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墨書 Inktalez
"It's such a bustling city, it looks like you've been doing a great job with your work."
Two years later, when Kirov returned to Berlin, he still felt amazed by the scenery here.
Both are countries defeated in war, but Germany seems to have recovered its vitality much faster than the Soviet Union.
"This does not mean that your work is worse than ours. Although I personally do not like the United States, I must acknowledge that Berlin's recovery to this extent is also thanks to the Dawes Plan. Without the influx of capital from the United States, it would have been impossible for Germany to quickly revitalize its economy."
Strasser was very clear that although Germany's economy is thriving this year, having returned to pre-war levels and even showing signs of continued growth, all of this is built on the foundation of loans from American conglomerates to the German government and direct investments from American enterprises in Germany. This money will need to be repaid.
In 1929, the Wall Street Crash occurred in the United States, leading to a global economic crisis. As a result, capital that had been invested in Germany was withdrawn. At that time, the economic bubble in Germany was about to burst. "Yes, your foreign aid will certainly be of great help in restoring the economy."
Kirov is a bit envious. Both were defeated countries, but Germany received support, while the Soviet Union not only did not receive support, but was also surrounded and blocked by the West. The stark contrast in treatment is hard not to feel emotional about. "We will have to pay back sooner or later, unless we don't plan to do business with the West, so our situation is not as good as imagined."
"So, since everyone's life is not that easy, shouldn't we support each other even more? Just like we did before," Strasser said with a smile, and Kirov nodded in agreement.
While the two of them were wandering around Berlin, the Soviet Union delegation was engaged in a heated debate with the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Chancellery.
Although the situation appeared intense, both sides ultimately reached a consensus smoothly. The reason the Soviet Union was able to achieve so many of its demands was primarily due to Strasser's instruction to Stresemann to make appropriate concessions while ensuring profitability, with the resolution of employment positions being the top priority. Strasser knew that, although he could easily raise prices now, the Anglo-French would not enter into any cooperation with the Soviet Union.
However, when the economic crisis comes, Germany will not be as competitive, even the United States will have to lower its face and trade with the Soviet Union. So, while the economy is booming now, we must quickly reach a broad and close cooperation with the Soviet Union. By that time, even if the technology of the United States is more competitive, it will be useless because the Soviet Union and Germany are already highly bound.
This will also give Strasser more confidence when facing the economic crisis that is approaching in the next two years.
"Comrade Kirov, we have reached a consensus on the macro aspects of economic cooperation. The specific implementation plans can be left to the people below to discuss. Instead, we should explore some more constructive proposals," Strasser suddenly said as he and Kirov walked out of the bustling street and into a quieter alley.
He was not afraid of any reactionaries posing a threat to them; after all, Berlin was the stronghold of the Labour Party, and the Stasi was omnipresent here, with plainclothes officers everywhere. You could stop three people on the street, and one of them might be from the Stasi. Wherever Strasser went, the surrounding area was guaranteed absolute safety.
"Are you looking to discuss the issue of socialism with me?" Kirov said, somewhat surprised. Ever since his detailed discussion with Strasser last time, Kirov had resolved to thoroughly study the National Socialism proposed by Strasser. He personally went to the Moscow library to research many works on Lassalle and Loberatus.
The conclusion is that the essence of National Socialism proposed by Lassalle remains corporatism, implementing class reconciliation. If a party were established based on this approach, the outcome would not differ much from that of the Social Democratic Party. However, the difference lies in Strasser replacing the reactionary parts of the original Party Constitution with the New Twenty-Five Points, establishing that the basic support of the ethnic group Labour Party consists of the proletariat and petty bourgeoisie, advocating for nationalization in economic matters.
From this perspective, the Labour Party is undoubtedly a party of socialism, and Kirov has no objections to this. However, Strasser simultaneously used the term German ethnic group to integrate other domestic ethnic groups, advocating for the priority of the interests of this ethnic group. He called for the overthrow of Anglo-French imperialism and Jewish capitalism, believing that only through war could the Treaty of Versailles be torn apart, which is undoubtedly right-wing politically.
However, during the debate, Strasser effectively countered Kirov's viewpoint by using Marx's words. The great mentor of Communism, Marx, proposed in his 1843 work "Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right" that the economic base determines the superstructure. Since the ethnic group and the Labour Party are undisputedly "left-wing" in the economic field, Kirov had nothing to say.
