In short
In 1919, the victorious Allied powers gathered in Paris to write the peace terms that would reshape Europe after World War I. Led by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and French Premier Georges Clemenceau, they negotiated five separate treaties that redrew borders, imposed reparations on Germany, and created the League of Nations—with consequences that would echo through the twentieth century.
How it unfolded.
The five-minute version
What actually happened.
The Paris Peace Conference was a set of formal and informal diplomatic meetings in 1919 and 1920 after the end of World War I, in which the victorious Allies set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers. Dominated by the leaders of Britain, France, the United States and Italy, the conference resulted in five treaties that rearranged the maps of parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands, and also imposed financial penalties. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria were not given a voice in the deliberations; this later gave rise to political resentments that lasted decades. Russia was represented. The arrangements made by this conference are considered one of the greatest watersheds of 20th century geopolitical history which would lead to World War II.
As it was happening
14 voices, 570 days.
One beat at a time. Click any dot on the timeline to jump, press play for autoplay, or use the arrow keys to step.
Peace Conference opens
The Paris Peace Conference convenes at the Palace of Versailles. Woodrow Wilson arrives as the first sitting U.S. president to visit Europe.
Voices from this moment (3)
The Times
Jan 18
“Peace Conference Opens at Versailles - Wilson, Clemenceau,…”
Le Figaro
Jan 19
“La Conference de Paix s'ouvre a Versailles - La France…”
Peace Conference opens
Jan 18
“The Paris Peace Conference convenes at the Palace of…”
As it was happening
14 voices, 570 days.
Day 0 · January 18, 1919
Peace Conference opens
The Paris Peace Conference convenes at the Palace of Versailles. Woodrow Wilson arrives as the first sitting U.S. president to visit Europe.
“Peace Conference Opens at Versailles - Wilson, Clemenceau,…”
- The Times, Jan 18
“La Conference de Paix s'ouvre a Versailles - La France…”
- Le Figaro, Jan 19
“The Paris Peace Conference convenes at the Palace of…”
- Peace Conference opens, Jan 18
Day 7 · January 25, 1919
League of Nations proposal
Wilson presents his proposal for the League of Nations as the centerpiece of the peace settlement.
“Wilson presents his proposal for the League of Nations as…”
- League of Nations proposal, Jan 25
Day 42 · March 1, 1919
German delegation arrives
The German delegation, led by Foreign Minister Ulrich von Brockdorff-Rantzau, arrives at Versailles to learn the peace terms.
“League of Nations Approved - Wilson's Vision for Collective…”
- The Manchester Guardian, Apr 28
“The German delegation, led by Foreign Minister Ulrich von…”
- German delegation arrives, Mar 1
Day 109 · May 7, 1919
Treaty presented to Germany
Germany receives the draft treaty; Brockdorff-Rantzau denounces it as a 'dictated peace' in a famous speech.
“Peace Terms Drafted - Reparations, New Nations, League of…”
- The New York Times, May 7
“Germany receives the draft treaty; Brockdorff-Rantzau…”
- Treaty presented to Germany, May 7
Day 161 · June 28, 1919
Treaty of Versailles signed
Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles under protest in the Hall of Mirrors. The treaty imposes reparations, territorial losses, military restrictions, and war guilt clause on Germany.
“Versailles-Vertrag - Deutschland muss Millionen zahlen und…”
- Berliner Tageblatt, Jun 28
“Germany signs the Treaty of Versailles under protest in the…”
- Treaty of Versailles signed, Jun 28
Day 235 · September 10, 1919
Treaty of Saint-Germain signed
Austria signs its peace treaty, dissolving the Austro-Hungarian Empire and creating multiple successor states.
“Austria signs its peace treaty, dissolving the…”
- Treaty of Saint-Germain signed, Sep 10
Day 313 · November 27, 1919
Treaty of Neuilly signed
Bulgaria signs its peace treaty, losing territory to Yugoslavia, Romania, and Greece.
“Bulgaria signs its peace treaty, losing territory to…”
- Treaty of Neuilly signed, Nov 27
Day 388 · February 10, 1920
Treaty of Trianon signed
Hungary signs its peace treaty, losing two-thirds of its pre-war territory.
“Hungary signs its peace treaty, losing two-thirds of its…”
- Treaty of Trianon signed, Feb 10
Day 570 · August 10, 1920
Treaty of Sèvres signed
The Ottoman Empire signs its peace treaty, dismantling the empire and creating the basis for Turkish territorial disputes.
“The Ottoman Empire signs its peace treaty, dismantling the…”
- Treaty of Sèvres signed, Aug 10
The numbers.
3 numbers that anchor the scale.
By the numbers
The countable parts.
German reparations (nominal)
0 billion gold marks (approximately $442 billion in 2024 USD)
Territorial losses for Germany
0% of European territory and all overseas colonies
League of Nations members at founding
0 nations
Front pages.
3 outlets carried the story: The Times, Le Figaro, The New York Times.
Media coverage
What the world was reading.
5 pieces, ranked by how much they shaped the discourse.
The New York Times
Newspaper · United States · May 7, 1919
"Peace Terms Drafted - Reparations, New Nations, League of Nations Framework Emerge"
Synthesized from period reporting - After months of intense closed-door negotiations, the peace conference delegates unveiled a sweeping treaty imposing severe restrictions on Germany while establishing a revolutionary international body to prevent future wars.
- Jan 18, 1919
The Times
Newspaper · United Kingdom
"Peace Conference Opens at Versailles - Wilson, Clemenceau, Lloyd George Convene"
The greatest diplomatic assembly of the modern era commenced today in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, where the leaders of the Allied powers gathered to reshape the map of Europe and dictate terms to the vanquished Central Powers.
- Jan 19, 1919
Le Figaro
Newspaper · France
"La Conference de Paix s'ouvre a Versailles - La France impose ses conditions"
FR: 'La Conference de Paix s'ouvre a Versailles - La France impose ses conditions' / EN: 'The Peace Conference Opens at Versailles - France Imposes Its Terms'. Clemenceau and the French delegation secured prime positioning as reparations demands took center stage in negotiations.
- Apr 28, 1919
The Manchester Guardian
Newspaper · United Kingdom
"League of Nations Approved - Wilson's Vision for Collective Security Takes Shape"
Synthesized from period reporting - The conference delegates voted to ratify the Covenant of the League of Nations, marking a watershed moment in international governance despite skepticism from hardline nationalists in multiple delegations.
- Jun 28, 1919
Berliner Tageblatt
Newspaper · Germany
"Versailles-Vertrag - Deutschland muss Millionen zahlen und Territorium abtreten"
DE: 'Versailles-Vertrag - Deutschland muss Millionen zahlen und Territorium abtreten' / EN: 'Treaty of Versailles - Germany Must Pay Millions and Cede Territory'. German newspapers erupted in fury as the final treaty terms were revealed, with one Berlin daily calling the reparations clause 'a sentence of economic enslavement'.
Captured in time.
Captured before it changed
The web as it looked, the day it happened.
Wayback Machine snapshots of the pages people actually loaded that day. Click any card to open the archive at full size.
Sources & citations.
Sources
Where this came from.
Every claim on this page traces to a public, license-clean source. We don't asterisk well.
Wikipedia
1 source- 1.1919 Paris Peace Conference
en.wikipedia.org