World War II Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

World War II - Essay Example 6, 600 million towards damages that were caused by the war, Germany would not build their army and the Rhineland area was to be de-militarized, and finally some parts of Germany was to be allocated to other countries. Despite the harsh conditions imposed by the treaty, Germany went ahead and signed the treaty which resulted in acute poverty in the 1920s as the country suffered serious setbacks and could not pay the money. It was at this juncture that the German people voted Adolf Hitler to power as he promised them that he would put an end to all their sufferings. Once in power, Hitler began to build the German army and also stationed troops in the Rhineland area. Though France and Britain kept track of Hitler’s moves they were unwilling to begin another war and instead believed that a stronger Germany would prevent the spread of Communism to the west. Hitler also entered into an alliance with Italy and Japan in 1936. Hitler wanted to expand his territory by acquiring Austria and with about 99% of the Austrian people favoring a union with Germany; Hitler acquired Austria but promised that this would be the end of his expansion plans.

Casualties of War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Casualties of War - Essay Example It is the hope of this author that not only the film, but the Vietnam War as well as pervasive American interpretations of the value of native and indigenous people will help to be affected. Ultimately, the movie can be summarized, as with many Vietnam War movies, as concentric upon an analysis of a small squad of American soldiers. This is one of the most popular approaches that filmmakers take due to the fact that it allows the viewer the, acquainted with and personally knowledgeable regarding each of the characters; rather than integrating with an entire company, the viewer is able to simplify human emotions, personalities, and likely reactions based upon the means by which these characters are expected to behave. As with many other Vietnam War movies, â€Å"Casualties of War† represents a mixture of different individuals within the squad from various geographic regions as well as various ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Firstly, the viewer is integrated with an understandi ng of the sheer misery, abstraction, and violence that the Vietnam conflict engendered. As a function of understanding this level of inhumanity, exhibited on both sides of the conflict, it unfortunately comes as little surprise that the soldiers themselves begin behaving as little more than animals. The line of no return is of course cross when one of the soldiers takes a young Vietnam means girl and suggests that the squad user as a sex toy. Even though this is initially resisted, the threat of violence subdues these objections long enough for the girl to be raped. Once she is raped, it becomes infinitely easier for the other members of the squad, with the exception of Erikkson, to engage in a similar behavior. At each and every juncture, Erikkson opposes the actions that the squad leader perpetrates upon the young girl. Ultimately, Erikkson risks his own life in an attempt to save the girl from being murdered by the squad members. Once she is murdered, Erikkson set out on a person al crusade to expose the crime to the superiors within the military. As one might expect, speaking truth to power was neither popular nor safe. After many months and years of trying, Erikkson was able to bring the issue to the military’s attention and seek a nominal degree of punishment for the individuals involved. With regards to understanding the underlying tensions that existed between Meserve and Erikkson, the viewer can and should integrate with the basic understanding of unrestrained selfishness and complete lack of respect for human life that Meserve exhibited as compared to Erikkson’s more traditional view. Rather than exhibiting all Vietnam veterans as baby killers and murderers, this film helps to differentiate the difference between those sociopaths in society that were drafted into the military and sought to further their own selfish ends as compared to individuals that retain a level of humanity and restraint regardless of the pressures and difficulties t hat combat placed upon them. A further dynamic is equally evidenced within the film is the level and extent to which the