Boston docks had already grown busy in the early morning. Goods sent in support from across the United States were transported here by train, then shipped by ocean-going freighters to all parts of the world.
As the country with the highest industrial output in the world, the United States clearly could not consume all the goods it produced through its domestic market alone. It had to actively develop overseas markets.
However, after Germany seized the colonies of Britain and France, American goods could no longer enter those colonies for sale. This severely squeezed the United States' overseas markets, leaving it able to dump goods only in the Americas and the Island Nation market. Yet Germany had likewise begun competing with the United States in the Americas market, making American industrial development increasingly difficult. Germany did this partly to develop its own industry, and partly to suppress the United States.
Although Germany possessed the world's largest colonial empire, as it gradually began integrating Europe's industries, its industrial output continued to rise. It was foreseeable that it would surpass the United States in another year or two. Although the colonial market was vast, it likely would not be many years before it too became saturated. When that time came, Germany would have to further develop overseas markets. What was more, Oscar knew that an economic crisis would erupt in a few years. Germany had to prepare for it. At the same time, if it could suppress American industry, Germany would gain a tremendous advantage in future wars. After all, war was a contest of a nation's comprehensive strength, and industrial strength was undoubtedly a crucial part of it.
The people of Boston had no idea that danger was about to descend upon them. Many were still deep in sleep.
When the enormous