The Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, formally concluding World War I between Germany and the Allied powers. Negotiated during the Paris Peace Conference, the treaty was a product of intense discussions and conflicting national interests. Key figures included Georges Clemenceau from France, who sought to weaken Germany, David Lloyd George from Britain, who balanced desires for reparations and the future of Europe, and Woodrow Wilson from the United States, who advocated for a League of Nations to promote peace.

The treaty imposed a range of penalties on Germany, including significant territorial losses such as Alsace-Lorraine to France and parts of Prussia to Poland. It limited the size of the German military and mandated the payment of reparations to the Allied nations. The infamous Article 231, often termed the 'War Guilt Clause,' placed sole responsibility for the war on Germany, which generated resentment and economic difficulties in the nation.

The signing of the treaty not only sought to prevent future conflicts through diplomatic means but also shaped the geopolitical landscape of Europe. The various clauses and conditions laid the groundwork for significant political and social changes in Germany, ultimately leading to the rise of extremism and the conditions that precipitated World War II.