Countdown to War GERMANY: How the Nazis Prepared for WWII

Covert rearmament efforts had been well on their way from the early 1920s, but even still, the conditions of the Treaty of Versailles kept the nation far short of the kind of power it would need for outward expansion. For any of the Nazi Party’s promises to come true, German society itself would have to reorganize toward a single goal: War, and victory, at any cost. As we will explore today…well, that’s precisely what they did.
→ Subscribe for new videos at least twice a week!
www.youtube.co...
Love content? Check out Simon's other KZbin Channels:
Biographics: / @biographics
Geographics: / @geographicstravel
MegaProjects: / @megaprojects9649
SideProjects: / @sideprojects
Casual Criminalist: / @thecasualcriminalist
TopTenz: / toptenznet
Today I Found Out: / todayifoundout
Highlight History: / @highlighthistory
XPLRD: / @simonstestchannel
Business Blaze: / @brainblaze6526
Simon's Social Media:
Twitter: / simonwhistler
Instagram: / simonwhistler

[@joshuaescopete]

Would love to see a video about the Boxer Rebellion. An allied force of US, British, French, Russian, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian troops under siege for 55 days in Peking. 14 years before WWI!!! It’s an insane story that needs to be told!

[@Mr._X84]

So tell it.

[@n0madfernan257]

maybe ip-man was there. boxers are martial artists, is it not?

[@jumangi2322]

That is actually a great idea

[@terryarmbruster9719]

@@n0madfernan257 actual event and lol yes many martial art flicks have it as a theme

[@g.2080]

Ahh yes maybe then we in the west can finally understand all the “hostility” from China

[@beckerboy1225]

“Like Shaquille O’Neil in a head butting contest” is such a bewilderingly specific analogy to use discussing the run up to the largest global conflict mankind has seen to now.

[@callamastia]

ai generated script.

[@theredjediknight]

Simon absolutely smashing it, I recommend his channels to my daughter who was doing History A level , the school now recommends them to their students now!

[@TheDragon-v7d]

DAMNNNN

[@americanuscaesar]

I’d love to see a video detailing the Beer Hall Putsch and why it didn’t work (and also why the leaders behind it received so lenient sentences).

[@mycroft_moriarty]

Me too. Please go into Mein Kampf as well, if you can!

[@LikeTheBuffalo]

Seconded.

[@thenecromorpher]

Iirc the judges were right leaning; basically they were closeted Nazis, but without being a member.

[@thenecromorpher]

Would also like a vid too.

[@leholen381]

I also would like a video on that

[@StrangeBrew001]

I watch all your channels and must say, you are one of the top 3 on KZbin that covers so many disciplines. Thank you.

[@sodog44]

French General Ferdinand Foch said that the treaty of Versaille was "Not a peace, but a twenty year armistice." He wasn't off by much with that reckoning.

[@dominickskinner407]

Simon is absolutely killing it lately

[@aSSGoblin1488]

just like adolf. xfile music ensues*

[@Shilling_Larping_Services_LLC]

"...we were very stupid men...the treaties imposed upon our enemies were neither just nor wise." - Harold Nicolson, British diplomat, 1919 "...We shall have to fight another war again in 25 years time." - David Lloyd George, UK Prime Minister, 1918, after learning about the French demands during the negotiations leading to Versailles.

[@aurorialgaming1935]

While I don't agree with Hitler, I don't blame Germany for being angry. You can only kick someone so hard and they got kicked 3 times over.

[@ethanmaloney3438]

This is why you don't listen to the French, it never ends well.

[@Hillbilly001]

Holy crap! A double dip of Warographics! Outstanding! Did Daven light a fire or what? Cheers from Tennessee

[@pauldaugherty1819]

10 out of 10 ! You and your team did wonderful on this on .

[@johngeverett]

I have been a student of WWII history for many years. I always learn something new from your videos.

[@DGKOP72]

Bertrand Russell commented pretty openly that he felt the absurd terms and punishment brought on the German people directly caused Hitler and the second war, and believe that they shouldn’t have been as harshly punished . He was also a staunch pacifist, and I wish more people of his era had been like minded . It probably would’ve saved many of our four fathers from a shallow grave.

[@bsadewitz]

If more people had been like-minded, the UK would be speaking German right now.

