​VERSAILLES, TREATY OF,

peace treaty signed (June 28, 1919) at the end of World War I between Germany and the Allies. It
resulted from the Paris Peace Conference, which opened on Jan. 18, 1919. Represented were 27
countries, including the U.S., Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan. Neither the German
Republic, which had replaced the imperial German government at the end of the war, nor Soviet
Russia was invited to attend the conference. Germany signed only under duress. The U.S. signed
but failed to ratify the treaty, negotiating instead the separate Treaty of Berlin with Germany
(signed on Aug. 25, 1921).The Versailles Treaty established the LEAGUE OF NATIONS,
(q.v.), whose principal tasks were to implement the several treaties emanating from the Paris
 conference and to preserve the peace.

Territorial Changes.

 Germany recognized the unconditional sovereignty of Belgium, Poland, Austria, and

Czechoslovakia, and renounced the treaties of Brest-Litovsk and Bucharest. In addition, it lost
some 71,000 sq km (about 27,500 sq mi), or more than 13 percent of its European domain.
Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France, and the Saar Basin was placed under a League of
Nations commission for 15 years. Belgium received the small districts of Eupen, Malmédy, and
Moresnet. Under plebiscites held in 1920 to determine the status of northern and central
Schleswig, the former, comprising 3981 sq km (1537 sq mi), was reunited with Denmark, but the
latter remained with Germany. To Poland were ceded large parts of the provinces of Posen and
West Prussia. Plebiscites in southeastern Prussia and the Marienwerder district of West Prussia,
held in 1920, produced substantial majorities for Germany. The plebiscite in Upper Silesia in
1921 gave a majority for Germany, but the Council of the League of Nations, having been invited
to settle the controversy, awarded the richest part of the region to Poland. A portion of Upper
Silesia was ceded to Czechoslovakia in 1920. The port of Memel with adjacent territory was
ceded to the Allies for ultimate transfer to Lithuania. The port of Danzig was ceded to the
principal Allied and associated powers, which recognized Danzig (now Gdansk) as a free city
administered under the League of Nations but subject to Polish jurisdiction in regard to customs
 and foreign relations. Germany also lost its entire colonial empire.

Disarmament and Reparation.

 Germany was required to abolish compulsory military service; to reduce its army to 100,000; to
demilitarize all the territory on the left bank of the Rhine River and also that on the right bank to a
depth of 50 km (31 mi); to stop all importation, exportation, and nearly all production of war
material; to limit its navy to 24 ships, with no submarines, the naval personnel not to exceed
15,000; and to abandon all military and naval aviation by Oct. 1, 1919.For damage incurred by
the Allied powers during the war, Germany was required to make extensive financial reparation.
Difficulty arose in collecting payment--which was made in the form of money, ships, trains,
livestock, and natural resources--and the matter was not settled until the Lausanne Conference in
 1932.

Honor Clauses.

 The German government was forced to admit that Germany and its allies were solely guilty of
causing the war. In addition, Germany agreed to permit war crimes trials of leading statesmen,
military commanders, and dignitaries, including former Emperor William II. (Only a few lesser
 persons were ever tried.) O.M.N., OTTO M. NELSON, M.A., Ph.D.For further information on
this topic, see the Bibliography, section 910. World War I and the U.S..

An article from Funk & Wagnalls® New Encyclopedia. ©2005 World Almanac Education
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