"This is not a peace. It is an armistice for twenty years!"
~ Ferdinand Foch, the Supreme Allied Commander (NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)
The Treaty of Versailles consisted of 440 articles. The main terms revolve around economic reparations, war guilt, territorial loss, military and manufacturing restrictions.
Government Officials Drafting the Terms of the Treaty of Versailles, History.com
Draft Clause, June 28, 2019, Euronews.com
War Guilt Clause
Article 231 (Treaty of Versailles p.145), Library of Congress
One of the most significant terms in the Treaty of Versailles was the "War Guilt Clause". This clause forced Germany to take complete responsibility for starting WWI, resulting in the massive reparations of over $30 billion.
Beyond Reparations
"It is a severe treaty in the duties and penalties it imposes upon Germany, but it is severe only because great wrongs done by Germany are to be righted and repaired; it imposes nothing that Germany cannot do; and she can regain her rightful standing in the world by the prompt and honorable fulfillment of its terms."
~ Woodrow Wilson, the head of U.S. delegation for the Paris Peace Conference (Messages from the Peace Delegates, Library of Congress, June 29, 1919)
"What we will lose!", 1919, BBC
Germany's Territorrial Loss, BBC
Reparations
In WWI, Germany had trampled through neutral Belgium during their invasion of France. The German military brought Belgium to destruction. As a result of this, Belgium was entitled to 2,500,000,000 francs (~$2.7 billion), and given the first priority for reparations.
"Priority in Reparation Payments to Belgium" (Treaty of Versailles p.46), Library of Congress
Military Restrictions
The Treaty of Versailles also restricted Germany's military. It shrunk the army to a maximum of 100,000 men and limited the number of officers to 4,000. It also controlled the divisions of the German army to seven divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry.
Articles 159 and 160 (Treaty of Versailles p.123), Library of Congress
Manufacturing Restrictions
The treaty also stated terms that prohibited Germany's manufacturing and importation of war materials. The treaty also prevented Germany from using gas and liquid poisons. Furthermore, the treaty forced the German government to reveal the manufacturing recipes of many weapons that were used in the war, including explosives, toxic substances, and other chemical preparations.
Articles 171 and 172 (Treaty of Versailles p.127), Library of Congress