[@tomballardarts2453]

As above, the terms weren't too harsh, they weren't enforced. If the terms were too harsh, how was Germany able to rebuild their military?

[@phoenixmodellingphotography]

​@@bsadewitz Absolute B O L L O C K S

[@MaddogMD82]

Simon, Evan, what an incredibly well put together video. Warographics has fast become my favourite channel on YT.

[@pamelamays4186]

Two Warographics in one day? Legend!

[@lajoyalobos2009]

Simon, you should cover the antics of the Baltic Fleet that was sent halfway around the world during the Russo-Japanese War, only to meet an utterly anticlimactic end.

[@theawesomeman9821]

he already covered the Russo-Japanese war in an earlier video.

[@miked451]

Check out Blue Jay’s video on that.

[@lajoyalobos2009]

@@miked451 Actually I have seen Blue Jay's video, I just want to see Simon's take on it

[@wolfganggschiel3923]

That would fit more into brain blaze

[@thalmoragent9344]

Yeah, the Japanese humiliated the Russians so badly, they never forgot and even tried to get them back for it near the end of WW2 😅

[@lucille_the_rat]

Awesome video, well written and well presented, as always from your many channels and podcasts 👏 👌

[@asomelord]

I think it's relevant to add that Paul Von Hindenberg wasn't just a sick old man... He died of Brain Cancer. He very likely was not only too weak to fight, but also probably not even in the right mind to know what could be done

[@Ruosteinenknight]

I've read that he was so far gone in the end, that when Hitler visited his deathbed, Hindenburg thought he was Kaiser Wilhelm.

[@domaspauliukevicius5088]

he also actually kind of liked hitler

[@physetermacrocephalus2209]

Cancer seems to really hate us. We really should put an end to it

[@yetigriff]

​@@physetermacrocephalus2209glad someone had the guts to say this.

[@BBEEAATTNNGGUU]

@@yetigriff That cancer is bad? Pretty sure it's been said before.

[@lehammsamm]

Absolutely would love a video on the Beer Hall Putsch! Thanks for everything you guys do!

[@baalzeebub4230]

Absolutely putch the beer hall!

[@applechocolate4U]

Simon bought out the entire original history channel staff for warographics and has them all working overtime.

[@SkunkApe407]

Are you implying that the construction going on next door wasn't actually "neighbors", but rather an expansion of his writer's basement? Interesting...

[@jakeyerzik2973]

@@SkunkApe407 the word you're looking for is "writer's dungeons"

[@Xpwnxage]

@@SkunkApe407 "Simon Whistler pushes eastward and westward. He has made staggering gains to the east, taking about 4/10 houses on his street, but the alliance on the east is ready to take a stand and push back."

[@Kadeo-ms6qw]

That’s just insulting, the history channel is just a bunch of nut-jobs on adderall

[@matovichbernskij7271]

​@@Xpwnxage I need more secret Simon lore 👀

[@adi6293]

WW2 was a punishment for the allies for blaming just one country for the war that it took many countries to create

[@AbsoluteKhan.]

was just about to go to bed but now I gotta stay up for an hour to watch the two new videos you posted lol

[@isaakhyde8327]

What's always bothered me about this since I read more into the background of WW1 and its epilogue is that, while Europe certainly wasn't asking for Nazis, it was definitely asking for the conflict. Germany was made to officially claim responsibility for WWI even though it was just one of many allies dragged into it by the conflict between Serbia and Austria-Hungary. It was essentially humiliated following the loss of said war, regardless of cause. By beating Germany while it was down, the allied countries all but guaranteed that a reactionary defensive group would take power. So while of course the race-based calamities were entirely from ideological nonsense, the war itself I can't fully blame on the Nazis. That same cycle has played out countless times around the world.

[@C0r3y_D]

This is where you need to read in to the stab in the back origin. The Kaiser wasn't in power to negotiate the end of WW1, he abdicated before the Treaty was signed. The German generals were presented the Treaty in English and French, not German. And the representatives negotiating on the German's behalf were Jewish, which the vast majority of their communists were. And the Treaty of Versailles wasn't what ended the fighting, there was an armistice signed about a year earlier, where the German army basically had to surrender their capability to fight. So they signed the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles basically at gun point, still under naval blockade, and no way to fight back. There's a lot about this period that people never talk about.

