The event that led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 was the conclusion of World War I. The war, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, ended with the defeat of the Central Powers, primarily Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. The Treaty of Versailles, signed on June 28, 1919, imposed significant reparations and territorial losses on Germany, officially ending hostilities. Its terms aimed to prevent future conflicts but also sowed resentment, contributing to economic hardship and political instability in Germany, which later facilitated the rise of Adolf Hitler and the outbreak of World War II.