The Treaty of Versailles

In January 1919, the representatives from 32 countries met in Versailles for a conference that would make a peace settlement at the end of the 1st World War. They had to agree on a peace settlement that would be found fair and acceptable for everyone. The peace treaties made with the defeated nations of 1919-20 redrew the map of Europe, set up the League of Nations - the first international organisation in maintaing world peace.

The terms for the Treaty was signed by the allies with Germany in June 1919. The Treaty involved:

• Mlitary restrictions ; No airforce, no conscription, no tanks, no submarines and the army was limited to 100,000 men, the navy was limited to 15,000 men and the size and number of naval ships was limited.
• War guilt clause 231- this blamed Germany for the war.
• Repearations- Germany ad to pay £6600 million marks to pay for damages caused by the war.
• Land losses; The Polish corridoor which gave Poland acess to the sea, they seperated East Prussia from Germany, the Rhineland was demiritalised and it was occupied by the allies for 15 years, The Sarr coal fields were taken by France and were under the League of Nations control for 15years, Danzing was declared a free city and a union between Germany and Austria was forbidden.