[@multiyapples]

It definitely was unfair to punish Germany as harsh as they did but it also doesn’t excuse the actions of the Nazis.

[@BasementEngineer]

@@multiyapples What actions were they? Defending against war mongers and murderers?

[@williamkoscielniak7871]

@@BasementEngineer The actions of Warmongering and mass murder?

[@BasementEngineer]

@@williamkoscielniak7871 Let's see, Germany marched into Poland to stop the murder of German expatriates, and Protect the German city of Danzig. Despite many diplomatic initiatives by Germany, the Poles would not desist from their border excursions and other illegal actions. Pursuant to this action France, Britain, and USA defacto declared war on Germany!

[@Nick-fh4wd]

That script was bloody amazing. Fantastic video

[@Terra-YT]

Wow Simon this might be my favourite video of yours yet. You're a total inspiration and actually because of seeing your success I've decided to start making videos too! Keep grinding, your hard work clearly pays off!

[@therightshow5928]

nice one mate

[@PatriotsUncensored]

mega w

[@Namesjeff-ji1dt]

Simon really is on the grind isn't he?

[@danielgregus9456]

Lol you write this comment on every one of his videos

[@Terra-YT]

@@danielgregus9456 Silence

[@StoriedHistory1985]

Of course I want you to cover the Beer Hall Putsch, Simon.

[@janzimmermann297]

4:48 it is actually called Papiermark not Paipermark. Papiermark translates to ’Paper Mark‘ with Mark being the German Currency and Paper relating to the fact that is was no longer linked to the Gold standard, which enabled the government to just print more money.

[@BasementEngineer]

But the NSDAP government didn't do that print endless money! In fact, the amount currency put into circulation was based on the amount of labour performed in Germany. This is a very stable and sustainable way of running an economy.

[@dem0nchild610]

When I was younger my great grandfather used to tell us about how a friend of his went to Germany after the first war and was at a store attempting to pay for what he wanted he gave the owner a dollar and the owner handed him the keys to the store and left

[@jrmckim]

My great-grandparents lived a few miles from Dachau camp.. specifically near the Schwarzholzl forest. Starting in 1934 they began the huge task of finding a way out of Germany. They finally got out in the early 40s. Almost a decade of securing passage to Florida. Then on to Texas.

[@nutsandbolts432]

I think it’s good for people to intimately understand the past to prevent repeating it.

[@lobehold2263]

exactly, in the future, we will make sure our military is full on resources and everyone else depleted before we start the war.

[@charlesbeeman8323]

The only way history won't repeat itself is for the true and full history no matter how dark or disturbing to people be taught and learned from

[@marine5166]

Most people don't like to read let alone learn about history...hence why history always seems to repeat itself

[@crampusmaximus8849]

As our society casually abides "antifa" marching through our streets masked in black causing violence and sowing discord. Who then are met by right wing reactionaries trying to stop them. Literally weimar germany.

[@phoenixmodellingphotography]

​@@marine5166History will always repeat itself because human emotion will always override all logic and other self preservation safeguards wired into our brains over hundreds of thousands of years. No matter how much progress, no matter how intelligent or aware a person is, a human will always succumb to their emotions

[@peterpaul7932]

Erratum : little confusing you had - actually it was called "PAPIER"mark and not "PIPER"mark (the way you spelled it, but it was written even wrong).

[@jacobusmeiring9875]

Definitely a video on the Beer Hall Putsch. 🙏🙏🙏

[@MalikF15]

Nice video Simon. Do you think you could go back and finish the 100 years wars series after the battle of crecy

[@JacoBecker]

Very nice content. Only problem is the heading makes a sweeping statement. The war effort was supported by many folks. Not just members of the party.

[@luisdonoso1913]

21:15 those who say that Ukraine should simply concede territory for ending the war quickly should carefully pay attention to this part

[@achair7265]

Negotiations and surrender are two different words.

[@justanotherafol9723]

0:16 nothing good ever happens whenever a chancellor is granted emergency powers.

[@TheDankDab710]

Thanks Simon

[@BHS25]

Perhaps a video about the Economy of Britain& France between the two world wars . And how their new territories gains after WWI affect their economy and their readiness for WWII.

