whiteCambridge University Press has published Eugene White and Jonas Scherner's book Paying For Hitler's War. During World War II, German occupied much of continental Europe. The economics of the unprecedented transfer of resources has received surprisingly little attention. The book pulls together case studies of the postwar years of twelve nations spanning the European continent in a comparative framework.

 

 

WhiteBook2During World War II, German occupied much of continental Europe.  Although the social and political history of this occupation has been extensively studied, the economics of the unprecedented transfer of resources has received surprisingly little attention.   Allies, neutrals and conquered nations under German hegemony were a vital sources of supplies for Hitler's war machine.  Without the war material, consumer goods and labor they provided, Germany would not have been able to wage a prolonged multi-front war.   All of these countries suffered enormous losses, but each had a distinct experience that depended on Germany's wartime needs, whether they were allied, occupied, or neutral, and their place in Nazi racial ideology.   The longer term consequences of occupation for  the formative postwar years are given particular attention.  Originating in a conference held at the German Historical Institute, Paying for Hitler's War pulls together case studies of twelve nations spanning the European continent in a comparative framework.   A sampling of the studies include how Sweden struggled to maintain its neutrality by balancing trade with both the Allies and the Axis,  the differing exploitation of French and Flemish Belgium and the creation of corporatist organizations that survived the war, and vast exploitation of "free" and POW labor in occupied countries. 

Paying for Hitler's War, edited by  Jonas Scherner, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Eugene N. White Rutgers University and NBER, Cambridge University Press 2016