On October 3rd, Germany will make its last payment on reparations for World War I.

It’s an odd thing; World War I was one of the most tremendous conflicts in history, and yet people know relatively little about it because it is so massively overshadowed by World War II.

Which is ironic, really, because World War II was just a continuation of World War I. Germany was bitter about the treatment they received at Versailles, and it was that which brought about the rise of the Nazi party.

I guess what’s really interesting is to think that the reparations are only ending now. I mean, World War I is still impacting Germany’s budget and economic policy. The war is ended in 1918, but its consequences are still being felt today.

I always find that kind of thing interesting, in a very tragic way.