First World War

[Rob_Bob]

Why did Germany lose the First World War?

[Sylday]

Probably for many, many reasons; but one crucial factor - as in WWII - was the entry of the USA into the war.

[SpecialAgent]

Are you American Sylday?

[Dagman]

Generally I think they stretched their resources too far and the Allies drew them into areas where they were vulnerable. They were up against a huge onslaught from Russia as well as the rest of Allied armies so the bubble had to burst eventually. They were without doubt a formidable force. We owe a lot to our Allied friends.

[Toffee]

SpecialAgent, do I detect something of a cynical attitude? Are you not convinced by all the films that it was the US that won both world wars?

[dominion]

Russia declared an armistace with Germany in December 1917 (for obvious reasons - revolution), Germany could well have carried on, and in fact was gaining notable success at the latter part of the war. But, in Germany there were many mutinies by the navy and army, and communism, together with a general dissatisfaction at the capitalists gain from the bloodshed of war, became a growing cause amongst the 'everyday' German; together of course with the American's involvement, which didnt really get into full swing untill late 1917 early 1918, Germany was simply facing to many men as its allies had problems of their own (much the same as WW2 when it decided to take pretty much everyone on). The later "Weimar Republic" of Germany were the ones who signed the peace treaty which led to the "stab in the back theory" which Hitler used so well in his rise to power throughout the 1920's and 1930's - many Germans believed they could have fought on instead of suffering such a humliation and crippling Versailles agreement.

[smudge]

Scuse me toffee, but haven't you seen films of our 'English' grandparents & parents fighting for our country in WWI & WWII! My very young, brave Grandad, fought & died for us & as far as I'm concerned won the war, along with many others. He was killed in action in the 1914-18 war, leaving a young wife & four little boys, one of which was my Dad. Sadly, I never got a chance to meet my darling Grandad, who is buried in a Belgian war cemetary. AND ALL FOR WHAT I ASK?

[darth vader]

I certainly detected Toffee's tongue hit the cheek Smudge - i don't think he/she really meant it. But you might well wonder what the kids think of when they see these films: according to "Saving Private Ryan" it seems the british weren't involved in the normandy landings - ironic cos we went there twice, the yanks only once.

[smudge]

Thank you darth vader, I can see that now. I also agree with your war film comments. I was just sticking up for both my Grandads & all the other men/women who so bravely fought for us & our country. I Vow To Thee My Country, comes to mind!

[humming bird]

After Pearl Harbour(a conspiracy involving the US President) USA decided it should be the world's policeman and whilst Indochine was in process and it later abandoned the French to their fate USA happily saw a future for itself in supporting the allocating of other people"s lands to Israel, riding on National "holocauset" sentiment. Prior and as in WW11 USA was significantly pro National Socialist Germany.The entry into the war was delayed, the USA essentially just sold materiel.The entry of Russia into the war on the allies side..and it was courted by Germany but soon after invaded.... Russia's potential caused a problem in the anticommunist US Presidents rather diseased mind and Pearl Harbour, long known to be coming was permitted unobstructed, other than ensuring only "old" craft remained. In WW1 the USA entered the war and certainly shortened it after the hard slog was done.Americans and Canadians fought bravely. The French had made numerous serious errors and a forest was involved..I'll lt you read all about it yourselves. Hitler was an exemplary soldier in WW1 by the way and something happened to him which caused his later mission..who knows what it was??...HMM??For the clever dicks..no he did not fall on his head or have brain removal. Cheers

[humming bird]

Yes Dominion...on that point alone..and Germany could have fought on but extermination would have eventuated...The war reparations are undoubtedly the cause of the rise of Hitler and the third Reich. If I was German I would have supported him for sure, at the ouset, against the crippling abuses of the allies, draining Germany long after the war was over, long after the depression, long after many savage events. Many intellectual Germans of great families of honour DID support him. Others didn't. Wars in Europe were nothing new..neither was the rape and mayhem and pillage..however in this case a new set of values were introduced..yet the allies, seeing what was happening, did not halt it. England did not go to the aid of its butchered allies until the threat became "personal" although Hitler's intentions on England were ambiguous. The organisation was thorough, the regime became more and more defined and determined and Hitler went more and more into the background in one sense and so fought to be "heard" and to have his frontline generals obey his backline orders. As a nett result Europe has combined and is easily a rival of the USA...all because of the reparations, if you like to take a tangential view.In fact that Hussein was going "euro" was one of the reasons Iraq was invaded. How would the middle east and Europe look as peaceful partners to Israel and the USA in say 50 years time? reparations were the "little Acorn". Cheers mate

[humming bird]

Having said all tht war's are lost in two ways....economic and manpower losses which subvert the oiginal designs or through diplomatic persuasion. Thus for example, the "a bombing" of Japan was overkill,no further threat from Japan was possible, but it looked good on paper to threaten the rest of the world with the USA's new toy, 'grace a' the german Scientists.It gave the uSA however the chance to experiment. One result was the "we do not count civilian casualty" abomination. cheers