The ultimate purpose for France at the Paris Peace Conference, following World War I, was to give a just retribution for Germany's crimes. France, more than any other country, had suffered greatly during the war. Many of the major battles were fought on French territory. The damage caused by the war was not just the carnage, the three million who were wounded on top of the 1.3 million French soldiers lost, but the affects of the war left the country in ruins. Many agricultural areas were ruined and became infertile, while bridges, factories, etc were all destroyed on account of the war. Georges Clemenceau, the French premier, came representing the majority opinion in France that Germany should pay for the damages of the war, that Germany be made so that it can never be a threat towards France, that Germany give back the land it once took from France, and that Germany claim full responsibility for the war.
Clemenceau's main objective at the peace discussion was to ensure the future safety of France against any renewed German aggressions. He wanted to make sure that Germany could never again threaten France and to guarantee this, he wanted Germany permanently damaged. He wanted Germany demobilized and for it to be surrounded by strong bordering nations. He first goal, therefore, was to limit Germans strength militarily. Clemenceau wanted Germany left with no navy to speak of, no air force, and a reduced army. This was very important for the security of the French people. If Germany had any military power left, XXX. .
Other than wanting to dismantle Germany militarily, France's interests were also aimed at territorial gains. Following the Franco-Prussian war in 1871, Germany (Prussia) had taken the French Alsace and Lorraine regions, which were important for France because XXX. France wanted this area returned, as well as the Saar region added, at least temporarily. The Saar region, which was rich with coal and iron ore deposits, would allow France to restore some economy since many of her factories and mines had been destroyed during the war.
