The French Occupation of the Ruhr (Short Animated Documentary)

[@awildtannerwasfound5045]

Why are demilitarized zones so militarized.

[@fristnamelastname5549]

Germany: Why do the French get to militrize the Rhineland? Belgium, and France: *Shut up slave!*

[@Jack209]

Literally every "demilitarized" zone in history was one of the most heavily militarized places in the world.

[@ApersonIguess-rb6fu]

@@Jack209 the irony

[@getmeoutofsanfrancisco9917]

They aren't. The *borders* around said DMZ are what are heavily militarized. A DMZ is just a zone typically around national borders where a mutual agreement is made in order to forbid military instillations within said zone. When you *approach* (but not enter) a DMZ on a hostile border, there will typically be many military instillations, but within said DMZ itself, there will (or should be) none. Unless it is violated which does happen. /Definitions

[@scintillam_dei]

Why is it you can't say crap without rap?

[@unclenogbad1509]

I remember an interview with an old German lady who had been a young girl at the time of the inflation. She and her mother had gone shopping, struggling under the weight of their basket-load of money. They saw a crowd gathering at the baker's, so put down the load and rushed to see what was on sale. When they got back, the money was there, but somebody had stolen the basket.

[@kaputtesrollo2756]

Actually I still have a 5 Billion Reichsmark (only one banknote)

[@zhouwu]

@@kaputtesrollo2756 How much is it worth?

[@kaputtesrollo2756]

@@zhouwu Today it's nothing

[@charu2059]

@@kaputtesrollo2756 You could use it as toilet paper or make an airplane.

[@kaputtesrollo2756]

@@charu2059 I could (due to its value) but I think its a historical item I should keep ^^

[@Guns_Blazin]

“Every man a millionaire”- German Huey Long

[@Marinealver]

A million pennies is still $10,000. A million Dongs on the other hand.

[@bluefiregaming4037]

Huey Long Dong***

[@merrittanimation7721]

And no one wears a Pickelhaube

[@UnfairEnforcer]

A worthless millionaire is a millionaire nonetheless

[@jonasb104]

@@HighFlyingOwlOfMinerva um, Gustav Stresemann would like to talk to you from his grave. ;)

[@janpiorko3809]

"France felt that any breach of the Treaty of Versailles should be met with firm action" Ohhh, the irony...

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Actually, if the allies had been more rational about war reparations, the Ruhr Valley occupation AND the second World War could have been avoided.

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

@@atlasbailly5439 ...Or just being more rational about forcing one country to pay back everything. But alas, Britain and France wanted their pound of flesh... Then again, maybe you were right and should have dismantled Germany so they would no longer be on the hook for all those unfair payments.

[@helmuthvonmoltke5518]

@@atlasbailly5439 Well, we can argue in the same way about the congress of Vienna. If the coallition had ripped France apart than there would be no Napoleon III, no Franco - prussian war and no French revisionism that led - among others - to the outbreak of WW1. So no, if the allies had treated Germany more gentle than the western Integration of the country would had played out more accordingly. The peace treaty - and especially Frances behaviour - was more or less responsible for the rise of Hitler and his Nazi thugs. Incidently; Europe after the war needed a strong and peacefull Germany. Its a shame that France insisted on a weak and helpless Germany.

[@atlasbailly5439]

@Ivan Ricaña how in gods name is the french navy supposed to help in a war against germany. they share a massive common border and the germans were not very reliant on foreign supplies, as illustrated in the first and second world wars. in 1940 the definitive command of the sea held by the brits and french could not prevent the fall of france in the slightest. the tanks of the french were far inferior in number and organization to those of the germans. in addition, the germans had absolute command of the sky, which is incredibly important and made up a large portion of german military strength and strategy. you have made two points which completely ignore the simple fact that the germans completely dwarfed the french in terms of industrial output, population, and land based military power.

[@NoahWeaverRacing]

Ivan Ricaña Naval Power is only so effective. The fact that France was drastically outnumbered in Air power, manpower, and equipment such as tanks meant they could not keep up. Not having Britain to cover a portion of the Belgian border would have made a bad situation worse.

[@sakuraaaa101]

Debt: *exists* Germany: so anyway I started printing

[@NoahWeaverRacing]

MarchBloxBoy theone this meme was getting old but this revived it a little for me 😂

[@martinbernardino1]

Venezuela: Are you challenging me

[@garrettallen7427]

Noah Weaver Argentina: *YOU DARE OPPOSE ME MORTAL?!*

[@Joesolo13]

If you have uncontrollable debt it's actually a pretty big brained move You destroy your own currency and go 'well that sucks guys!', adopt another country's currency for a few years and then start yours back up pegged to it until you're pretty sure things will be stable.

[@legooperator8443]

@bloxboy 1 Yeah lol

[@Matty112uk]

love the writing scrawled over the picture of the former Kaiser: 'Unter neuer leitung' - 'Under new management' 😂

[@breaderikthegreat3224]

You have freed us

[@beefyblom]

@@breaderikthegreat3224 Eher wie - unter neuer leitung

[@TheRhysj5]

I was super against you changing from 10 minute videos to this. But now I look forward to them

[@Sim4oo]

I agreee with you,but do be fair,if videos were still 10 minutes long,uploads were to be for sure not so frequent.

[@Wm7forthewin]

same

[@gr33kwarrior]

When you say the German government did print money just to pay their bills you're at least oversimplifying. It's obvious from the beginning that it won't solve your problems even with the least economical knowledge. Or you're claiming that the people in charge were just idiots which is unlikely. So to me there's no question wether inflation was planned. You could still argue about the extent of inflation planned ofc since once started it was like an avalanche effect building up more and more.

[@nathanielmorgan732]

It works well for making single event videos.

[@receivedbeans8555]

Erik Dorbandt never underestimate the stupidity of politicians

[@icrushchildrensdreams4556]

“State of Emergency” *how funny the FIRE ALARM JUST WENT OFF*

[@tjb_6203]

*HAHAHAHHAHAH LMAOOO*

[@blazingfish8486]

*I CANT BELIEVE IT*

[@no1ofconsequence936]

This explains so much about how Nazi Germany was able to get away with so many early treaty violations. It's hard to believe this isn't in more discussions of the leadup to WWII. Edit: I refer to the French occupation, not the inflation. I knew about that. It's just that the actions of the French here make it understandable that some folks would let things slide if it would be good for Germany. Then they decided things were getting out of hand, but you know.

