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Hi Lüko, Germany is a very special case because one can argue that the 1914 aims of Imperial Germany were identical to those of 1939 Nazi Germany : to carve out a continental subjugated territory in Europe proper to counter-balance the fact that Britain, France and the US had extensive overseas holdings. Germany since the second Reich was worried that it was loosing out in the new "World Order" because it did not have the territory, nor the resources, to compete with France, Britain or the US. It did not control Africa, India, Australia, South America, etc. German industry was extremely productive but felt constrained by the fact that "we do not border the Atlantic Ocean". But during WWI, Germany proved that it was a first-rate power. At the battle of Verdun, 3 000 German artillery pieces fired 2 MILLION shells in 12 hours killing 100 000 French troops. Germans pioneered gas attacks and flame-throwers, always relying on superior technology to overwhelm allied defenses. They could fire 4 000 mustard gas shells over the course of three hours, but then had to wait 12 hours before sending in their troops, which gave the French time to send in re-enforcements. Krupp and IG Farben were the proof that Germany had "what it takes" to be taken seriously. In 1917, after Brest-Litvosk, Germany occupied Ukraine and Byelorussia, immediately getting hold of the coal of the Donetz bassin, the wheat of Ukraine and the petrol of Romania. Hitler had the same strategy. Rather than rush to Moscow, he prefered Ludendorff's 1918 strategy of grabbing the mineral resources of Russia. And just like Ludendorf, he prefered to build an "impregnable line" on the WEST Front before attacking Eastward. The needs of German industrialists were always served by the Kaiser, the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich. Their imperialist needs didn't change, only the State apparatus that would further them. The only time they were afraid was during the 1918-1920 German revolution. But as early as 1921, and after the German-Soviet rapprochement, they were once again pursuing their continent-wide imperialist agenda. ________________________________________________ Send list submissions to: Marxism@lists.econ.utah.edu Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
