What were the key provisions of the Treaty of Versailles?

The key provisions of the Treaty of Versailles included:

1. War Guilt: Germany was forced to accept full responsibility for causing the war.

2. Reparations: Germany was required to pay massive reparations to the Allies to compensate for war damages.

3. Territorial Losses: Germany lost significant territories, including Alsace-Lorraine to France, parts of Prussia to Poland, and its overseas colonies.

4. Disarmament: Germany was limited in its military capabilities, with severe restrictions on its army, navy, and air force.

5. League of Nations: The treaty established the League of Nations, an international organization aimed at maintaining peace and resolving conflicts.

6. Demilitarization of the Rhineland: Germany was prohibited from stationing troops in the Rhineland, a buffer zone between Germany and France.

7. War Reparations Commission: A commission was established to determine the exact amount of reparations Germany had to pay.

8. War Crimes Trials: The treaty called for the prosecution of German war criminals, leading to the establishment of the Nuremberg Trials after World War II.

These provisions were intended to punish Germany for its role in the war and ensure lasting peace, but they also contributed to the economic and political instability that eventually led to World War II.