The Paris peace settlement was criticized by both winners and losers. To what extent was this criticism justified?

Article 231 in the Treaty of Versailles, also known as the “Guilt clause” was the one explaining where Germany was completely responsible for the First World War. The article also serves as a justification for the requirements put upon Germany in the remainder of Articles 233 through 247, which was concerned with reparations. The claim that Article 231 implies "war guilt" was the work of various German politicians and supporters who misunderstood Article 231 as saying that as a way of gaining international sympathy.

"The English public like the French public, thinks the Germans must above all acknowledge their obligation to compensate us for all the consequences of their aggression. When this is done we come to the question of Germany's capacity to pay; we all think she will be unable to pay more than this document requires of her."

The question about the German war-guilt is a very controversial subject. The German government's responsibility for the outbreak of the war was to some extent larger than the French and British governments, but aggressive Austro-Hungarian and Russian moves were particularly to blame as well so it would be wrong to blame Germany alone.  The causes for the war are very complex.  Previous crises could also have led to a major acceleration, and in that sense it can be asked: why did the First World War come only in 1914 and not already in 1905, 1908, or 1911? The war-guilt clause is severely criticized by both winners and losers.

Germany and its people felt fooled, the Treaty of Versailles which was signed in 1919 meant that Germany was not only blamed for the entire war, they were ordered to pay a total of 269 billion gold marks, equal to 96 000 tones of pure gold or just under 300 billion euro’s in today’s value, as compensation for all the losses the Allies had in the war. Although the amount they demanded was lately reduced in 1929 to 112 billion gold marks. France and Britain needed the money to pay off their own debts. To finance the war, they had taken huge loans, primarily from the U.S, but also by private actors, who as always make money on wars. On October 3rd, 92 years after the Treaty of Versailles, Germany finally paid off the debt to the victorious powers which were imposed on the country. The last 69,9 million euro’s were paid out to all the private actors of the war, mostly in France and the U.S. This ended Germany’s obligations to the Allies. The surprisingly high fees were condemned by both sides.

When Germany asked for an Armistice after four years of merciless war, it was a great gesture and the Allies met in Paris to discuss on how to maintain peace in Europe. It turned out that they had managed to do the complete opposite of what they aimed for. The things they decided to do gave severely negative effects. For instance, by questionably blaming only Germany for causing the war, Article 231 has been mentioned as one of the causes that led to the rise of National Socialism in Germany. At least one historian, Margaret MacMillan, argues that this long held idea is essentially incorrect. Also, the surprisingly high money they had to pay for the Allies, caused internal issues such as food shortages and other vital factors which gave Hitler the power. To blame the entire war on Germany and to make them compromise for the entire war was exactly what France wanted. They have been very judged and criticized from many historians. Because the unfair Treaty of Versailles was not established to integrate the people of Germany back into the European community in an amiable manner, it would have long term consequences that would create anger and hostility that would be developed as the basis of future German aggression.