The end of World War I saw Europe's fighting nations grow weary, millions die on the battlefield, and political conditions change. The German, Austrian, and Russian monarchies were driven from power and replaced with democratic or revolutionary governments, and many European ethnic groups that had been subject to these three states took the opportunity to gain independence. Thus the victors attempted to bring permanent peace to Europe. They were quick to blame Germany for starting the war and decided to punish it and this is exactly what happened with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The Treaty of Versailles was harsh, brutal, punitive and retributive, especially since France still had some underlying forces. anger at the Franco-Prussian war. The Treaty was designed to attempt to prevent Germany's ability to wage war in the future. He ordered France to control the coal- and iron-rich Saar Valley for 15 years. The German colonies were divided between France and Great Britain, and Germany itself lost a total of 13.5% of its territory and 12.5% ​​of its population. The Ge...