Quote Originally Posted by Strike For The South View Post
lack sufficent knoweldge on the Prussians to truly challenge your last point (Although I suspect hyperbole)
Hyperbole? Quod non.

German propaganda has been so efficient that when people read a more realistic account they suspect hyperbole.

Once it became clear that Germany had lost the war, the Prussian command ordered a policy of scorched earth for the retreating German army. What could be carried had to be send to Germany, what couldn't was to be destroyed. The object was to strategically weaken the industrial heartland of France and Belgium, even with an eye in preparation for the next war. Simultaneously, the German military command ordered that the peace negotiation would have to agree with the condition that 'France and Belgium were to receive full restoration for all plundered goods and civil damages'.

Like the 'solemn promise' of Prussia that it would honour and protect the neutrality of Belgium, the word of the Prussian was all calculated deceit, promises never intended to be kept.

Quote Originally Posted by SFTS
The French were Gentleman like the Americans were after WWII. They were because it suited them to be.

Russia and Germany
Yes, in the final balance, the historical record shows a very clear difference between the conduct of the democracies, and that of the autocracies.

But no, not because it suited them, but because of the nature of a democracy. The very philosophical foundation of democracy assigns a higher value to human life and dignity.