Father of France

Chapter 270 The Berlin Crisis
Corman didn't have any grand plans for developing Africa, but as long as the French African countries needed it, there would be a sufficient supply of steel and cement, which would help the development of French industry.

After de Gaulle allowed French African countries to gain independence, France's approach of ruthlessly plunging them into the mud was certainly not acceptable, even though it ensured France's absolute dominance.

However, as one of the world's most pristine ecological regions besides Antarctica, it has provided France with almost no substantial help beyond supplying raw materials.

The resources plundered were almost entirely used by France for welfare. Corman recalls that France had already experienced a fiscal deficit in the 1970s, which continued for more than 40 years until Macron's era.

So after living beyond its means for so long, French Africa has done France a favor by simply ensuring the survival of the people in these countries.

Given the turmoil in Francophone African countries after Wagner squeezed out French influence, which already showed signs of a Malthusian trap, it cannot be said that France did nothing, but it could have done better.

If French African countries remain mired in stagnation, French industry will not have a large market in a purely agricultural society. While it may be easy to plunder them, it will also be detrimental to French industrial exports. Why is that?
Because Germany has already begun its currency reform, the United States has begun to unleash Germany's potential, and Germany is a potential competitor to France.

If France continues to lag behind Germany in the industrial sector, it will be detrimental to France's strategy of leading Western European countries. It's like Vietnam having to choose between China and the Soviet Union; most would choose the leader, not the second-in-command. Albania?
Although it has just begun, Koeman has already seen from the exchange rate that the United States' support for Germany is very obvious, and it is preparing to establish an economic pillar in Western Europe with Germany as its core.

How can we tell from the exchange rate? The first problem facing currency reform is what exchange rate between the old and new marks is most appropriate.

Americans examined the balance sheets of the German banking system and found that in the decade following 1935, the amount of cash in circulation and the total amount of demand deposits in Germany increased by 500%, while the war caused a 40% decrease. This means that while the money supply increased fivefold, the total amount of goods and services in the market shrank by nearly half. All things considered, the ratio of money to goods and services was close to an over-issuance of 10 to 1.

Therefore, if the price index were set at the pre-war level of 1935, the money supply would need to shrink by 90 percent, so the Americans decided to set the exchange rate at one to ten.

If we compare the conditions under which Britain and France accepted the Marshall Plan, we will find that the United States was incredibly lenient in setting the exchange rate for the new German mark. It was almost clear from the outset that the United States wanted to restore Germany's economy in Europe to the state it was in 1935.

Of course, this so-called bias towards Germany is relative and does not hinder American plunder. The main forms of wealth for the rich and propertied class are stocks, real estate, gold bars, jewelry, oil paintings, and other forms of tangible assets, while the main assets of the poor and middle class are all in bank savings.

If you are rich, congratulations, your purchasing power will not be affected by the currency reform. If you are an industrialist or a big businessman who has taken out huge loans from banks to purchase land, real estate, goods or raw materials, then congratulations even more, your debt has been reduced to 10%, and the rest will be repaid by the poor.

If you are poor or middle class, I'm sorry, but the vast majority of your wealth has been transferred to the rich.

Countries that accepted the Marshall Plan internally distinguished between the rich and the poor, but between nations, the rich and the poor—that is, the United States and other European countries—were ultimately acting in the interests of the United States, regardless of their inclinations.

But that's the situation in Europe now. Even Britain has to bow its head temporarily, or it might never be able to raise its head again. France is not as good as Britain in terms of industrial technology and colonial replenishment, so it can only pretend that nothing is happening for now.

After much thought, Coleman decided to contact Taylor to see if the British treasure could stick together with him for warmth after Ava Gardner left.

In his diary entries for two consecutive days, he wrote that nothing happened that day, that Philippe de Gaulle’s wedding was being held at St. Clotilde Cathedral, and that Coman, along with Alain, who was also on leave, and Martin, a local strongman in the gendarmerie, had all come to attend the wedding of the future commander-in-chief of the Atlantic Fleet.

The church was full of people, mostly soldiers in uniform and dignified ladies. Coman and his friends sat in the front row on the right, whispering among themselves, since the newlyweds hadn't arrived yet.

"The report on the Lake Chad system is finished. How about we publish it in a scientific journal?" Martin whispered to Koman, discussing this important matter that would benefit Africa.

“Anywhere is fine. The railway connection between Tunisia and the overseas provinces is now complete. The remaining project is with Morocco, which should be fine next year. That will finish the Mediterranean Railway project,” Koeman said intently, before proceeding with the start of the second phase of the project.