[@looinrims]

It’s because no one understands seemingly how important economies are

[@anonymouscausewhynot]

@@looinrims well, unless your country is in economic crisis.

[@looinrims]

@@anonymouscausewhynot nah people still don’t get it, as they cry for social welfare programs that are the reason the coffers are dry (or a big reason in many cases), Argentina isn’t having fun for many reasons but the out of control spending doesn’t help

[@divicarpe1844]

@@looinrims I would say it's because it would expose the responsibility and passiveness of UK and US.

[@looinrims]

@@divicarpe1844 you…are ridiculous That isn’t the case whatsoever both historically and presently

[@icrushchildrensdreams4556]

“A great plan” *inflation lvl.100*

[@Snowfox456]

Since the reparations were set in Reichsmark, however, the plan kinda worked...

[@icrushchildrensdreams4556]

Dominic Jackman it sorta worked but they also got free bricks to build their houses with in germany.

[@personaronthegreat1399]

I8pT do you mean Inflation OVER 9000

[@unowno123]

lmao coming from the man who invented the great leap forward

[@trdrudedude6099]

No its Inflation Inflation Inflation LV 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[@hfar_in_the_sky]

"And while it can be said no-one won the Ruhr valley crisis..." A certain future Chaneclor: "Oh, I don't know about that..."

[@schroederscurrentevents3844]

@Shadow Reptile it’s very obviously Hitler and also France does not and has never had chancellors

[@nishav101822]

I would say ending up in a ditch, covered in petrol, on fire, is not "winning"

[@nishav101822]

@Shadow Reptile I was replying to the original post by hfar, apparently KZbin got mixed up

[@damedley75]

I need a sad react

[@jonasb104]

Very interesting topic indeed. Here in Germany we learn about the Ruhr-occupation in school, but I didn't knew it was so bad for British-French relations. We focused more on the hyper-inflation oopsie by our government...😅

[@alexg4711]

well if you consider the threat of france occupying you printing money doesnt seem like that bad of an idea

[@jonasb104]

@@alexg4711 Military staff be like: *we drown the french in paper!* And then paper would have to be forbiden by the Genfer-convention...😨

[@laisphinto6372]

They downplay also massively how disgusting the french troops behaves during the occupation because you can only BE a """"Friend"""" with france If you lick their Boots and only praise them as angels

[@derhenri2002]

It should be mentioned that this inflation crisis heavily effected the view of the Weimar Republic for a lot of Germans back then. It left a deep shock in the populance and there are still stories of the suffering German people endured in many German families.

[@mikehunt3436]

It also devoured much of the population's life savings

[@jimtaylor294]

It's almost like the only winners were German Bankers (whom lied through their teeth to the allies & the German population), whom still profited while ordinary people starved.

[@navaryn2938]

Small note on the whole "printing money" thing: Economists at the time believed that a quick injection of liquid capital into the economy could stimulate small buisnesses, a positive effect which was projected to counter the (well predicted) inflation such move would cause. They ended up doing it because several experts (german and foreign) agreed that it could work. Then the government got kinda carried away and just kept printing even when it was clear that it wasn't working

[@SamWinchester000]

Injection of capital to stimulate the economy when it does not work anymore. That sounds a bit like Keynsian.

[@damedley75]

Like a distant mirror

[@Aceshot-uu7yx]

That is still used to this day but only once and as a last resort.

[@damedley75]

@@Aceshot-uu7yx incorrect

[@damedley75]

@@Aceshot-uu7yx Sorry I shouldn't have jumped to a conclusion... What is the "that" that is still used to this day?

[@blackpowderuser373]

France: Let's severely punish Germany. What could go wrong? Germany: Let's print MORE money. What could go wrong?

[@martinfiedler4317]

@@historyfan So printing money causes World War? A very daring Hypothesis.

[@zejdland]

Germany say should've been dismantled like the ottoman empire or the Austrian empire

[@alexschmidt443]

@@martinfiedler4317 Makes sense to me. -Printing Money -Money has less value -The money on your bank, for which you saved your entire life, is nothing but worthless up to 1921 -Same probably goes to the company you worked for -Your company closes because it can't produce or buy due to it being broke -You're unemployed -You have luck and find a nine-to-five job -You realize saving money is Bullshit because the Money you earned on Friday is worthless on Monday -You buy everything you need literally right after work, literally carying your cash in a wheelbarrow -You're fired because the company you worked for closes due to it being broke -You realize life sucks -You know it's the frenchies fault -You hate the frenchies now because they destroyed your life -You realize that democracy in Germany succs D -Nazis say that Democracy succs D -''Yeah, that makes sense'' -You like the Nazis -Nazis take power -Nationalism is cool again -You want to be cool, so you become a Nationalist -You don't like Poland controlling Germany Territory -You rekk Poland - *Looking westward* -''You thought i forget about you?'' -You rekk France -''Oh boi, nobody can stop me now, not even...'' -You rekk Russia -Russia rekks you back - ''Ah shit. It's ok, we can do this'' - USA walks in - ''Did somebody say war?'' - USA rekks you - British rekk you - French farmers with guns rekk you - ''Oh come on no! Fuck you guys, seriously!'' Succ my dicc history!

[@fluff5]

@@alexschmidt443 Venezuela is going to start the ww3

[@rodrigogomes5112]

@@zejdland you miss the point that while austria and the ottomans were already very divided internally, german peoples wanted to be unified

[@karmo1629]

This channel is just so great for history fans like me. It touches on these footnotes and small things in the bigger picture. I love it. I even watch the videos about the historical eras i dont care about

[@SamWinchester000]

Oh, you're absolutely right, e. g. I don't give a shit about the Middle Ages or Chinese history, but videos here are always interesting and intrigue me to put an eye on other topics and eras.

