The US didn't do that. it was the Treaty of Versailles
Posted on: September 13, 2022 at 13:02:40 CT
JimD MU
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That ended the war. It was signed by all war belligerents on both sides. The money went to pay for civilian damages in Europe, not the US. The US in this case was a minor signatory. It was signed by all of the Allies and all Central Powers: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey which were required to make payments.
President Wilson's view was that he firmly opposed harsh treatment on Germany. He wanted "peace without victory." He was overruled by the other main Allies in the war.
Part of Germany's reparations were based on their ability to pay. Germany saw repayments as a national humiliation. This perceived "humiliation" was only one of the many factors that led to the rise of fascism in Germany. In the end, all of the remaining reparations were permanently cancelled in 1932 at the Lausanne Conference.
The Germans declared war on the US on December 11th, 1941, four days after Japan attacked the United States.