[@Codex70]

Britain's economy was absolutely crap between the wars

[@closetglobe.IRGUN.NW0]

I've read that after seeing the treaty of Versailles, the german delegates asked the military how a guerrilla war would look or if they could withstand an allied invasion of germany if they refused the treaty. And they concluded it'd be pretty terrible

[@cheruvskiyanawanti1120]

Turkey refused the treaty of Sevres... And got the better treaty of Lausanne. Germany could've done same

[@iron2684]

​@@cheruvskiyanawanti1120 the allies would have fought germany much harder than they had fought turkey

[@kebman]

Thank you for this view into history. It's eerily reminiscent of someone else in need of land today.

[@H8SK8MSTRB8]

I gotta see a Beer Hall Putsch video! Your channels are my favorite btw

[@IMCDundee]

Poorly I would say, they did not put the economy on a war footing.They also failed to standardise munitions and vehicles ,look at the huge numbers of experimental projects and types of tanks & tank destroyers...

[@ecmorgan69]

IIRC, a lot of countries at the time had a problem standardizing war materiel for logistical reasons.

[@IMCDundee]

@@ecmorgan69 Yep, but any authoritarian gov has an easier time pushing through this type of thing (,and they were still scared, politically) Hitler still could not really believe what he had pulled off. Cost him. could have extended the war for max 2?? years

[@Codex70]

Hitlers generals didn't want to go to war until 1945 but Hitler was too impatient which we can be thankful for I guess since he made some very dumb choices

[@Cryptid71]

Amazing job as always fact boy

[@frankknudsen842]

Sir if you could take this live ,on stage as a tour on history you would become an even bigger superstar

[@LtColShingSides]

A Warographics double feature?! Nice!!

[@kingjames3949]

Watch now before it’s taken down

[@thomasjohn4814]

?

[@deaks25]

Excellent video, this is a very under-estimated period in history as it basically set the course for the next few decades of history. It's so often skipped over with a cursory "And Hitler rose to power."

[@mrwhistlerone]

I would like to see a video of the Beer Hall Putsch. That would be really interesting.

[@dylanvienet7923]

A video about the night of the long knives would be a good one too. Or that might be an into the shadows video

[@davidknox5929]

Excellent survey.Thx

[@2kt2000]

Replacing with loyalist...sounds like project 2025

[@omerk2534]

nice video !

[@kingace6186]

Germany: Sorry but we can't pay in full for a while. France: PAY UP! Germany: But,... *hyperinflation* France: FINE! *Occupies the Ruhr* Germany: Now how are we gonna pay anything at all??! France: PAY UP! (Both the French and German governments in the Interwar-period were unstable & irrational.)

[@ericthompson3982]

A head-butting contest with Shaq is an interesting thought experiment. On the one hand, his head is large enough to make a pretty easy target. On the other hand, it's like watching a planet barrel down on you, at which point your only real option is to evacuate.

[@dutchvanderlinde5004]

How many channels does this guy have

[@toddantoine8085]

Definitely want to see an episode on the Putsch if it has not been made already. Just subscribed to this fantastic history channel

[@noahlogue]

The beer hall putsch would be a decent video. Why not a video on the Greek civil war.

[@PrimericanIdol]

Germany's defeat of France was the most humiliating military defeat in XX century warfare until the Gulf War. It was ridiculously fast and effortless.

[@jordan_roadhouse4798]

France and humiliation come hand in hand.

[@AG26498]

​@@jordan_roadhouse4798you are talking about the country that has won the most battles throughout history.

[@AG26498]

@@nicholasbrown668 your feelings don't that change the fact that France has the highest number of battles won in history. I am trying to change the false narrative that France was always weak, because lots of poeple think like that when all they see is WW2 France.

[@Blackadderthefourth]

Linking the longer videos

[@JB-vn7uy]

Watching this video in 2025 for no specific reason.... no reason at all...

[@evankimori]

Imagine how different it would've been of Heetlur had consolidated his gains and bided his time. Just fed the War Machine and moved on. Blows the mind.

[@hsqueeze6456]

well they were planning for a thousand year reich, Germany would have been an absolute powerhouse if it had actually gained its goals, the world we know now would be completely different, Germany would have full control over Europe so the cold war would have been with Nazi Europe as Russia would have mostly collapsed, it would have been up to the US alone at that point as the uk even with aid from the US would have eventually been defeated or created a peace treaty thats if Nazi Germany achieved its goals in Europe and began to progress from within.