[@roflmywaffles1313]

This probably affected the French foreign policy and why they hesitated on helping the Polish and condemning German aggression in the late 30s

[@samarkand1585]

Well in-between a certain Great Depression happened too

[@danieleyre8913]

And intervening when Hitler marched into the Ruhr in 1936.

[@mrbisshie]

In hindsight, allowing your military to gun down civilians wasn't exactly a good idea. It just made you look like a dick.

[@superbird4351]

*German Nationalism Intensifies

[@gyaps_da_best5835]

Frenchies in the trenchies

[@gyaps_da_best5835]

@FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation Not an original sadly but it is still funny just wanted to tell the joke to people who haven't seen them :)

[@toreq1127]

UH OHHHH

[@zejdland]

Whole europe: simply dismantles germany.

[@zejdland]

@mitsuki XD

[@miguelmontenegro3520]

Germans: Literally any problem. Weimar Governament: *Prints Money*

[@TheOMGJames]

Tbf under Gustav Stresemann the Weimar Republic did see a short economic boom by not printing more money amongst other things

[@Jthomas-gg9pi]

BMT yeah it might’ve worked but America wanted the money back after the Wall Street crash so the money that was fixing the economy was gone

[@mrbrainbob5320]

@@Jthomas-gg9pi well America was mainly the only nation who gave Germany any real help.

[@fristnamelastname5549]

@@mrbrainbob5320 We Americans are the best.

[@tano1004]

*it’s free real estate*

[@CliffCardi]

*sees Industrious Ruhr Valley in demilitarized Germany* France: “It’s free real estate.”

[@Cjnw]

Normie

[@Cjnw]

@@Bd-ng1zv az anyád!!

[@StevenKluber]

I mean, that 20% boost to production and +1 Production for each Mine and Quarry in this city is good reason for anyone to capture the Ruhr.

[@Delosian]

Only if you replace all the workers with your own, otherwise you have to pay an assimilation penalty to production for the first ten turns.

[@jcxz983]

@@Delosian So that's where France went wrong....

[@omeven5785]

game ?

[@marjanp]

​@@omeven5785Civilization 6

[@ДмитрийОсипов-м9д]

​@@omeven5785 Sid Meier's Civilization VI, the Ruhr Valley is a very powerful world wonder you can build

[@pyrotechnick420]

2:44 If you pause here you can see a visual representation of the entire history of French and British relations lol

[@marcmacdonald1965]

I think an important omission here (probably understandable due to extreme time constraint) is the main reason the French wanted reparations was to *pay the UK and US for their war debts*. At Versailles the French were actually in favour of forgiving all monetary transfers - debts & reparations - excluding a more modest amount for repairs to infrastructure etc. (perhaps understandable as they maybe were the largest debtor nation). The UK & US - France's creditors - disagreed. Hence the French pushed for reparations to cover the war debt. This is discussed in detail in the scholarship of Margaret MacMillan (Paris 1919). The traditional view of France as the motor for large reparations payments is... somewhat problematic. That was perhaps more the anglo-saxons. France's overriding priority was security.

[@shatter382]

I think this in and of itself is a little misleading. The British rarely provided direct credit to the French, and were not a net creditor at the end of the war after spending over 50% more than the French on the war. At points the French, and Russian empires had far higher borrowing costs than the British, so it was agreed that France and Russia could borrow money from the British, at British borrowing rates. What this meant was if the French needed a million dollrars, the British would borrow it from the markets (at this time mostly Americans), then load it to the french at the same interest rate, with the idea that France would pay off the loan at a lower interest rate than she would otherwise be offered. The best way to look at this is the British guaranteed a significant amount of French debt, with a few extra steps. What this meant in practice is at points the Germans would pay the French, who would pay the British, who would then pay the final American creditor. Every loan the British gave the French had a matching loan the British needed to pay off at the same rate. In the end the British would never Profit from the French loans, the only thing they got out of it was a good credit rating.

[@Okxyd]

What is not added either are the "emprunts russe", aka loans given to russian that the communists simply refused to pay back once after seizing power in 1917 (that would be 100 billions euros today). Combined with the fact that the most industrialized part of France was completely ravaged by the war and the heavy demographic price paid by France (half of a generation of young men). The narrative is that french wanted the money to punish the germans but the reality is that France had 200% of its GDP as debt after the war.

[@looinrims]

“Hey thanks for all that cash fighting this war we couldn’t win without it, can we just not pay 90% of it?” Fuck you

[@danieleyre8913]

Absolutely wrong. The France wanted reparations first and foremost to rebuild the regions of France that had been destroyed or pillaged during the war & German occupation. That’s why they were called reparations (go and translate the word). Paying back the USA and the UK (who had also borrowed to the hilt from the USA) was a more long-term thing that would be resulting from the repairs.

[@Tathagatchat]

Didn't he say that in the video? (the first line, not the whole explanation)

[@icrushchildrensdreams4556]

Why didn’t you include the Bottleneck Free State? It could’ve been very interesting

[@alanz4819]

I8pT Ankther channel already made a video on it

[@icrushchildrensdreams4556]

alanz ik but i wanted to hear how History Matters would explain it in his perspective

[@50shekels]

@@seamonster936 Yeah. The same reason you guys implemented mandatory school shootings every second Tuesday. It's too boring without the constant threat of being gunned down

[@syrialak101]

@@50shekels Butthurt much?

[@50shekels]

Mallyoo oh don’t worry, I don’t really care what you think. Honestly the world is just sick of Murica propaganda, just because they weigh the most doesn’t mean they have a lot to say

[@Hazgamer64]

I'm really liking all the WW1-related Germany content. Please continue doing more of these, as these detailed edge cases should be shared more, along with the rest of the first world war's history. thanks a bunch!

[@cv990a4]

Story time: sometime in the 1980s or 1990s I went with my mother to visit the widow of a much older colleague of my father. Her (American) military father had been stationed, along with his family, in a French occupation zone in Germany, as some kind of liaison. Being young and vivacious and in her late teens, she, of course, was much in demand as a dance partner at the military balls. Among the French officers with whom she danced was a tall gentleman of the name De Gaulle. I just looked at her - holy smokes, you danced with Charles De Gaulle?! Yep. Before he was all that, too. And yes, I checked - De Gaulle was indeed stationed in Germany, in Trier.

