How did the Treaty of Versailles affect lands controlled by Germany?

The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, dramatically altered the map of Europe and significantly affected the lands controlled by Germany. Here are some of the primary ways the treaty impacted German territory:

1. Territory Losses: Germany was forced to cede large portions of its territory to neighboring countries. Key territorial changes included: - Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France. - Eupen and Malmedy were transferred to Belgium. - The northern part of Schleswig was voted to be part of Denmark. - West Prussia and Posen (later known as the 'Polish Corridor') were given to Poland, granting the new nation access to the Baltic Sea and effectively cutting East Prussia off from the rest of Germany. - The province of Silesia was also significantly reduced following a plebiscite, with parts going to Poland.

2. Disarmament of the Rhineland: The Rhineland, a crucial industrial region bordering France and Belgium, was demilitarized. Germany was forbidden from stationing any troops, building fortifications, or conducting military maneuvers in the area.

3. Creation of New States: The dissolution of empires after World War I led to the creation of new countries and the redrawing of Europe’s political map. This included the establishment of countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the various states that formed Yugoslavia, often at the expense of former German-held territories.

4. Saar Basin: The coal-rich Saar Basin was placed under the administration of the League of Nations for 15 years, with its coal production to be controlled by France. A plebiscite was to determine its final sovereignty after that period.

5. Danzig: The city of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) was declared a free city under the protection of the League of Nations, which limited German control and sovereignty over this area.

6. Colonies: Germany's overseas colonies were confiscated and became mandates under the League of Nations, administered by countries like Britain, France, and Japan, rather than being integrated into them as colonies.

The loss of these territories had significant cultural, economic, and political effects on Germany, contributing to a sense of national humiliation and economic hardship that would later be exploited by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party as they rose to power.