'Aussie Rick'’s Comments (group member since Jun 12, 2009)

'Aussie Rick'’s comments from the THE WORLD WAR TWO GROUP group.

"The Weimar Years Rise and Fall 1918-1933" - More on the financial issues brought about by the occupation of the Ruhr:

"The economic consequences of the Ruhr occupation were growing. Hyperinflation escalated to stratospheric levels during 1923, and food prices surged. The market price of a loaf of bread was 700 paper marks in January, 1,200 in May, 100,000 in July, 2 million in September, 670 million in October, and 80 billion in November. In the month following 20 May, the cost of an egg rose from 800 paper marks to 2,400, a litre of milk from 1,800 to 3,800, and a kilo of flour from 2,400 to 6,600. All basic food items rose in a similar manner. Farmers were by now refusing to sell their produce for worthless paper money. Trucks and trains carrying food were frequently stopped and looted. AS Germans battled hyperinflation, ridiculous situations became a routine part of daily life: a 5,000 paper-mark cup of coffee in a cafe could cost 8,000 marks by the time it was drunk. Every German seemed to have a hyperinflation anecdote. One came from a Munich woman who dragged a suitcase full of paper marks to her local grocery store, and left it outside, while she went in to buy shopping. When she came back out, someone had stolen the suitcase, but emptied the worthless money on to the pavement."

The Weimar Years Rise and Fall 1918-1933 by Frank McDonough

Dimitri wrote: "Pledge smedge, quality over quantity:

[book:Patton at the Battle of the Bulge: How the Ge..."

Quality over quantity - nice pledge Dimitri!

Dimitri, the author covers the rules of the constitution and the role of the President and Chancellor along with the reasons for the numerous elections and changes in government.

Liam wrote: "R.e. the banknotes Aussie Rick mentioned in Message 44, I have posted some examples here:

https://www.goodreads.com/photo/user/..."

Nice, thanks Liam!

"The Weimar Years Rise and Fall 1918-1933" - Hitler's Mein Kampf:

"Hitler laid out in Mein Kampf everything he intended to do if he was ever given power. The book completed his journey from beer-hall agitator to a contender for the leadership of the extreme Right. Hitler also admitted he had learned one big lesson from the Munich Beer Hall Putsch, namely, that using force to gain power was no longer viable, because the Weimar Republic, supported by the Army and the police, was now too stable and strong. As a result, he would now pursue the parliamentary route to power. At the end of the first volume of Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote: 'Parliament is a terrible thing, but we must join it to kill it'."

The Weimar Years Rise and Fall 1918-1933 by Frank McDonough

Another great post Mike. I can't say that I've heard this bit before; "Whenever he goes on a rampage about Beneš or the Czechs he flings himself to the floor and chews the edges of the carpet, hence the Teppichfresser. After seeing him this morning, I can believe it."

Marilyn wrote: "Reading A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo. Devastating to read this. Now, I understand better the protests that were taking place at that time."

An excellent book Marilyn - a classic on the Vietnam War!

Mike wrote: "Shirer really makes the European scenes of the middle 30's come alive, especially the German impact on life. His description of the German generals on the day of the Rhineland reoccupation is vivid..."

That was a very lucky miss on the Hindenburg tickets! He certainly does seem to be in the right place at the right time!

Three good books on sale there, Mike. Thanks for the heads up!

"The Weimar Years Rise and Fall 1918-1933" - As a result of the occupation of the Ruhr the financial situation in Germany during 1923 was dire:

"By the beginning of May, the German government was feeling the economic strain of financing passive resistance. The nation's central banks were using 30 huge paper factories and 1,800 printing presses to print bank notes night and day. The highest denomination paper mark bank note eventually reached 100 trillion."

The Weimar Years Rise and Fall 1918-1933 by Frank McDonough

Antonio wrote: "Started 2024 with James Holland's "Brothers in Arms"."

Excellent book to start the year with!

Agree with Happy, a great book!

Conner wrote: "The Phantom Raider
False Flags: Disguised German Raiders of World War II
Schnaufer: Ace of Diamonds

These three books just came in for me. I love rea..."

Some great books there Conner!

Nice purchase MR9! I have a read one book on Wilfred Thesiger, but I can't recall the author. I also have an unread copy of his book "The March Arabs".

Mike wrote: "Shirer went to Paris in 1925 and has visited Berlin before. He misses the uninhibited days before the Nazis:

In the throes of a severe case of depression. I miss the old Berlin of the Republic, th..."

Great post Mike!

Mike wrote: "Shirer spent the previous year living on the coast of Spain, near Barcelona, and enjoying a leisurely life. Now he needs to get back to work. Shirer’s 1934 “welcome to Germany” is meant to be intim..."

This was good:

“So. . . . You are not Herr So and-So, then. You are Herr Shirer.” “None other,” I replied, “as you can see by the passport.” He gave me one more suspicious glance, winked at his fellow dick, saluted stiffly, and made off….I thought of a bad pun: “I’m going from bad to Hearst”

😂😂😂

"The Weimar Years Rise and Fall 1918-1933" - This incident took place during the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923:

"The worst violence during the Ruhr occupation occurred at the Krupp Works in Essen on 31 March between local workers and French troops. The disturbance began when French soldiers occupied the factory's motor sheds, intending to remove lorries for their own use. When workers blocked their path, the French opened fire indiscriminately with machine guns, killing 13 workers and wounding 40. A French military court, sitting on 8 May 1923 in Werden, sentenced the owner of the factory, Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach, and nine other directors of the company to prison sentences ranging from six months to 20 years, and fined each defendant 100 million marks, while the French commanding officer went unpunished."

The Weimar Years Rise and Fall 1918-1933 by Frank McDonough

Liam wrote: "Well, I thought I could find something about the interwar years pretty easily, but quickly realised that the books I'd had in mind were much more about the wars themselves (specifically the negotia..."

That should be an interesting book Liam. Let us all know how it goes.

Olivia wrote: "I’m just about to finish reading: ‘A Village in the Third Reich’ by Julia Boyd and Angelika Patel. Really interesting to see the perspective of the rise of fascism from the archives and local histo..."

I've seen copies of "A Village in the Third Reich" around, glad to hear you enjoyed the book Olivia!

I'm waiting for all the episodes to be available so I can binge watch the series :)