After the First World War in 1918, Germany was forced to sign an agreement in which it committed to pay an amount which ascended to $31.5 billion as civil reparations to the other nations involved in the War. It also agreed on reducing its army to no more than 100,000 Men.
Part of Germany's territory was ceded to France (Rhineland) and another important part was given to Poland.
Many Americans objected to the settlement and especially to President Wilson's League of Nations. Americans believed that the United States' best hope for peace was to stay out of European affairs. The United States worked out a separate treaty with Germany and its allies several years later.
