Quote from mujoh:
Sorry littlefish, but you know nothing about Germans and the rest of the world. You are a lost soul! Get out of your backyard and see how the real world is! Not in the 1940s but today. Travel the world...learn another language...meet foreign people and educate yourself...maybe you learn something...no I guess not...unfortunately...
...some people will never learn...very sad...that's why you are a littlefish and not a bigfish...forever...
Willkommen back to the thread, Herr mujoh.
Yes, the Germany of today is a lovely place - because of the terms of the Potsdam Agreement.
The Potsdam Conference, held in Potsdam, Germany was held from July-August of 1945, 9 weeks after Germany's unconditional surrender to the Allies in WWII. Here, Stalin, Churchill and Truman met to decide how to deliver punishment and restore order to defeated Nazi Germany.
It was agreed that:
1. Germany was to be demilitarized, denazified, democritized, decentralized and decartelerized and that Allied forces would be occupying Germany.
2. All shipyards and aircraft factories were to be dismantled or destroyed. All production associated with war-potenetial, such as metals, chemicals and machinery were to be at minimum levels. Surplus was to be dismantled or destroyed.
3. The economy was to be organized with primary emphasis on agricultural and light industry.
4. All German annexations would be reversed.
5. Nazi war criminals would be prosecuted.
US forces still occupy Germany to this day. There are currently over 50 US Army installations throughout Germany, including Ramstein Air Force Base, Spangdahlem Air Force Base and NATO Air Base.
As of last count in 2008, the US has over 52,000 troops stationed in Germany.
Some people, even Americans, might question why the US maintains so many troops in Germany. The reason is simple: we don't need another WWI and WWII episode by the Germans. They have proven themselves to be untrustworthy and must be kept in check - hence my initial statement on my initial post on this thread: "Don't trust the Germans."
It's too bad that the American people must bear this financial burden - but this will not change anytime soon.
Have a nice day Herr mujoh. And remember to thank America and its allies for your freedom.