Description
Book SynopsisA major new interpretation of Nazi influence in southeastern Europe during the first half of the twentieth century. This book explores the emergence of German soft power and informal economic empire, and their role in enabling the militarisation of the German economy and the Third Reich's territorial conquests after 1939.
Trade Review'Overall, this is an extremely valuable book for economic historians as it underlines that the study of international trade and economic development cannot be separated from the broader power struggle during the period 1890–1945. In doing so, the book sheds light on the previously unknown mechanisms that contributed to the rise of German empire at the heart of Europe, a process which eventually led to the Second World War. In this regard, it is likely to remain a key reference work for years to come on German imperial and economic history.' A. Coşkun Tunçer, Economic History Review
'An absorbing portrait of German interest in Yugoslavia and Romania during the first half of the long twentieth century.' Patricia Clavin, The Journal of Modern History
Table of ContentsIntroduction: the foundations of soft power and informal empire; Part I. German Power in the Wilhelmine Empire and the Weimar Republic: 1. The legacy of Wilhelmine imperialism and the First World War, 1890–1920; 2. The economics of trade: building commercial networks in southeastern Europe, 1925–30; 3. The culture of trade: cultural diplomacy and area studies in southeastern Europe, 1925–30; 4. The politics of trade: Paneuropa, Mitteleuropa, and the Great Depression, 1929–33; Part II. Nazi Imperialism: 5. Stabilising the Reichsmark bloc: commercial networks in the Third Reich, 1933–9; 6. Economic pioneers or missionaries of the Third Reich? Cultural diplomacy in southeastern Europe, 1933–9; 7. Forging a hinterland: German development aid in the Balkans, 1934–40; 8. The Second World War: informal empire transformed, 1939–45; Conclusion: imperialism realised?
