The Rise of the Third Reich

"Comrade Tukhachevsky, welcome to socialist Germany." At the Berlin airport, Hersmann said to Tukhachevsky, who had just stepped off a TB-4 passenger plane (the Soviet model of Junkers G.38).

It was already October 1935. The Second Italo-Abyssinian War officially broke out a few days ago. It was after Abyssinia refused the League of Nations resolution and was expelled. Therefore, Italy was temporarily exempted from the fate of suffering collective sanctions from the League of Nations. However, this war led by Mussolini would still not be smooth, because public opinion around the world - except for the public opinion of Germany, the Baltics, Austria and Italy - unanimously condemned Italy as an aggressor. Of course, German newspapers also condemned it, but the reason for the condemnation was not because Italy invaded Abyssinia, but because the Italian government used the wealth that could have been used to build its own economy to help the Abyssians...

As for the Soviet Union, it is now shouting that it has been deceived - they voted in favor of the "Waldwall Resolution" in September (the resolution to deal with the Abyssinian emperor), and are now busy whitewashing themselves. At the same time, the Soviet Union also provided weapons and equipment assistance to Abyssinia in a high-profile manner, while Britain and France sent weapons to Abyssinia in a very low-key manner.

In addition, many international volunteers went to Abyssinia in groups - to stop Italy from spending a lot of money to help Abyssinia!

However, Hersmann's Germany still gained something from this farce - Mussolini acquiesced to the fact that Germany "protected" Austria (historically, Germany also "protected" first and then annexed it), and because Italy did not suffer collective sanctions from the League of Nations, there was naturally no problem of withdrawing from the League of Nations. In this way, Germany has an important ally in the League of Nations, and will be able to use the League of Nations resolution to deal with Czechoslovakia in the future.

"Socialist Germany?" Tukhachevsky took a while to react, "Ah, National Socialism, Germany is National Socialism."

"We have differences on whether the country is first or the world is first," Hersman smiled, "but this does not prevent our two countries from being in the same socialist camp." He turned his head and looked at Kollontai, the new Soviet ambassador to Germany, "Madam, do you think this is the truth?"

"Yes," Kollontai smiled and nodded, "There are only three socialist countries in the world now. We are surrounded by capitalism and should unite closely."

The three socialist countries refer to the Soviet Union, Germany and China represented by the Wuhan government-the Soviet Union and Germany have recognized that the Wuhan government represents China since 1927. After Hersman proposed the concept of the "socialist camp", and Stalin recognized the existence of this camp out of the need to unite Germany to deal with Poland, the three countries formed a very loose social camp.

"Yes, we are all countries in the socialist camp." Tukhachevsky said vaguely. He was not a staff member of the diplomatic department, and was not used to such a blatant lying way of talking-in the Soviet Union, National Socialism was criticized as "pseudo-socialism". "We are here for unity this time, Mr. General of Infantry. Sooner or later, we will fight against White Poland together, right?"

"Of course, we will become allies! Real allies!" When Hersman spoke, reporters (both Soviet and German) had set up cameras and video cameras.

"Come, let's hug each other," Hersman said, "German generals and Soviet generals, let the people of the world see how united our socialist camp is."

"Yes, we are very united!" Tukhachevsky and Hersman shook hands and hugged enthusiastically in front of various cameras, but they were thinking in their hearts: Poland can't stand the fight at all. If the Soviet Union and Germany join forces, it will be almost a month. Then what? Do National Socialist Germany and Socialist Soviet Union still have common interests?

Tukhachevsky basically didn't go abroad after the victory of the revolution, so he didn't know what capitalist and pseudo-socialist countries looked like. Berlin's car traffic was extremely busy, and pedestrians on the road were well-dressed and happy. Such a prosperous and thriving scene surprised him. He was also surprised by the endless shop windows full of exquisite goods.

Although Moscow would try to pretend to be prosperous and abundant when welcoming foreign guests, everything in Berlin was very natural now. This was their daily life. Hersman did not arrange any grand welcome ceremony for Tukhachevsky. Just a few Mercedes-Benz W07 cars drove through the traffic on Berlin's wide streets, and were slightly blocked for a while.

The Mercedes-Benz W07 car took Tukhachevsky and his party to the Kaiserhof Hotel, the best hotel in Berlin. This is not a "state guesthouse", but a large hotel open to the public. Business is very prosperous. In the luxuriously decorated lobby, many well-dressed passengers are checking in or out.

