History & Civics
The Treaty of Versailles was not negotiated, but dictated by the victorious powers. In this context answer the following questions:
(a) How did Germany suffer territorial losses in the mainland of Europe?
(b) How did Germany have to lose all her African colonies and other overseas possessions?
Answer
(a) Germany suffered major territorial losses in the mainland of Europe. The terms of the treaty were as follows:
- France got back Alsace-Lorraine which she had lost in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871).
- To compensate France for the deliberate destruction of her coal mines by the Germans in 1918, she was given full ownership of the rich coal mines in the Saar basin, a district adjoining Lorraine for a period of 15 years.
- The fate of Schleswig was determined by a plebiscite. The northern zone voted for incorporation in Denmark and the central zone voted for Germany.
- Germany had to surrender the areas of Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium. The city of Memel went to Lithuiana.
- The newly created State of Poland got back all the territories she had lost in the War. Posen and almost the whole of West Prussia were also included in the Polish State. To provide Poland with a port, the German city of Danzig was internationalised.
(b) Besides territorial losses in Europe, Germany lost all her colonies and overseas possessions.
- Togoland and the Cameroon (in West Africa) were partitioned between Britain and France and German East Africa was shared between Britain and Belgium.
- However, the Allied powers (Britain, France and Belgium) held these territories as Mandatories of the League of Nations.
- Palestine and Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) were also held by Britain under a Mandate from the League of Nations.
Related Questions
The Great War of 1914 was not due to any single cause, but due to accumulation of explosive material for many years. Describe the factors that widened the rift between the rival powers with reference to the following:
(a) Intense Nationalism
(b) Race for Armaments
There were many causes responsible for the outbreak of the First World War. Describe how did the following lead to the First World War?
(a) Division of Europe into two armed camps.
(b) Imperialism, i.e., race for Colonies.
The Treaty of Versailles sought to cripple once and for all the military strength of Germany. In this context answer the following questions:
(a) What did the Allied Powers do to curb German Militarism (or to reduce strength of the German army)?
(b) Is it correct to say that the Treaty of Versailles subjected Germany to the harshest possible conditions?
Or
The Treaty of Versailles came in for severe criticism. What was the main criticism against it?With reference to the results of the First World War describe:
(a) Any three territorial rearrangements that changed political map of the world.
(b) Principal Organs of the League of Nations.
(c) Any three objectives of the League of Nations.