Question -describe the condition (features) of treaty of Versailles?
The Versailles treaty was a harsh and humiliating treaty on Germany because :-
1) Germany lost it's overseas territories , a tenth of its population & 13% of it's territories.
2) It had to pay 75% of it's iron & 26% of it's coal to France , Poland , Denmark & Lithuania.
3) The Allied power demilitarised Germany to weaken it's powers.
4) The War Guilt Clause held Germany responsible for the damages of the allied countries.
5) Germany had to pay compensation of Euro 6 Billion and also had to lose it's resource rich Rhineland to the Allied powers.
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Question -describe the condition (features) of treaty of Versailles?
Condition of the Treaty of Versailles:
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed on June 28, 1919, that officially ended World War I. It was primarily focused on Germany, the country held responsible for the war, and aimed to create lasting peace and prevent future conflicts. The treaty imposed a number of conditions on Germany, which can be categorized into the following key features:
1. Territorial Losses:
- Germany was required to give up significant territories, including Alsace-Lorraine (to France), West Prussia and Posen (to Poland), Eupen and Malmedy (to Belgium), and the Saar Basin (to the League of Nations).
- Germany also lost all its colonies, which were distributed among various Allied powers.
2. Military Restrictions:
- The treaty limited the German military to a maximum of 100,000 soldiers and prohibited the manufacture of heavy artillery, tanks, and military aircraft.
- The German navy was reduced to a small fleet, and the use of submarines was banned.
- The Rhineland was demilitarized, with the presence of German troops strictly prohibited.
3. War Guilt and Reparations:
- The treaty held Germany solely responsible for the war and required it to accept guilt.
- Germany was obligated to pay massive reparations, amounting to 132 billion gold marks, to the victorious Allies. These reparations were meant to compensate for war damages, loss of life, and economic hardships caused by the war.
4. League of Nations:
- The treaty established the League of Nations, a precursor to the United Nations, as a means of resolving international conflicts and preventing future wars.
- Germany was initially excluded from the League and only admitted in 1926.
5. Political Changes:
- The German monarchy was abolished, and Germany was declared a republic.
- The treaty also imposed territorial changes within Germany, including the return of Alsace-Lorraine to France, the creation of the independent state of Poland, and the loss of German-speaking territories to neighboring countries.
The Treaty of Versailles, although aiming to establish peace, imposed harsh conditions on Germany. The territorial losses, military restrictions, war guilt, and reparations placed a heavy burden on the German people and contributed to a sense of humiliation and resentment. These conditions are often cited as one of the factors that led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the eventual outbreak of World War II.
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