That whole World War I thing probably had more to do with Hitler becoming Hitler than this did.
Being of military age--25--when the war broke out, he would have served in the military, so art school might not have made much of a difference.
Very true.
Agreed. Also the demand for reparations by the French sundered the fragile economy of post war Germany. The industrial heartland of Germany was actually occupied by French and British troops 1928/9. This was to enforce reparations.
I would like to mention in support of your statement, of the Allied blockade. My grandfather in the Royal East Kent Regt. spent over three years 1915/18,as a German prisoner of war. His health was damaged through inadequate feeding. I learned the German population starved also and there was massive suffering. I have no hard feelings now, it was the blockade of Germany by the Royal Navy.
America did not make the same awful mistake after WW2. The war criminals were dealt with and the civilian population were helped recover by massive aid.