Treaty of Versailles

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand arguably marks the start of World War I. The Treaty of Versailles symbolises the end. It was signed in France at the Palace of Versailles in the famous Hall of Mirrors on 28 June 1919. A controversial order of the treaty was that “Germany accept the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage.” This meant Germany would now be obligated to stay militarily disarmed, lose all territorial colonies, and pay incredibly high reparations. Present at the Versailles Peace Conference, John Keynes called the treaty a “Carthaginian peace” due to extreme compensations Germany would pay. Incidentally, Allied leaders like French Marshal Ferdinand Foch, is still remembered for his firm belief that the treaty was too forgiving and lenient on Germany.