The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 is the peace treaty created as a result of the six-month-long Paris Peace Conference of 1919 which put an official end to World War I between the liquor-drinking, Jerry Lewis-loving, appeasement-seeking, hairy-women, surrender monkeys (the Frenchies) along with the tea-drinking, oral care-challenged, imperial despots (the Brits) with the oompa-band-loving, stein-drinking, lederhosen happy, Huns (the Germans). The ceremonial signing of the treaty with Germany occurred June 28, 1919 with much fan fare as the French joked that those Germans better not try to attack through Belgium again. Laughs were had by all. The Germans took notes. The treaty was ratified on January 10, 1920 and required that Germany and its allies accept responsibility for causing the war and pay large amounts of compensation (known as war reparations). Germany initially proposed paying the Allies with a large shares from an off shore company run by a Nigerian banker if the allies would only deposit $20 to pay for the postage to receive more information. The French happily accepted. Like many other treaties, it is named for the place of its signing: the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, the very place where the German Empire had been proclaimed, January 18, 1871 (below left). The choice of venue was not coincidental. The French reportedly started humming the Allanis Morrissette tune "Isn't It Ironic." The Germans chose a different song: 10,000 Maniacs "These Are Days (You'll Remember)".
