Wasn't Germany economically crippled after WW1? So where did it get the money required to go on its conquests in WW2? Surely you need lots of money to wage all that war so successfully?

by TimothyGonzalez

And if Germany's military success wasn't due to wealth, why was it so successful militarily?

Saelyre

Not to deter further discussion, but here's a classic answer by /u/vonadler detailing the hard numbers.

The MEFO bills were just half of the equation. Nazi Germany also augmented their rapidly draining reserves of cash by claiming the gold reserves of several other countries.