[Billthedrill]

I'm trying to picture myself a contemporary observer - here Shirer's Berlin Diary is useful - and I honestly think I'd have bet Hitler would never get away with it. Possibly that's why he did. The paralysis of European leadership in the face of this sort of audacity is far from unique. History is full of that, usually on the part of the loser. The current paralysis in the face of Ahmadinejad's drive for nuclear weapons makes this particular story some very uncomfortable reading, at least for me. Thanks for posting and a BTT.

[dfwgator]

I'm trying to picture myself a contemporary observer - here Shirer's Berlin Diary is useful

That book should be required reading for any history class.