Treaty of Versailles

Definition

The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed in 1919 that officially ended World War I. It held Germany responsible for the war and imposed heavy penalties, including territorial losses, military restrictions, and reparations.

Related terms

War Guilt Clause: This was part of the Treaty of Versailles that declared Germany (and Austria) were responsible for starting World War I and had to pay reparations.

Reparations: These are payments made by defeated countries after a war to compensate victorious countries for damages. In this case, Germany had to pay large sums to Allied countries after WWI due to the Treaty of Versailles.

Paris Peace Conference: This was an international meeting held in Paris in 1919 where leaders from over 30 nations negotiated peace treaties ending World War I, including the Treaty of Versailles.