World War I Finally Ends Today!

Ninety-six years ago, Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, which precipitated the start of the War to End All Wars, World War I. And today, we can finally put that Great War to rest: Germany paid back the final installment of reparation payments set in 1919's Treaty of Versailles. The Allied victors, particularly Britain, France and America, agreed to an initial sum for war damages, around £132 billion by today's equivalency. Hitler stopped the payments in the 1930's, which helped propel him to power. Germany paid over £60 million today in a bond to erase the debt. Today is also the 20th anniversary of reunification in Germany. Hopefully now they will think twice before starting WWII.

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By Ben Yakas in News on October 3, 2010 6:28 PM

Comments [rss]

Think2wice

Verily the next war shall be fought in the year 1925 against Martian tripods using Captain Nemo's sub-aquatic dreadnoughts.

John L

So what's our share and where does the money go?

Guest

the levels of a joke, from the highest to the lowest:

1) laughing hysterically, and can't stop: you may even start crying while laughing at the same time, and you don't care if your boss sees you laughing like this. you stay at this laughter-high as long as your body is capable, and you eventually forget what you were laughing about so you gradually come down.

2) you laugh for a few seconds: it's funny! hahahaha

3) you laugh for a second: hey, that was cool. heh.

4) you don't really like the joke: however, you feel the need to appreciate the joke for whatever reason so you force yourself to laugh, and sometimes you even fail at laughing.

5) the joke is corny: ok, i need to get out of here...

6) the joke is offensive: hey, it still got a response out of you.

7)...

8)...eh,

...

....

100) PEOPLE ARE DISCUSSING YOUR JOKE AS IF THEY'RE SERIOUSLY DEBATING TO SAVE THE GODDAMN PLANET.

jaycjay

101) Matt McIrvin will now explain the joke.

cofsnowdon

Maybe before hitting the loser in a world war with reparations that not only destroy its economy and currency, "allies" will think twice and implement something like the Marshall Plan...*before* helping to instigate another world war.

Stewart

It was a joke people. The reparations were "punishment" for WWI; the League of Nations was supposed to create world peace and because Germany was going to be so bogged down repaying this debt, they couldn't possibly re-tool and start another war. Unfortunately no one could predict that the next generation of European leaders would be spineless and follow a foreign policy consisting of appeasement.

CR

Somehow this can all be pinned on the Jews.

Mr Mel

They did start WW2. I think you meant WW3. Get an intern.

SeasTooFarToReach

Me thinks he was making a joke. Get a clue.

Mr Mel

Don't bet on it.

jaycjay

If it's not a typo but a joke, that's even worse. Because "WWIII" would be a lot better as a joke in that sentence. Since, again, they already started WWII.