Germany is facing a crisis in various aspects such as energy, population, birth rates, and defense. For example, Germany has been systematically shutting down nuclear power plants and at times even natural gas power plants. Surprisingly, Germany now relies more on traditional energy sources like oil and coal. The deliberate shift towards wind and solar energy, at the cost of sacrificing fossil fuels and nuclear energy, has led to Germany’s electricity costs being four times higher than the national average in the United States.
Moreover, Germany is deindustrializing, with its automotive industry losing around 200,000 jobs due to high energy prices and regulations. The green regulations in Germany, notably those related to electric vehicles, have significantly altered the automotive industry dynamics, as these vehicles are no longer being exported as they were in the past.
In addition, Germany has been disarming its military. It has only about 125 attack aircraft and a limited number of armored vehicles, with active military personnel numbering around 180,000. With a population of only 84 million, Germany’s birth rate has plummeted to 1.4. While the birth rate in the United States is not notably higher at 1.6, it still appears more optimistic compared to Germany.
Germany lacks proper borders. Particularly in the last few years under Chancellor Angela Merkel, an estimated 1 to 2 million illegal immigrants have entered Germany openly. In terms of the proportion of foreign-born population, Germany has even higher numbers than the United States, which, at least before Donald Trump took office, did not have well-defined borders in the southern region. Approximately 20% of Germany’s population is born in other countries.
These points are raised because historically, Germany has been a driving force in Europe’s economy and culture. However, the country is now beginning to implode. The Euro serves as a benchmark for Europe’s financial health, with the exchange rate against the US dollar around 1 Euro to 1 Dollar or even lower by the end of December last year. This is perplexing considering that back in 2008 when I managed a tour company to Europe, the Euro to Dollar exchange rate was around 1.6 or 1.7.
The article then recounts a historical anecdote involving Henry Morgenthau, the US Treasury Secretary, who in 1944 devised a plan for post-war Germany involving industrialization, population reduction, and border changes. This plan was ultimately rejected after influential figures like General George Marshall and former President Herbert Hoover argued that it would lead to fierce resistance and even population decimation within Germany.
The purpose of invoking this historical example is to highlight the irony that 80 years after the rejection of the Morgenthau Plan, Germany is essentially enacting a similar plan voluntarily within its population or leadership, rather than by coercion. This tragic irony calls for careful consideration and study by all.
This article was originally published in The Daily Signal by The Heritage Foundation.