The creation of Grossraumwirtschaft in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe

Abstract

ABSTRACT

When National Socialists came to power in 1933, the Nazi leadership broke up with the reconciliation policy and strived for the revision of the Treaty of Versailles. Because of disequilibrium in the balance of payments and trade, caused by the world economic crisis between 1929 and 1933, the Neuer Plan was elaborated in order to provide the deliveries of agricultural products and raw materials from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe to the Third Reich, which were essential for the German war economy.

Because of protectionist measures, introduced by Western Europe and the United States, the countries of the region could not sell its agricultural products, only Germany could purchase them on affordable prices. The majority of Central, Eastern and Southeastern European countries imported the consumer goods and equipments from the German Empire. In the second half of the 1930s the role of the Danube region became crucial for Nazi Germany. The economic and commercial agreements, which were signed by Germany and the states of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe caused one-sided dependence on the German economy. 

The objective of my essay to give an overview about the creation of the Grossraumwirtschaft and the foreign trade policy of Nazi Germany in the region. Besides the evaluation of clearing agreements, special emphasis must be given on the economic impacts of Anschluss and the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia. Because of limited extent I wouldn’t like to deal with the German war economy and the peculiarities of economic development of Central, Eastern and Southeastern European countries.