[@dewittbourchier7169]

One problem with this video: The French actually did get their payments. Belgian and French soldiers forced German workers to produce at gunpoint if necessary and if that did not work they were not above seizing machinery and infrastructure and shipping it back to France. So while they occupied it they did get everything they wanted. The only trouble was the international condemnation they received made it all ultimately not worth their while.

[@carlbrenner7078]

So basically the French and the Belgians did what they had been doing to half of the world: they stole everything they could.

[@danieleyre8913]

This is absolute fiction. The French never got even half of what they needed from the Germans.

[@nicholasm7822]

As was their right. They should've taken the whole country and saved the whole continent a lot of trouble.

[@MyDemon32]

​@@nicholasm7822then you'd get a second Napoleon in Europe and the cycle will continue.

[@julien3331]

​@@MyDemon32 I prefer this than WWII

[@princekalender2154]

ZImbabwe: great plan, what could go wrong

[@nikolay4101-s7r]

Last time I was this early there were living hussars Well, there was one, at least. He was a bit old though

[@miguelmontenegro3520]

RIP von Mackensen

[@miguelmontenegro3520]

RIP von Mackensen.

[@seneca983]

@@miguelmontenegro3520: His first name was August, not RIP. ;)

[@sebathadah1559]

His name: *A U G U S T V O N M A C K E N S E N*

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

2:17 El Presidente...he would be great for Tropico

[@corymoon2439]

Driving in Orlando I saw a grocery store today called Presidente. Instantly busted out laughing thinking of the El Presidente brand in Tropico.

[@bluesaberproductions8991]

Cool Alt Hist idea: France refuses to back down, and continue to aggressively challenge the European order. Napoleonic Wars 2.0 begins!

[@akiamini4006]

I wish there were dozens of people like you that would do such courses on all types of data such as medical types its so damn EZ learnin

[@looinrims]

Because it’s all surface level stuff that doesn’t even come close to even referencing all of the important points let alone any detail Ie there’s barely any data to disseminate

[@housefireflygaming7893]

I wish that these were longer keep up the great work

[@ifazwolf]

Germany: *exists* France: They’re a threat to our peace! I suggest we I n v a d e

[@alioshax7797]

One this one, I would say we were right ;) I'm not 100% sure, but I think that Germany was kind of a threat for peace in 1933 ^^

[@g3k0n88]

@@alioshax7797 germany was always a threat to the peace

[@g3k0n88]

@@alioshax7797 and i mean was cuz now they are fine

[@maxx1014]

@TheSatanicTicTac so was France from 1871 onwards being salty about the loss of Alsace Lorraine. And basically French kingdom was a threat to peace since Hugo Carpet and later the empire with Napoleon lol

[@rjabrogar3492]

Germany: *uno reverse card*

[@BMC2]

Nice use of the Fes hat on that Maghreb French soldier :D

[@karmo1629]

02:16 *oh that surely wont backfire and be one of the reasons for a second world war*

[@houjisaifeddine5524]

france is really getting away with no repercussion for basically setting the stage for another ww

[@nicolas.p331]

@@dillonblair6491 I mean the french did pay their war reparations in 1870-80 , Germany never did, for WW1 or WW2.

[@greibert1447]

@@nicolas.p331 Yeah, because those reparations in 1870-1880 weren't through the roof and motivated by resentment towards the French. Unlike in treaty of Versailles, French were salty that they had lost in the Franco-Prussian war and lost many soldiers in WW1. The thing is, Germany wasn't even able to pay it in the first place, so it's rather senseless to demand the money they didn't have. Now, Germany IS paying reparation for both the world wars...

[@breissnbierisnix9952]

Nicolas .P We still pay war reparations...

[@thezeitos469]

@@nicolas.p331 thats because we are still paying them to this day, which should show you how insane the amount of money is.

[@______608]

Me when I find a history matters video with no James Bissonette comments:😱

[@martinmarvinofsparta3656]

France after WWII: What did I tell you. Allies: Well you certainly didn’t help the situ- France after WWII: WHAT DID I TELL YOU!

[@pride2184]

It's the french fault for starting ww2. They pissed off a already bitter Germany who didn't lose the fight on the battlefield just lost at home.

[@nickmtp8824]

@@pride2184 That's the propaganda made by generals. In reality, German lost their last massive attacks and then French succedely counterattack. They severely lost the fight.

[@Highway-Hobo]

France in 1939: Where my country gone?

[@martinmarvinofsparta3656]

France: Mistakes were made

[@grandinquisitor8335]

@@pride2184 kind of true France wanted revenge after the France Prussian war but all the treaty of Versailles did was put Germany in the same position France was extremely bitter

[@ronh2660]

Someone dies...they tip over Someone celebrates..they float through a field of daisies Meanwhile Serious voice!

[@EyebrowsGaming]

Germany: We have the Ruhr France: We have an army Iron Man: We have a Hulk HistoryMatters: We have James Bisanette

[@flashmustache7702]

he should do a video on how Germany got out of hyper inflation

[@aqui1ifer]

Vindictiveness & France, name a more iconic duo.

[@ChallisVenstra]

aqui1ifer Taco Bell and Charmin?

[@Grafvollundr]

France and attempts to occupy the coal rich Saarland

[@skiteufr]

Germany and losing world wars Or Britain and oppressing tribes around the world...

[@ZenBallMaster42]

Please remind us which country started WW2 out of spite again ?

[@nickmtp8824]

Germany invaded twice neutral Belgium. Even France never dare to do so.

[@Vienna3080]

We need a video on Napolean the 3rd

[@nb2008nc]

Napo lean? More like Napo Fat. That's what happens when you misspell Napoleon...

