TREATY OF VERSAILLES
JUNE 28, 1919
 

At the end of World War I, the Allies made Germany sign the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty took effect on January 10, 1920.

The Big Four, who led the Allies in drafting the peace settlements, were David Lloyd George (Britain,) Vittorio Orlando (Italy,) Georges Clemenceau (France,) and Woodrow Wilson (United States.)

And here they are as such left to right:

THE BIG FOUR OF VERSAILLES 1919

What did the Treaty mean for Germany?
Bad news all around.

The Germans had to sign that WWI was their fault and that they would pay up. In digits that was $33,000,000,000 in 1921.

And of course, their country was given a slightly different shape on the map. Germany's overseas colonies in China, in the Pacific, and in Africa were taken over by the Allies.

By the way, instead of giving the German colony in China back to China it was given to Japan. Naturally, this ticked the Chinese off and they started their May Fourth Movement.

Here it is for Europe:

GERMANY BEFORE AND AFTER THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
Click to enlarge

However, harsh treaty or not, by 1933 the Germans couldn't care less anymore. Their new chancellor Adolf the Nut knew the way out.