After Germany gave the United States a harsh lesson, the United States became very well-behaved for some time afterward. Germany's Hegemonic Status was further consolidated as a result.
After all, the United States was the world power second only to Germany. If even the United States could do nothing against Germany, then other countries stood even less of a chance. For a time, Germany truly dominated the world.
With no enemies anywhere in the world, Germany focused its main efforts on developing its domestic economy and improving people's livelihoods. With the world's most vast overseas colonies serving as markets and sources of raw materials, Germany's industry developed at an astonishing pace. By 1921, it had surpassed the United States and become the country with the highest industrial output. At the same time, Germany's momentum was ferocious, with annual economic growth exceeding ten percent. This made Germany increasingly powerful and gradually widened the gap between it and the other great powers.
Over these ten years, Germany had essentially completed the integration of Europe's industry. Northern France and Belgium had already been completely annexed and absorbed by Germany. Although the local people's hostility toward Germany had not entirely vanished, under Germany's policy of divide and conquer, most of them seemed to have accepted their new identities. This was also why Germany's industry was able to develop so rapidly.
As for Germany's Eastern Province, formerly Austria, it had likewise been absorbed. Indeed, it had been absorbed slightly earlier than northern France and Belgium. With the Austro-Hungarian Empire no longer in existence, Austrians seemed able only to accept their identity as Germans. After all, most Austrians had originally been Germanic people. Besides, Germany was the strongest nation in the world. Especially after Germany once again utterly crushed the United States, many Austrians felt proud