Opinion of the Treaty of Versailles?

[The Mikado]

Honestly, the problem I have with Versailles isn't with any of the punitive clauses. (The land to Belgium is questionable, but given how much Belgium suffered that minor revision can be accepted). I don't particularly like the banning of a merger between Austria and Germany clause, either, but I understand it. Even the reparations are justifiable and reasonable. The war guilt clause was a stupid and purely ceremonial slap in the face to Germany on totally unreasonable grounds, and as a totally egregious insult to Germany that had little basis in reality.

If you want unjustified Carthaginian Peace treaties after World War I, you're not looking for Versailles. Try St. Germain, Trianon(!), and Sevres, the last of which was so egregious that the Turks actually resumed hostilities and mostly overturned its worst elements at Lausanne in 1923.

Margaret MacMillan's amazing Paris 1919 is a must-read, seriously one of the best history books I've ever read.