The subject was avoided as much as possible.

Erzberger alone told me of his complete agreement with me.
Had Germany been victorious her militarism would have increased enormously.

In the summer of 1917 I spoke to several generals of high standing on the Western front, who unanimously declared that after the war armaments must be maintained, but on a very much greater scale.
They compared this war with the first Punic War.

It would be continued and its continuation be prepared for; in short, the tactics of Versailles.

The standard of violence must be planted, and would be the banner of the generals, the Pan-Germans, the Fatherland Party, etc.
etc.