# Treaty of Versailles (1919)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1919-treaty-of-versailles
Location: Versailles
Categories: main-event

Germany recognised Poland's independence and ceded most of Greater Poland and Pomerelia. Within the broader World War I & Independence period: The First World War destroyed the partitioning empires. Poland regained independence in November 1918 and fought for its borders in a series of wars and uprisings until 1921. At this point in the timeline (28 June 1919), the governing authority was Józef Piłsudski (Chief of State). Architect of independence and Chief of State; after the 1926 coup he remained Poland's dominant figure until his death in 1935. Treaty of Versailles mattered because its terms redrew borders or alliances and constrained Poland's options for years to come. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Treaty of Versailles mattered because its terms redrew borders or alliances and constrained Poland's options for years to come.

Ruler at the time: [Józef Piłsudski](https://poland-history.com/rulers/jozef-pilsudski)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Treaty of Versailles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Treaty of Versailles](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Treaty+of+Versailles)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland during World War I (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_during_World_War_I)