B The Principal Allied and Associated Powers […] of the one part; and Germany, of the other part; […] have agreed upon the following provisions: […] Article 45. […] Germany cedes to France in full and absolute possession […] the coal mines situated in the Saar Basin […]. Article 51. The territories ceded to Germany in accordance with the Preliminaries of Peace signed in […] 1871 […] are restored to French sovereignty […]. Article 80. Germany acknowledges and will respect strictly the independence of Austria […]. Article 81. Germany […] recognises the complete independence of the Czechoslovak State […]. Article 87. Germany […] recognises the complete independence of Poland […]. Article 116. Germany acknowledges […] the independence of all the territories that were part of the former Russian Empire on 1st August 1914. […] Article 119. Germany renounces in favour of the Principal Allied and Associated Powers all her rights and titles over her overseas possessions. Treaty of Versailles, 29th June 1919 (Adapted) Explain what the Treaty of Versailles was. Analyse some of the articles. – Look at Article 51. What country did Germany return Alsace-Lorraine to? When and how were they originally lost? – What does Article 45 state? Why were coal mines so important at that time? – Which new countries are mentioned? Give your opinion. Do you think the measures imposed in the Treaty of Versailles were fair? Look at the poster. What do the hands represent? What do the people represent? Your turn 37
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