Signing of the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles is signed in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, Paris

Historical Context

The peace treaty to formally end the war between Germany and the Allies was signed in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles on the outskirts of Paris in 1919.

Treaty negotiations were dominated by the 'big four' French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau, Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and United States President Woodrow Wilson. Central to the treaty was a stipulation Germany accept responsibility for all damage and harm during the war. Germany was required to disarm, give up overseas territories and pay reparations.

The treaty was signed five years to the day of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the event that first propelled the world into war.

Painting Info

Artist: John Christen Johansen
Location painted: Paris, France
Source: Smithsonian

Related Events

1919-06-20 Treaty of Versailles: Germany ends incorporation of Austria
1919-06-20 Philipp Scheidemann resigns as chancellor of the new German Republic, which he helped establish, refusing to sign the Treaty of Versailles
1919-06-28 Treaty of Versailles is signed in France, ending World War I and establishing the League of Nations
1919-07-10 US President Woodrow Wilson personally delivers Treaty of Versailles to Senate
1919-09-03 President Woodrow Wilson set out on a tour of the USA to rouse public opinion behind the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations
1919-11-19 US Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles by a vote of 55 to 39; Congress two years later approves resolution ending hostilities with Germany and Austria-Hungary
1920-03-19 US Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles for the second time, refusing to ratify the League of Nations' covenant and maintains a policy of isolation