Question

discuss the main clauses of the Treaty of the Versailles

Answer 1

1. War guilt clause - Caused by the Allies need to humiliate the Germans as much as possible, and also to justify all the other terms (This way they could ask for massive reparations and simply say that it was Germany's fault for starting the war in the first place)
2. Limitations on Germany's armed forces- caused by the Allies fear of another war- the idea was that if Germany had no way of attacking the allies, they did not have to fear for their safety. This was especially pushed by France, as they were right next to Germany.
3. Reparations- France and Britain needed to cover the costs of the war. 23000 French factories were destroyed during the war, which meant that they needed big money to rebuild their economies.
4. Land terms- Made to humiliate Germany and to satisfy Woodrow Wilson, who's 14 points consisted mainly of plans to make countries independent, which the land terms did. The alsace Lorraine term was also on both lists.
5. The league of Nations- caused by the allies hope to keep the peace and unite Europe. This was also a Woodrow Wilson point, and he was the main cause for setting it up. Unfortunately, the allies hatred of Germany caused them to not let Germany join until they could show themselves to be 'peaceful'.