History of Europe

What ended World War 1 and punished Germany?

World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. The treaty between Germany and the Allied Powers (United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) placed full responsibility for the war on Germany. This is known as the "war guilt clause." Germany was obligated to disarm its military, surrender its overseas colonies, give up parts of its European territory, and pay huge reparations ($33 billion in gold over 30 years) for damages caused during the war.