1. Reduction of Armed Forces: Germany's military was significantly reduced. The size of the army was limited to 100,000 men, and conscription was abolished. The air force was abolished entirely, and the navy was restricted to a small number of ships.
2. Demilitarization of the Rhineland: The Rhineland, a region along the western border of Germany, was demilitarized. German military forces were prohibited from entering or stationing in this area, creating a buffer zone between Germany and France.
3. Territorial Losses: Germany lost significant territories as a result of the treaty. Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France, Eupen-Malmédy to Belgium, North Schleswig to Denmark, and West Prussia, Posen, and Upper Silesia were ceded to Poland. These territorial changes weakened Germany's strategic position and reduced its industrial capacity.
4. War Guilt Clause: Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, known as the "War Guilt Clause," assigned sole responsibility for the war to Germany. This clause had significant political and psychological implications, placing the blame for the war squarely on Germany and its leaders.
5. Reparations: Germany was required to pay substantial reparations to the Allied Powers as compensation for war damages. The total sum was set at 132 billion gold marks (approximately £6.6 billion), payable in installments over a period of 30 years. These reparations placed a heavy financial burden on Germany and contributed to its economic difficulties in the interwar period.