Iron Cross

Three months after the general mobilization system was in operation, thanks to Speer's genius efforts, Germany finally truly built national socialism. The set of state pricing, channel control, unified purchasing and marketing, and distribution on demand was better than Stalin's. Comrades are still slipping away. Except for capital and property, which are still owned by individuals, everything else has embarked on the road of state control. All kinds of living materials are basically supplied with vouchers based on the actual population and family support. It is definitely not enough, but it can be sufficient. Ensure daily necessities.

Taking food as an example, the Germans have calculated with unique precision and scientific spirit to ensure that the food calories rationed to ordinary residents have been stably maintained in the range of 2400-2450 kcal - based on the appropriate amount of activity, this calorie supply level It neither makes people fat nor starves, but the supply of meat has been reduced and the supply of potatoes has increased. Of course, this number looks a bit shabby compared with the affluent society after the war, but If we compare the levels of the major belligerents horizontally, this level is not low. At the moment, the Soviet Union’s food supply is less than 1,800 calories, and the British food supply is about 2,100 calories. Germany still maintains a relatively high level. Among the major belligerents, only the United States can do so. It exceeds this level, but the United States is the world's leading developed agricultural country. All consumption is allocated based on huge waste, and it is profoundly uneven based on the relatively high average level of the United States.

Himmler's SS and Martin Bormann's Gestapo are still busy arresting people in concentration camps recently. This time, the unlucky ones are not the Jews or other ethnic minorities. Many of them have been released to various mining areas or collectives in Poland. The farms were forced to participate in forced labor. Another important source of collective farm labor was the Red Army prisoners transferred from the Eastern Front. However, unlike the Soviet Union, which adopted the method of confiscating all surplus products from collective farms to the state, Speer adopted the method of paying a full quota. The practice of allocating everything to individual workers, and at the same time cutting the land into relatively small pieces for these people to cultivate, thinking that only in this way can they stimulate their enthusiasm. As for the whereabouts of the Poles who originally owned the land, Hoffman didn't ask, and Speer didn't say much. You can tell where they went just by thinking about it - it's nothing more than the mines and factories in Southeast Europe and Finland. Forced labor, Hoffman thinks there is nothing much to say about this matter - the Polish authorities should have expected such a day when they were frantically persecuting Germans and becoming enemies of the German government before the war, let alone killing several people with Hitler. Compared with millions of Poles, allowing them to do forced labor actually saved their lives.

Many concentration camps have been closed due to the reduction in the incarcerated population, including Auschwitz, Dachau and other concentration camps that Hoffman was relatively familiar with. However, there are still concentration camps in Germany, and all the political dissidents in Germany are detained there. , either the little bourgeoisie (such as members of the White Rose) who have bad minds and have illusions about Britain, the United States or the Bolsheviks, or profiteers who are used to hoarding and speculating, and there are all kinds of people who resist the general mobilization system, The last part is the corrupt criminals within the system - they were investigated and punished by using various means to rob and rob. In the face of the iron fist of national socialism, anyone who dares to go against the system will not end well. In the words of Martin Bowman, we have sent dozens of generals, marshals and other prominent figures in the treasonous group to the gallows. Are we afraid that we can't cure just you? As for corrupt elements, they exist in any government or party, especially when the government is so powerful. It is unlikely that such phenomena will be eradicated. No matter how well-known Himmler and Martin-Baumann are in later generations, at least in the Their personal ethics are still impeccable, and they have little interest in corruption and embezzlement. The only one among the senior leaders who was frightened was Ribbentrop. After Goering's fall, his style was the least able to withstand strict inspection. Himmler and Bormann had already implicitly stated that they wanted to clean up the family, but Hoffmann considered that They had just liquidated the treasonous group and did not want to go into such a big fight, so they just called Ribbentrop over and gave him a severe scolding. The guy immediately and knowingly offered the proceeds of corruption, and the matter was reduced to a minor matter—— Hoffman, who was a scholar, has gradually adapted to the role of a politician.

November 8th was the 29th anniversary of the Beer Hall Riots. It was reasonable for Hoffman to attend. However, he was not as interested in meeting old comrades in the party as Hitler was. He used the excuse that the situation was tense (it happened to be the time of Operation Torch). And Jean Goebbels attended the meeting on his behalf. The next day, Dr. Goebbels, who was ordered to do so, gave a speech about general mobilization and total war at the Berlin Stadium. Although Hoffman did not attend the scene in person, he listened to the whole process on the radio - he had seen it after the war. There have been many excerpts from this speech, but none as in-depth as today:

"Do you want a total war? Do you want it to be more total and thorough than we think?"

