Pipe of the Month February 2026

The First World War (July 28th, 1914 until November 11th, 1918) was formally ended in 1919 with the ratification of the Versailles Treaty, agreed and signed between Germany (Weimar Republic) and the 'Entente' (the allied forces). As this treaty actually marked the end of the war, it is regarded as the most important of a total of 5 treaty's that were signed during 1919 and 1920. The other 4 treaty's related to agreements with Germany's allies.

The treaty underlined that Germany was to blame for the war. The treaty stipulated the enormous damage and recovery payments that Germany had to pay, the drastic minimization of their army's and the release of several colonies and occupied territory in Europe (see map). These conditions were not very much appreciated by the Germans and caused significant unrest and economic instability. In Germany, the 'Versailles dictate' was widely regarded as a huge humilliation and was one of the drivers for the policies that were later fed by the National Socialistic Government of Adolf Hitler and the start of the Second World War.