Editing Treaty of Versailles (section)

==Treaty content and signing==
{{Wikisource|Treaty of Versailles}}
[[File:William Orpen – The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles 1919, Ausschnitt.jpg|thumb|German delegate [[Johannes Bell]] signing the Treaty of Versailles in the [[Hall of Mirrors (Palace of Versailles)|Hall of Mirrors]], with various Allied delegations sitting and standing in front of him|alt=Numerous men stand and sit around a long table, while the man sitting in the foreground signs a document.]]

In June 1919, the Allies declared that war would resume if the German government did not sign the treaty they had agreed to among themselves. The [[Scheidemann cabinet|government]] headed by [[Philipp Scheidemann]] was unable to agree on a common position, and Scheidemann himself resigned rather than agree to sign the treaty. [[Gustav Bauer]], the head of the new government, sent a telegram stating his intention to sign the treaty if certain articles were withdrawn, including Articles 227 to 231 (i.e., the Articles related to the extradition of the Kaiser for trial, the extradition of German war criminals for trial before Allied tribunals, the handing over of documents relevant for war crimes trials, and accepting liability for war reparations).{{sfn|Bassiouni|2002|pp=278–279}}{{efn-lr|See the [[#Reparations|Reparations]] section.}} In response, the Allies issued an ultimatum stating that Germany would have to accept the treaty or face an invasion of Allied forces across the [[Rhine]] within {{nowrap|24 hours.}} On 23 June, Bauer capitulated and sent a second telegram with a confirmation that a German delegation would arrive shortly to sign the treaty.{{sfn|Slavicek|2010|p=73}}
On 28 June 1919, the fifth anniversary of the [[assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand]] (the immediate impetus for the war), the peace treaty was signed.{{sfn|Slavicek|2010|p=114}} The treaty had clauses ranging from war crimes, the prohibition on the merging of the [[Republic of German Austria]] with Germany without the consent of the League of Nations, [[freedom of navigation]] on major [[Rivers in Europe|European rivers]], to the returning of a [[Quran]] to the king of [[Kingdom of Hejaz|Hedjaz]].<ref name="Articles 227–230" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part VII|Articles 227–230]]</ref><ref group=n. name="Article 80">[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III#Section VI. Austria|Article 80]]</ref><ref name="Part XII" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part XII|Part XII]]</ref><ref name="Article 246" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part VIII|Article 246]]</ref>

===Territorial changes===
[[File:German losses after WWI.svg|thumb|right|Germany after Versailles:

{{legend|#ddefd0|Administered by the [[League of Nations]]}}
{{legend|#ffffcf|Annexed or transferred to neighbouring countries by the treaty, or later via plebiscite and League of Nations action}}
{{legend|#f6d3a9|[[Weimar Republic|Weimar Germany]]}}|alt=A map of Germany. It is colour-coded to show the transfer of territory from German to the surrounding countries and define the new borders.]]

The treaty stripped Germany of {{convert|25000|sqmi|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}} of territory and 7&nbsp;million people. It also required Germany to give up the gains made via the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk and grant independence to the protectorates that had been established.{{sfn|Truitt|2010|p=114}}
In [[Western Europe]], Germany was required to recognize Belgian sovereignty over [[Moresnet]] and cede control of the [[Eupen-Malmedy]] area. Within six months of the transfer, Belgium was required to conduct a [[plebiscite]] on whether the citizens of the region wanted to remain under Belgian sovereignty or return to German control, communicate the results to the League of Nations and abide by the League's decision.<ref name="Articles 33 and 34" group="n.">[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III|Articles 33 and 34]].</ref> The Belgian transitional administration, under High Commissioner General [[Herman Baltia]], was responsible for the organisation and control of this process, held between January and June 1920. The plebiscite itself was held without a [[secret ballot]], and organized as a consultation in which all citizens who opposed the annexation had to formally register their protest. Ultimately, only 271 of 33,726 voters signed the protest list, of which 202 were German state servants. After the Belgian government reported this result, the League of Nations confirmed the change of status on 20 September 1920, with the line of the German-Belgian border finally fixed by a League of Nations commission in 1922.{{sfn|Brüll|2014}} To compensate for the destruction of French coal mines, Germany was to cede the output of the [[Saar (river)|Saar]] coalmines to France and [[Territory of the Saar Basin|control of the Saar to the League of Nations]] for 15 years; a plebiscite would then be held to decide sovereignty.<ref name="Articles 45 and 49" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III|Articles 45 and 49]]</ref>
The treaty restored the provinces of [[Alsace-Lorraine]] to France by rescinding the treaties of [[Treaty of Versailles (1871)|Versailles]] and [[Treaty of Frankfurt (1871)|Frankfurt]] of 1871 as they pertained to this issue.<ref name="Section V preamble and Article 51" group="n.">[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III#Article 51|Section V preamble and Article 51]]</ref>
France was able to make the claim that the provinces of [[Alsace-Lorraine]] were indeed part of France and not part of Germany by disclosing a letter sent from the Prussian King to the [[Empress Eugénie]] that Eugénie provided, in which [[William I, German Emperor|William I]] wrote that the territories of Alsace-Lorraine were requested by Germany for the sole purpose of national defense and not to expand the German territory.{{sfn|Reinach|1920|p=193}} The sovereignty of [[Schleswig-Holstein]] was to be resolved by a plebiscite to be held at a future time (see [[Schleswig Plebiscites]]).{{sfn|Peckham|2003|p=107}}

