At the end of 1938, a massive military exercise kicked off in Eastern Europe. From the Black Sea coast all the way to the Baltic Sea, along the 1,200-kilometer Soviet border, the Axis powers led by Germany sprang into action.
Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Ottoman Empire—these four great powers—along with Germany's other vassal states in Eastern Europe, all dispatched forces to participate in this joint military exercise.
Germany alone mobilized more than a million troops.
The Axis powers' movements instantly threw the Soviet Union into panic. To prevent Germany from launching a surprise attack under the guise of military exercises, Soviet border troops also put on a show of force and stood guard along the frontier.
With millions of men on both sides, the stench of war and conspiracy instantly hung over all of Europe.
At the same time, Germany began inviting dignitaries from across Europe to Warsaw, the Polish capital, to witness the might of the German and Axis armies.
As storm clouds of war gathered over Europe, East Africa's statistical work had already been underway for some time. This nationwide survey covered not only the homeland, but also East Africa's colonies.
Its scope was also quite extensive, encompassing population, industry, agriculture, and every other field.
The census data was especially rigorous and complex, with particular scrutiny directed toward criminals, idlers, and reservists. At the same time, the East African government conducted its colonial population surveys according to homeland standards.
Clearly, all of East Africa's statistical work this time revolved around one core purpose: "preparing for war."
East Africa, Rhine City.
Crown Prince Friedrich held the statistical data on East Africa's population, his feelings complicated.
"Father, according to the current summaries and screenings from across the Empire, the Empire's population now exceeds 230 million, while the colonial