[Bitwhacker]

I think it had to do with sticking it to France for Napoleon's adventures. Clemenceau wanted to stick it to Germany in a much grander way than the Germans had stuck it to France 100 years before, mainly because of the utter destruction of northern France in 1918 (which the Germans saw in all its appalling glory while riding the train into Paris), and the 1.3 million dead. He wanted territory ceded to France, especially Germany's colonies, and he wanted borders redrawn with as much territory as possible between France and Germany, just as borders had been redrawn and territory had been ceded at the Congress of Vienna.

Wilson irked Clemenceau no end when Wilson declared that the U.S. didn't want any reparations and no territory, on the grounds that Germany needed to be treated with respect because they would not remain a powerless nation for long and would remember what was done to them (and boy, was that ever a prescient insight ;-)). Lloyd George had run for office promising $350 Billion in reparations, so he was miffed at Wilson, too, for not blessing the looting of Germany...;-))

[The Raven]

How about some Sunday humor??? Here's a short Bob Hope clip

[MustKnowHistory]

Yes, WWI was fought mainly on French territory. There was very little destruction in Germany.

The Keynes insight is also interesting. He was realistic in what the Germans could pay in reparations.

Thanks for the insights!