The Rise of the Empire

What was the most profitable thing to do in Germany in 1900? All kinds of industrial and mining enterprises and chemical industry are definitely among them. As a late-rising industrial country, Germany's precision instruments, chemical products (such as dyes), and optical equipment were at the top level in the world at the same time. As for things like electricity and the internal combustion engine that appeared in the second industrial revolution, it is also an option, but whether it is the application of automobiles or aircraft, it is still a bit too early at this point in time in 1900. \u003c/p\u003eAnd there is another very profitable business in Germany, and it is very suitable for someone like Ruprecht who controls a large amount of national capital to operate, that is, maritime transportation! You know, until the 21st century, sea transportation is still the most important way of transporting goods between continents. Let alone now? \u003c/p\u003eHistorically, before World War I, the world’s top powers had large enough transport fleets, and the leading one was naturally the British Empire. At the beginning of the war, Britain had a total of 8,587 steam-powered ships and 653 sailing ships, with a total tonnage of 19.25 million tons, accounting for 40% of the world's total merchant shipping! Not to be outdone by the Germans, the total tonnage of civilian ships reached 7.15 million tons, ranking second in the world, accounting for about 15% of the world's total tonnage. And the third is naturally the Americans on the other side of the ocean. The Americans own 2,388 ships with a registered tonnage of 5.46 million tons, accounting for about 10% of the world's total tonnage! \u003c/p\u003eGermany is a continental country. It needs to import a large amount of raw materials and food every year, and at the same time export a large amount of industrial products. Naturally, it needs a large number of freight merchant ships. Subsidies and policy support, Germany's passenger transport is also very developed! Those famous blue ribbons in history are enough to illustrate this problem! \u003c/p\u003eIn the early days of the war, Germany owned 42 fast cruise ships of various types, including the largest cruise ships of the era - the Kaiser and the Motherland, (there was also a cruise ship called Bismarck that was not in service, and was used as The compensation was given to the British) These two ships with a displacement of up to 52,000 tons were the largest cruise ships in the world before the French Normandy cruise ship entered service, and they created an excellent result of crossing the Atlantic at a speed of 24.75 knots. Of course, this result Still not as good as the high speed of more than 26 knots of the Mauritania. \u003c/p\u003eIn addition, there are more than 10,000 tons of cruise ships such as Cape Trafalgar (displacement of 18,700 tons), William the Great, Crown Prince William, etc., flooding the German maritime transportation industry. But it is a pity that after the outbreak of the war, 11 of these ships were contacted and armed and detained in American ports, 6 were monitored by the British in other neutral ports, 14 were blocked in German ports, and 6 were captured. The British captured, only 5 escaped temporarily! \u003c/p\u003e Therefore, it can be seen from these data that before World War I, Germany's maritime transportation industry was quite developed! And the reason why it is so developed is because there is a huge market! The huge German transport fleet went to the world with the strong support of the government. For example, in the history of the Russo-Japanese War, the coal supply of the Russian Second Pacific Fleet was in charge of the German Hamburg Shipping Company! \u003c/p\u003eOf course, this is the later German merchant fleet. In the present plane, the German merchant fleet is far from reaching the scale of later generations. The shipyard (Blohm-Fors Shipyard) and the other largest shipyard in Germany (Germania Shipyard) have inherent advantages if they want to enter this industry! \u003c/p\u003eMore importantly, the Wittelsbach family itself represents the Kingdom of Bavaria. The rapid development of the German shipping industry is inseparable from the support of the government. The more support you get,

This is the second advantage. \u003c/p\u003eThe third advantage is that the expansion of overseas markets is very convenient! The prince has already obtained an order to transport supplies for the Russian army in the Far East, and the transportation of these materials to the Far East naturally requires ships, so may the prince choose other shipping companies? \u003c/p\u003eBavaria has succeeded in enclosing land in the Mesopotamia Basin. If there is no accident, the oil in the Mesopotamia Basin can produce at least 3 million tons per year after development. How can this batch of crude oil be transported back? Naturally, it also depends on its own fleet. In addition, the grain exported from the farms in Asia Minor and Mesopotamia also needs to be transported back. These are huge market demands! \u003c/p\u003eLet's say it's bigger, the prince and the big men in the United States, such as Roosevelt, Hay and others, forged a "deep friendship" during the US-Japanese War. In addition, Germany imports a large amount of non-ferrous metals and other minerals from the United States every year. These things also need to be transported. If the conditions are the same, why doesn't the prince choose his own transport fleet? \u003c/p\u003eIn addition, there is also the line of Princess Mary. The Austro-Hungarian Empire also needs to import a large amount of raw materials, but the shipbuilding and shipping industries of the Austro-Hungarian Empire are not developed. As an ally and in-law, King Fritz also needs to share some benefits to the prince, right? \u003c/p\u003e"You want to build a fleet and hand over the ownership to me?" Princess Mary said in surprise, because he never imagined that her husband would be so rich. \u003c/p\u003e "This can be regarded as dealing with the worst situation." The prince sighed and said: "If we fail, then we will lose everything, the regime, the army, and the factories in Germany. Those who use the banner of democracy The capitalists will plunder everything from us! So we must be prepared. This shipping fleet is one of them."\u003c/p\u003e "I do not intend to register this shipping company in Germany, but in countries such as the United States and Brazil Register, and try to choose people who are not directly related to us on the surface. As for the people who operate in the dark, I will use another group of reliable people who have not been exposed. If one day we lose power, then at least we are still a rich family Weng." The prince said with a sigh. \u003c/p\u003e"And the person I trust the most can only be you. If I don't give it to you, should I give it to someone else?" The prince asked back. After all, in this world, only he and Princess Mary know what kind of crisis they are facing in the future! \u003c/p\u003e "Are you still worried that we will fail?" the princess said a little uneasy. \u003c/p\u003e"Even if we don't fail, once we go to war with Britain, all ships flying the flags of Germany and Austria-Hungary will be cleaned up by the Royal Navy in a very short period of time, or they will be trapped in the port. For a while, because of the war, the shipping industry was at its most developed. After all, the British sea transportation lines will be hit, so the merchant shipping companies of other countries will win a glorious period. How can we give up this opportunity? said the prince with a smile. \u003c/p\u003eThe third one is here~~~! Ask for a subscription\u003c/a\u003e~~~! \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e