Part 3/7:
The idea of deliberately undermining Germany’s industrial capability is not new. Historians and analysts have pointed out that similar notions have circulated for nearly 80 years. In the aftermath of World War II, a significant and controversial proposal emerged that aimed to reshape Germany’s economic structure.
Prior to the end of the war, United States Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau introduced a plan advocating for the wholesale transformation of post-war Germany. His strategy involved dismantling Germany’s industrial infrastructure and converting it into an agricultural economy. The goal, publicly justified as a means to prevent future conflicts, was to weaken Germany’s capacity to wage war by depriving it of its manufacturing strength.