TREATY OF VERSAILLES Background:

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1 TREATY OF VERSAILLES Background: The fighting of World War I ended with the Armistice agreement on November 11th, 1919, however the Armistice was only a cease fire while the nations involved drafted and approved peace treaties to officially end the state of war between them. Each nation of the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and their allies/colonies) officially ended the conflict in separate treaties with the Allied Powers (the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, France and their allies/colonies). The Treaty of Versailles was the treaty that ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. While the President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, outlined goals in his Fourteen Points to achieve lasting peace that was not overly harsh to the losing nations, the leadership of Britain and France were less optimistic about the possible success of his ideas. As such they sought to punish Germany for their part in the war (they did not start the fighting, but they were the primary enemy that needed to be defeated to win the conflict) and establish a set of rules in the treaty that would ensure that Germany would never be able to wage war again. Weakening Germany was especially important to France, who shared a border with Germany, while the British concerned themselves more with making the Germans pay reparations for the damage the war caused. The treaty was signed in the Hall of Mirrors in the French Palace of Versailles, 6 months after the Armistice agreement and at the conclusion of the Paris Peace Conference. The treaty successfully took productive land away from Germany both in the form of colonies and in continental territory which had been under some historical conflict (such as the regions as Alsace and Lorraine which has changed hands between France and Germany several times in history). This document contains excerpts of some of the key provisions of the Treaty of Versailles detailing the agreements intended to punish and weaken Germany.

2 Treaty of Versailles, June 28, 1919 (From The Treaty of Versailles and After: Annotations of the Text of the Treaty (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1944), accessed from Article 42. Germany is forbidden to maintain or construct any fortifications either on the left bank of the Rhine or on the right bank to the west of a line drawn 50 kilometres to the East of the Rhine. Article 45. As compensation for the destruction of the coal mines in the north of France and as part payment towards the total reparation due from Germany for the damage resulting from the war, Germany cedes to France, the coal mines situated in the Saar Basin... Article 49. Germany renounces the territory [Alsace and Lorraine]. At the end of fifteen years from the coming into force of the present Treaty the inhabitants of the said territory shall be called upon to indicate the sovereignty under which they desire to be placed. Article 119. Germany renounces in favor of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers all her rights and titles over her overseas possessions [colonies]. Article 156. Germany renounces, in favour of Japan, all her rights, title and privileges...which she acquired [from] China on March 6, 1898 the Province of Shantung. Article 160. By a date which must not be later than March 31, 1920, the German Army must not comprise more than seven divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry. After that date the total number of the Army of Germany must not exceed 100,000 men, including officers and establishments of depots. The Army shall be devoted exclusively to the maintenance of order within the territory and to the control of the frontiers.

3 Article 231. The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies. Summary: Describe the main goal(s) of the writers of this treaty. Describe what this treaty does to the Germany military. Describe what this treaty does to German Territory. List the specific Articles that deal with this topic. Treaty of Versailles, June 28, 1919 (From The Treaty of Versailles and After: Annotations of the Text of the Treaty (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1944), accessed from

4 Underline any time there is a punishment involving the German Military. Circle any time there is a punishment involving German Territory. Article 42. Germany is forbidden to maintain or construct any fortifications either on the left bank of the Rhine or on the right bank to the west of a line drawn 50 kilometres to the East of the Rhine. Article 45. As compensation for the destruction of the coal mines in the north of France and as part payment towards the total reparation due from Germany for the damage resulting from the war, Germany cedes to France, the coal mines situated in the Saar Basin... What happens to the people who live in Alsace/Lorraine when it changes from German to French? Who takes control of German colonies? Article 49. Germany renounces the territory [Alsace and Lorraine]. At the end of fifteen years from the coming into force of the present Treaty the inhabitants of the said territory shall be called upon to indicate the sovereignty under which they desire to be placed. Article 119. Germany renounces in favor of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers all her rights and titles over her overseas possessions [colonies]. Article 156. Germany renounces, in favour of Japan, all her rights, title and privileges...which she acquired [from] China on March 6, 1898 the Province of Shantung. Why is Germany allowed to keep any army at all? Article 160. By a date which must not be later than March 31, 1920, the German Army must not comprise more than seven divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry. After that date the total number of the Army of Germany must not exceed 100,000 men, including officers and establishments of depots. The Army shall be devoted exclusively to the maintenance of order within the territory and to the control of the frontiers. Why is Germany being blamed for all the damage during the war? Article 231. The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.

5 Summary: Describe the main goal(s) of the writers of this treaty. Describe what this treaty does to the Germany military. Describe what this treaty does to German Territory. List the specific Articles that deal with this topic. Treaty of Versailles, June 28, 1919 (From The Treaty of Versailles and After: Annotations of the Text of the Treaty (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1944), accessed from

6 Underline any time there is a punishment involving the German Military. Circle any time there is a punishment involving German Territory. Article 42. Germany is forbidden to maintain or construct any fortifications either on the left bank of the Rhine or on the right bank to the west of a line drawn 50 kilometres to the East of the Rhine. Article 45. As compensation for the destruction of the coal mines in the north of France and as part payment towards the total reparation due from Germany for the damage resulting from the war, Germany cedes to France, the coal mines situated in the Saar Basin... What happens to the people who live in Alsace/Lorraine when it changes from German to French? Article 49. Germany renounces the territory [Alsace and Lorraine]. At the end of fifteen years from the coming into force of the present Treaty the inhabitants of the said territory shall be called upon to indicate the sovereignty under which they desire to be placed. Who takes control of German colonies? Article 119. Germany renounces in favor of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers all her rights and titles over her overseas possessions [colonies]. Why is Germany allowed to keep any army at all? Article 156. Germany renounces, in favour of Japan, all her rights, title and privileges...which she acquired [from] China on March 6, 1898 the Province of Shantung. Article 160. By a date which must not be later than March 31, 1920, the German Army must not comprise more than seven divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry. After that date the total number of the Army of Germany must not exceed 100,000 men, including officers and establishments of depots. The Army shall be devoted exclusively to the maintenance of order within the territory and to the control of the frontiers.

7 Why is Germany being blamed for all the damage during the war? Article 231. The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies. Summary: Describe the main goal(s) of the writers of this treaty. Describe what this treaty does to the Germany military. Describe what this treaty does to German Territory. List the specific Articles that deal with this topic.