[@warbrain1053]

Not gonna lie, it would have ended faster. By a french/soviet victory. Germany was not the only one that would get stronger with time. France had Charles de Gaule push for modernisation. USSR would have more time recovering from the purge and a WHOLE YEAR AT LEAST to get the T-34M going and other tanks that are not just shitshows. Meanwhile, germany would not have gotten the tiger and panther simply because those two started as responses to the Char 2B, Char 1C, T-34, KV-1 etc. so yeah, while he was bidding his time, stronger nation would have gained more. He won due to surprise and "new" but if he would've went in later, the "new" would be in everyone's hand and do you think they could've taken out all of europe for quite a few years if they were fighting on closer terms?

[@Noneofyourbusiness_.I._]

@@warbrain1053 Idk about that one. If the Soviets invaded Germany, I could see the western Allies supporting the Germans to push back the spread of communism. This is assuming that Hitler doesn’t strike first anyone first.

[@BasementEngineer]

That was not possible. Read Icebreaker by Viktor Suvorov.

[@warbrain1053]

@@nicholasbrown668 did you know? Soviet and allied crews noticed that if you hit a soviet/german tank with a strong enough HE shell, its armor would shatter and cave in due to shitty quality. I never said it was a "good tank (period)", my point is, it is a good tank for its situation. Also, most tanks with a direct hit from a shell were ded, lol. Sepecially from high calibre ones. I haven't seen a panzer survive a penetrating round

[@stefanfoot3047]

Yes a video of the Beer Hall Putsch would he great.

[@Telluwide]

I never understood how Germany could have accepted such terms of surrender. There were no foreign troops on its soil. In fact, they still had trenches and troops in Belgium and France. On top of that, the US (playing a silent role, but still basically kingmaker at Versailles) was for less drastic and penalizing terms of surrender....

[@BasementEngineer]

The British continued their blockade of Germany after the cease fire and acceptance of Wilson's 14 points. Germany was starving and had little choice.

[@sixx2476]

Simon we need a video on everything you mentioned you said you do another video

[@oldleatherhandsfriends4053]

Man I could really go for a Beer Hall Push right now.

[@ShadowKayvaan]

Would be interesting to see you guys do a video on the Nazi invasion of Norway (speaking as a Norwegian). The operation, after all, saw some of the Nazi regimes biggest losses in the early stages of WW2 (such as the sinking of the heavy cruiser Blücer in the Oslofjord, and the defeat at the hands of the combined Norwegian/English/French/Polish force at the Battle of Narvik). After all, not counting the Soviet Union, the Norwegian resisted the longest against a Nazi invasion before the capitulation. Whether or not you do such a video, your content is always enjoyable to watch!

[@BasementEngineer]

I understand you would have preferred the British invasion, right?

[@ShadowKayvaan]

@@BasementEngineer Your capacity for understanding seems to be underdeveloped.

[@BasementEngineer]

@@ShadowKayvaan Perhaps, but yours appears to be nonexistent.

[@ShadowKayvaan]

@@BasementEngineer Well of course YOU would think that.

[@NDAGR-]

This is pretty good. I’ve never heard this they way it was being presented

[@jessejoyce1295]

No mention of the fact that Germany and the Soviet Union both agreed to split Poland between themselves in their non aggression pact?

[@padraigmuldoon4266]

We don't talk about that because the Russians were friends after 1941

[@domaspauliukevicius5088]

whole eastern europe*

[@Gavinkeenan1]

YES! I WANT A VIDEO ON THE BEER HALL PUSCH, PLEASE AND THANK YOU

[@ianblake815]

If only they focused more on making Germany better for everyone there

[@bretthyde3874]

That’s why we must learn from history and not forget the mistakes we made in the past

[@BasementEngineer]

That's what the NSDAP government did.

[@generaltso8278]

Simon, at 22:10 there is an error Germany didn't get to Lithuania till after the start of Barbarossa 1941. You are making a lot of mistakes lately.

[@ferriusnillan5323]

At this point, i just have names from German Focus Tree flashing in my head as Simon keeps going.

