastating for Germany.

* The territorial losses left the country smaller and weaker.

* The military restrictions made it impossible for Germany to defend itself.

* The reparations payments crippled the economy.

* The War Guilt Clause made the German people feel humiliated and resentful.

The Treaty of Versailles is widely considered to have been a mistake. It contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party and ultimately led to World War II.