JF Ptak Science Books   Post 2123   

This image comes relatively early in the history of the German rearmament and the subsequent march to WWII.  These infographics come from the Illustrirte Zeitung (Leipzig) in March 1932 and depict the various low levels to which the German military had reached. Germany’s military situation was dictated by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles some six months after the Armistice was signed, the terms of which were decided over months and for which Germany was not an invited member to the negotiations. In any event, the protocols of the treaty were fairly strict (some felt not strict enough, while others like J.M. Keynes felt the economic restrictions and concessions were too harsh), and so far as the military was concerned the army, navy, and air force were all severely limited in size and development.

The 1919 treaty began to unravel in earnest by 1932, at which time Germany–reeling still from the Depression and from the economic hardships and concession placed on it by the treaty, suffering large unemployment and with a disastrous economy–by June of that year had decided to ignore the military restrictions of Versailles and sought to rearm.  By July Germany withdrew from the nearly half-trillion-dollar (in 2013 American dollars) concessions agreement, and started to accumulate funds for a vast new military restructuring program. In a year Hitler was chancellor, and the Nazi Party made huge gains in the Reichstag.  And the war was in motion.

Few people in Germany would have to be reminded that the military was in dire straights, but these infographics hammered the point home in a very stark visual manner. 

(“Germany is Disarmed!” shows the difference in man- and fire-power between 1913 anbd 1932)