Why did the Allies demand Hamburg’s ships after World War I?

Following World War I, the victorious Allies demanded nearly all of Hamburg’s ships as a form of reparations from Germany.1

Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was held responsible for damages caused during the war, and the Allies required a "ton for ton and class for class" replacement of their own lost shipping using German vessels. Because Hamburg served as Germany's principal port and a major hub for its merchant marine, its fleet—which had been largely confined to port during the conflict—became a primary target for these seizures. Britain, in particular, was the largest beneficiary of this transfer of merchant vessels.2314