A frank account of Germany’s export difficulties as a result of the boycott the general hostile attitude toward the Reich since 1938 is given by Dr. Rudolf Eicke, director of the Reichsbank, in a revised edition of his book, “Export — A Question of Life and Death for the German Nation.” The authoritative nature of the volume is indicated by the inclusion of a preface by Dr. Hjalmar Schacht, former Reichsbank president, and Dr. Walter Funk, Economics Minister.
Dr. Eicke describes the dislocation caused by the many costly and uneconomic expenditures which Germany has been forced to make to achieve a balance of exports and imports for the sake of obtaining new materials necessary for industrial and military purposes. The Nazi economist admits that the boycott has affected German exports, but asserts that “it is difficult to say how much German foreign trade is restricted by the Jewish boycott and the general attitude toward the new Germany, which became sharper in many countries in 1938 and 1939.”
Declaring that German exports are on a low level, Dr. Eicke frankly points out that “this level of exports is not in the long run sufficient to provide the great quantities of import necessary for German industrial purposes, for food and national defence.” He emphasizes that Germany’s present economic and military plans are different than in pre-Nazi times.
Dr. Eicke foresees that “as things are today,” it will not be easy for Germany to open new foreign trade connections, therefore further restrictions will have to be made in imports, especially in fruits and manufactured goods.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
