Germany is just 10 short months away from finally paying off one of the most onerous post-war reparations debts in human history, its massive war debt from the Treaty of Versailles.
The German Empire entered World War One in 1914 on the side of Austro-Hungary. In June 1919 they were forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles, ceding West Prussia to Poland and Alsace-Lorraine to France. In addition, Germany was forced to pay for all damages suffered by every Allied state during the war, roughly 100 million kilograms of gold.
With hard currency flowing out of the country en masse to pay the reparations, post-war Germany’s Weimar Republic saw massive hyperinflation and a huge drop in standard of living. Resentment of the Treaty of Versailles and the economic strife the reparations brought led to growing nationalism and eventually World War Two.
But Germany’s reparation debt came back after World World Two, and was quickly frozen again when the nation was split into West and East Germany. Following the 1990 reunification, the debt was again renewed and, several generations and several regime changes later, Germany was expected to continue paying for the war.
The good news is the debt is finally almost paid off. Another 56 million Euros are owed, and it is expected that the last payment will be made on October 3, 2010.
The treaty of Versailles was a monstrous injustice and led directly to ww2. It could have been avoided if only America had stayed out of it.
Wars are but predictable extensions of the State politics. Aristotle defined the science and the function of politics as a rational way for solving social and political problems. By examining the past experiences, I see nothing rational in the behavior of our politicians, nor in politics per se. The time is ripe to abolish the State's Right to wage any wars. We the people can do without the politicians, and their wars.
It is simply astonishing that, after almost a century, the "Allies" still refuse to admit any shared responsibility in the massive destruction caused by World War I. This despite the fact that it has been diligently chronicled by historians and is even taught in secondary education. Its clear that, in politics, one "corrects" one's mistakes by increasing the suffering of the victim.
As a footnote: is Britain still paying off Lend-Lease?
Britain finished paying off Lend-Lease in 2006.
America should have stayed out of WWI or fought on the side of the Germans. Instead of Wilson's mission to make the world safe for democracy – WWI was fought to maintain and to expand the British empire. ALL of the nations that borrowed from America during WWI defaulted on their debt save for Finland. The Versailles Treaty was a sinful abomination and it guaranteed WWII. The real blame for WWI and for WWII really lies at the feet of the British and the French! Pat Buchanan's book – Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War – is excellent! Makes one realize that Churchill was nothing but a war monger and NOT the 'hero' and NOT the 'statesman' we have been led to believe. The LIES and propaganda of the British during WWI are the same LIES and propaganda used by Bush Sr. to justify Gulf War I – the LIES never end by the 'leaders'.
And what is truly pathetic about the Versailles Diktat extortion is that the enormous debt owed by the Allies to the United States was forgiven after World War II. On the other hand, the 56 million Euros are a laughable payment for what supposed to have been gold Reichsmarks.
When will Germans wake up…
Yeah… but… Israel will continue to make Germany feel guilty and shaft them at every opportunity. I refer you to the two nuclear submarines Germany felt obliged to hand over recently.
Unbelievable the criminal actions of the British, Americans and French contiune.
How can the west expect the Iranians or N Koreans to trust the word of any Western diplomat.
They lied to Germany in 1918 and now nearly 100 years later expect Germany to pay them money for A war started by Serbia. The British declasred war on Germany. At best Germany was equally as quilty as the so called democracies. As much as I hate the thought of the Iranians with nukes, I can understand why they want them. The way to negotiate with these criminals is through power.
Germany' leaders are pathetic as well to pay this money. How can we have peace when nations can not be trusted.
Serbia did not start WW1, Austro-Hungarian Empire started the war. Refresh you knowledge about this war.