The Treaty of Versailles: Background and Effects

The Treaty of Versailles was the peace treaty signed between defeated Germany and the victorious allies in the First World War at the city of Versailles. This treaty was signed in 1919 in the city of Versailles of France. Representative of 32 countries of the world participated in the conference. The Allies held Germany only responsible for causing the First World War. It was through this treaty that the Allies forced Germany to pay war reparations and harsh unfair terms were imposed on Germany. The treaties were not negotiated but dictated by the victorious powers. Germany was contained in the treaty of Versailles. Germany was punished, disarmed and humiliated in the treaty of Versailles. All the unnecessary conditions were imposed to limit Germany’s military, political and economic power. German chancellor Joseph Vitt signed the treaty on behalf of Germany and US secretary of state Robert lensing signed the treaty on behalf of the Allies. Large sums of reparations were demanded on Germany to punish Germany. The people of Germany did not accept this loss but they were inspired instead by nationalism. This is why historians call the treaty of Versailles the seeds of the Second World War.