Just as Germany got its internal problems papered over (momentarily), a really big international one popped up. Going all-in on a world war and losing left Germany with a gargantuan reparations bill that they were unable to pay. Both because they didn't have the money, and just as importantly, because the Germans deluded themselves into thinking they shouldn't have to pay it. Cue a French military incursion into the single most important economic zone in the country, a resulting economic crisis, and a legendary bout of hyper-inflation. 

Bibliography for this episode: 

1. Evans, Richard The Coming of the Third Reich Penguin Books, 2003

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