Why was the German army limited to 100,000 men?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Treaty of Versailles The “Big Four” (left to right): David Lloyd George of Britain, Vittorio Orlando of Italy, Georges Clemenceau of France, and Woodrow Wilson of the United States, the principal architects of the Treaty of Versailles.

The Treaty of Versailles mandated the reduction of the German army to 100,000 men as a specific measure to ensure that Germany would not revive as a military power following World War I.1

By limiting the size of the army and prohibiting the production of offensive weaponry—such as tanks, military aircraft, and poison gas—the Allied leaders sought to dismantle Germany's capacity for aggression. Additionally, the treaty required the dissolution of the German general staff, which the Allies viewed as the primary engine behind German military planning and expansionism. These disarmament provisions were intended to be the initial step in a broader, worldwide process of disarmament.1