Terms of the Treaty of Versailles

War guilt clause (Article 231): Germany was forced to accept sole responsibility for the war. This clause was particularly humiliating and provided the legal basis for reparations.

Reparations: Germany was required to pay enormous reparations, eventually set at 132 billion gold marks. The payments were never completed.

Territorial losses: Germany lost Alsace-Lorraine to France, parts of eastern Germany to a reconstituted Poland (creating the Polish Corridor that separated East Prussia from the rest of Germany), the Saar coal region to French administration, and all overseas colonies.

Military restrictions: German army was limited to 100,000 men, no tanks, no air force, navy reduced to a token force. The Rhineland was demilitarized.

League of Nations: Created as an international organization to prevent future wars through collective security. The League's covenant was incorporated into the treaty.