In [[Central Europe]] Germany was to recognize the independence of [[First Czechoslovak Republic|Czechoslovakia]] and cede parts of the province of [[Upper Silesia]] to them.<ref name="Articles 81 and 83" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III|Articles 81 and 83]]</ref>
Germany had to recognize the independence of [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]], which had [[Polish independence regained|regained its independence]] following a national revolution against the occupying Central Powers, and renounce "all rights and title" over Polish territory. Portions of Upper Silesia were to be ceded to Poland, with the future of the rest of the province to be decided by plebiscite. The border would be fixed with regard to the vote and to the geographical and economic conditions of each locality.<ref name="Article 88 and annex" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III|Article 88 and annex]]</ref>
The [[Province of Posen]] (now [[Poznań]]), which had come under Polish control during the [[Greater Poland uprising (1918–1919)|Greater Poland Uprising]], was also to be ceded to Poland.{{sfn|Frucht|2004|p=24}}{{sfn|Martin|2007|p=lii}}
[[Pomerelia]] (Eastern Pomerania), on historical and ethnic grounds, was transferred to Poland so that the new state could have access to the sea and became known as the [[Polish Corridor]].{{sfn|Boemeke|Feldman|Glaser|1998|p=325}}
The sovereignty of part of southern [[East Prussia]] was to be decided via [[1920 East Prussian plebiscite|plebiscite]] while the East Prussian [[Działdowo|Soldau area]], which was astride the rail line between [[Warsaw]] and [[Gdańsk|Danzig]], was transferred to Poland outright without plebiscite.<ref name="Article 94" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III|Article 94]]</ref>{{sfn|Ingrao|Szabo|2007|p=261}}
An area of {{convert|51800|km²|sqmi|abbr=off}} was transferred to Poland under the agreement.{{sfn|Brezina|2006|p=34}}
[[Klaipėda Region|Memel]] was to be ceded to the Allied and Associated powers, for disposal according to their wishes.<ref name="Article 99" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III|Article 99]]</ref>
Germany was to cede the city of Danzig and its hinterland, including the delta of the [[Vistula River]] on the [[Baltic Sea]], for the League of Nations to establish the [[Free City of Danzig]].<ref name="Articles 100–104" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III|Articles 100–104]]</ref>

===Mandates===
{{main|League of Nations mandate}}
[[File:Map of the German Empire - 1914.PNG|thumb|German colonies (light blue) were made into [[League of Nations mandates]].]]

Article 119 of the treaty required Germany to renounce sovereignty over former colonies and Article 22 converted the territories into [[League of Nations mandates]] under the control of Allied states.<ref name="Articles 22 and 119" group=n.>[[s:Covenant of the League of Nations#Article 22|Article 22]] and [[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part IV#Article 119|Article 119]]</ref> [[Togoland]] and [[German Kamerun]] (Cameroon) were transferred to France, aside from portions given to Britain, [[British Togoland]] and [[British Cameroon]]. [[Ruanda-Urundi|Ruanda and Urundi]] were allocated to Belgium, whereas [[German South-West Africa]] went to South Africa and Britain obtained [[German East Africa]].{{sfn|Tucker|Roberts|2005|p=437}}{{sfn|Benians|Butler|Carrington|1959|p=658}}{{sfn|Tucker|Roberts|2005|p=1224}} As compensation for the German invasion of Portuguese Africa, Portugal was granted the [[Kionga Triangle]], a sliver of German East Africa in northern [[Mozambique]].{{sfn|Roberts|1986|p=496}}
Article 156 of the treaty transferred German concessions in [[Shandong]], China, to Japan, not to China. Japan was granted all German possessions in the Pacific north of the equator and those south of the equator went to Australia, except for [[German Samoa]], which was taken by [[New Zealand]].{{sfn|Benians|Butler|Carrington|1959|p=658}}<ref name="Article 156" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part IV|Article 156]]</ref>

