- Creation of the League of Nations aimed at promoting international cooperation and preventing future wars through collective security and dispute resolution.
2. Territorial Adjustments:
- Germany lost territories in Europe and its overseas colonies. Notable territorial changes included:
- Alsace-Lorraine returned to France.
- Eupen-Malmédy transferred to Belgium.
- North Schleswig went to Denmark after a plebiscite.
- West Prussia, Posen, and Upper Silesia were divided between Poland and Germany.
- Danzig was made a Free City under the League's supervision.
- Saarland fell under French administration for 15 years, followed by a plebiscite to determine its future.
- German colonies were reallocated as League of Nations mandates.
3. War Reparations:
- Germany was burdened with substantial reparations to the Allied powers, primarily France, Britain, and Belgium, as compensation for war damages.
4. The Treaty of Versailles:
- The main peace treaty with Germany, signed on June 28, 1919:
- Germany admitted sole responsibility for starting the war (war guilt clause).
- German military forces were drastically reduced and certain weapons were prohibited.
- Germany lost territory (as mentioned above) and colonial possessions.
5. Minority Rights:
- Minorities in various countries were granted rights to ensure equal treatment and protection against discrimination.
6. The League's Mandate System:
- Former German and Ottoman colonies were given to various Allied powers as "mandates" to administer with the primary goal of preparing them for eventual self-government and independence.
7. Other Treaties and Agreements:
- Separate peace treaties were also negotiated with other Central Powers:
- The Treaty of Saint-Germain with Austria (1919)
- The Treaty of Trianon with Hungary (1920)
- The Treaty of Neuilly with Bulgaria (1919)
- The Treaty of Sèvres with the Ottoman Empire (1920, revised later by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923)
8. New Nation-States Emerged:
- The Paris Peace Conference contributed to the creation of new nation-states in Central and Eastern Europe, including Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Poland.