The Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh terms on Germany from "summary" of The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman
The peace conference in Paris began in January of 1919 with representatives from 27 nations present, but it was the "Big Four" - Clemenceau of France, Lloyd George of Great Britain, Orlando of Italy, and Wilson of the United States - who held the most power. Germany, the defeated nation, was not invited to participate in the negotiations. The terms of the Treaty of Versailles were designed to cripple Germany both economically and militarily, with the goal of preventing the country from ever again becoming a threat to European peace. The treaty imposed a number of harsh conditions on Germany, including the cession of territory, disarmament, and reparations payments. The loss of territory was a blow to German national pride, as it meant the country would be smaller and weaker than it had been before the war. The disarmament provisions restricted the size and capabilities of the German military, further limiting the country's ability to defend itself. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the treaty was the reparations clause, which required Germany to pay e...
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