Tuesday 13 November 2007

Novembe 12th 07. PN

First of all, I, Phil, would like to apologise for the excessive number of undoubted spelling mistakes that will be sure to follow. It is not through a lack of effort… but merely through a certain level on incompetence when it comes to spelling!

Herman Goering: by all means, a ‘gangster’

The youtube clip showed us a contemporary view of Goering:
He looted museums and galleries.
‘the Number 2 Nazi had the blood of thousands on his hands’.
Goering blamed everything all on ‘his old pal Hitler’.


With no experience, why was Herman allowed to become responsible of the German Economy?

Goering and Hitler were ideological allies, both wanting the same things from foreign policy, so Hitler wanted to appoint him. Hitler would not be forced to alter his foreign policy plans to fit in with the economy. Focusing on rearmament and construction in order to help the economy, and prepare for war was what both wanted. ‘Guns not butter’ said fat man Goering.

Nazi economy (like all Nazi policies) was full of corruption – shown by the looting for example. For this reason, Goering was a suitable gangster for the job.

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1933 – 1934; Hitler may have been thinking that economic recovery and political stability go hand in hand, so construction, means people are at work, which is likely to lead to a more political situation for Hitler. However, later, the dictatorship of Hitler means this is less important as a motive for Hitler.
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Four year plan:
Page 378 Hite and Hinton, source 20.4, Extract from Four Year Plan 1936.
Shows how ideologically driven economic policy is.
Desire to make economy strong in order for rearmament/ preparation for war.



Towards the later part of pre–World War II, Goering given consent from Hitler to whatever necessary to reach ideological aims.
All of this power, responsibility with a difficult job before him, and Goering has no experience of such things.
So why did he take it?

He was head of the German Air force, so to add economic dictator to this, makes his very powerful. He may also have been thinking of succession to Hitler, or if not, at least he will make a good living out of politics.


How did they go about trying to achieve the Four Year Plan?

If a segment of industry would not co-operate, then the state took them over.
Wage Control.
Became an offence to raise prices without checking with the 4 year plan office.

It was a Military Command Economy.


Goering’s predatory nature:
All foreign currency and precious metals confiscated by the state in 1936, ‘compensated’ by German marks. It was a capital punishment to any who tried to withhold from this, and 4 received such a punishment.

Nationalised Iron Ore fields, making people in that sector buy German Iron. If they did not, then they were publicly tarnished as being against Germany’s interest.

1938 – confiscation of Jewish wealth.
Even gold teeth off corpses at concentration camps were taken.



This was a policy of war and race, full of criminal activity.
Therefore, Goering was pretty perfect for the job…
What a not very nice gangster.
Phil

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