1.

Explain the provision of the Treaty of Versailles.

Answer»

Treaty of Versailles : In the Paris Peace Conference, the Nations of First World War made Versailles Treaty with Germany in 1919. 

Its provisions are :

(i) Territorial Re-Organisation.

(ii) War indemnity.

(iii) Germany disarmed.

(iv) Trial of war prisoners.

(v) Establishment of mandate.

(vi) League establishment.

Detailed Answer : 

The provisions were : 

(i) German territory was reduced. In the west, Alsace and Lorraine were given to France and the districts of Eupen and Malmedy were given to Belgium. In the east, Posaninia and bits of East Prussia were given to Poland. Danzig became a free city. Schleswig went to Denmark and Memel to Lithuania after a plebiscite (vote), which was not permitted for the other areas. It added up to about 65,000 square kilometers and almost 7 million people. 

(ii) The German Army was reduced to 100,000 troops, the nascent Air Force banned, and the Navy stripped of all submarines and ships over 10,000 tonnes. Military restrictions were put. The size of German Army was limited. They were prohibited from importing/making weapons, and forbidden to have an Air Force. 

(iii) Article 231 stated that Germany accepted “The responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.” This was the so-called “war guilt clause.” 

(iv) Economic reparations were called for. The treaty itself did not call for such and exact number, but a Reparations Commission was called which decided in 1921 on a figure of 132 Billion gold marks to be paid by Germany to the allies.

(v) Germany accepted responsibility for the losses and damages caused by the war “as a consequence of the aggression of Germany and her allies. 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. 

(vi) The Covenant of the League of Nations was signed , which provided for the creation of the League, an organization for the arbitration of international disputes. Part XIII organized the establishment of the International Labour Officer, to regulate hours of work, including a maximum working day and week; the regulation of the labour supply; the prevention of 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.



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