[@Zhentarim]

I think it was missing the point that France not only occupied the industrial center, it also occupied the mines, officially taking 70% of the production of iron, coal and "one more" (I don't remember but I think it was copper), this for 2.5 years. Yes, Germany created its own inflation, taking the currency from 1 to 4 with the dollar (or pound) in 1917 to 1 to 10 thousand in 1922, but with the French invasion it went to 1 trillion. Germany used inflation as an excuse, yes, but France was undoubtedly the agent of chaos in this situation in 1923. Only with the USA completely paying off Germany's debt through the Dawes Plan (later replaced by the Young Plan), and the establishment of an independent BC that stabilization was possible. In 1921, the payment of compensation exceeded 8% of GDP, it would already be difficult for a normal country, even more so for a country immersed in the post-war effects (of its complete responsibility, making it clear) and suffering attempted communist coups. a little late but I wanted to comment

[@LaRozzle]

“The foolhardy economic policy of having more money” Surprised more governments haven’t tried having more money

[@Nexxarian]

Germany: *has massive amounts of inflation* Venezuela: hold my beer

[@thesmm2311]

Hungary:Amateurs!

[@redcap-t4t]

Zimbabwe: *Allow me to introduce myself.*

[@antoniodavi5392]

Brazil: Excuse me

[@reds.victim1023]

Italy: Am I joke to you?

[@sirsayde4190]

Venezuela's inflation does not even reach the heels of the German.

[@mitchellmdl7278]

Just joined you're Patreon as a modern supporter. Looking forward to seeing more excellent content 👍

[@itaybron]

1920's France: WE MUST ENFORCE THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES 1930's France: Germany's building up their military and not living up to the treaty? who gives a shit.

[@xenotypos]

It was already too late. They (the others powers (just my way to say Britain)) should have reacted right from the start, in 1920. When it was possible. After that, wether France wanted it or not didn't change much: they just couldn't do it anymore.

[@andreleclerc7231]

Actually even as soon as the sudeten crisis France was ready to make it a war over it if Britain was willing to do its part. Czech and Poles were ready to go too.

[@looinrims]

@@xenotypos what a stupid notion “let’s punish them for violating something they...haven’t violated yet”

[@looinrims]

@@andreleclerc7231 considering how the poles ended their conflict there’s no way they’d be able to go on the offensive Also the Czechs had little popular support for this supposed offensive Ignore how the French were completely incapable of offensive operations And Britain had little in ground forces due to decreased budgets “Gah we should attack before they’re ready, why didn’t we think of that?” What a historical insight

[@xenotypos]

@@looinrims No idea what the fuck you're even talking about. Maybe you're replying to a post from another dimension or something.

[@maxmustermann4149]

Regarding Versailles and lost territories: Some territories such as Upper Silesia and Memel were annexed by other countries, while the people in those territories voted to stay a part of Germany. The referendums that took place were a part of the Versailles treaty, not the instant annexation.

[@adrianatgaming8640]

it's a great strategy if you ever consider building an empire: take someone else's land, then deport the local people and replace them with your own. bam, now it's ethnic *insert ethnicity* territory. side effects including creating a hellhole for nationalist ranting.

[@antanassmetona4054]

Not sure about Upper Silesia, but Memel was always inhabited by Lithuanian Germans. When Memel was taken by Lithuania none of the people living there complained, or even tried to revolt.

[@grandinquisitor8335]

@@antanassmetona4054 didn't Lithuania get memel from France from a Crimean style uprising?

[@antanassmetona4054]

@@grandinquisitor8335 Memel was at that time being set up to become a city state, which Lithuania kept on refusing to happen. The whole region of Memel was inhabitated by Lithuanians, and it had a port which Lithuania wanted. Those two things were the major facts that caused the incident. Lithuania was not getting a chance to speak up in the world press, so it felt pressured to take matter into it's own hands - knowing that no one will listen to Lithuania's wishes. So to safely put it: no, France wanted to create a state of it's own, just like the free city of Danzig.

[@grandinquisitor8335]

@@antanassmetona4054 I meant to say stole it from France sorry

[@alexbalan_5623]

0:47 "Let's just print more money!" Me: Wait, no! This is a bad idea!

[@FredericGaillot]

What's missing in this presentation is what happened in 1914-1918 in French and Belgium occupied territories. In 4 years, Germany occupied most of Belgium and about 10% of France. In these areas, Germany systematically organized forced labor for men/boy above 9 years old. Women, men, kids were forced to work for free in France, but many were also deported in Germany to support war effort. As an example, 10,000 people were deported in Holzminden camp in Germany alone. About 100,000 people were brought by force into Germany to support the German economy. As a reminder, German prisonners in France, UK, and later in US were not asked to work. Food allowances were restricted to 1,300 calories per person. They seized 75% of all crops and harvest available. In order to compensate this food restrictions, rations were granted by the US Embassy in Bruxelles and the red cross which were funded by US (386,000,000 USD), France (205,000,000 USD) and UK (109,000,000 USD), so that Allied powers were supporting the financial burden Germany would not carry. On top of this, each occupied city had to pay for a fee to support the German troops stationned within their area (about 184,000,000 French Francs). Germany had also set up a administrative service called Schutzverwaltung to seize all machines, plants and services that could be transferred in Germany. When Germany troops had to evacuate the areas they occupied in 1918 they simply damaged everything they could not take; mines were flooded, plants were destroyed. In 1923, French territory alone (excl. Belgium) accounted for 620 villages and cities totally destroyed (Reims for example had only 12 buildings left !), 1,334 destroyed above 50%, 2,349 partially destroyed, 293,043 buildings had been totally destroyed, 148,948 severely damaged. Alfred Sauvy, an well reputated economist estimated that the cost of the war for France was 34,000,000,000 French Francs. German troops also executed without trials civilians, and in several occasions massacres were pertpetrated. After the war Germany refused to hand over the officers who gave the orders for such acts. It is estimated that 30,000 civilians had been killed in labor camps, fortress or in random military actions in occupied France, and 8,000 were simplied shot dead. Finally, France and Germany went at war in 1870-1871, and France lost. France repaid every single gold coin it had to pay to Germany, and German troops left France only in 1873 when the last coin was received. Germany benefited from special economical benefits over the trade on the Rhine river until .. 1914. So, France respected the first Versailles treaty dated 1871 in which the country was humiliated and punished. French troops in Ruhr sounds like a bad idea when looking back in 2019, but the decisions and actions taken in 1923 cannot be disconnected from what happened just right before, and considering that Germany did not suffer the war in its own territory, and that Germany imposed strict decisions over France in 1870-1871 until 1914.

