Page "History of Germany" Paragraph 199

On 11 November, the Compiègne armistice was signed, ending the war.

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919.

Germany was to cede Alsace-Lorraine, Eupen-Malmédy, North Schleswig, and the Memel area.

All German colonies were to be handed over to the British and French.

Poland was restored and most of the provinces of Posen and West Prussia, and some areas of Upper Silesia were reincorporated into the reformed country after plebiscites and independence uprisings.

The left and right banks of the Rhine were to be permanently demilitarised.

The industrially important Saarland was to be governed by the League of Nations for 15 years and its coalfields administered by France.

At the end of that time a plebiscite was to determine the Saar's future status.

To ensure execution of the treaty's terms, Allied troops would occupy the left ( German ) bank of the Rhine for a period of 5 – 15 years.

The German army was to be limited to 100, 000 officers and men ; the general staff was to be dissolved ; vast quantities of war material were to be handed over and the manufacture of munitions rigidly curtailed.

The navy was to be similarly reduced, and no military aircraft were allowed.

Germany and its allies were to accept the sole responsibility of the war, in accordance with the War Guilt Clause, and were to pay financial reparations for all loss and damage suffered by the Allies.