章 105: Chapter 183 Aftermath of the Polish Campaign
Wilhelm entered another meeting room where Goebbels, Speer, Reinhard, and others were already waiting.
"Gentlemen, the Polish campaign has concluded. Let's discuss how we should handle Poland." Wilhelm said.
Heydrich respectfully inquired, "Your Highness, do you intend to colonize them or assimilate them?"
Wilhelm sighed in helplessness. "Certainly assimilate. Thanks to that damned United States, it's becoming increasingly difficult to play the colonization game these days. Anything like slavery would inevitably lead to continuous resistance. They are over thirty million people, not pigs, and we can't just exterminate them all. So, I've decided to implement a policy of gentle assimilation for Poland, gradually incorporating them."
It's well known that the United States emerged as the biggest winner of World War I. The inflated United States considered itself the world's top economy, the leading industrial power, a victorious nation in World War I, and played a crucial role in that war. Moreover, with the significant decline of Britain and France, Americans believed that after World War I, they could become the architects of the world order, even replacing Britain's dominant position. However, they didn't anticipate that, despite their rapid rise after World War I, they were still no match for the British. Not only were they squeezed out of their advocated League of Nations, but they were also repeatedly suppressed by Britain.
Although the United States surpassed Britain in economic and industrial sectors, it still lagged far behind in political influence. Political influence, besides the comparison of strength, is also related to the prestige of a nation, which requires time to accumulate. The United States had a shallow foundation; despite surpassing Britain economically, its political influence was far from matching Britain's. This was the difference between a parvenu and a capitalist. The British had established influential business families over several decades or even centuries, and their social connections and influence far surpassed those of the United States. It wasn't as simple as buying a luxury car to squeeze into someone else's circle. At that time, the United States was no different. Economic prosperity alone couldn't replace others; it required time and opportunities.
As the world's old-time colonial hegemon, Britain's methods and diplomatic wisdom far surpassed those of the Americans. Using skilled diplomatic techniques and various means, the British went to great lengths to suppress the United States. For example, in the economic field, although the United States became an economic powerhouse, with industrial production accounting for 48% of the world's total in 1924, the British almost overturned the United States with a single move. To deal with the United States, Britain introduced the "Imperial Preference System", requiring its colonies to use the pound as the base currency for trade, promoting low-tariff free trade within the empire, and imposing tariffs of over 30% on external trade.
This policy proved challenging for the United States. By 1924, the industrial output of the United States had accounted for 48% of the world's total, but with the British ace up their sleeve, American products immediately lost their market. They also couldn't obtain raw materials from British colonies. The surplus industrial capacity of the United States could only be digested domestically, becoming a significant factor in the Great Depression.
If World War II had not broken out, the situation for the United States might not have improved much, and it would have been seriously affected by Britain. The Americans, of course, saw through the situation and began laying low.
First, President Wilson proposed the "Fourteen Points" principle. While it ostensibly advocated "national self-determination", opposed "secret diplomacy", and promoted the establishment of world peace, in reality, it revealed America's attempt to use its increased strength during the war to weaken the power of Britain and France, isolate the fledgling Soviet Union, and prepare a declaration to redivide the world.
Initially, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire fell victim to this policy, splitting into numerous small countries. Meanwhile, the status and influence of Britain and France gradually began to waver and weaken. Although countries like Britain and France reversed their stance, utilizing this principle to derive a new political system of expanding their sphere of influence—appointed rule—it wasn't long before World War II erupted.
Results were well known; through the seemingly generous "Lend-Lease Act", the United States economically completed its bone-crushing exploitation of Britain.
Exploiting Britain's actual economic interests didn't satisfy America's appetite. Roosevelt and Stalin jointly advocated the principle of national self-determination, making it one of the basic principles of international law. The purpose behind this move by the U.S. and the Soviet Union was to weaken traditional colonial empires like Britain and France, which relied on colonies to dominate.
Roosevelt emphasized, "The United States and the Soviet Union are not colonial powers. We find it easier to discuss these issues. I believe colonial empires won't exist for long after the war ends." De Gaulle understood this well at the time; Roosevelt supported the independence of colonies worldwide, and these newly independent, fledgling nations would undoubtedly rely on American generosity for their survival. The personnel and decisions of these countries' governments would also be remotely controlled by Washington and Roosevelt.
Wilhelm didn't think they could land on U.S. soil and defeat it. Given the special geographical location, the U.S. didn't need to worry about invasions from other countries. Canada and Mexico served as natural barriers, and the U.S. didn't need to worry about these two countries attacking it; the only defense required was on the east and west sides. Moreover, these two sides were vast oceans. If he started colonizing everywhere, even if the European war ended, the U.S. wouldn't stay idle; it would undoubtedly create trouble everywhere. Instead of running around trying to put out fires later, it was better to avoid it altogether.
"From starting primary school to graduating from high school takes a total of 12 years. Three or four sets of twelve years should be enough to complete it." Wilhelm said, waving his hand. Anna behind him handed out a few booklets to everyone. "These are the brief regulations for the assimilation policy. I'll write out the specific details when I find time in a few days."
"Heydrich, Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei) will fully infiltrate into Poland, closely monitoring Poland's elite class. Teachers, priests, scholars, social elites, and those in the cultural industry." Originally planned to use the Soviets' hands to clear out a batch of Poland's elite class, now he had to do it himself. "Anyone who opposes Germany, harbors dissatisfaction or even hostility towards the Empire, throw them all into concentration camps. The Empire has no bottom line in this matter; we won't show mercy. For those law-abiding civilians and the elite class serving us, ensure they're left untouched, along with some soothing measures."
After giving instructions, Wilhelm looked at Goebbels. "Goebbels, integrate Poland's propaganda department as soon as possible."
"Understood, Your Highness." Propaganda warfare was Goebbels' specialty; Wilhelm didn't need to say much, and he knew what to do. He had a famous saying, "The secret of propaganda lies in the fact that the target of propaganda is unaware of being infiltrated when approaching the theme of propaganda. Propaganda certainly has a purpose, but this purpose must be cleverly and skillfully hidden so that the target of propaganda does not realize it."
"Speer, quickly restore Poland's production work. Clean out all industrial and commercial giants. As for how to distribute the benefits, write a report for me. The wages of local workers should be based on German citizen standards, coupled with other welfare policies to stimulate their enthusiasm for work."
In the original timeline, Germany's occupation of Poland executed a plundering style of looting. According to Hitler's orders: any materials, scrap iron, machinery, etc., that could be used for Germany's wartime economy must be transported from there. In the first four years of occupying Poland, they even took away 3.768 million tons of grain, reducing the Polish economy to the bare minimum needed to sustain local residents' survival.
Funk, the German governor-general in Poland, even issued a public announcement: all property in Poland, whether owned by Jews or Poles, would be confiscated without compensation.
In Wilhelm's view, such efforts to dismantle Poland's industrial equipment and transport it to Germany were simply absurd. Did these factories need to drink water from the Rhine River to produce things? Concentrating all enterprises together, wouldn't it make it convenient for the Allies to bomb them all at once? Taking away everything from the Polish people—wasn't this forcing them to rebel?
To prevent possible strategic bombing in the future, Wilhelm strictly forbade moving the machinery and equipment from these Polish factories and continued production on-site. German entrepreneurs allocated to this cake immediately sent their capable engineers and managers to exploit Poland's industry while also improving the treatment of those workers.
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