1. Revenge for past defeats: France had been defeated by Germany in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, which resulted in the loss of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany. The French people felt a strong desire to avenge this defeat and regain their lost territory.
2. Weaken Germany: France wanted to prevent Germany from ever being able to wage war against it again. By imposing harsh terms on Germany, France hoped to weaken Germany's military and economic strength and make it difficult for Germany to rebuild its military.
3. Security: France wanted to ensure its own security by creating a buffer zone between itself and Germany. The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to give up territory to France and Belgium, which created a protective barrier for France.
4. Reparations: France wanted Germany to pay reparations for the damage that it had caused during the war. The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to pay reparations totaling 132 billion gold marks, which was a heavy burden on the German economy.
5. Collective Security: France believed that the harsh treaty would help prevent future wars by deterring Germany from starting another war. They hoped that the League of Nations, established after the war, would provide a collective security mechanism to maintain peace.