background

• discussion surrounding the Treaty of Versailles began in January 1919 and ended in June 1919, at the Paris Peace Conference
• the paris peace conference involved delegates from 32 nations, and discussion was dominated by powers like France, Britain, and America. defeated nations like Germany and Austria-hungary were not invited
• Germany expected leniency from the treaty due to quotes such as "kaiserism exists no more" and militarism "lies in ruins and will never rise again" in a February 1919 speech to the national assembly, suggesting the allies had already achieved their goal