ConflictEurope

The Treaty of Versailles

Jul 2, 1919

A peace that laid the ground for the next war

In depth

The economist Keynes left the negotiations in protest and wrote that the terms would ruin Europe. The Sykes-Picot agreement and the mandate system drew the Middle East without regard for who lived there. China, which had fought on the winning side, saw German holdings transferred to Japan — and the May Fourth movement that followed was the starting point of modern Chinese nationalism.

For children

After the First World War, Germany had to accept all blame and pay enormous reparations. New countries were drawn up in Europe and the Middle East by the victors. Many borders from this peace are still sources of conflict.

Connects to

The First World WarJul 28, 1914 – Nov 11, 1918
The Second World WarSep 1, 1939 – Sep 2, 1945
The United Nations is foundedOct 24, 1945
The People's Republic of ChinaOct 1, 1949

Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org