Blood and Iron Germany[Part Two]

To ensure that Germany's population reaches 100 million within two decades, an ambitious family planning initiative has been launched. It is the first time population growth has been mandated through administrative orders, yet the results are undeniably effective.

The vast majority of couples of childbearing age have answered the government's call, embarking on a mission to bring forth a new generation. A population explosion in Germany is now inevitable in the coming years.

To prepare for this impending baby boom, the German government must act swiftly. Hospitals, kindergartens, and schools need to be built and readied in advance to handle the influx seamlessly. After all, this wave of newborns will form the backbone of Germany's future.

Qin Tian set the family planning timeline at twenty years, foreseeing the likelihood of a major war erupting around that time. Germany must be prepared, and having a sufficient number of young men—future soldiers—is crucial. Without adequate manpower, victory in such a conflict would be unattainable.

Germany is not alone in recognizing the importance of population growth. Other nations have similar aspirations but lack the means to provide large-scale subsidies to families with many children. Consequently, their population growth efforts have yielded limited results, paling in comparison to Germany's robust initiatives.

While the benefits of such administrative policies may take time to materialize, their long-term impact is substantial. Beyond bolstering its population, Germany also faces the task of assimilating the territories it gained during the war—spanning the Eastern European plains, northern France, and Belgium.

In Eastern Europe, particularly Ukraine, support for the German Empire runs high. Qin Tian, serving as both German Emperor and King of Ukraine, has implemented lenient tax policies to foster recovery and well-being among Ukrainians. Their lives under German rule are markedly better than during their time under Russian dominion, ensuring their loyalty to the empire. Should Germany engage in conflict with Soviet Russia, Ukrainians are certain to side with Germany. Mobilizing hundreds of thousands or even millions of Ukrainian soldiers would not be difficult.

Northern France and Belgium, on the other hand, are highly industrialized regions. If fully integrated, they would elevate Germany's industrial capabilities to new heights. However, the local populations harbor deep resentment toward Germany for the destruction inflicted upon their nations. Cooperation with Germany, let alone contributing to its industrial growth, seems unthinkable.

Yet, dealing with these dissenters proves straightforward. German prisoner-of-war camps still house a significant number of French and Belgian captives, many of whom are relatives—or even sons—of factory owners. By leveraging these prisoners, Germany effectively compels the factory owners to collaborate. No matter how much they despise Germany, few would willingly let their loved ones endure hard labor in POW camps. Cooperation ensures better treatment for their kin, forcing factory owners, technicians, and workers to comply with German demands.

Once they begin cooperating, there is no turning back. These individuals become pariahs in their communities, labeled as traitors. Isolated, their only recourse is to rely on Germany.

Since implementing this strategy in Belgium and northern France, the number of collaborators has grown steadily. It is only a matter of time before Germany fully absorbs these regions. Once accomplished, Germany's industrial output will rival—if not surpass—that of the United States. With vast colonies providing expansive markets, Germany's industrial expansion will accelerate even further.

In the outskirts of Amiens, a three-story residence stood in a once-prosperous neighborhood, now home to members of the city's upper class. The war had devastated France, leaving northern territories and even Paris under German control. The sudden shift plunged many once-wealthy individuals into hardship.

Some French citizens, driven by necessity, began cooperating with the Germans to rebuild their lives. Yet, such actions often drew scorn and hostility from neighbors, with some facing outright attacks by radical French nationalists. Thankfully, German military forces and police offered protection, allowing these individuals to endure. Without such safeguards, their lives would have been far more precarious.

One such individual was Balk, the owner of a small factory in Amiens producing leather boots. After the German occupation, the military demanded that his factory manufacture boots for their soldiers—a request he initially refused.

Surprisingly, the Germans did not retaliate immediately. However, a week later, Balk received a letter from his son, Bedoc.

Bedoc, a French soldier, had been captured during the Battle of Paris. Like many other prisoners, he was forced into labor on German infrastructure projects. Conditions were brutal: grueling physical tasks, insufficient food, and regular beatings by overseers. Desperate and fearing for his life, Bedoc seized the opportunity to write to his family, pleading for help.

For the sake of his son, Balk had no choice but to comply with the Germans' demands.