The audience responded to this question with roars of support and thunderous applause.

"I ask you: ...if the head of state and the country need it, will you work ten hours, twelve hours, or even fourteen hours a day and dedicate everything to victory?"

"willing!"

After the speech, Goebbels ordered the closure of all luxury hotels and entertainment venues in Berlin. He took the lead in not using spacious and luxurious living rooms and not serving high-end refreshments. He also publicized it widely through documentaries, setting off a climax of the austerity movement among senior political figures.

This speech about total war was several months earlier than the one in history, and there was no news about the defeat of Stalingrad. It was entirely because Hoffman wanted to have a deeper understanding of the national reaction after the general mobilization system, and hoped to judge and control punishment." Judging from public opinion and public response, the level of support for the general mobilization far exceeded Hoffman’s most optimistic prediction, and the public’s support for the party and the country reached an extreme The level of support and enthusiasm for the head of state remains undiminished. Everyone truly believes in the slogan of Thousand Years of Reich Building and the Future Leader of the European Union - This is in sharp contrast to the German society before Hoffmann traveled through. Germany Later social and political life seemed to Hofmann a complete joke.

Many times he himself felt scared - according to the strengthened general mobilization system, it is foreseeable that Germany will completely become a military industrial country in 1943 and 1944, although it may have a growth of more than 25% based on GDP standards (including the military industry output value will double), but the economic structure is completely deformed, and its degree of deformity far exceeds the level when the Soviet Union collapsed: German agriculture can only maintain a low level of national needs, and light industry, consumer goods, and most raw materials will rely on imports and controls The district provides that most women of working age will go to the front line of childbirth.

But correspondingly, as the system becomes increasingly strict and management strengthens, 95% of the German people can finally live the life they want. As long as they work hard, everything, including clothing, food, shelter, etc., will be available. Arranged by the state for you, the living and consumption levels of ordinary people will be basically the same, and prices are also locked. If you want to obtain additional items, you will have to pay a high price. This is of course a sign of no freedom, but using older people In the words of an old German man – thank you, we don’t need the freedom of poverty, hunger, homelessness or the freedom to queue for bread rations!

Speer pointed out in his report to Hoffman that the labor force serving brewing, ceramics, clothing, food, glass, leather, papermaking, printing, textiles and other fields has been reduced from the original 1.7 million to 1.3 million, a reduction of almost They are all strong laborers over 35 and under 50 years old - because they can adapt to other positions through job transfer and training. The labor force in the military industry has increased from 56.7% in the previous year to 60%. At the same time, the number of women employed has increased from 14 million to 14 million. The number has increased to 15.2 million. Some of them have entered the consumer industry field, and some have entered the management and service field. In particular, the positions that were previously held by both men and women have basically been replaced by women.

Hoffman knows the truth about this. In the Air Force alone, there are more than 10,000 women in the auxiliary personnel responsible for radar command and combat guidance. Other positions such as wire operators, service waiters, and bus drivers have all been changed to women. Unemployment no longer exists in Germany. Everyone can find a job as long as they are physically sound. Even vagrants and beggars are forcibly escorted and taken in by the Gestapo to participate in labor. This is of course inhumane and has no human rights, but during the war, Considering the current system, it is not surprising at all.

"There are still certain blind spots and drawbacks in mobilization, but I think these can be overcome." Although the workload is huge, Speer has always been highly excited, and Hoffman's authorization and appointment of him are completely unconditional and unconditional. Unreservedly, he even thought it was strange.

"I believe you." Hoffman put down a pile of forms. "Next year will be a decisive and critical year for the war. Whether we can achieve the strategic goals perfectly depends on it. We will strive to grow by another 30-35% on the basis of this year's growth. , among which the main military industrial equipment needs to achieve a growth of 100-200%.”

"I thought you would raise 50%." Speer smiled, "50% can be done."

"It is better to bring Italy up first. The mainland is in our hands and we can do it at any time. The Italian side must get it done before Mussolini changes his mind."

"There will be changes in Italy?" Speer was surprised.

"Not for the time being, but after the war in North Africa is over, there will be no guarantee..." Hoffman said slowly, "The Americans deceived them into Egypt this time, but I have a hunch that the Americans will definitely land again. Then That’s when the real trouble comes.”