The Treaty of Versailles (Article)

The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of WWI that ended the state of war between the Allied Powers and Germany. The treaty was negotiated between January and June and was signed on June 28, 1919. The treaty written by the Allies with little to no say by the Germans. The negotiations revealed a split between the French, who wanted to dismember Germany and make it impossible for it to renew war with France, and the British and Americans, who did not want to create pretexts for a new war. The treaty included fifteen parts and four hundred and forty articles. Part I created the Covenant of the New League of Nations, which Germany was not allowed to join until 1926. Part II specified Germany’s new boundaries, giving Alsace-Lorraine back to France, substantial eastern districts to Poland, Memel to Lithuania, and large portions of Schleswig to Denmark. Part III created a demilitarized zone and separated the Saar from Germany for fifteen years. Part IV stripped Germany of all its colonies. Part V reduced Germany’s armed forces to very low levels and prohibited Germany from possessing certain classes of weapons, while committing the Allies to eventual disarmament as well. Part VIII established Germany’s liability for reparations. In Article 231 Germany was forced to accept the responsibility of itself and its allies for the losses and damages of the Allies “as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.” Part IX imposed numerous other financial obligations upon Germany. The German government signed the treaty under protest.

-I found this article by searching the rise of Nazi power. Even though this wasn't exactly what I was looking for it explains a lot about Germany after WWI. It also explains how Hitler gained power. This article will be helpful to teach my audience background information about my topic. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/treaty-of-versailles