The Versailles Settlement, 1919

• The Treaty of Versailles involved compromises on the part of the Big Three. But it was also a ‘Diktat’ - Germany had no say in the negotiations. If the German representatives had not signed the treaty, the Allies promised to re-start the war.
• What happened to Germany's overseas empire as a result of the treaty?

  It was taken away
• Why was the loss of Germany's overseas empire significant?

  It caused bad relations with Britain before the war
• What happened to former German colonies after the treaty?

  They became mandates controlled by the League of Nations
• What power was given to the League of Nations regarding former German colonies?

  The League was given power to rule them
• How did the League of Nations manage the mandates of former German colonies?

  It delegated responsibility to leading members
• Which countries effectively controlled the former German colonies?

  France and Britain
• What was complicated about the treaty's section on Germany's European borders?

  It dealt with extensive former German territories
• What did the treaty forbid Germany from doing regarding Austria?

  Germany was forbidden to join with Austria
• What was a major concern of all powers regarding Germany after the war?

  The size and power of the German army
• Why did the treaty restrict German armed forces?

  To address concerns from other powers, especially France
• What was the limit on the size of the German army?

  100,000 men
• What was banned regarding the recruitment of soldiers in Germany?

  Conscription was banned; soldiers had to volunteer
• What types of military equipment was Germany not allowed to have?

  Armoured vehicles, submarines, or aircraft
• How many battleships could the German navy build?

  Six battleships
• What was the status of the Rhineland after the treaty?

  The Rhineland became a demilitarised zone
• Why was the Rhineland considered important in the context of the treaty?

  It was the border area between Germany and France
• War guilt

  The war guilt clause was simple but was seen by the Germans as extremely harsh. Germany had to accept the blame for starting the war.
• Reparations

  The major powers agreed, without consulting Germany, that Germany had to pay reparations to the allies for the damage caused by the war. The exact figure was not agreed until 1921 when it was set at £6,600 million - an enormous figure. If the terms of the payment had not later been changed, Germany would not have finished paying this bill until 1984.