The controversial War Guilt clause blamed Germany for World War I and imposed heavy debt payments on Germany. The Treaty of Versailles was a major contributing factor in the outbreak of the Second World War

Main Clauses of the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, officially ended World War I. It imposed several significant terms on Germany and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of Europe.
1. Territorial Changes
- Germany lost 13% of its territory, including Alsace-Lorraine to France and parts of Prussia to Poland.
- The Saar Basin was placed under the administration of the League of Nations for 15 years.
- The creation of new nations, such as Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, altered the map of Europe.
2. Military Restrictions
- The size of the German army was limited to 100,000 troops.
- The production of tanks and military aircraft was prohibited.
- The German navy was restricted to a few small ships, and submarines were banned.
3. War Guilt Clause
- Article 231, known as the War Guilt Clause, placed full blame for the war on Germany, justifying reparations.
4. Reparations
- Germany was required to pay substantial reparations to the Allied countries, amounting to 132 billion gold marks.
- This financial burden led to economic hardships in Germany and contributed to political instability.
5. League of Nations
- The Treaty established the League of Nations, aimed at promoting peace and preventing future conflicts.
- Germany was initially excluded from the League but was later permitted to join in 1926.
6. Economic Sanctions
- Germany faced economic sanctions and restrictions on trade, further crippling its economy.
These clauses aimed to ensure that Germany would not pose a future threat to peace in Europe, but they also sowed the seeds of discontent that would lead to World War II.