The First World War

[Kaka Tim]

The Germans would never have sued for peace if they'd had any inkling of the Carthaginian terms that would be imposed on them.

They didn't have an alternative. They were no longer able to supply their troops and they were facing escalating chaos at home.

 

[phildwyer]

They didn't have an alternative. They were no longer able to supply their troops and they were facing escalating chaos at home.

They'd never have agreed to the occupation of the Rhineland (for example) while they were under arms. And no-one had invaded Germany, they were still fighting on enemy soil. If they'd known the terms of the Peace, they'd have fought on with their bare hands.

 

[Kaka Tim]

They'd never have agreed to the occupation of the Rhineland (for example) while they were under arms. And no-one had invaded Germany, they were still fighting on enemy soil. If they'd known the terms of the Peace, they'd have fought on with their bare hands.

And ended up with even worse terms. Which is why they threw in the towel.
The idea that they could have fought on was a myth, one that the nazis fully exploited to argue that the army was "stabbed in the back" by commies, Jews and liberals back home.

 

[phildwyer]

And ended up with even worse terms. Which is why they threw in the towel.
The idea that they could have fought on was a myth, one that the nazis fully exploited to argue that the army was "stabbed in the back" by commies, Jews and liberals back home.

Of course they could have fought on. Armies have come back from far worse situations, and German armies are particularly noted for resourcefulness and resilience.

And I don't see how the peace terms could have been any worse, short of chopping Germany into bits. They had to submit to annexation, occupation and reparations intended to keep them in debt forever. The Versailles Treaty was the worst mistake of the C20th. JM Keynes called it "the Peace which passeth all understanding," and he helped to write it.

 

[krtek a houby]

Of course they could have fought on. Armies have come back from far worse situations, and German armies are particularly noted for resourcefulness and resilience.

And I don't see how the peace terms could have been any worse, short of chopping Germany into bits. They had to submit to annexation, occupation and reparations intended to keep them in debt forever. The Versailles Treaty was the worst mistake of the C20th. JM Keynes called it "the Peace which passeth all understanding," and he helped to write it.

Did the raw deal justify Germany's actions in the following years to come?

 

[brogdale]

Did the raw deal justify Germany's actions in the following years to come?

Not sure, but you question reminded me of this page in Norman Davies' "Europe":


I've been to the German cemetery in Langemarck a number of times and it is, indeed, a cold, bleak place.

 

[Kaka Tim]

Of course they could have fought on. Armies have come back from far worse situations, and German armies are particularly noted for resourcefulness and resilience.

And I don't see how the peace terms could have been any worse, short of chopping Germany into bits. They had to submit to annexation, occupation and reparations intended to keep them in debt forever. The Versailles Treaty was the worst mistake of the C20th. JM Keynes called it "the Peace which passeth all understanding," and he helped to write it.

The german army was collapsing. They had run of food and ammo, they hadnt been paid, they were deserting and surrendering en masse, the navy had just mutinied and millions of soldiers were simply refusing to follow orders. So no they absoluutely could not and would not have fought on. Unlike hitler in may1945 the german high command knew it was over.
And of course the peace terms could have been worse - greater annextions, even more reperations etc.
The only people who argued different afterwards were the likes of hitler.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

If they'd known the terms of the Peace, they'd have fought on with their bare hands.

How to lose credibility in one simple post.

 

[Kaka Tim]

How to lose credibility in one simple post.

think that ship sailed some time ago tbh ..

 

[likesfish]

Probably wasn’t harsh enough the myth of being “stabbed in the back” lead to round 2.
Round two would only have been avoided if troops had been forced to fight to German soil or the place descended into revolution.

 

[A380]

How to lose credibility in one simple post.

'Lose'?

 

[Pickman's model]

They'd never have agreed to the occupation of the Rhineland (for example) while they were under arms. And no-one had invaded Germany, they were still fighting on enemy soil. If they'd known the terms of the Peace, they'd have fought on with their bare hands.

you never lose a chance to display the utter facility of your thought.

 

[phildwyer]

you never lose a chance to display the utter facility of your thought.

You don't know what the word "facility" means.

 

[Pickman's model]

You don't know what the word "facility" means.

We can see you certainly don't

 

[phildwyer]

View attachment 403104

We can see you certainly don't

A "soft and gentle life," ha chance would be a fine thing.

 

[Pickman's model]

A "soft and gentle life," ha chance would be a fine thing.

You never miss a chance to display the indifference of your thought, if you prefer