WWI ended abruptly for the soldiers in the field. Many Germans, including Adolph Hitler, felt that they had been sold out when the Treaty of Versailles had been signed. They believed this for many reasons, one was the fact that German soil had not been attacked, another was the crippling terms of the surrender. Among those terms was Germany's acceptance of blame for the war and reparations of 226 billion Reichsmarks to France and Belgium. The sum was so large that, even when it was reduced to 132 billion, it exceeded the ability of the nation to pay. When the Great Depression hit a financially crippled Germany would find itself looking to new options for leadership which included the 3rd Reich. Once in power Hitler stopped payments.
After WWII, as Germany rebuilt itself the debt still loomed. On September 26th, 2010 the last payment was due and WWI was officially, financially complete.
-Professor Walter
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