The Final Hours

[Norrette]

Just watched this recording from BBC.

 

I was interested to hear that Foch complained of two issues with the armistice:

1. That Germany would still exist as a nation

2. The terms were too harsh.

 

If true, did this mean he thought it better to absorb another nation and treat the people well, than to partition them off, leave as is, and basically starve them?

But surely the former is much too difficult, or am I thinking 21st century politics?

 

 

[BullerTurner]

On 11/11/2018 at 19:40, Norrette said:

Just watched this recording from BBC.

 

I was interested to hear that Foch complained of two issues with the armistice:

1. That Germany would still exist as a nation

2. The terms were too harsh.

 

If true, did this mean he thought it better to absorb another nation and treat the people well, than to partition them off, leave as is, and basically starve them?

But surely the former is much too difficult, or am I thinking 21st century politics?

 

 

I think Foch would have wanted, as did many, to see Germany broken into its constituent smaller Länder.  These would then be treated as something other than Prussian clients.  I don't think necessarily he wanted to see "Germany" absorbed by France or by its pre-war neighbours.  Unfortunately dismantling Germany was seen as a measure too destabilising to a Europe threatened by Bolshevism, in which Balkanisation was seen as a threat too.