Chapter 5 Wartime Economy
Three months after the general mobilization system was operational, with Sperer's genius efforts, Germany finally truly built into national socialism. The routine of national pricing, channel control, unified purchase and sales, and distribution on demand was even worse than Comrade Stalin. Except for capital and property that belong to individuals, the rest were all on the road of state control. All kinds of daily necessities are basically supplied with tickets according to the actual support of the population and family. It is definitely not sufficient, but it can fully guarantee the needs of life. (The best experience of reading novels is in [])
Taking food as an example, the Germans used their unique fineness and scientific spirit to ensure that the calories rationed by ordinary residents remained stable within the range of 2400-2450 calories - on the basis of the appropriate amount of activity, the calories supply will neither make people gain weight nor starve. However, the supply of meat has been reduced, and the supply of potatoes has increased. This number certainly looks a little shabby compared with the abundance of post-war society. However, if the levels of the main belligerent countries are compared horizontally, this level is not low. At this moment, the Soviet Union's food supply was less than 1,800 calories, and the local food supply of Britain was about 2,100 calories. Germany still maintained a high level. Among the major belligerent countries, only the United States can exceed this level. However, the United States is the world's leading developed agricultural country. All consumption is configured on the premise of huge waste, and it is profoundly uneven on the basis of the higher average level of the United States.
Himmler's SS and Martin Bowman's Gestapo are still busy arresting people in concentration camps. This time, the unlucky ones are not Jews or other ethnic minorities. Many of them have been released to various mining areas or collective farms in Poland to participate in forced labor. Another important source of collective farm labor is the Red Army prisoners transferred from the Eastern Front. However, unlike the Soviet Union's use of the state to confiscate all the remaining products of collective farms, Sperer adopted the practice of paying enough quotas to all the workers, and at the same time cut the land into relatively small pieces and distributed it to this.
Some people farmed and believed that only in this way could they stimulate their enthusiasm. As for the Poles who originally owned the land, Hoffmann did not ask, and Sperer did not say much. They could know their place by just thinking about it - it was nothing more than forced labor in mines and factories in Southeast Europe and Finland. Hoffmann thought there was no more to say about this matter - when the Polish authorities were crazy about persecuting Germans before the war, they should have expected such a day when they were enemies of the German government, letting them work was actually saved their lives.
Many concentration camps have been closed due to the decrease in the population of detention, including the Auschwitz and Dachau, which Hoffman is relatively familiar with. However, there are concentration camps in Germany. In the area, there are all political dissidents in Germany. They are either bourgeoisie (such as White Rose members) who have lost their brains and have fantasies about Britain, the United States or the Bolsheviks, or the profiteers who are used to hoarding and speculating on life, and there are all kinds of people who resist the general mobilization system. The last part is the corrupt criminals in the system - they are investigated and punished by various means. In the face of the iron fist of national socialism, anyone who dares to make the right system will not have a good end. In the words of Martin Bauman, dozens of generals and marshals in the treason group, we have been sent to the forefront of the iron fist of national socialism.
The stake is still afraid that you can't cure you? As for corruption, there are any government and party, especially when the government has such great power, this phenomenon is unlikely to be eradicated. No matter how well Himmler and Martin Bowmann's reputation for their later generations, at least in personal ethics, they are not interested in corruption. The only fearful senior leaders is Ribintrop. After Gorene's fall, his style was the most unstoppable. Himmler and Bowmann have already pointed out that they should clean up the portal, but Hoffmann considers that he had just liquidated the treason group and did not want to make such a big move, so he called Ribintrop over and scolded him hard. The guy immediately wisely presented the relevant income, and things turned into big things. Hoffmann, who was a scholar, has gradually adapted to the role of a politician.
November 8th is the 29th anniversary of the Beer Hall riot. Hoffmann is to attend, but he is not interested in meeting old comrades in the party like Hitler. He gave Goebbels a representative of himself to attend the meeting on the pretext of tension (it was just the moment of Operation Torch). On the next day, Dr. Goebbels, who was ordered to do so, gave a speech on general mobilization and total war at the Berlin Stadium. Although Hoffmann did not attend the scene in person, he still listened to the whole process through the radio - after the war he had seen many clips of this speech, but never went into the scene as deeply as today:
"Do you want a total war? Do you want the war to be more total and thorough than we think?"
