World War One, also known as “The Great War” and “The War to End All Wars”, unofficially ended on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, when an armistice agreement earlier in the day between Germany and the Allied powers ended hostilities between the warring nations. The official treaty ending the war would not be signed until June 28, 1919 following the Paris Peace Conference.
Paris, France: 1919. Versailles Peace Conference. Lloyd George, PM of Great Britain, Vittorio Orlando, PM of Italy, Premier Georges Clemenceau of France and President Woodrow Wilson of the United States. Credit: Underwood Archives/Universal Images Group 
Georges Clemenceau, Woodrow Wilson, & David Lloyd George, Leaving Palace of Versailles during Peace Treaty, June 28, 1919. Credit: JT Vintage/Glasshouse Images/Universal Images Group 
Armistice Signing Ceremony Between Germany and Allied Nations, Compiegne, France, November 11, 1918. Credit: JT Vintage/Glasshouse Images/Universal Images Group 
The peace treaty of Versailles. Georges Clémenceau, standing, pronounces a speech. To his flanks are Thomas Woodrow Wilson and David Lloyd George. France, 1919. Credit: Fototeca Gilardi/Universal Images Group 
Photograph taken during the formal signing of the Locarno Treaties in London in which the First World War Western European Allied powers and the new states of Central and Eastern Europe sought to secure the post-war territorial settlement, and return normalizing relations with defeated Germany. Credit: Ann Ronan Picture Library/Photo 12/Universal Images Group
The Treaty of Versailles was signed in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles and officially took effect the following year, on January 10, 1920. The treaty was drafted during the Spring of 1919 at the Paris Peace Conference, which was dominated by the “Big Four” – David Lloyd George, the United Kingdom’s prime minister; Georges Clemenceau, the prime minister of France; Italian prime minister Vittorio Orlando; and President Woodrow Wilson of the United States. None of the defeated nations were permitted any influence on the agreement’s terms and Germany, in particular, was shocked at the severity of the terms and felt betrayed and misled from earlier Allied assurances.
The severity of the terms, especially those forcing Germany to accept guilt and pay reparations, would focus German anger towards the allies in the years to come, and directly lead to the rise of the Nazi Party. The treaty ending the War to End All Wars would, slightly more than a decade later, lead to the catastrophic World War Two.
A car load of men and women celebrating the end of World War I circa 1918. Credit: HUM Images/Universal Images Group 
An officer of the Irish Guards reads news of the armistice to his men, Western Front, 11 November 1918. Credit: SSPL/Universal Images Group 
First World War. The Grands Boulevards on the 11th November 1918. Credit: Photo12/Universal Images Group 
First World War. Victory celebrations. Parading under the Arc de Triomphe, 14th July 1919. Credit: Photo12/Universal Images Group 
Interwar period. President Poincare puts the swords of honor to French Marshals Foch and Joffre during the victory celebrations. Paris, 14th July 1919. Credit: Photo12/Universal Images Group 
Stereoview WW1, The Great War. Artillery in the Great March of the Empire’s Forces, Westminster Bridge. The Victory March at the end of WW1, 1918, London. Credit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group 
World War I Armistice Day Celebrations at Broad and Chestnut Streets. Philadelphia, PA, Nov 11, 1918. Credit: GG Vintage Images/Universal Images Group 
France: Siamese (Thai) troops march through the Arc de Triomphe in Paris in a victory celebration after the end of World War I, 19 July, 1919 Credit: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group 
Photograph of the American Flags Stars and Stripes march parade along Fifth Avenue, New York. Dated 20th Century. Credit: Ann Ronan Picture Library/Photo 12/Universal Images Group 
US and British soldiers, celebrating the armistice which marked the end of World War I on November 11th, 1918. Credit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group
Hope reigned amongst the citizenry of the victorious nations following the Treaty of Versailles. November 11 would soon become a common day or remembrance for many allied nations that has lasted to present day. Armistice Day is celebrated on November 11 each year in Belgium and France. November 11 is observed as Remembrance Day across British Commonwealth countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The United States calls November 11 its Veterans Day to celebrate and honor its veterans of all its wars.
Despite the Versailles Treaty, and many other similar agreements and treaties that came before and after it, wars continue to be fought not only on European soil, but all over the world, one hundred and five years later.
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Sources:
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Treaty of Versailles”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2024, accessed 13 November 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/Treaty-of-Versailles-1919