World War II [antikvár]

World War I, "The War to End All Wars," was to create many of the conditions that would lead to the outbreak of an even more destructive conflict - World War 11. At the end of World War I Germany was in dire straits: its population was near starvation and devoid of hope, and its army and navy were in disarray. The Treaty of Versailles of June 1919 added to Germany's woes as it removed its overseas possessions, implemented the occupation of part of the Rhineland to ensure Germany complied with provisions of the treaty, and imposed huge reparations for the damage inflicted on France and other countries during World War I. T^ Nuremberg rally. Each one was designed to increase support for both Hitler and Nazism. The fact that Germany was almost bankrupt meant that it was extremely unlikely Germany would be able to pay, even less so when the world slump of 1921 arose.The next year German defaulted on reparations payments for the second year rurming. In retaliation, France, showing amazing shortsightedness, occupied the Ruhr, the center of German industry. This not only reduced the already slim chances of Germany paying any reparations, but also increased hostility between the two countries. The stoppage of the Ruhr industries had a calamitous impact on the German currency, which plummeted in value. Overnight, savings were wiped out, leaving millions penniless and destitute, their careers, hopes, and finances totally destroyed. ADOLF HITLER In such an atmosphere people desperately searched for answers. They found them in the vitriolic oratory of an