Rhine Demilitarized Zone

established by the Treaty of Versailles of 1919 in order to prevent an attack by Germany on France. It covered German territory on the left bank of the Rhine and a strip 50 km in width on its right bank. Germany was forbidden to deploy troops or erect military fortifications in the Rhine demilitarized zone. In March 1936, fascist Germany abolished the demilitarized zone by bringing troops into the area.