...and they were all around a half-step apart, and it sounded aaaawwwwful.

I didn't know that bit of history, but I'm glad that the victors were sufficiently embarrassed so that they included it in the Treaty of Versailles. That entire treaty-mess after WWI was never going to last because it "starved Germany" of anyway to rebuild their economy, and hungry people who see no way forward to take care of the basic needs of its citizens just made it possible for Hitler to take over. All nations can learn how to avoid making similar mistakes that will guarantee a return to hostilities. (And I'm not sure we've advanced much since then.)