===Military restrictions===
The treaty was comprehensive and complex in the restrictions imposed upon the post-war German armed forces (the {{lang|de|[[Reichswehr]]}}). The provisions were intended to make the {{lang|de|Reichswehr}} incapable of offensive action and to encourage international disarmament.{{sfn|Shuster|2006|p=74}}<ref name="Part V preamble" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part V|Part V preamble]]</ref>
Germany was to demobilize sufficient soldiers by 31 March 1920 to leave an army of no more than {{nowrap|100,000 men}} in a maximum of seven infantry and three cavalry divisions. The treaty laid down the organisation of the divisions and support units, and the [[German General Staff]] was to be dissolved.<ref name="Articles 159, 160, 163 and Table 1" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part V|Articles 159, 160, 163 and Table 1]]</ref>
Military schools for officer training were limited to three, one school per arm, and conscription was abolished. Private soldiers and [[non-commissioned officers]] were to be retained for at least twelve years and [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] for a minimum of {{nowrap|25 years,}} with former officers being forbidden to attend military exercises. To prevent Germany from building up a large cadre of trained men, the number of men allowed to leave early was limited.<ref name="Articles 173, 174, 175 and 176" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part V|Articles 173, 174, 175 and 176]]</ref>

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1972-081-03, Zerlegen eines schweren Geschützes.jpg|thumb|Workmen decommissioning a heavy gun (likely [[28 cm Haubitze L/14 i.R.]]{{cn|date=April 2025}}), to comply with the treaty.|alt=Three men sit on top of a large artillery piece.]]
The number of civilian staff supporting the army was reduced and the police force was reduced to its pre-war size, with increases limited to population increases; [[paramilitary]] forces were forbidden.<ref name="Articles 161, 162, and 176" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part V|Articles 161, 162, and 176]]</ref>
The Rhineland was to be demilitarized, all fortifications in the Rhineland and {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=off}} east of the river were to be demolished and new construction was forbidden.<ref name="Articles 42, 43, and 180" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles|Articles 42, 43, and 180]]</ref>
Military structures and fortifications on the islands of [[Heligoland]] and [[Düne]] were to be destroyed.<ref name="Article 115" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part III|Article 115]]</ref>
Germany was prohibited from [[Arms industry|the arms trade]], limits were imposed on the type and quantity of weapons and prohibited from the manufacture or stockpile of [[chemical weapons]], [[Armored car (military)|armoured cars]], [[tank]]s and military aircraft.<ref name="Articles 165, 170, 171, 172, 198 and tables No. II and III." group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part V|Articles 165, 170, 171, 172, 198 and tables No. II and III.]]</ref>
The [[Reichsmarine|German navy]] was allowed six [[pre-dreadnought battleship]]s and was limited to a maximum of six [[light cruisers]] (not exceeding {{convert|6000|lt|t|adj=off}}), twelve [[destroyers]] (not exceeding {{convert|800|lt|t|adj=off}}) and twelve [[torpedo boats]] (not exceeding {{convert|200|lt|t|adj=off}}) and was forbidden [[submarine]]s.<ref name="Articles 181 and 190" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part V|Articles 181 and 190]]</ref>
The manpower of the navy was not to exceed {{nowrap|15,000 men,}} including manning for the fleet, coast defences, signal stations, administration, other land services, officers and men of all grades and corps. The number of officers and warrant officers was not allowed to exceed {{nowrap|1,500 men.}}<ref group=n. name="Article 80" />
Germany surrendered eight [[battleships]], eight light cruisers, forty-two destroyers, and fifty torpedo boats for decommissioning. Thirty-two [[Armed merchantman|auxiliary ships]] were to be disarmed and converted to merchant use.<ref name="Articles 185 and 187" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part V|Articles 185 and 187]]</ref>
Article 198 prohibited Germany from having an air force, including naval air forces, and required Germany to hand over all aerial related materials. In conjunction, Germany was forbidden to manufacture or import aircraft or related material for a period of six months following the signing of the treaty.<ref name="Articles 198, 201, and 202" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part V|Articles 198, 201, and 202]]</ref>

