Chapter 45:
The economic crisis quickly spread from the United States to other countries. For millions of people, life has become a struggle to stay alive.
As Wilhelm expected, the incompetent German government has no effective policies to deal with this economic crisis.
After taking office, the newly appointed Chancellor Brning took measures to expand exports, raise taxes, reduce public expenditures, cut wages and relief funds and other measures to overcome the intensifying economic crisis. However, these measures failed to reverse the economic decline. On the contrary, they let the situation deteriorate further.
First of all, Brning's austerity policy failed to stimulate production, but it exacerbated the sales crisis of German products and the massive unemployment of the working people. In order to expand exports, Bruning drastically lowered the prices of export commodities to make them more competitive in the international market. However, other capitalist countries troubled by the economic crisis are also using the same method to dump their products overseas.
In addition, in order to overcome the crisis, countries have adopted the method of increasing tariffs to prevent the inflow of goods from other countries. Therefore, German products whose prices have fallen are still stuck in their home countries and cannot enter the markets of other countries. The slow sales of products led to an overall decline in German industrial production. The factories were seriously under-operated. Business owners laid off workers one after another. On the eve of Brning's resignation in 1932, the number of unemployed nationwide reached more than 6 million, accounting for 43.8% of the total employment.
Secondly, Bruning's tax policy has led to a drastic deterioration in people's living standards. When Miller was in power, the new tax revenue reached 1.254 billion DM. After Bruning took office, the new tax was even more severe. The new beer tax and retail tax alone increased the public tax by 750 million marks. The newly established poll tax in June 1930 and the tobacco tax introduced in December of the same year added another 800 million marks to the people. In addition, there are crisis taxes, celibacy taxes, employment taxes, and so on.
Thirdly, with the increase in taxes, Bruning drastically cut wages and relief funds, which even plunged the people into an abyss of hardship. During the crisis, the wages of German workers, employees and civil servants fell by 50%. In 1932, the average monthly salary of an employee or civil servant was only 150 marks, which was less than the 170 marks of industrial workers in 1929. In the same year, the unemployed and their families averaged only 15 marks a month to make ends meet. "Some families only rely on potatoes for their livelihoods, and people's faces are almost desperate."
Bruning's anti-crisis measures not only failed to alleviate the material difficulties of the people, but increased their burdens, putting millions of Germans in a situation of pain and despair. The domestic people started complaining, and Bruning has become a veritable "Hungry Chancellor ".
In just over two years, more than 1,000 strikes broke out in Germany. The German masses, especially the petty bourgeoisie, were completely disappointed with the government. In order to find a way out, they began to call on Germany to return to the monarchy.
Finally, as Wilhelm wanted, the government was forced to collectively resign under tremendous pressure, and the parliament was dissolved. Not only did William II get his lost rights back as he wished, it was even more centralized than it was a decade ago.
But he couldn't be happy.
Because he has no way to get Germany out of its current predicament. After several meetings, William II even thought that the methods proposed by those so-called think tanks were absurd.
If the current dilemma cannot be resolved, he is afraid he will be the next King Louis XVI. It's just that King Louis XVI was pushed to the barbaric guillotine, and he might have to suffer a more civilized bullet shot.
Why don't you just run away?
The absurd thought flashed through William II's mind, and he soon discovered that this idea was simply poisonous, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that he could try it. After collecting the gold and silver treasures in the treasury, go to another country to live a new life?
He patted his face vigorously, if he ran away, what face would he have to meet Frederick the Great after his death.
Just as William II sighed, the secretary reported that Wilhelm had arrived. "Let him in."
It wasn't until Wilhelm came in that William II managed to cheer up and show a slight smile. "Wilhelm, are you here? Sit down. I want to ask you something."
Wilhelm certainly knew what he wanted to ask. If I remember correctly, when I first crossed over, William II's hair was half-white, but now it is full of white hair. "Grandpa, you haven't seen Ms. Susan in a long time, have you?"
William II leaned back in his chair and sighed. "For a few years, I really miss her."
Wilhelm nodded. "Then you can go and stay together with her."
"..." William II looked at him suspiciously, not knowing what he meant by mentioning this matter.
Wilhelm scratched his forehead, his tone rather helpless. "This plan was originally planned to be implemented only a few years later. It seems that it has to be advanced. You should leave and rest for a while." As mentioned earlier, several of Wilhelm's best friends are Junker nobles.
Over the years, Wilhelm has been secretly contacting other middle and low-level Junker nobles through their family secrets to obtain their support.
Although the expected goals have not been fully achieved yet, the implementation of the plan will not cause any major disturbances.
"You..." Is this grandson pushing him out of the palace? ! However, William II did not have the slightest anger, instead, there was a trace of relief in his heart and asked calmly. "Do you really have a way?"
Wilhelm couldn't help being surprised by the reaction of William II, thinking that he would at least smack the table and scold him for being rebellious. "Don't worry, grandpa."
After a long silence, William II nodded slowly. "Well, I will abdicate tomorrow."
Wilhelm shook his head and said very firmly. "No need, grandpa, I want to let you wash away the shame of that year while you are the emperor. Poland, France, and the United Kingdom will all submit a surrender agreement to you."
"..."
Perhaps relieved, William II couldn't wait to arrange a cruise to the Netherlands that afternoon.
Seeing the cruise ship drifting away, Wilhelm turned to ask the royal housekeeper. "How many rooms are there in the palace?"
The royal housekeeper replied. "A total of 1,210 rooms, Your Highness."
"Are all rooms cleaned every day?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"How many servants are there?"
"If you don't count temporary workers, the total is 442, Your Highness."
Damn, how much salary do you have to pay every month, it's not a hotel. "Leave my grandfather's, parent's, and my own bedroom, in addition to my office, three or four meeting rooms, and the conference room, seal the rest. Every one or two months, just check if there is any damage. As for the servants, don't leave more than 30 people, you understand?"
The royal housekeeper's eyes flashed with astonishment, but he still answered. "As you wish, Your Highness."
Wilhelm thought for a while and added something. "Uh, now that they are dismissed in this situation, they will be unemployed, and it is not easy to find a job nowadays. Let Speer arrange some jobs for them ."