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The Franco-German rivalry can arguably be traced to dates as far back as the partition of Charlemagne’s empire (http://www.paulhensel.org/Research/frger98.pdf). The start of an interstate rivalry has varying definitions, so the exact beginning of Franco-German enmity cannot truly be pinpointed. A working definition, however, is that a true rivalry begins when “each adversary considers the other to be a primary rival” (paulhensel). Later instances that contributed to modern-day Franco-German rivalry include hostility between France, Prussia and Austria throughout the Napoleonic Wars and German Unification (paulhensel).

Much of the tension has been about control of the Rhine and surrounding territories.

Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was signed June 28, 1919. It marked the end of war between Germany and the Allied Powers and signified the end of the World War I. Among many other conditions listed in the treaty, a standout clause (Article 231, otherwise known as the War Guilt clause) required “Germany to accept the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage” that occurred during the war “as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies” [http://www.firstworldwar.com/source/versailles231-247.htm].

As most of the war’s major battles were fought on French land, France was adamant that Germany be held accountable and punished accordingly. Among the reparations pertaining to France, Germany was forced to give control of the Saar coalmines to the League of Nations, which decided that the coal should be directed to France in order to make up for the French coalmines that were destroyed during the war [ATTRIBUTE]. The Treaty of Versailles ordered...

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...]. French and Belgian officials decided that action was required to force the Germans to pay reparations. The French were particularly furious because the payments of material goods, like lumber and coal, were based on numbers that the Germans produced themselves [ATTRIBUTE]. The general consensus among the Allied Powers was that Germany was intentionally defaulting on payments to test the strength of the treaty and the resolve of the Allies [ATTRIBUTE]. France and Belgium joined forces to occupy a section of Germany called the Ruhr. French Premier Raymond Poincaré voiced the reasoning behind his decision to join with Belgium in the occupation of the Ruhr by saying that Germany “has always tried to escape her obligations…because until now she has not been convinced of her defeat. … Germany…resigns herself to keep her pledged word only under the impact of necessity.”