Chapter 21: The Chess Situation (2)
Under increasingly tense atmosphere, Wilhelm von Thoma, who was sent to Spain to help General Francisco Franco in the civil war, sent a telegram back home. In the telegram, he asked for reinforcements of armored troops and air forces, as the volunteer expeditionary force needed more weapons to wage war. Thoma was under too much pressure in Spain, which seemed like a miniature international society at that time, with armies from other countries visible everywhere within Spanish territory, sometimes making it impossible to tell which soldier belonged to which camp.
There were approximately 235,000 so-called volunteers from a total of 54 countries who fought against each other in the Spanish Civil War. It seemed that various countries regarded the Spanish Civil War as the best place to test the performance of their weapons, and newly developed tanks, armored vehicles, aircraft, artillery, and light firearms from various countries could be seen everywhere on the battlefield in Spain. This country embroiled in civil war was like a big melting pot, where on the same day, you could see Soviet tanks and Italian tanks marching side by side across a street, firing at a building together, and the next second, the two tanks might inexplicably glare at each other, with the first to react launching a fierce attack.
Everyone is helpless in this situation, their organization is too chaotic.
Germany realized that the Spanish Civil War was a good testing ground, and the I-type tanks of various calibers that had not been subjected to high-intensity combat, as well as newly developed Stuka dive bombers, were loaded onto cargo ships in Portugal and then headed to the Spanish war zone, where they were handed over to Tomás.
This unexpected episode drew the attention of the international community, and people were no longer so concerned about Germany's actions.
From the start of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 to the present: Germany has been preparing for war, developing from a force of 100,000 soldiers into Europe's most powerful army.
This year, the unemployment rate in Germany was controlled at 1.3%, and after this data was released, the world was amazed: Hitler's government had rescued Germany from the ruins!
Through the efforts of government agencies, by 1937 unemployment in Germany had fallen to only 1.3 percent, while simultaneously the United States had an unemployment rate of 18.9 percent, Britain 8.1 percent, Belgium 8.7 percent and the Netherlands 9.9 percent. In Hitler's own words, it was an economic miracle that eliminated unemployment.
However, expanding the military and preparing for war could not truly solve the crisis, but instead caused Germany's exports to decline, its finances to deteriorate, and its foreign exchange and gold reserves to be only 5-6 billion marks, while its national debt was over 600 billion marks. Hitler told Hjalmar Schacht at a celebratory banquet: "For Germany, economic distress is also becoming a driving force." The method of stimulating the world economy through armaments production cannot establish a foundation for economic arrangements in the long run... The only, perhaps worthwhile, remedy for us is to strive to acquire more living space.
That is to say: war has become not only a temptation but also a necessity.
Under the efforts of Junkers and magnates: From 1932 to 1937, Germany's pig iron production increased from 3.9 million tons to 18.6 million tons, and steel production rose from 5.6 million tons to 23.2 million tons. In early 1934, the German National Defense Work Committee approved a plan to mobilize 240,000 factories to supply war orders. From 1933 to 1936, more than 300 new munitions plants were built in Germany, including 55 aircraft factories, 40 automobile and tank factories, 70 chemical plants, 15 shipyards, and 80 artillery factories.
This greatly solved the problem of livelihood in Germany. While focusing on solving employment problems, the Third Reich also attached great importance to social welfare policies.
After the Nazi Party came to power, it vigorously promoted the social insurance system, increased and improved the social welfare of citizens, expanded the paid vacation system for workers, and built a batch of sanatoriums and hotels on the therapeutic island of Rügen. The "Strength Through Joy" tourist ship was also constructed. In 1936 alone, about 10 million people in Germany participated in the "Strength Through Joy" holiday tourism, which was widely publicized by Nazi newspapers, radio stations, and films as a vacation that only the bourgeoisie could previously enjoy, but now became possible for workers in the Third Reich.
In terms of economic development, from 1932 to 1937, national production increased by 102 percent and national income also doubled. The Ministry of Finance under Hjalmar Schacht created the miracle of Germany's economic recovery, and the German people had no reason not to love this "People's Minister of Finance", Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economics.
People psychologically get a sense of satisfaction, thereby reducing the space for political activities that vent moral outrage at authoritarian regimes to a minimum. The improvement in people's livelihoods, coupled with the media's loud propaganda and blockade of other voices and information sources, creates an illusion of rising social status among them, dissipating the resistance sentiment and force within the masses against autocratic rule, and also making the vast majority of lower-class people politically submissive and supportive of it.
June 13, 1937, Black Sunday. The General Staff of the Defense Ministry formally submitted a bill, on the basis of the existing 36 infantry divisions, 3 armored divisions, 5 motorized infantry divisions, and 2 airborne divisions, which were not enough to cope with the intensity of future wars, and it was planned to expand to 50 infantry divisions, 18 motorized divisions, 6 armored divisions, and 5 airborne divisions within two years.
The person submitting the bill to Congress is a newly born brilliant new star, Xu Yang wearing black armor lieutenant general uniform walks up to the podium with his head held high, he salutes everyone, and respectfully hands over the bill to Congressional Chairman Golin.
G?ring's eyebrows kept jumping, and for some reason, his heart would beat faster whenever he saw Xu Yang's face. He smiled more painfully than crying. Just a month ago, his treasure, his precious Stuka squadron, was snatched away by Xu Yang. This was digging into G?ring's heart, but he didn't dare refuse, nor did he dare resist. The shadow of the cannonade incident years ago still lingered in G?ring's mind, and he even smiled as he awarded Xu Yang the rank of Air Force Lieutenant General.
Xu Yang bowed again and stepped down from the podium, taking a seat in the position of the national defense military system.
The executor of the Four-Year Plan, Hjalmar Schacht, stepped onto the podium, and people instinctively stood up to salute. Schacht's appearance had become exceptionally old, his prestige now only below Hitler's, the deputies' respect for him was from the heart, many people had no reason to find fault with this People's Minister of Finance, under whose efforts and sacrifices Germany's economy soared, but at a cost; Hjalmar had grown extremely old.
Many people praise Hal as a great man to his face, but he never thought so himself. In conversations with people, he gave all the words of praise to his son, Karl von Stak; unreservedly telling people that he was paving the way for his son's advancement.
Under the banner of reform, the armored troops of the national defense army made the following establishment adjustments:
Infantry Brigade
Infantry Division
Infantry Regiment
Infantry Regiment
Motorized Infantry Regiment
…
Armored Brigade
Armored Brigade
Armored Regiment
Armored Regiment
Armored Brigade
Armored Regiment
Armored Regiment
Artillery Regiment
Artillery Battalion
Artillery Battalion
Reconnaissance Battalion
Tank Destroyer Battalion
…
Engineer Battalion
Armored Signal Battalion
Rear Logistics Unit
…
Xu Yang's third division was also specially assigned a Stuka squadron, an enhanced III tank battalion and a new type of self-propelled assault gun company.
According to Hitler: The 3rd Panzer Division is the elite of the Third Reich!
……
Haller stood on the stage to report to all members of parliament on the economic development of Germany in the past three years, saying so much, actually only sending out one message: Germany can afford any sudden war.
October 11, 1937, under Hitler's command, the Wehrmacht set out again, advancing on the road to conquer Czechoslovakia under the slogan of defending German rights, their first stop was Sudetenland.
A game of international chess, this time between Germany's Hitler and Czechoslovakia's Eduard Benes, the battle continues despite the mismatch in strength.
Hungary and Poland are also lurking nearby.
Sometimes being weak is indeed a sin...
