Just want to make sure you understand, I was referring to WWI, not WWII.
I’m sure the Germans under the Kaiser were no saints, but it couldn’t have been anything like what it was under the Nazis.
Thank you, I had understood you were speaking of WWII. The greatest problem with the aftermath of WW I is that the terms of the Armistice were not enforced. Germany ALWAYS intended to possess France. The outcome of the Franco Prussian War of 1870, set the course for the next generations. Alsace and Lorraine were French, lost to Germany in the Treaty of Frankfurt, but everything was done, including outlawing the speaking of French, after the war, to make the region’s people into Germans. Take one instance, the abandonment of the relatively new train station in Metz and the building of a new train station, capable of moving the Kaiser’s troops to Russia in 24 hours, men, horses, bag and baggage. I think it was 24, 000 troops in 24 hours together with their horses....I may be off a little, but not much. This preceded the 1st W.W. Metz had always been a Military center and is a fascinating place to visit with thousands of years of history. It has always been a hot spot!
France did not intend to be German, either then or now. Expect Merkel’s welcome of tens of thousands of “refugees” to cause HUGE problems with France....at least with the French people....and certainly with her own people. Just wait and see.....and NO, the Kaiser would not have been any better.....certainly not for the French! Between the two cultures, I’ll take the French any day of the week and twice on Sunday!