Paris peace conference begins

Opening session of the Versailles peace conference at the Trianon Palace, January 1919. Photograph: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images

Key outcomes included the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed reparations on Germany, and the formation of the League of Nations to promote global peace

Desk Report

Publisted at 12:57 PM, Sat Jan 18th, 2025

On 18 January 1919, the Paris Peace Conference opened, bringing together delegates from over 30 nations to negotiate peace after World War I.

Led by the "Big Four" — US President Woodrow Wilson, British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, French Premier Georges Clemenceau, and Italian Prime Minister Vittorio Orlando — the conference aimed to reshape global politics and prevent future conflicts.

Key outcomes included the Treaty of Versailles, which imposed reparations on Germany, and the formation of the League of Nations to promote global peace. However, the harsh terms and exclusion of key nations left unresolved tensions, laying the groundwork for World War II.