Question:

Treaty of Versailles? Can someone please explain it?

by  |  earlier

0 LIKES UnLike

Treaty of Versailles? Can someone please explain it?

 Tags:

   Report

6 ANSWERS


  1. The Treaty of Versailles was originally based around Woodrow Wilson's 14 points and included numerous different components intended to restrict Germany's capability to start another war as well as cripple her economy and the nation as a whole.

    some of the main components included the war guilt clause which forced Germany to claim full responsibility for starting the war. Restrictions were placed upon the size of the German army (number of vehicles, planes, subs, ships, men etc.). Poland was created as well as the nations Latvia Lithuania and Estonia. Finally the League of Nations was formed which was to be somewhat of a global police which was to have a representative from each nation so that conflicts could be resolved  through diplomacy as opposed to war. The league of nations was the forerunner of the current United Nations.


  2. The Treaty of Versailles was the peace settlement signed after World War One had ended in 1918 and in the shadow of the Russian Revolution and other events in Russia. The treaty was signed at the vast Versailles Palace near Paris - hence its title - between Germany and the Allies. The three most important politicians there were David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau and Woodrow Wilson. The Versailles Palace was considered the most appropriate venue simply because of its size - many hundreds of people were involved in the process and the final signing ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors could accommodate hundreds of dignitaries. Many wanted Germany, now led by Friedrich Ebert, smashed - others, like Lloyd George, were privately more cautious.

    General Clauses

    The establishment of the League of Nations

    War Guilt clause - Germany to accept blame for starting the war.

    Financial Clauses

    Reparations - Germany was to pay for the damage caused by the war. The figure of £6,600 million was set some time after the signing of the treaty.

    Military Clauses

    Army - was to be reduced to 100,000 men and no tanks were allowed

    Navy - Germany was only allowed 6 ships and no submarines

    Airforce - Germany was not allowed an airforce

    Rhineland - The Rhineland area was to be kept free of German military personnel and weapons

    Territorial Clauses

    Anschluss - Germany was not allowed to unite with Austria.

    Land - Germany lost land to a number of other countries. Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France, Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium, North Schleswig was given to Denmark. Land was also taken from Germany and given to Czechoslovakia and Poland. The League of Nations took control of Germany's colonies

  3. 1. Bend Germany over the back of a chair and spank them silly for having dared to fight the war (figuratively speaking, of course)

    2. Start the League of Nations.

  4. call me lazy or read this

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_V...

    could not explain better

  5. It settled WWI.  Germany was pretty much s**+* on and made a scapegoat for the entire war.  That allowed a platform for Hitler to unite the people and ultimately start WWII.

    That's a REALLY short version of it.

  6. The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty that officially ended World War I (1914-1918) and it was signed on June 28, 1919.

    Of the many provisions in the treaty, one of the most important and controversial provisions required Germany and its allies to accept full responsibility for causing the war and disarm, make substantial territorial concessions and pay reparations to certain countries that had formed the Entente powers.

    One clause in the Treaty (the "War Guilt Clause") lays sole responsibility for the war on Germany, which would be accountable for all the damage done to civilian population of the allies.

    The Treaty of Versailles also charged former German Emperor, Wilhelm II with supreme offence against international morality and he is to be tried as a war criminal. He fled to the Netherlands, where he lived until his death in 1941.

    The German economy was so weak that only a small percentage of reparations was paid in hard currency.

    Resentment caused by the Treaty sowed fertile psychological ground for the eventual rise of the n**i party. Indeed, on n**i Germany's rise to power, Adolf Hitler resolved to overturn the remaining military and territorial provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. Military build-up began almost immediately in direct defiance of the Treaty, which, by then, had been destroyed by Hitler in front of a cheering crowd. Some claim that it was this treaty which caused a chain reaction leading to World War II.

    Hitler violated the Treaty in March 1936 by reoccupying the demilitarized zone in the Rhineland.

    In March 1938, Hitler again violated the Treaty by annexing Austria in the Anschluss and in September 1938, Hitler with approval of France, Britain and Italy violated the Treaty by annexing Czechoslovak border regions, the so-called Sudetenland.

Question Stats

Latest activity: earlier.
This question has 6 answers.

BECOME A GUIDE

Share your knowledge and help people by answering questions.
Unanswered Questions