1918 - Recovering from a mustard gas attack, corporal Adolf Hitler learns of the German armistice. Given an ultimatum, the German Empire signs the Treaty of Versaille, which treats them as a defeated country and puts their geopolitical goal of lebensraum, or living space, on hold. Article 231 declares Germany responsible for the war and imposes heavy reparations on its people. In his rise to power, Hitler blames politicians and a weak-willed homefront for losing the war and signing the treaty, which he slams as a stab-in-the-back to the people of Germany. When Hitler invades the Rhineland in 1936, the Third Reich takes hold, reigniting the fervor for lebensraum and revenge. In the final days of World War II, the Allies require unconditional surrender to ensure that Nazi Germany accepts their defeat.