Explain Versailles Treaty in detail

The Treaty of Versailles was signed at Versailles in France. It was signed by the victorious nations. Main terms of the Treaty were:

• Germany was held guilty of aggression.
• She was also required to pay huge war reparations of 33 billion dollars to pay for the losses of the victorious nations.
• The Rhine Valley in Germany was to be demilitarised and German territory to the west Rhine was to be occupied by the Allied troops for 15 years.
• Germany lost Alsace- Lorraine to France and Schleswig to Denmark.
• Coal mines in Germany called Saar were given to France for 15 years.
• Germany lost all her colonies to the victorious nations.
• The size of the German army and navy was restricted and its Air force and submarines were banned.

There was dissatisfaction in Italy and Germany with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Several harsh restrictions were imposed on Germany. She had to a huge war indemnity and her mineral rich areas of Saar and Rhineland was occupied by France. Treaty of Versailles was one of the major causes of the Second World War.