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Re: WWII Financed
Posted by:
Ken Dunn
()
Date: July 21, 2003 02:12PM
<HTML>Hi Dave,
Actually I think Mr. Thorisson answered your question. The war was funded by creative accounting, keeping costs low by wage controls and an enormous number of forced labors and by confiscating resources from the countries she occupied as well as from the Jews in Germany. The Hitler Youth ended up proving the labor for a great deal of the day to day things in Germany. The labor of those joining the Labor Service was considerable and at a low cost too. Additionally there were many volunteers to work extra hours etc. from the German population. They also gave generously to Winter Relief, and donated things like their fur coats etc. to help their country in its hour of need. There was also substantial rationing.
Keep in mind that even the assets taken in Germany were enormous. The personal possessions were taken as well as the homes, businesses inventories, and estates of the Jews although some of it ended up as perks for senior officials.
In the occupied countries all resources were available to Germany that were still there when the country surrendered. The natural resources, mines, transportation system, factories (including the entire armaments industry), machine tools, stockpiles of vital supplies, food production, ships, harbors & docks, etc not to mention the labor of the people including much skilled labor. There was also the national treasury and the assets of all banks. Even a poor country isn't that poor if you look at all of its resources. The artwork was just the tip of the iceberg. It doesn't cost that much to build a tank when the raw materials are free, the labor is almost free, the machine tools are almost free, etc.
The things that were taken varied from country to country but all in all a great deal was taken. My tank example might be incorrect as I have no idea how they really built them but it is only an example.
Gold was melted down and much was converted into cash or a line of credit. Diamonds and other precious stones were sold through foreign dealers etc. There was some counterfeiting of foreign currency too but I don't know if it was really a factor.
Also keep in mind that some of this like the output of the mines was not a one shot deal. They continued to produce year after year. The same for food production and many other things.
Germany also managed to continue trading with some countries.
Albert Speer also did an incredible job as Minister for Armaments and War Production in dealing with shortages and finding creative ways to reduce the time and cost to manufacture Germany's weapons.
I am not sure what part of your question hasn't been answered.
Regards,
Ken Dunn</HTML>
Actually I think Mr. Thorisson answered your question. The war was funded by creative accounting, keeping costs low by wage controls and an enormous number of forced labors and by confiscating resources from the countries she occupied as well as from the Jews in Germany. The Hitler Youth ended up proving the labor for a great deal of the day to day things in Germany. The labor of those joining the Labor Service was considerable and at a low cost too. Additionally there were many volunteers to work extra hours etc. from the German population. They also gave generously to Winter Relief, and donated things like their fur coats etc. to help their country in its hour of need. There was also substantial rationing.
Keep in mind that even the assets taken in Germany were enormous. The personal possessions were taken as well as the homes, businesses inventories, and estates of the Jews although some of it ended up as perks for senior officials.
In the occupied countries all resources were available to Germany that were still there when the country surrendered. The natural resources, mines, transportation system, factories (including the entire armaments industry), machine tools, stockpiles of vital supplies, food production, ships, harbors & docks, etc not to mention the labor of the people including much skilled labor. There was also the national treasury and the assets of all banks. Even a poor country isn't that poor if you look at all of its resources. The artwork was just the tip of the iceberg. It doesn't cost that much to build a tank when the raw materials are free, the labor is almost free, the machine tools are almost free, etc.
The things that were taken varied from country to country but all in all a great deal was taken. My tank example might be incorrect as I have no idea how they really built them but it is only an example.
Gold was melted down and much was converted into cash or a line of credit. Diamonds and other precious stones were sold through foreign dealers etc. There was some counterfeiting of foreign currency too but I don't know if it was really a factor.
Also keep in mind that some of this like the output of the mines was not a one shot deal. They continued to produce year after year. The same for food production and many other things.
Germany also managed to continue trading with some countries.
Albert Speer also did an incredible job as Minister for Armaments and War Production in dealing with shortages and finding creative ways to reduce the time and cost to manufacture Germany's weapons.
I am not sure what part of your question hasn't been answered.
Regards,
Ken Dunn</HTML>
| Subject | Written By | Posted |
|---|---|---|
WWII Financed
|
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Re: WWII Financed
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