IrishWizard said:
I have heard that story to darkmb101. But the one that has stuck with me while reading some books about Hitler was in an assault he was in during WWI he tripped and fell onto the ground and as he fell a bullet passed through his top, right shoulder uniform and hit the man behind him. He then stood up and ran about 10 feet and 2 seconds later a shell hit exactly where he had been. Face it guys, he was a LUCKY man. He survived a mustard gas attack also. Man hes a lucky bastard! He must of had a few 4-leaf clovers
If Hitler was the lucky one, then you could argue that there probably were more people that could have done what he did in the 1930s an 40s, but didn't because they didn't survive wwI.
Don't forget that being a "war hero" did help Hitler to gain respect and power among his followers an his military personnel. Soldiers always have more respect for political leaders that have been in the military
themselves.
Mark Conley said:
In reality...the whole of europe was sunk pretty down with an economic depression and all..just like the USA was during the 30s. I think France and Germany were the first to come out of that economic disaster.
At first it looked like Germany was doing better, but that was mainly because Hitler was printing new money on a 24/7 bases. The inflation skyrocketed, which Hitler blamed on the Jews, and than the only thing he could do was to go to war. He had the German population working again, but the money wasn't worth :cen: .
Doppleganger said:
BTW to answer what I meant by Germany being the most important country in Europe at that time. That is not to say other countries weren't important (I am British after all). But being at the centre of Europe, it's population size and industrial and engineering might, all make it the most important country in Europe in terms of its influence on it's neighbours and the wider world at large.
I still don't agree (I'm a stubborn man, if I want to be

) The central position of Germany has it's bad sides too. World economy wise, they where in a bad position back then. The best way to ship cargo was by boat. (It still is for large amounts.) Now France, Belgium and the Netherlands all had the upper hand when it came to harbours. And don't forget, back then these countries still had their colonies, so they weren't as small as they appear. And Germany still was suffering under sanctions placed upon them after losing the first WW. No, Germany wasn't at all the important country you say it was.
Doppleganger said:
Let's not get all nationalistic here. Some countries are clearly more important than others in terms of the influence they have on others. That's a fact of life.
Granted, but I wasn't being nationalistic, I just didn't agree with you..
