Year 12 Modern - Versailles Summary

Here are the main terms of the Treaty, which was being negotiated by the Big Three exactly 90 years ago in the Palace of Versailles:

The Treaty of Versailles includes 440 articles. The principal items are:

Germany has to cede to the allies all seagoing ships with a carrying capacity exceeding 1600 Brt, plus half of all ships between 1000 and 1600 Brt. Furthermore one fourth of the fishing fleet and two fifths of the inland navigation fleet has to be ceded.

Germany has to cede (surrender) Alsace-Lorraine to France.

Germany has to cede the coal mines in the Saar-area to France.

Germany has to cede an area with Moresnet, Eupen, Malmédy and St. Vith to Belgium.

Germany has to cede the main part of West-Prussia and almost the whole province of Posen to the new state of Poland.

Germany has to cede all colonies: Togo and Cameroun, the territories in East- and South-West Africa, islands in the Pacific and possesions in China.

All German properties in foreign countries are confiscated.

Germany has to cede all war material to the allies.

German compulsory military service is abolished, as well as the General Staff (commanders).

Germany is not allowed to have tanks, airplanes, submarines, large warships and poison gas.

During 15 years Germany is not allowed to station troops on the left border of the river Rhine and in a 50 km strip on the right border of the Rhine.

The total size of the Germany army is not to exceed 100.000 men.

The German navy has a maximum of 15.000 men.

Germany is allowed a total of 4.000 officers.

Germany is not to take part in the League of Nations.

Germany has to cede large amounts of machinery and building materials, trains and trucks.

Germany has to deliver certain amounts of coal, chemicals, dye and fuel for many years.

All German subocean telegraph cables are confiscated.

Germany has to pay 20 billion goldmarks.(About A$500 billion in today's money)

For opinions on the Treaty, plus some exercises you can do yourself, try these pages:

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/year9links/versailles.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/worldwarone/hq/outcomes3_01.shtml