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What military restrictions did the Treaty of Versailles place on Germany?
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Treaty of Versailles
The “Big Four” (left to right): David Lloyd George of Britain, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Woodrow Wilson of the United States, the principal architects of the Treaty of Versailles.
The Treaty of Versailles imposed severe military restrictions on Germany to ensure it would no longer pose a threat to European security. These measures included:
- Army Limitations: The German army was restricted to a maximum of 100,000 men, and the general staff—the military command structure—was dissolved.12
- Prohibited Weaponry: Germany was strictly forbidden from manufacturing or possessing tanks, submarines, military airplanes, armored cars, or poison gas.12
- Naval Restrictions: The navy was significantly dismantled, limited to 15,000 men, six battleships, and 30 smaller vessels.1
- Demilitarization: A permanent demilitarized zone was established in the Rhineland. German forces were prohibited from entering this area, which included all territory west of the Rhine River and a 31-mile (50-km) strip to the east.312
- Production Controls: Only a limited number of specified factories were permitted to produce weapons or munitions.2
Compliance with these terms was monitored by the Inter-Allied Commissions of Control and enforced through the occupation of the Rhineland.1