"Comrade Tukhachevsky," Hersman said, taking Tukhachevsky directly into an elevator. "We have arranged an itinerary for you to visit the General Staff Headquarters in Zossen, the 1st Armored Division barracks in Potsdam, and the National Automobile Works in Wolfsburg - it will be the largest automobile production base in Germany and it is a state-owned enterprise. Enterprise. The foundation stone was laid on May 26, 1934. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in January 1938, and mass production of cars will begin in February. We are preparing to produce a cheap national car there, which will be sold to ordinary German families. of small cars, with the lowest price per car being only 990 Reichsmarks.”

"990 Reichsmarks?"

"Comrade Tukhachevsky, the ratio of rubles to marks is about 1:5." Natalie explained at the side, "990 marks is less than 200 rubles. The per capita monthly income in Germany last year was 128 Reichsmarks. By then every ordinary German family will have a car."

"That's very cheap!" Tukhachevsky was once again shocked by Germany's advancement. Cars were about to enter thousands of households, which no one in the Soviet Union dared to think of. "Can ordinary people really buy it? How many cars will be produced?"

"There are about 10 million households in Germany now, and one for each household is 10 million units."

The elevator door opened, revealing a spacious, bright, and carpeted corridor. Hirschmann was talking big words - considering that 1939 was the "war year" planned by the General Staff, most German people would have to wait patiently for many years to buy a car worth 990 marks.

"10 million units? How many must be produced every year?"

"At least 1 million units," Hersman glanced at Tukhachevsky. "Red Napoleon" did not show any surprise. "Output is not the problem. The question is whether the price of 990 marks can bring reasonable profits to the manufacturer. Through mass production, prepayment purchase and careful cost control, this price can allow car companies to make money. That is The output of 1 million units, even based on the lowest configuration price of 990 marks, can generate nearly 1 billion marks in revenue. I think a gross profit of 100 million marks is not a problem, and customers' advance payments can be used for upfront investment.

Chancellor Hitler is preparing to launch a '5 Marks a Week' plan, which will allow people who want to buy a car to deposit 5 Marks every week in a designated account of the Labor Front. The National Motor Company will use this money to invest in opening factories. Currently, there are 300,000 people are willing to join this plan... This is a brand new business model. It must be said that our Prime Minister is a wizard in managing the economy. "

The business model that later generations called "crowdfunding" seems to have been invented by Hitler, although historically this "crowdfunding" seems to have been a fraud. However, in this time and space, Hitler's "crowdfunding" seems to be successful.

"When can this National Automobile Company reach an annual output of 1 million units?" Tukhachevsky did not care about profits and economic benefits at all. He only cared about output - because he knew that National Automobile's production capacity could also be used to produce armored vehicles. and military trucks.

"The key lies in the market." Hersman walked into the spacious and luxurious suite. The waiter had already placed snacks, vodka and strong Russian coffee on the coffee table. Hersman and Tukhachevsky There was also Berzin, who came with his entourage but said nothing. He sat down between the guests and the host, and then continued the conversation.

"The production target of the first phase of the National Automobile Plant is to produce 300,000 national cars, 20,000 trucks, 8,000 crawler tractors, and 250,000 engines of various types annually."

8,000 crawler tractors!

Tukhachevsky thought: These are 8,000 tanks and tracked armored vehicles! It is impossible for the Germans to have only one national automobile factory that can produce tanks... They don't need so many tanks and armored vehicles to attack Poland. They want to conquer the whole world!

Hersman looked at Tukhachevsky and continued to introduce the itinerary. He said: "After visiting the National Automobile Plant site, we will also visit the shipyard in Wilhelmshaven. We can watch the battleship Scharnhorst. ’s launching ceremony.”

The "Anglo-German Naval Agreement" in this time and space was three years earlier than in history, so the Scharnhorst was mentioned as starting in 1934, and the launch time was advanced to November 1935 - it was completed in less than a year and a half. The hull of a 30,000-ton battleship! This shows that the German shipbuilding industry has not lost all its skills.

However, the launch of the hull does not mean that the battleship is completed. The subsequent outfitting and sea trials will take several years. The Sandhurst had to wait until 1938 to actually enter service - one year earlier than in history.

In addition, the Third Reich's first aircraft carrier has now begun hull construction and is expected to be put into sea trials in 1938!