We did certainly learn the lesson from WWI when Clemenceau got his pound of flesh from the Germans, yeah, how did that work out?
You’re right. As you know, among other things, Clemenceau and others’ treatment of the Germans helped bring Hitler to power. We know that story.
We did the right things when we occupied Japan and Germany.
Almost all the German Generals and Field Marshalls under Americans and British custody were release early. Usually it was for “medical” reasons. The Russians were beside themselves when we did that. lol They knew some of the German officers were going to help re-build the German military.