And yet could France have held the Rhineland forever? They couldn't even kept the Saar when that territory had an open election in 1955. And the proposed Morgenthau Plan of 1944, which would have reduced Germany to smaller states existing on an 18th century economic base, was utterly unworkable. The people would have starved...or joined with Stalin when he offered better terms. Many people at the time saw the Treaty of Versailles as a disaster, notably Keynes. While payback for the 1870 war and the horrors of 1914-18 were certainly understandable, short of dissolving the entire country it's hard to see how getting harsher could help. Once the Weimar Republic couldn't pay its ruinous war reparations the way was open for economic collapse and a brutal party devoted to making Germany "great" again.
Indeed, all very good points! I agree, I am not sure Foch's idea would have been sustainable. Perhaps it could be seen as a person looking at things as a soldier, as opposed to a statesman? I find him a fascinating figure, though!
A very interesting topic! The Treaty of Versailles: A big "what if" in history!
Haha yes it is!
Second, And a great video!
Thank you, I'm very glad you liked it :)
And yet could France have held the Rhineland forever? They couldn't even kept the Saar when that territory had an open election in 1955. And the proposed Morgenthau Plan of 1944, which would have reduced Germany to smaller states existing on an 18th century economic base, was utterly unworkable. The people would have starved...or joined with Stalin when he offered better terms. Many people at the time saw the Treaty of Versailles as a disaster, notably Keynes. While payback for the 1870 war and the horrors of 1914-18 were certainly understandable, short of dissolving the entire country it's hard to see how getting harsher could help. Once the Weimar Republic couldn't pay its ruinous war reparations the way was open for economic collapse and a brutal party devoted to making Germany "great" again.
Indeed, all very good points! I agree, I am not sure Foch's idea would have been sustainable. Perhaps it could be seen as a person looking at things as a soldier, as opposed to a statesman? I find him a fascinating figure, though!
First
Thank you for watching! :)