One of the main drivers for Hitler invading Russia was the desperate need the Nazi state had for money to keep itself solvent. Essentially, the Nazi state was what’s known as a kleptocracy, by the time Hitler decided to invade Russia they were more or less insolvent. This was due to the enormous amounts of corruption, embezzling or misappropriating of government funds by the Nazi’s themselves. They couldn’t pay to import the desperately needed crude oil and other raw materials required for their military industrial complex.
To expand on my previous comment, another driver for the Russian invasion was the sure knowledge that Stalin was planning on invading Germany. Indeed, it’s well documented that Stalin was so overcome by suprise by the invasion that he descended into a near catatonic funk for several days.
I remember being taught in A-level history 10+ years ago that on top of this the economy was being fuelled by remilitarisation.
The conclusion we were given was that the bubble could burst if the stuff was made, then not used or needed, so potentialay Poland and France, Russia etc were invaded or in the case of Russia attempted) 5 years early or something to that effect.
I haven’t kept up with historical things for a while, and this take might have changed in that time. :)
One of the main drivers for Hitler invading Russia was the desperate need the Nazi state had for money to keep itself solvent. Essentially, the Nazi state was what’s known as a kleptocracy, by the time Hitler decided to invade Russia they were more or less insolvent. This was due to the enormous amounts of corruption, embezzling or misappropriating of government funds by the Nazi’s themselves. They couldn’t pay to import the desperately needed crude oil and other raw materials required for their military industrial complex.
To expand on my previous comment, another driver for the Russian invasion was the sure knowledge that Stalin was planning on invading Germany. Indeed, it’s well documented that Stalin was so overcome by suprise by the invasion that he descended into a near catatonic funk for several days.
I remember being taught in A-level history 10+ years ago that on top of this the economy was being fuelled by remilitarisation.
The conclusion we were given was that the bubble could burst if the stuff was made, then not used or needed, so potentialay Poland and France, Russia etc were invaded or in the case of Russia attempted) 5 years early or something to that effect.
I haven’t kept up with historical things for a while, and this take might have changed in that time. :)