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

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