The countries of Great Britain and France were particularly intent on giving Germany a harsh sentence because of the damages they had suffered from the war. Woodrow Wilson of America however, had a less malicious sentence and initially devised a 14-point plan that he believed would bring peace to Europe. It involved countries reducing their armed forces, and the independence of nations. However the treaty turned out to be pretty different from Wilson’s 14-point plan.
The treaty started off by restricting Germany’s army to only 100,000 men with no conscriptions. They were not allowed the manufacture of major weaponry, such as heavy artillery or poison-gas supplies to prevent future outbreaks. Germany was forbidden to have any tanks. They were deprived of an air force with no aircrafts and airships. Their navy was reduced to only six battleships without the exception of submarines or vessels under 100,000 tons. Further more, Germany had to demilitarize every country that they occupied.
Despite a great military loss, Germany was deprived of 13 percent of their land. They were also not allowed to unite or have ties with Austria. The territory of Alsace-Lorraine was given back to France. Belgium gained the German lands of Eupen and Malmedy. Japan took the German Pacific islands north of the equator while Australia and New Zealand gained control of the islands south of the equator. The land of North Schleswig was given to Denmark. Czechoslovakia and Poland were able to gain land from Germany as well. And finally, the League of Nations took control of the rest of Germany’s colonies.
Along with land losses Germany eventually had to pay reparations. They were charged with £6,600 million for the war damages they caused. Most of this money would be given to France and Great Britain. Germany was forced to accept the conditions of the treaty.
The severe punishment that Germany had to face was also put upon the countries that supported Germany. Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey all had to sign separate treaties that greatly weakened their country’s economy.
Even with what some people thought were unfair treaties, the Treaty of Versailles brought a sense of peace and order to the nations that dealt with the initiator of WWI.