[@nicolasaudra8709]

Excellent ! Très bien dit et résumé.

[@louisg6296]

Merci putain Ce qu'on peut voir dans les coms... y a même des mecs qui nous rendent responsables de la seconde guerre mondiale...

[@zap3231]

You're forgetting that the French didn't care. Like the video says.

[@FredericGaillot]

@@zap3231 French always cared about Germany not to be too strong. German cared as well. They were shocked by the presence of black troops in the Ruhr area. During 1940 French campaign, German troops bluntly executed black soldiers like in Clamecy, Angivillers, Erquinvillers or Cressonsacq simply to take revenge over this 1923 occupation.

[@zap3231]

@@FredericGaillot Explain, then, why in the Treaty of Versailles was France against war reparations (except for a really modest infrastructure repaid fee)

[@sebebse9094]

3:04 **exists** History Matters enthusiasts: Impossible

[@rusael333]

correction: France and Belgium (and the UK and the rest of the Entente) did not want reparations for the horrors of war they had endured. Basically, since the war waged for longer than people had expected and the destruction and human loss was way beyond what was known, the enemy (mainly Germany) started being demonized in the eyes of the masses, and the reason of the war slowly turned from "we're gonna defend ourselves" to "germans will have to pay for what they've done to us". Politicians of the time probably realized that asking Germany for reparations was useless since they couldn't possibly pay what they were asking, but they couldn't go against the expectations of the masses since they needed their votes after all.

[@rusael333]

this combined with the fact that France and the UK didn't know how to keep Germany under control (and the fact that the UK didn't really want to get involved in mainland affairs) meant that reparations was the best solution they could come up with at the time, since the Versailles conference went less than optimal to say the least (way too many issues that needed to be resolved since a lot of small states with regional issues were present, and not enough time since the people on the victorious side were eager to get their reparations)

[@fj1659]

Just imagine WWI was mainly happening on American soil, lets say between the USA on one side and Mexico & the Commonwealth on the other. After some years of War the USA lost and the Winner take the land witch wars captured by the USA in the War against Spain. But the Winner want more - maybe because he have to take more. And the Canadian Army occupy the region around Detroit and kill several US civilians threre. Did you think the US People would say "oh, its ok we lost the War and have no rights to complain anyways"? with an economic crysis and a agressive neigborhood the US People would be easy to catch by some right-wing movements too.. thats for Sure..

[@nestpascamillekazeyquiveut9984]

The thing is that WW1 didn't happen on German soil but on Belgian and French soil. That is why France and Belgium were more rude against Germany compared to the US and GB who's countries had not been threatened and who didn't forced conscription.

[@fj1659]

@@nestpascamillekazeyquiveut9984 i think you know that the reason for all this Chaos and all the human pain wars not Germanys Offensive against France and Belgium. France want this "revengewar" more than any other Nation for the lost War from 1870-71. Of cause the Invasion in Belgium wars wrong. The German highcommand Made this Plans more than 10 years earlyer. And even in this Time the Plan wars obsolete

[@11Survivor]

@@fj1659 WW1 happened on French and Belgian soil. The ardennes: French and Belgian soil. Lorraine: French soil. Alsace: The only part of the 2nd Reich that saw active combat but was then retaken by the French after the war so technically French soil. I could go on, and on, and on with how most of the battles were on French soil on the western front.

[@fj1659]

@@11Survivor it wars just an Exemple. I just want to say that every Country in the World would be an easy Catch for extreme political movements if the economic, social and political situation is the same like the situaion in Germany in the interwar years. The Anti-German politics of France, GB, and the USA wars the foundation for the rise of the Nazis in Germany.

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

It's called the "Southern Victory" series by Harry Turtledove...

[@karensmanager6340]

"mommm, i want millionaire" "we already have millionaire at home sweetie" millionaire at home:

[@romare8763]

@@Cjnw this response seems normal so now the tables will now turn towards your area and you will now be titled "normie"

[@NoahWeaverRacing]

France: *Where’s our MONEH* Weimar Republic: *I got a plan, this is a Good one*

[@urmumgae4245]

But first have some god damn faith

[@JenniferinIllinois]

I laugh every time I see one of your square fellas bounding through the field of daisies. 🤣🤣🤣

[@bobbyferg9173]

1:12 France: Germany isn’t making their payments so let’s put economic sanctions on them! Britain: But wouldn’t that reduce their ability to make further payments to you? France: ...

[@salviniusaugustus5541]

Germany had the ability to pay. They didn't want to. That's what dumb British thinking they are so smart, still don't understand.

[@bobbyferg9173]

Salvinius Augustus I would like to point out that there is a difference between having money and being able to pay off a debt. Just as someone who is paying off a car loan wouldn’t give all of their money at once to pay the loan, as they wouldn’t have very much money for necessities like food or even gas, Germany wouldn’t give their entire treasury at once to pay off their debt, since they have to take care of their own country first. Considering that Germany was recovering from the massive loss that WW1 brought, I wouldn’t say they were in the best shape to be paying other countries. You also have to consider that from the perspective of the people in Germany that the Government giving so much money to a foreign power, who were previously at war nonetheless, looks like they are easily submitting. Basically diverting so much resources to pay of France’s (quite unfair) fine would only lead to the German people suffering more.

[@1000eau]

France : I NEED TO PUNCH GERMANY !

[@freewal]

In 1923 the German industry had excellent results when the French and the Belgian ones were destroyed by the German invasion. German factories were not destroyed by the war. All the German infrastructure was ok. Germany had the money. They just didn’t want to pay and repair.

[@bobbyferg9173]

Amazigh Blue Azul - Anti Mafia - Anti ANPD France: No you can’t have your own intact factories, it is unfair! Germany: Ha ha production lines go Vrrrrrrrrrr

[@thejoojoo9999]

I love your videos, which are funny and informative and overall great ! I think this short format is nice, but it would also be cool if we could still get 10min videos from time to time. Keep up the good work !

