The Treaty Of Versailles

• June 1919


  The Treaty of Versailles was signed officially ending the war after the Armistice (ceasefire) of 1918
• Diktat


  Said to be a dictated peace as Ebert had no option but to sign the treaty or face invasion.
• Land


  Large areas of German land were used to create new countries or given away to others
• Rhineland


  Was a de-militarised zone - no soldiers could be stationed there
• German Colonies


  Were given away to the Allies
• Armed Forces


  Germany could only have a small army (100,000) and navy. Was not allowed any submarines, tanks or an air force
• Reparations


  Germany's payments for the rebuilding of France and Belgian were set at £6.6 billion with annual payments from 1921
• Money

  As the war was said to be Germany's fault they had to pay for the cost of rebuilding
• Blame


  Whilst all of the European countries had a part to play in causing WW1, Germany had to accept all of the blame
• Article 231


  Known as the 'Guilt Clause' as it was the term of the treaty that set out that Germany was responsible for the destruction of the First World War
• Harsh


  Many Germans believed that the treaty was unfair and believed that the government should have secured a better deal
• Stabbed in the Back

  Some Germans, including many soldiers, thought Germany could have carried on fighting but was betrayed by the socialist politicians who ended the war