
In this compelling wartime address, a German officer explains how the nation reshaped its entire economic structure to secure the raw materials essential for the war effort. He describes the birth of a new agency that emerged from the old War Ministry, uniting engineers, craftsmen, and laborers from every region in a voluntary, purpose‑driven collaboration. The talk paints a vivid picture of a country suddenly cut off by blockades, forced to rely on its own ingenuity to keep factories, armaments and food supplies flowing.
The speaker details the strategic challenges posed by a Europe encircled on land and sea, emphasizing the urgency of coordinating scarce resources such as metals, fuels and chemicals. He also reflects on the broader implications of this economic mobilization, hinting at how these measures might influence future civilian industry. Listeners gain insight into the early, experimental phase of a massive logistical undertaking that aimed to keep the nation resilient amid unprecedented isolation.
Language
de
Duration
~56 minutes (53K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Markus Brenner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2007-04-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1867–1922
A powerful voice in early 20th-century Germany, he moved between big industry, political ideas, and public service at a moment of deep national crisis. His life ended in a shocking political assassination, but his writing and public career still offer a vivid window into the tensions of the Weimar years.
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