[@mankytoes]

Bit disappointed that you went with the "Germany so dumb they printed lots of money" cliche. They knew hyperinflation was a risk, but were desperate. Printing money can actually be benefitial if you get quantities right. We call it "quantative easing" these days.

[@luuchoo93]

mankytoes Germany did suffer a lot from hyperinflation . No country in history has ever benefited from that insane level of inflation

[@brandonlyon730]

If you literally have to have a wheelbarrow full of money out just to buy grocery’s you might need to rethink of printing out endless money.

[@mankytoes]

@@brandonlyon730 Yes, and by that point obviously they knew that. The intention was to inflat the currency, but it ran out of control. Saying they decided to have hyperinflation is like saying we decided to have a recession.

[@alanpennie8013]

@Garviel Loken Revolutions and hyper inflation tend to go together. Revolutionary governments lack legitimacy and find it hard to collect taxes.

[@seneca983]

@@mankytoes: It's clear they did way too much "QE". And I don't think comparing it to QE done by contemporary central banks is fair. Today QE is done when inflation (in addition to nominal interest rates) is too low and needs to be increased to boost aggregate demand. In the Weimar Republic, they printed more money to raise money through seigniorage with no regard for too high inflation which is just bonkers.

[@AlekWheeler]

I mean, this plan of simply adding more money never failed me in Roller Coaster Tycoon…who knew it wouldn’t work for France?

[@hydro0759]

The Interwar Period, also known as Debt Simulator.

[@BirdTurdMemes]

Hydro 07 Or debt collecter simulator if you’re American

[@SirWilliamKidney]

I love the von Mackinsen hat in the beginning!

[@orpheonkatakrosmortarchoft4332]

Allies to France after WW1: Dividing Germany is a bad idea. Allies after WW2: Let's divide Germany ?

[@samarkand1585]

Russia was not the 'Allies' in WW2

[@ixlnxs]

@@samarkand1585 😎 Correct. The Soviet Union was the biggest of the Allies. 🤩 EDIT: 1941-1945 that is

[@llamaboxx]

@@samarkand1585 if I remember correctly they had their own faction called the Cominterm right?

[@eleacy6231]

@@llamaboxx Yes, but they were also in the Allies with the United Kingdom and the United States

[@squarek123]

@@ixlnxs September 17 1939 moment

[@erraticonteuse]

France: If we don't extract every centime the Germans owe us, who knows what other parts of the treaty they'll violate?? France: **exacerbates a German economic crisis and kills a few Germans** Germans: **suddenly a lot more willing to violate the rest of the treaty**

[@mrbrainbob5320]

@TheSatanicTicTac well it was a war that's what your are supposed to do

[@HelmHammerhand1709]

CommandoDude yes but the occupation was the reason why so many Germans would hate the french untilgbar 1957

[@nickmtp8824]

Germans killed much more civilians when they invaded North East part of France in 1914.

[@salt_factory7566]

So let's see. If you try to enforce the treaty, Germany violates it. But if you give the Germany lee way, they violate it, annex countries, and start ww2. If only there was a solution, oh yes, dismantle the German state into east and west with permanent occupation zones.

[@freewal]

Alter Fritz1709 The occupation was fair and legal. Germany destroyed one fifth of France and 80% of Belgium whereas its own infrastructures suffered nothing. All the coal French industry was destroyed for instance. War reparations were normal. Germany agreed to pay and then refuse. So occupation was normal. Personally i think that a lot of Germans denied the defeat and its leaded to nazis. Civilians never saw any combat in their country whereas Thousands of cities and villages were destroyed in France.

[@Fourbix]

France: we should strike while we can. Britain: Na it's fine there will be no drawbacks at all.

[@ViriatoII]

That's funny because French love strikes ;p

[@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014]

2:03 in the background there is a "El Presidente"

[@somert170]

1:02 Subtitles : Due to the horrors they had to *enjoy* during the first world war

[@justhere4637]

It's kind of the same. Subtitles: "because of the horrors they had to enjoy during the First World War" (17 Nov, 2023).

[@adamraserovaquera]

0:13 Fun fact: germany seems like a dragon head

[@5nafFNAFSquirrelsquirrel]

Omg why have I never realized that before

[@jonasaleksandras6033]

Do a video about the Lithuanian revolts against communist occupation in 1941 June and the Partisan uprising beetwen 1944-1953.

[@jonasaleksandras6033]

@An unimpressed Rooster I do. It would make an interesting video for people who watch, if you dont like it thats your problem

[@ecoper210]

I do too, it's always interesting to hear and learn about new stuff!

[@jonasaleksandras6033]

@@ecoper210 Well I am Lithuanian and these uprisings are barely known outside my country.

[@brandonlyon730]

Honestly it be an interesting video if they talked about the Soviet Union occupy and quickly annexing the Baltic states and all of the politics that went on in them.

[@OddCompass]

Big yikes -- France went from occupying the Ruhr to accepting reparations reforms (put forth by Britain and the US) just like that? Talk about a rollercoaster ride.

[@kylemohs8728]

It's only gonna get crazier from here. XD

[@alanpennie8013]

All their old allies sided with the Germans. Their only remaining friends were the Belgians.

[@Joe1up]

Can you do a video on how Germany was able to build up such a large military after WW1?

[@144digital]

Don't know if you're willing to watch long form videos but TimeGhost history has some information about this

[@liamburgess804]

Your videos teach me more about history then 12 years of school did

[@robertjarczak5710]

he makes the home front and 1920s in europe way better then any class i've been to

[@VinceOliver04]

Imagine trying to weaken an enemy into permanent submission but it instead came back stronger...

[@brandonlyon730]

It was probably a better idea to have just split Germany up in a dozen smaller states, as they did to Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans.

[@areulsois8411]

@@brandonlyon730 but the people are still german, they cant be seperated by nationalism.

[@mopmop9552]

@Stephen Jenkins At the time they wanted. The Austrian Republic was named "German Austria" by it´s people and wanted to join Germany. But the allies forbade it in the Versailles Treaty (another case of that fucked up idea of "national self-determination", or at least the implementation of it).

[@gobanito]

Moral of the story is, non violent resistance pays off.

[@gimmethegepgun]

I think it's pretty reasonable to say that EVERYONE lost the Ruhr crisis. Except the MIC.

