The Verailles Palace was picked as the signing place mainly for the spaciousness. There was a considerable amount of people involved in the signing - many hundreds. The signing to place in the Hall of Mirrors (shown below).
The Treaty of Versailles contained regulations that had to be done by Germany. Here are a few:
- Had to admit and take full responsibility of starting the war which made them responsible for all the damages cause in WWI.
- Pay France and Belgium for all the reparations. Amounting to about 130 billion dollars (about 400 billion dollars in our time as of 2007)
- Land taken away from Germany and given to; France, Belgium, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Poland.
- League of Nations took over Germany's overseas colonies.
- Land had to be given back to Russia that they received in the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Some was also given to Poland.
- Military had to be reduced. Army could not use tanks
- Forbidden to join with Austria to make a "superstate" in order to keep the economic potential to a minimum.
The reparations were reduced in the Dawes and Young plans in !924 and 1929. Eventually having all reparations forgiven by 1932.
Below shows a political cartoon of Lady Germanian on a torture pole.
Because of the reparations put onto Germany, mainly military actions, Hilter was secretly building up his army and made attacks on many countries. It wasn't until September 1st, 1939, when they attacked Poland and France and Britain backed them up was when WWII started. So I do believe that the Treaty of Versailles led to World War II.
The Treaty of Versailles to me was practically all against Germany. Though Germany was not the only country getting picked on, it had the biggest punishment. Very unfair punishment and led to them starting World War II. I guess that's what you getting for punishing a country with a leader like that.
http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/causes.htm
http://www.greatwar.nl/versailles/versail-summary.html
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/treaty_of_versailles.htm
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