I would like to respond to a comment made to my previous entry to this one. The comment was...

"I think the possibility of a 4th Reich is directly proportional to the economic health of Germany. I have always understood nationalistic feelings in the German public was easily manipulated given high unemployment and poor standard of living."

You make a very valid point, and its human nature to repeat our mistakes, so economic trouble in Germany may very well give rise to a 4th Reich of sorts, but at the same time it could give rise to a very peaceful, and helpful regime...history will tell. Historically though, you are right; the war reparations (some 33 billion dollars American) and other economic restrictions imposed upon Germany in the Treaty of Versailles basically crippled its economy to point where peacetime economic functions could never save it. Hitler took advantage of the low morale in Germany and used nationalist feelings to muster support in the public and in political circles such as with Army officials. The Army was a very powerful institution in Germany at the time and has been described as "a state within a state"(The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Shirer).

Added to the economic woes of Germany were the wounds to its pride due to the Treaty of Versailles. The restrictions on its military, navy, and the complete dismantalling of its air force struck a huge blow to the German pysche. As well, the exile of Kaiser Wilheml II seemingly ended the practical nature of the old German Order and replaced it with the imposition by the allies of the Weimar Republic, which was never a popular governmental system post ww1. The Parliamentary system on which the Weimar Republic was based was an utter failure from its conception and implementation.

Hitler took full advantage of the woes of Versailles and the loopholes of Parliamentary procedure to gain control in Germany. Its interesting to note that Hitler was never voted into office by popular vote. He swindeled his was into power by using backdoor parliamentary politics and using loopholes in procedure. Once in power though he brought the parliament under only Nazi control. Hitler took power almost completely legally and constitutionally, though very unethically.

That's all for now. Frig...I love history!

-A History Student