===Reparations===
{{Main|World War&nbsp;I reparations}}

In [[Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles|Article 231]] Germany accepted responsibility for the losses and damages caused by the war "as a consequence of the ... aggression of Germany and her allies."<ref name="Article 231" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part VIII|Article 231]]</ref>{{efn-lr|Similar wording was used in the treaties signed by the other defeated nations of the Central Powers: Article 177 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye with Austria; Article 161 of the Treaty of Trianon with Hungary; Article 121 of the Treaty Areas of Neuilly-sur-Seine with Bulgaria; and Article 231 of the Treaty of Sevres with Turkey.<ref name="Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Article 177"group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye/Part VIII|Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Article 177]]</ref><ref name="Treaty of Trianon, Article 161" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Trianon/Part VIII|Treaty of Trianon, Article 161]]</ref><ref name="Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, Article 121" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Neuilly/Part VII|Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, Article 121]]</ref><ref name="Treaty of Sèvres, Article 231" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Sèvres/Part VIII|Treaty of Sèvres, Article 231]]</ref>}} The treaty required Germany to compensate the Allied powers, and it also established an Allied "Reparation Commission" to determine the exact amount which Germany would pay and the form that such payment would take. The commission was required to "give to the German Government a just opportunity to be heard", and to submit its conclusions by {{nowrap|1 May 1921}}. In the interim, the treaty required Germany to pay an equivalent of 20&nbsp;billion gold marks ($5&nbsp;billion) in gold, commodities, ships, securities or other forms. The money would help to pay for Allied occupation costs and buy food and raw materials for Germany.{{sfn|Martel|2010|p=156}}<ref name="Articles 232–235" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part VIII|Articles 232–235]]</ref>

===Guarantees===
[[File:Rhineland.jpg|thumb|Location of the [[Rhineland]] (yellow)|alt=Map of northwest Europe showing France, Germany and the Low Countries. The Yellow area highlights the Rhineland of Germany.]]

To ensure compliance, the Rhineland and [[bridgehead]]s east of the Rhine were to be occupied by Allied troops for fifteen years.<ref name="Article 428" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part XIV|Article 428]]</ref>
If Germany had not committed aggression, a staged withdrawal would take place; after five years, the [[Cologne]] bridgehead and the territory north of a line along the Ruhr would be evacuated. After ten years, the bridgehead at [[Coblenz]] and the territories to the north would be evacuated and after fifteen years remaining Allied forces would be withdrawn.<ref name="Article 429" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part XIV|Article 429]]</ref>
If Germany reneged on the treaty obligations, the bridgeheads would be reoccupied immediately.<ref name="Article 430" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part XIV|Article 430]]</ref>

===International organizations===
{{main|Covenant of the League of Nations|International Labour Organization#History}}

Part I of the treaty, in common with all the treaties signed during the [[Paris Peace Conference (1919–1920)|Paris Peace Conference]],{{efn-lr|see [[s:Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye|The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye]], [[s:Treaty of Trianon|The Treaty of Trianon]], [[s:Treaty of Neuilly|The Treaty of Neuilly]], and [[s:Treaty of Sèvres|The Treaty of Sèvres.]]}} was the [[Covenant of the League of Nations]], which provided for the creation of the League, an organization for the arbitration of international disputes.<ref name="Part I" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part I|Part I]]</ref>
Part XIII organized the establishment of the [[International Labour Organization|International Labour Office]], to regulate hours of work, including a maximum working day and week; the regulation of the labour supply; the prevention of [[Unemployment in the United Kingdom|unemployment]]; the provision of a living wage; the protection of the worker against sickness, disease and injury arising out of his employment; the protection of children, young persons and women; provision for old age and injury; protection of the interests of workers when employed abroad; recognition of the principle of [[freedom of association]]; the organization of vocational and technical education and other measures.<ref name="Part XIII preamble and Article 388" group=n.>[[s:Constitution of the International Labour Office|Constitution of the International Labour Office Part XIII preamble and Article 388]]</ref>
The treaty also called for the signatories to sign or ratify the [[International Opium Convention]].<ref name="Article 295" group=n.>[[s:Treaty of Versailles/Part X|Article 295]]</ref>

===War Crimes===
Article 227 of the Versailles treaty required the handing over of Kaiser Wilhelm for trial "for supreme offence against international treaties and the sanctity of treaties" before a bench of five allied judges – one British, one American, one French, one Italian, and one Japanese. If found guilty the judges were to "fix such punishment which it considers should be imposed".{{sfn|Gilbert|1974|p=276}} The death penalty was therefore not precluded.{{sfn|Bassiouni|2002|p=271}} Article 228 allowed the Allies to demand the extradition of German war criminals, who could be tried before military tribunals for crimes against "the laws and customs of war" under Article 229. To provide an evidentiary basis for such trials, Article 230 required the German government to transfer information and documents relevant to such trials.{{sfn|Bassiouni|2002|p=274}}