The answer to this question in the audience was the sound of support like tsunamis and thunderous applause.
"I ask you: ...If the Head and the State need it, do you work ten hours, twelve hours, or even fourteen hours a day, and give everything for victory?"
"willing!"
After the speech, Goebbels ordered the closure of all luxury hotels and entertainment venues in Berlin, taking the lead in not having spacious living rooms or high-end refreshments, and widely publicized through documentaries, setting off a simple movement among senior political leaders.
This speech on the total war was several months earlier than that in history, and there was no news of Stalingrad's defeat. It was entirely because Hoffman hoped to have a deeper understanding of the national reaction after the general mobilization system, and to judge and master the social impact after the punishment of the "traitorous group". Judging from the situation of social public opinion and public response, the support for the general mobilization far exceeded Hoffman's most optimistic foresight. The people's support for the party and the state reached an extremely high level, and the support and enthusiasm for the head of state remained unabated. Everyone truly believed in the construction of the Millennium Empire and the slogan of the future leaders of the European Union - this was in sharp contrast to the German society before Hoffman traveled through time. Germany's later social and political life seemed completely a joke to Hoffman.
Many times he felt afraid - according to the strengthened general mobilization system, Germany will completely become a military industrial country in the predictable 1943 and 1944. Although it may increase by more than 25% according to the GDP standard (the output value of the military industrial will double), the economic structure is completely deformed, and its degree of deformity is far beyond the level when the Soviet Union collapsed: German agriculture can only maintain a low level of needs in the country, light industry, consumer goods, and most raw materials will rely on imports and control areas for supply, and most women of appropriate age will go to the front line of production.
However, in contrast, with the increasing strictness of the system and strengthening management, 95% of the German people finally live the life they want. As long as they work hard, everything, including clothes, food, shelter, etc., will be arranged by the state for you. The life and consumption level of ordinary people will basically be consistent, and the prices are also locked. If you have to pay a high price, this is of course a sign of no freedom, but for the elderly Germans - thank you, we do not need poverty, hunger, wandering or queuing for the freedom to receive relief food!
In his report to Hoffman, Sperer pointed out that the labor force serving brewing, ceramics, clothing, food, glass, leather, papermaking, printing, textile and other fields has been reduced from 1.7 million to 1.3 million, and almost all the labor force over 35 years old and under 50 years old is reduced - because they can also adapt to other positions through transfer and training. The labor force in the military industry has increased from 567% in the previous year to 60%. At the same time, women's employment has increased from about 14 million to 15.2 million. They have partially entered the consumer industry and some have entered the management and service field, especially in the past, positions that both men and women have basically been replaced by women.
Hoffman understood the truth about this. The Air Force alone was responsible for radar command and combat guidance, and more than 10,000 additional auxiliary personnel of the Air Force, and other positions such as wire operators, service waiters, bus drivers, etc. have become women. Now there is no unemployment in Germany. As long as everyone is healthy, they will definitely find a job. Even homeless beggars were forcibly escorted by the Gestapo and taken to participate in labor. This is of course an inhuman and unauthorized act, but it is not surprising under the consideration of the wartime system.
"There are still certain blind spots and disadvantages in mobilization, but I think these can be overcome." Although the workload is huge, Spelle has always been in a high state of excitement. Hoffmann's authorization and appointment to him are completely unconditional and unreserved, and he himself finds it strange.
"I believe you." Hoffman put down a bunch of tables, "Next year will be a decisive and critical year for the war. Whether to achieve strategic goals perfectly depends on it. We strive to grow by 30-35% on the basis of this year's growth, among which the main military industrial equipment must achieve 100-200% growth."
"I thought you would mention 50%." Speer smiled, "50% can be done."
"It's better to bring Italy up first. You can do it anytime when you have the local control. Italy must do it before Mussolini changes his mind."
"Will there be any changes in Italy?" Spel was shocked.
"Not yet, but it will be difficult to protect after the war in North Africa ends..." Hoffman said slowly, "This time, the Americans deceived Egypt, but I have a premonition that the Americans will definitely land again, and that is the real trouble at that time."
...
Chapter completed!