Germany was weak when the Nazis came to power in 1933 - both militarily and economically. They began a massive program of re-armament in preparation for war - although this was in violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which had ended WWI.
historylearningsite.co.uk
>>> For two years, the German military expanded in secret. By March 1935, Hitler felt strong enough to go public on Nazi Germany’s military expansion - which broke the terms of the Versailles Treaty. Europe learned that the Nazis had 2,500 war planes in its Luftwaffe and an army of 300,000 men in its Wehrmacht. Hitler felt confident enough to publicly announce that there would be compulsory military conscription in Nazi Germany and that the army would be increased to 550,000 men.
How did Europe react to this flagrant violation of Versailles?
Essentially, the French and British did nothing. Britain was still recovering from the Depression which had devastated her economy. She could not afford a conflict. The French preferred a defensive policy against a potential German threat and she spent time and money building the vast Maginot Line - a series of vast forts on the French and German border. The most Britain, France and Italy did (at this time, Italy did not view German as a potential ally as the above was pre-Abyssinia) was to form the Stresa Front which issued a protest against Hitler's rearmament policy but did nothing else. <<<
By 1939, Germany was ready to start it's war for world domination. Not enforcing the terms of the Versailles Treaty allowed the Nazis to build a powerful war machine.
To call people who want arms inspectors and a complete arms embargo on Iraq "appeasers" is worse than ludicrous, it's slanderous.
Well, Saddam expelled arms inspectors years ago. So what do you want to do about it? Oh, end the economic sanctions, I guess. Yeah, that'll bring him into line - sure.
"appeasers". Are you referring to the American leaders who referred to Hitler as a "moderate" at this time, and the Americans who helped him rebuild? The right-wingers loved him and Mussolini, because he appeared to share their (and your) hatred of workers' rights.
People who imagined Hitler was a "moderate" in the '30's were foolish. So are people who underestimate Saddam's intentions.
What makes you think I'm against worker's rights anyway? I've worked all my life and was once a member of a union (Paducah ironworkers local 782). Of course, you've previously identified "workers rights" as communism. |
