In winter, Berlin's temperatures were usually below zero. Yet compared with frigid Russia, it was considerably warmer here. People in the city hurried along with purpose.
The war had already broken out three months ago, but it had not greatly affected ordinary Germans. Their lives continued in an orderly fashion. However, with large numbers of young men enlisting, the number of young men visible at home had greatly diminished. Many factories could only expand their female workforce to ensure production efficiency.
Germany was no longer the Germany of the last World War. When that war began, Germany had immediately been blockaded and could only rely on supplies stockpiled before the war. It had therefore been forced to ration daily necessities. Although it did not last long—after the German Navy defeated the British Navy, Germany's overseas trade routes were reestablished—it had still left a deep impression on the people.
But this time, Germany's circumstances seemed far better. Germany was now the hegemon of the world. All of Europe, Africa, and most of Asia lay under German rule. The powerful German Navy patrolled the world's major oceans, ensuring that Germany could obtain every resource it needed from its vast colonies. Thus, even after the war broke out, Germany's supply of goods had not become strained; prices had merely risen slightly.
Of course, this was only temporary. At present, Germany—or rather, the Allied Powers—was only at war with Buru. Once the scale of the war expanded and more and more countries joined in, the pressure upon Germany would grow ever greater. By then, perhaps even Germany's powerful navy would be unable to fully ensure the safety of its maritime trade routes. If that happened, it would become very difficult for Germany to obtain sufficient supplies.
Therefore, Germany had never ceased stockpiling all kinds