However, Strasser's impression of Kirov was that he really resembled his leader, Comrade Stalin. In terms of worldview and methodology, the two were like two sides of the same coin. "No, not that. I want to talk to you about the future of the Soviet Union."
Strasser replied, "What is there to discuss? There is no doubt that the Soviet Union will implement its Five-Year Plan in the future. We will accelerate industrialization with your technology and machinery from Germany, while collective farms will provide the necessary resources for our industrialization."
"Under the diligent work of the people of the Soviet Union, I believe that the Soviet Union will enter the socialist society within fifteen years and the communist society within fifty years."
"Kirov said confidently. When he talked about the future prospects of the Soviet Union, he was so confident, with a look of longing in his eyes, he had no doubt about the truth of what he was saying."
"And then?"
Strasser did not intend to refute anything, as history has proven that the Soviet Union transitioned from the First Five-Year Plan to a socialist society in just eight years. The Soviet Constitution, adopted at the Eighth Congress in 1936, declared that the Soviet Union had established a socialist society, which was a significant achievement; only the People's Republic of China achieved this in a shorter time frame of seven years. As for the second goal, well, at least they completed half of it, didn't they?
"And then? After achieving Communism, what else is there?" Kirov asked, puzzled. In his mind, Communism society was already the most perfect society. People no longer had to work for survival, and all products of labor were distributed according to need. This was something he had never dared to imagine.
"Of course, I find it hard to imagine a society more perfect than a Communist society. But Comrade Kirov, have you forgotten that only the Soviet Union has achieved Communism? What do you plan to do about the other countries?" Strasser intended to get straight to the point.
"Of course, it is to liberate them. When the Soviet Union has established communism, we must spread this advanced system to the whole world and liberate the suffering proletarians."
"Kirov" unconsciously repeated the words that Stalin had said to him.
For the past two years, Stalin has not stopped instilling his thoughts into his successor, and Kirov has now embraced many of Stalin's views.
"No, no, no, Comrade Kirov, you must understand that at this very moment, the proletariat of the entire world is under the exploitation of Capitalism. They are constantly hoping that the Soviet will 'rescue' them from their suffering.
Can you bear to let these poor people continue to struggle through fifty more years of pain?"
What Strasser needed to do was change Kirov's mind; he did not want to see Kirov becoming more and more like Stalin.
"You are absolutely right. Kirov also has some doubts about his own ideas, even though he firmly believes in the establishment of Communism in the Soviet Union. But fifty years is still too long, and he may not live to see that day."
Moreover, Strasser has a point; the proletarians of other countries are waiting for the Soviet Union to liberate them.
"But can we really rely solely on the Soviet Union to liberate them? The Soviet-Polish War has declared the failure of world revolution, and it seems we have little chance against the capitalism of the entire world."
Kirov is not very confident that the world revolution can succeed in a short time.
"If we only rely on the Soviet Union, it would indeed be quite difficult, but with Germany, it's a different story. The two of us, the strongest countries on the European continent, joining forces to defeat the Anglo-French is not an impossible task, is it?" Strasser noticed Kirov's interest in his viewpoint and seized the opportunity to elaborate. "Oh? Do you have any specific strategies regarding how to liberate the people of the world?"
Kirov appeared to be listening attentively.
"Of course there is. World revolution cannot be achieved overnight; it is a gradual process.
According to the geopolitical perspective presented by Swedish political geographer Rudolf Chelen in his work 'On Country,' we need to liberate the world using geographical methods."
Strasser was well prepared for this. He proposed his own plan, stating, "The Soviet Union has a vast population and resources, while Germany possesses advanced technology and an industrial base. The combination of the two will surely sweep across Europe. Therefore, the Anglo-French are doing everything they can to prevent an alliance between our two countries. To this end, they have employed various means and united with other countries in an attempt to strategically encircle us."
"So the first thing we need to do is to break the encirclement of the Anglo-French."
"Where is this encirclement you're talking about?"
Although Kirov had a rough idea in mind, he still wanted to know the answer.
"That is a country that should never have existed, a wicked product of the Versailles system." Strasser couldn't help but smile. "It is Poland."
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