The second phase of the project will definitely require a large workforce, so we need to minimize labor costs as much as possible, because the total amount of work on the Atlantic side far exceeds that on the Mediterranean side.
We should find a group of sustainable consumables similar to those of the United States, but the triangular trade ended a long time ago, so where can we find them?

Koeman does indeed have a plan, but its implementation inevitably involves sacrifices. He can start planning now, and the timing is perfect—the ceasefire is about to end, and the Middle East war is about to resume.

At least half of the second phase of the project needs to be completed before we can consider the Lake Chad issue. Fortunately, there is still plenty of time. The water area of ​​Lake Chad only shrank significantly after the independence of French African countries, so there is at least ten years to go. There is no need to rush into the project.

"Alright, you two, the wedding is about to begin." Alan was thoroughly fed up with Koman and Martin's obsequious attitude and wanted to consider the occasion.

As the solemn sound of the organ began, everyone turned around, and Philippe de Gaulle appeared. He stood tall and straight like a poplar tree, wearing a dark naval uniform. His young face was filled with barely suppressed excitement, yet he still maintained the composure bestowed upon him by the name de Gaulle.

Then his bride, Mademoiselle Henriet de Montalmbert, came in arm in arm with her family. She was not stunningly beautiful, but she possessed a natural elegance and tranquility like a clear spring.

General de Gaulle was also present, but he was not in military uniform today. Instead, he was there as a father to witness his eldest son's wedding, looking at the newlyweds with deep emotion in his eyes. De Gaulle's wife wore the most genuine smile on her face.

The newlyweds walked from the gaze of the crowd to the priest, and amidst applause, the priest began to read the vows. His deep and clear voice echoed under the dome, and Philippe de Gaulle exchanged rings with encouragement from his bride's reply, "I do."

General de Gaulle smiled with satisfaction and was the first to clap his hands, which served as a signal. Instantly, the entire church was filled with applause of blessing.

To the east of the unseen boundary lies the Soviet-occupied zone, where Soviet troops stationed in Germany had been making preparations. With the implementation of currency reforms in the western joint occupation zone, all Soviet countermeasures were rendered futile by the confident disregard of the United States.

The Kremlin finally decided to launch a counterattack against imperialist arrogance in West Berlin, the German capital that seemed to have the upper hand.

With a single order from General Sokorovsky, the commander of the Soviet forces in Germany, all access to West Berlin was cut off, including waterways and freight transport, effectively isolating the area from the Soviet-occupied zone.

Electricity was also affected by this operation; the streetlights that were already lit were extinguished one by one, as if by an invisible hand. Only in eastern Berlin, German-language broadcasts criticizing the United States, Britain, and France for dividing Germany's integrity could still reach the ears of residents in western Berlin.

On the streets, people gathered together, their faces no longer showing the weariness common in the post-war period, but a deeper sense of bewilderment and fear.

The citizens of West Berlin immediately sought confirmation from the local Western garrison, receiving the same bewildered response: "The Soviets, citing technical malfunctions, have cut off all power to West Berlin. All rail, road, and waterway traffic to West Germany has also been completely blocked; we are effectively imprisoned."

The Berlin blockade was immediately reported by the West Berlin garrison via telegram, which was filled with fear, anxiety, and despair over the Soviet operation.

After all, if things really turned sour, no one believed that the US, British, and French troops stationed in Berlinshire could hold out for an hour.

Washington, London, and Paris were immediately informed by the troops stationed in West Berlin that Berlin was under blockade. The Soviets used the most intense countermeasures to sink America's arrogant and blind confidence.

The White House and 10 Downing Street were in a flurry of activity. Truman looked at his silent staff and wondered where their confidence lay. Wasn't it a guarantee that the Soviet Union could only protest and nothing would happen?

"The diplomatic system must immediately communicate with Moscow," Truman said helplessly. "At the same time, we must demonstrate with the most resolute actions that the United States will not back down. Stalin has given us a difficult problem. But we must solve it."

“We’ll solve it with strength.” General Marshall expressed his appreciation for Truman’s attitude. “Perhaps we have indeed overlooked many issues in dealing with the Soviet Union. But so what? The United States has the strength to resolutely defend its values, and no matter how big the problem the Soviet Union has this time, it cannot defeat the United States.”

"No mistake, the challenges are great, but America will overcome them." The initial reaction to the Soviet Union's protests being ignored by the United States was quickly replaced by a high-spirited determination to face the challenges head-on.

(End of this chapter)