My last comment, and then I should probably leave this thread forever. It is remarkably difficult to have any meaningful discussion when so many are stating blatant historical inaccuracies. For example: a reasonable discussion could be had about whether the heavy deficit spending of the Third Reich into public works and military production would have ultimately pulled the economy through confirming the Keynesian theories prevalent at the time, and whether or not such works could have been sustained without the approximately 1 billion usd1 it plundered from interned or executed residents and occupied lands... but then I read "decade of prosperity before war". The entire existence of the Third Reich was 10 years start to finish. Sure, it's a detail, but it's an important one. The Third Reich had 3 years before invading and capturing land. There was essentially no period of magical peaceful prosperity people here are imagining, and it's impossible to have reasonable discussions with people's imaginations.
Furthermore, if you knew your history, you would know that the Weimar Republic was making good steps towards stabilization until the great depression hit (ultimately having a longer period of stable prosperity than the Third Reich would enjoy), and they couldn't make payments on loans and reparations. The creditors and governments refused to negotiate other terms, and Weimar instituted a massive currency devaluation that lead to runaway hyperinflation that created the unrest needed to pave the way for the installment and consolidation of power around Hitler. It's critical to understand this, as it would inform the demands and monetary policies after the second world war. And if you followed *that* history you would wonder why Germany would be the one's to hold Greek feet to the fire over defaulting (excuse me, being "in arrears" as they preferred to say) after having so much of their own debt forgiven while rebuilding in the years after the war.
Many people here remind me of the high school student who loves philosophy because they like to tell other people what they think. They arrive at university and quickly find out that no one gives a **** about what they think, now go read. There should be considerably more reading done and much less opining based on half-formed, or strictly inaccurate facts, by many of the participants in the thread.
1 This is a number that won't every be fully agreed upon due to accounting inaccuracies, intentional obfuscation, and invaluable objects like artwork.
