[citation][nom]back_by_demand[/nom]After WW1 we made them pay war reparations, which they were able to fund because of huge loans from America. Hitler tried to grab power once and was thrown in prison for being a loony. Of course when the Great Depression hit in the USA the loans stopped and all money for rebuilding and war reparations dropped off to nothing.Hitler grabbed for power again but this time was able to point at a weak administration coupled with scapegoating immigrants and Jews.Anger against the Government, setting up the Communists and rigging some votes got him in power.The rest is history, so to speak.The short version is that Hitler would have been thrown in prison a second time if the Government hadn't been undercut by the USA, so really youy could say that in terms of setting up dominoes to fall the second world war was caused by the Great Depression in the USA.I expect to be heavily thumbed down, but before you do think for a second about why you now pump so much money into nation building after wars finish in places like Iraq, to try and avoid trouble flaring up again a few years later which ultimately would start another war which would cost more money and lives than the first one.[/citation]
i thumbed you up, but that last reason is... well... no.
most of the time, war is really just for the nation, not on the people. basically, you have to clean up your mess... if a whole nation of people all believed the same thing, and if they were shown the light, such as the death camps (i believe that was a highly guarded secret from the normal citizens) most of them will will do the good thing, and not the bad.
why punish the citizens when you take out the root of the evil?
lets say your dad was evil, and you knew it, but had no way to stop him. to get him, i rammed a car into your home to make a doorway, threw a grenade into your toilet, and finally offed your dad, than did 3 doughnuts in your front lawn and left.
your dad was evil and you are thankful hes gone, but if i don't pay for repair of your home... well... that would foster anger, punishing you by association.
bring that up to a more national view, and i hope you get my point.