[@manavnaik1607]

AHHHHHH I WAS WAITING FOR THIS

[@bolzanw]

Describing Hitler’s invasion of Poland without mentioning that Russia attacked Poland at the same time, and that this was pre-arranged between Hitler and Stalin, is bewildering. How can you whitewash Russia like that? It’s disgusting.

[@BasementEngineer]

How can you whitewash Poland like that... The Poles were busy murdering expatriate Germans by the tens of thousands.

[@rosethxr]

like what you said, simon, i highly suggest you cover the beer hall putsch event that happened in munich.

[@bnet-nn7bu]

Why isn’t this one showing up on the channel?

[@cuszco]

I don't think it was meant to be released yet. This channel doesn't usually release 2 videos on the same day.

[@robertt8822]

@@cuszco yeah someone definetly fucked up😭

[@ksoule1985]

History may not repeat itself...but it sure does echo like crazy!

[@alexthurner43]

Principiis obsta

[@TomAndersonn]

Look at modern day Russia. Slowly attempting to annex it's border nations

[@greattventertainmententerp5637]

I disagree history repeats itself, Nepolean was like Hitler, Then Hitler, Then Stalin, Then Bin Laden, and yet more to come

[@huiarama]

Simon and dear production crew, could you please look into the Battle of Britain. There are so many little nuggets of gold within that battle, the differences in leadership, the technology, both in the air and on the ground, the organisation of resources, facilities, infrastructure and the people. Truly a first hand experience for the civilians in the shelters, the volunteers of the Observer Corps, the 'Dad's Army' and the first notable impact of a cosmopolitan RAF, international citizens from far and wide with who fought the Nazis in Britain and could barely speak english and out of that came, the ordinary who became hero's that still to this day live in infamy. A trend that we might see, even today in the Urals. Surely, for the reasons above, the battle itself is worth exploring.......

[@christopherscarborough7621]

I agree Boxer Rebellion please. I really enjoyed the history lessons I get from your channel and it’s extremely needed now that history is becoming So distorted by opinions

[@j0njn]

Good job as always. And just jot me down as a “yes” whenever you’re asking if we want a more extensive video on a subject.

[@Jim54_]

Skip to 18:00 for Rearmament

[@SiVlog1989]

In the documentary series "The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler," it mentioned Hitler's surprise at his Generals lack of enthusiasm for wanting a war when he said he wanted to occupy Austria and eliminate Czechoslovakia: "My Generals should be like Bull Terriers on chains and they should want war, war, war...but what happens now? I want to ho ahead with strom policies and the Generals try to stop me!" It was precisely because of Hitler's lust for war that led to the Chief of Staff of the German Army, Ludwig Beck, eventually resigning in 1939. He felt (as Simon mentioned here) that the German Armed Forces weren't ready in 1938 for war and as time went on he became more and more convinced of Hitler's mental state. He warned his closest aids when Hitler made his claims on the Sudatenland that if Germany went to war over Czechoslovakia, that Germany would beat Czechoslovakia but would lose the resulting war against Britain and France. He then prophetically remarked that a war against Britain and France would result in "perhaps a European, or even a new World War." When he finally resigned, he remarked, "I warned and warned, and at last I stood alone,"

[@Neakas]

This is why we Germans have no real National Pride to speak of (outside of Soccer i guess). The Pain and "Vergangenheitsbewältigung" any German carries keeps any Pride at bay. "how could we have let it go that far..." i mean it wasnt me who did these things. but still. ive spoken with my Grandfather just a few times about the war. It was not an easy Topic to discuss. But every time we did talk about it,you could see the deep pain in his eyes. He never wanted to fight...he just did as he was told. yet fight he did...

[@srccde]

4:45 It's actually *Papiermark* with emphasis on the second syllable.

[@CH-ju8zt]

More should be mentioned in history about Otto Wels.

[@glitchysoup6322]

20:44 "the culture was apeasement" And it still is. Now just to Russia and China. It didn't work in the past, so maybe for some reason it will work now.

[@ericschmook7060]

Yes, please more videos on history

[@itsmeblank4028]

Wait 2 video is one days? What did we do to deserve this!

[@bswihart1]

You are good!