[@gusbussolano03]

3:01 I like he kinda sounds pissed

[@shemarjacobs6195]

Can we get an episode about Poland during WWII? Like the resistance or the Polish armies in the East and West?

[@mlszkw]

There basically was almost no resistance xd

[@trlacr1781]

@@mlszkw There was.

[@trlacr1781]

@Fabian Kirchgessner I mean during occupation, like in France, Yugoslavia...

[@abdulmasaiev9024]

@@mlszkw There was literally the biggest, most organised resistance movement of the whole war, spanning to an entire underground state robust enough that it ran actual underground universities. And while the regular Polish armies were defeated on the home soil (you try fighting the Nazi Germany and the USSR on two fronts at the same time), many were reformed elsewhere (like for example in Iran) and kept on fighting, while politically there never was a formal declaration of surrender. So no, there was plenty of resistance and plenty to do a video on.

[@HogRidda]

almost 1 million views keep up the good work

[@lillelille5256]

I live in Dortmund cole, beer, and currywurst is our thing Ruhrgebiet 🥰

[@saillok4923]

Could you please do an episode about the Corfu crisis in 1923?

[@Sweet_Pup_g]

The last time I was this early, the French was a competent empire.

[@christiangaming-fy6rv]

So u were never early?

[@abigweed1811]

@@christiangaming-fy6rv oof

[@efthymiosanagnostos7427]

Projekt:Kobra the Greeks held out in ww2 for 6-7 months delaying Germans and getting the first allied victory. France barely could hold for a month with British help lol

[@syrialak101]

@Projekt:Kobra Get your head out of your ass.

[@frankgonzalezdelvalle8180]

@Projekt:Kobra ok french boomer

[@phosphoros60]

Britain, in particular, was very critical of the French. Well, colour me surprised...

[@TransformersBoss]

USA: “hey guys, let’s take it easy on Germany’s war payments.” Also USA: [punches France in the face] “where’s my money? Huh? Where’s my money? You better have it by tomorrow morning!”

[@oliversherman2414]

I love your channel keep up the great stuff!!!!

[@SiVlog1989]

I think that the French were just out for a pound of flesh with the Ruhr crisis. It was just another step in the road that culminated in a second world war. Another sign that the Treaty of Versailles was a flawed peace treaty, far from stabilising Europe after a terrible war, it only sowed the seeds of yet more instability, yet more tension, yet more nationalistic feelings

[@HerralemanZyG]

"Print more money, what could go wrong" - Argentina aproves this plan

[@N11Productions]

I have relatives who were killed by french soldiers during the occupation.

[@lsq7833]

Good riddance

[@N11Productions]

excuse me? Are you kidding? You are a horrible person to suggest that the death of innocents is warranted for ANY reason

[@m.m6990]

@@N11Productions its ok he must be like 10 years old ha

[@N11Productions]

@@m.m6990 He's probably some 10 year old french nationalist.

[@nestpascamillekazeyquiveut9984]

@@Wiktor33 Hmm which Germany? France is by far the greatest western european army.

[@krabistheisopod1376]

Nobody Germany: *T I M E*

[@Cjnw]

*N O R M I E*

[@jameslawrie3807]

People, usually English speakers I'm afraid, often have almost no idea just how badly France and Belgium suffered in The Great War. To start with it was fought primarily in those countries' industrial and resource zones and they were demolished in the process. Secondly, think for a minute the horrific casualties the British Empire took in The Somme Offensive. Now consider that in terms of casualties such as that of the battles of Verdun historians consider the British to have gotten off lightly. Finally, the reparations are actually comparable to those inflicted on France after the Franco-Prussian War. Now, I'm not arguing that Versailles was right or fair but it's not exactly what most people think.

[@genericchannelname4110]

I agree with your points, but punishing Germany to the point where it was in chaos just wasn’t a good way of repairing damage, though.

[@ixlnxs]

@@genericchannelname4110 😎 I think James Lawrie's point is that Germany and the UK had been looking for a reason to fight a war against each other for decades and ended up fighting in neither of the two, but instead destroyed much of France and most of Belgium. 🤩

[@todo1231]

Did belgium pay congo? No. Did france pay for their colonies? No. Why should germany pay

[@sasoriae5225]

@@todo1231 Did Uk or Germany pay for it too ? No… Why you speak about the colonies ? This has nothing to do with the point James is making That much than no colonized people fight in Franco-Prussian war

[@tronus8586]

History Matters: This upset the French and the Belgians who wanted their money because of the horrors that they had to endure in WWI. Subtitles: …the horrors they had to enjoy in WWI.

[@Rieee140]

3:32 huh its james bisonnete

[@wayneparker9331]

I continue use to enjoy your videos immensely.

[@beluwuga2573]

France: we wanna avoid the repeat of the great war Also france: hiipity hoppity all your shit is my property.

[@tictac2therevenge291]

French industry was wrecked by the fighting while German was left intact, and France owed lots of money to the US and UK Someone has to pay

[@looinrims]

@@tictac2therevenge291 the innocents of France and Germany, obviously And they got sweet nothing from their occupation, oh accept to set the stage to lose THEIR ENTIRE COLONIAL EMPIRE Woooo, that’s quite the profit

[@tictac2therevenge291]

@@looinrims What would you have suggested?

[@looinrims]

@@tictac2therevenge291 suggested for what?

[@tictac2therevenge291]

@@looinrims For the problem I just presented, how should France have dealt with the need for money that was caused its neighbor? Should they print it all? Wait for it to fall out of the sky?

[@miwi9883]

Printing money while production is shut is the perfect receipt for hyper inflation.

[@peepoo9720]

2:55 STOP *PRNTING* MONEY!

[@sebathadah1559]

I had no idea this even happened. THANK YOU!

[@icrushchildrensdreams4556]

0:34 napoleon be watching....

[@warriorkid]

You got me straight away with "Can we stop?"

[@Altazor-fh9of]

Until 3:09 I thought the French were just being paranoid bullies but then I remembered oh yeah, "that", "maybe they deserved to stay there".

[@sbevebob1291]

Nice video. Love this channel.