SUBSIM Radio Room Forums - View Single Post - It's Time to Stop Blaming Germany for WWI

Kazuaki Shimazaki II · 07-07-13, 03:40 AM

Because I always thought that Germany was not really to blame for WWI. If anything, it is Russia's mobilization that forced Germany to react lest they be invaded.

Even for WWII, I think a very large part of the blame is the Allies' collective desire (usually the French is blamed but IIRC some people also blame Wilson's desire for "justice") to feel good about the whole thing. I actually think the reparations and land transfers were less important than the whole military crap (the true injustice in my mind) and the insistence on pinning the whole blame on Germany (a worthless, feel good endeavor).

As long as Germany is limited to 100,000 men ... etc (The Treaty of Versailles effectively is the world's first arms control treaty, and not only is it unilateral but probably the most detailed, with even headquarters composition being controlled), there is nothing to prevent the Allies from forever increasing their demands - in effect, it allows for infinite punishment. And we can certainly agree that whatever Germany's blame portion is, it cannot possibly substantiate a punishment value of infinity.

07-07-13, 03:40 AM	#11
Kazuaki Shimazaki II Ace of the Deep Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,140 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	He's essentially preaching to the choir for me Because I always thought that Germany was not really to blame for WWI. If anything, it is Russia's mobilization that forced Germany to react lest they be invaded. Even for WWII, I think a very large part of the blame is the Allies' collective desire (usually the French is blamed but IIRC some people also blame Wilson's desire for "justice") to feel good about the whole thing. I actually think the reparations and land transfers were less important than the whole military crap (the true injustice in my mind) and the insistence on pinning the whole blame on Germany (a worthless, feel good endeavor). As long as Germany is limited to 100,000 men ... etc (The Treaty of Versailles effectively is the world's first arms control treaty, and not only is it unilateral but probably the most detailed, with even headquarters composition being controlled), there is nothing to prevent the Allies from forever increasing their demands - in effect, it allows for infinite punishment. And we can certainly agree that whatever Germany's blame portion is, it cannot possibly substantiate a punishment value of infinity.