What was a key aim of Clemenceau during the Paris Peace Conference?

A key aim of Clemenceau during the Paris Peace Conference was to weaken Germany sufficiently to prevent future wars. As the French Prime Minister, Clemenceau had experienced the devastation of World War I firsthand. He was determined to ensure that Germany would not pose a military threat to France or Europe again. His desire was to impose heavy reparations, territorial losses, and military restrictions on Germany in order to achieve this.

Clemenceau believed that by crippling Germany economically and militarily, France would be safeguarded against future aggression. This approach was rooted in the trauma of the war and the belief that a strong and militarized Germany had been a primary cause of the conflict. Therefore, his focus was less on achieving a balanced peace or aiding the reconstruction of Germany and more on establishing measures that would secure France's long-term security and prevent any resurgence of German militarism.