Ww1 the Treaty of Versailles

In June 1919 thirty two nations met in Versailles to reach a resolution for World War 1 and hopefully prevent future conflict. The big three, American President Wilson, British Prime Minister Lloyd George and French Premier Clemenceau were responsible for all major decision making. However surrounded by chaos and destruction of WW1 and arguing for differing self-interest did not lead to a settlement that completely satisfied any, let alone all nations.
Clemenceau wanted security and compensation for France. He had witnessed the Germans invade France in 1870 and again at the start of WW1 in 1914, because of this he wanted the German army to be crippled so that they could never again invade his country. For this to happen he proposed strict provisions to be placed upon the German army, including it being reduced to only 100, 000 men and destruction of the Heligoland naval base. Clemenceau demanded to be paid huge reparations for the human and economical destruction caused by WW1, these reparations would come from Germany in the form of money and resources. Military restrictions and a drained economy would further decrease Germany’s ability to ever wage another war. Aside from reparations and security, Clemenceau wanted Alsace-Lorraine returned to French possession after it was taken by Germany in 1871 and for Germany to take all responsibility for the war under the War Guilt Clause 231.
Lloyd George held the economy and world power of Great Britain as priority. He believed that reparations should be made to both Britain and France, but not to the extend Clemenceau wanted as it would devastate the German economy, which Lloyd George saw as a vital part of the European and World economies. In the interests of Britain Lloyd George wanted Germany to be stripped of her colonial possessions and to prevent her reforming its empire and challenging Britain’s domination of the world. Lloyd George feared that too harsh a treatment of Germany would create a breeding ground for...