* Retribution: The Allied powers wanted to punish Germany for its role in starting the war. They felt that Germany should be held responsible for the damage and loss of life that it had caused.
* Compensation: The Allied powers wanted to recover the costs of the war from Germany. They felt that Germany should pay for the damage that it had done to Allied countries and their economies.
* Prevention: The Allied powers wanted to prevent Germany from being able to wage war again. They felt that by making Germany pay for the war, they could reduce its military strength and make it less likely to start another war in the future.
The Treaty of Versailles, which was signed in 1919, imposed harsh reparations payments on Germany. These payments were a major burden on the German economy and contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in the 1930s.