On June 28, 1919, the Treaty of Versailles was signed at the Palace of Versailles outside Paris, France. The treaty outlined the conditions of peace between Germany and the victorious Allies, led by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. The other Central Powers signed different treaties with the Allies.

The Treaty of Versailles is one of the most controversial armistice treaties in history. The treaty forced Germany and other Central Powers to take all the blame for World War I. They were punished with a loss of territories, reduction in military forces, and reparation payments to Allied powers.

Some historians think the Treaty of Versailles was a politically mistake. It took Germany several decades to pay off their reparations. These historians believe the treaty conditions contributed to German economic and political instability that allowed for the rise of the Nazis a year later.

Other historians think that the Treaty of Versailles showed restraint because Germany and other Central Power nations were not occupied by Allied forces after the war.

Source: Treaty of Versailles
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