The Impact of the Treaty of Versailles

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  • Created by: hollyykk
  • Created on: 26-02-17 21:36

Terms of the Treaty

Germany lost

10% of its land

12.5% of its population 

16% of its coal

48% of its iron industry 

All of its colonies 

Weakened the military 

Accept guilt for starting the war 

Pay reparations 

DESTROYING ITS POSITION AS A GREAT POWER 

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Land Lost

Land Lost 

  • Upper Silesia - contained coal and steal works 
  • Much of West Prussia and Posen
  • The Saar - placed under the control of the League of Nations for 15 years
  • The Rhineland - occupied by the Allied forces for 15 years
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Military Reductions

Military Reductions

  • Army reduced to 100,000 men
  • Navy reduced to 15,000 men
  • General Staff disbanded
  • Germany was no longer allowed tanks, air craft, submarines or poison gases
  • Number of ships was limited

Germany would be unable to protect themselves if they were invaded 

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Reparations

Reparations 

  • Figure was finally fixed in 1921 at £6600million
  • Some was to be paid in goods 
  • Germany claimed they couldnt afford it 
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Was the treaty harsh?

Too harsh...?

  • Germany had little choice but to to sign the treaty, as the naval blockade was still in Allies were in the Rhineland, ready to invade
  • The seizure of industrial lands and the loss of colonies made it harder for Germany to pay the reparations 
  • Many Germans lived under Allied occuption, while others were forced to live in other countries, such as Poland. 
  • Most Germans disapproved of the treaty; the government lost support by signing it; and it created long-term bitterness
  • HOWEVER- the treaty was not as harsh as it appears
  • German views that they had not lost the war meant that no matter what treaty had been signed there would have been opposition
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