Short Summary of 1919 Treaty of Versailles

Treaty of Versailles

After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles, imposed heavy restrictions on both the future size of the German military, as well as the ability of Germany to have heavy industry. The intent was to make Germany incapable of invading any of it's neighbors.

The treaty also required Germany, the aggressor, to make excessively heavy payments to the allies. To put the payments in perspective, the Young Plan of 1929 actually reduced, and set a limit on, the amount to be paid in reparations by Germany. Under this plan, Germany would make it's last reparations payment in 1988.

Another aspect of this treaty entailed Germany losing large swaths of territory. Poland and Czechoslovakia were carved out of former Russian, German, and Austro-Hungarian lands. The Rhineland (though still a part of Germany) was demilitarized. Denmark gained territories it had lost during the Schleswig Wars of the mid 1800's. All told, Germany lost approximately 12.5% of it's territory, and 6.5 million people due to the treaty. link