[@shyneguy]

is this video unlisted? it's not on the channel anywhere I can see

[@vytautass7991]

Reality is that German empire didn’t started the ww1 alone. There is no doubt, that start of war was full scale mobilisation in Russian empire, which was on the side of british-french coalition

[@warbrain1053]

no, the first declaration of war was started by austria. You are welcome :) Otherwise what started it is.. A LONG LIST.

[@joshuasill1141]

Germany didn't start it, they were just the only ones left to pay for it. The war kicked off with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in Sarajevo, Serbia. The Serbian nationalists wanted independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire however they just assassinated one of the only guys in their corner nd could've made that happen. Finally getting the excuse to "clean house" in the Balkans they've wanted for years, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia. Prior to Austria-Hungary declaring war and predicting the domino effect, the British government lobbied officials in Paris, Berlin, and Rome for some kind of council or convention to monitor and moderate any impending conflict. However, this idea was shot down by the German government and outside of Kaiser Wilhelm II the German military and government seemed intent on a fight. Once Austria-Hungary declared war, Serbia's ally, the Russian Empire, declared war on Austria-Hungary. Austria-Hungary's ally, the German Empire, declared war on Russia. Russia's ally, France, declared war on Germany and Germany declared war on France. All this took place within a period of 5 days. Both Italy and Great Britain stayed neutral at this time. When things kick off, Germany executes its Schlieffen Plan by invaded France through neutral Belgium. The minute the first German boots touches neutral Belgium's soil Great Britain jumps to the aid of it's ally Belgium and declares war on Germany joining France and the Russian Empire. Italy joins the fray in mid-May 1915 with coaxing from France and Great Britain with the promise of getting land back in the Alps from Austria-Hungary. The Ottoman Empire joins in late-October 1914 when two ships they had just purchased from Germany sailed into the Black Sea and attacked Russian ships. Following the attack Russia declares war on the Ottoman Empire and the Ottoman Empire calls for a jihad against Russia, France, and Great Britain. The United States enters in April 1917 with the leakage of the Zimmermann telegram with the German government guaranteeing most of the Southwest going back to Mexico if Mexico attacks the US, and with the sinking of the Lusitania which killed some 100+ Americans when the German submarine force started practicing unrestricted warfare. Once the dust settles 4 empires no longer exist, 1 empire is barely hanging on, 1 monarch and his family are assassinated, another monarch has abdicated his throne, a new government has transformed one country, and another has emerged on the world scene as a burgeoning super power.

[@BasementEngineer]

@@joshuasill1141 Too much misinformation to bother with, therefore mostly rubbish.

[@MrTmm97]

25:39 well thank God he didn’t. Imagine if Hitler was a military genius.

[@InquisMalleus]

Be interesting to see the preparations of Great Britain during the pre-WWII period. Chamberlain was big on appeasement because he knew the nation couldn't fight, and he was busy trying to prepare for what was coming. The Bengal Famine from shipping grain from India to England to help supply the British populace during the coming war killed millions. The attempt to get the colonies to ship more goods so British factories could produce weapons and goods, and the attempts to improve the military's readiness and equipment. Chamberlain didn't stop the Nazis and signed off on things he knew were wrong because he was trying to prepare for worse. That political struggle and the demands for resources for a coming war would be a good video.

[@NemoForever338]

You didn't mention the German Civil War of 1918-19, or the parties that participated in it.

[@crampusmaximus8849]

shhhhh that isn't important

[@badgerapocalyps2546]

You tell a distorted version of history. In the late 1930s the Allies were rapidly rearming and closing the military gap; further delay would have resulted in them surpassing Nazi Germany. Rather than gaining supremacy, further delay would have made France, Poland and Great Britain too powerful for Germany to conquer. 1939 for Hitler was now or never.

[@NoID42069]

2 videos? wow

[@peterhughes7099]

Please do a video of Hitler's Beer hall putsch covering the planning exectution and the sentancing of Hitler & Hess. Thank you Simon 🙂

[@Demonic_Tang]

That guy who gave the chancellor with emergency powers might as well be a Jar of Jars

[@TheKalaxis]

I would indeed love a video on the beer hall putsch. Also maybe ones on the Cristalnacht and the night of long knives.

[@ivaylonikolov7138]

Make a video about the balkan wars

[@WastdTrashPanda]

Yes I'd like a video on the Beer Hall