An infographic (eight maps) showing Greater Germany on the eve of World War II in 1939, from Fortune Magazine

[Futurist]

Here is a series of maps about Germany published in Fortune Magazine on September 1, 1939--on the eve of World War II:

And here is a larger resolution version of these maps:

It's quite interesting to look at what Germany looked like almost 80 years ago--at the start of World War II.

 

[David Vagamundo]

Thanks. It is also interesting to see the take of a reputable US magazine on Germany at that date.

 

[Futurist]

Thanks. It is also interesting to see the take of a reputable US magazine on Germany at that date.

You're welcome!

Also, I like the Nazi Germany-U.S. comparison maps that this article has!

 

[Futurist]

Here is an infographic (eight maps) showing Greater Germany on the eve of World War II in 1939, from Fortune Magazine:

This infographic was apparently made by Richard Edes Harrison. Anyway, what are your thoughts on this infographic? For the record, I personally find it extremely fascinating to get a detailed look at a country at a particular point in time--especially if it's right before a major event that significantly affects this country's demographics, such as a major war.

 

[Phalo]

Well... you can already see the split between east and west on the population density map.

 

[Futurist]

Well... you can already see the split between east and west on the population density map.

Yeah, other than Silesia and the Berlin area, the German territories east of the Elbe appear to be relatively sparsely populated. Interestingly enough, this is still true today even though a lot of these territories have already been under Polish rule for almost 75 years by now.

 

[Stone6]

What is interesting to me is the inclusion of the U.S. map and the suggestion that it might be included in Greater Germany. Subtle pre-war propaganda by Henry Luce?

 

[Futurist]

What is interesting to me is the inclusion of the U.S. map and the suggestion that it might be included in Greater Germany. Subtle pre-war propaganda by Henry Luce?

I don't think that this map is actually implying this ... does it?

 

[Gvelion]

Comparison to USA is actually used as justification for territorial expansion. It says that Germany is smaller than the state of Texas, but contains a population 68 % that of the entire US.

Infographic basically says ,, Germany needs more land, because it has too big of population ''. Obviously, that implies the German need to annex territories on the East and cleanse them from Slavs.

 

[Mastersonmcvoidson]

The Texas comparison seems like a subtle attempt to justify Lebensraum and the minerals part to justify Germany's expansion for resources. It's interesting to see the population density differences. What was Harrison's source for the claims on Agriculture and Industries.

 

[Futurist]

Comparison to USA is actually used as justification for territorial expansion. It says that Germany is smaller than the state of Texas, but contains a population 68 % that of the entire US.

Infographic basically says ,, Germany needs more land, because it has too big of population ''. Obviously, that implies the German need to annex territories on the East and cleanse them from Slavs.

It's saying that overpopulation in Germany causes the Nazis to make the Lebensraum argument; it's not saying that this magazine endorses this specific Nazi argument.

The Texas comparison seems like a subtle attempt to justify Lebensraum and the minerals part to justify Germany's expansion for resources.

It's saying what Nazi Germany's logic is without necessarily endorsing this logic.

It's interesting to see the population density differences.

Yep.

What was Harrison's source for the claims on Agriculture and Industries.

That I unfortunately don't know. I wonder if the rest of this article contains any figures for this.

 

[Futurist]

Fortune Magazine does apparently contain an archive, but access to it isn't actually available for everyone:

https://www.library.hbs.edu/Find/Databases/Fortune-Magazine-Archive

 

[Gvelion]

It's saying that overpopulation in Germany causes the Nazis to make the Lebensraum argument; it's not saying that this magazine endorses this specific Nazi argument.

Yeah, that is the case.

 

[stevev]

 

[Futurist]

Steve, I can't actually see your image here. I think that there's a limit as to how large images can be for them to actually be successfully posted here.

 

[stevev]

deleted

Steve, I can't actually see your image here. I think that there's a limit as to how large images can be for them to actually be successfully posted here.

I'm not sure why it failed but the boundaries of Germany were in flux after 1937. The Fortune map was a moment in time. It includes the annexations made in 1939 before Sept 1, 1939. After this Germany annexed part of Poland and and Alsace-Lorraine. The final status of occupied areas were to be determined after a German victory.

 

[Futurist]

deleted


I'm not sure why it failed but the boundaries of Germany were in flux after 1937. The Fortune map was a moment in time. It includes the annexations made in 1939 before Sept 1, 1939. After this Germany annexed part of Poland and and Alsace-Lorraine. The final status of occupied areas were to be determined after a German victory.

If you want, Steve, you could simply post the link to the relevant image that you want to post. Also, there's actually a Wikipedia article about this topic:

Territorial evolution of Germany - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

There's also this nifty animated map presentation about this topic:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/The_german_state_since_1867.gif

 

[stevev]

Nice display. The word "Reich" is probably better translated as "nation". Hitler never took an imperial title and did not have a high opinion of the last Kaiser and inherited titles generally. Of course he left no heirs. The term was even used in the Weimar period to designate the Federal State. Napoleon used being from minor nobility to justify his claim to an imperial title..

 

[Futurist]

Nice display. The word "Reich" is probably better translated as "nation". Hitler never took an imperial title and did not have a high opinion of the last Kaiser and inherited titles generally. Of course he left no heirs. The term was even used in the Weimar period to designate the Federal State. Napoleon used being from minor nobility to justify his claim to an imperial title..

I thought that a better transliteration of "Reich" was "realm"? As for Hitler, he was a German Kaiser in everything but name and heredity.

 

[stevev]

I thought that a better transliteration of "Reich" was "realm"? As for Hitler, he was a German Kaiser in everything but name and heredity.

AFAIK their is no perfect translation of "reich" in English. Realm works if it's not restricted to monarchies. The German name for France is still Frankreich although it has been a republic since 1870.