Chapter 503 Trouble caused by using German prisoners of war
Even among the more than 100,000 prisoners of war handed over by the Soviet Army during the Anti-Japanese War, some people who had been engaged in optical manufacturing and optical engineers established their own optical factories with imported American machinery and equipment.
The performance of the optical equipment produced is almost the same as that of the original German Zeiss factory.
A large number of military doctors among the prisoners of war also made a lot of contributions to the Chinese people's anti-Japanese cause. The officers and pilots in the armored force and artillery force among the prisoners of war also trained a large number of modern doctors in the Anti-Japanese War.
grass-roots officers with combat command skills, as well as a large number of highly skilled fighter pilots and staff officers.
The captured German tanks, artillery generals, and several senior commanders at the level of German Air Force commanders who Yang Zhenzhen exchanged for gold allowed the anti-alliance artillery, armor, and aviation senior commanders to systematically study
Arrive at the theory of large corps armored clusters and air-ground integrated command.
It played a considerable role in the synthetic growth of the senior generals of the Anti-Japanese Alliance. It allowed them to look beyond the relatively rough combat command of the Soviet army and the systematic command that the Anti-Japanese Alliance had figured out by itself. In Yang Zhen's words, it broadened the horizons
broaden your horizons, increase your knowledge, and improve your abilities.
It should be said that the Germans were relatively reciprocal of their kindness. These Germans came to the Soviet Union not as guests or tourists. During the war, supplies were extremely scarce, and even their own soldiers and civilians could only barely eat.
The Soviets, who were full, would naturally not give these prisoners of war any good treatment.
The bloodshed on the Soviet-German battlefield, as well as Germany's atrocities on Soviet territory, made the Soviets, who always insisted on retaliating for flaws and retaliating with tit-for-tat, not giving these Germans anything good to eat. They did not receive a single blow when they were captured.
The life of being transported to a prisoner of war camp was not easy either.
They were shot, starved, and engaged in heavy manual labor. In the severe cold of 30 to 40 degrees below zero, they lacked enough cold clothing and enough warmth. They didn't even have winter clothes. They wore whatever they wore when they were captured. For these German soldiers
For prisoners of war, this is almost a common phenomenon.
Coupled with the famine that the Soviet Union itself encountered in 1943, the more than 100,000 German prisoners of war captured at the end of the Battle of Stalingrad, except for the more than 10,000 who were selected to go to China, the rest survived until the war and were repatriated to the East.
There are only more than 9,000 people left. As for the whereabouts of the remaining people, we can only go to the ice and snow of Siberia to find them.
The German prisoners of war who were sent to the Anti-Japanese War, no matter whether it was winter or summer when it was tens of degrees below zero, they only had the thin military uniforms they were wearing when they were captured. All of them were skinny and severely malnourished.
They were infested with lice and almost all suffered from various diseases.
Diarrhea and severe adverse effects have become almost universal diseases among prisoners of war. Prisoners of war transferred over in winter are generally covered with chilblains, and the degree of frostbite reaches 60% or even higher, including hands, feet, and ears.
There are also many people who have been frozen or injured by freezing.
Compared with going to Siberia to work as coolies, starving in prisoner of war camps, and even having to worry about being shot by the Soviets all the time. These Germans lived in the Anti-Alliance North Manchuria base with enough food, clothing, and the equivalent of
Living with a salary that is 50% of the domestic salary level is simply paradise.
With the strong contrast between the two lives, coupled with the always rigorous work attitude of the Germans, the Germans exchanged from the Anti-Japanese League worked very hard, and it can almost be said that they taught everything they had without reservation.
This enabled the command and coordination capabilities of the various arms of the Anti-Japanese Alliance to make a large leap in a short period of time, which could even be said to be a qualitative change. This created extremely favorable conditions for the all-out counterattack in the second half of 1944.
Of course, the introduction of this batch of German talents is not without any trouble. In addition to the fact that many people in the central government believe that Yang Zhen's move to introduce so-called fascist talents for his own use seriously lacks the distinction between friend and foe, and has no concept of right and wrong. What is even more troublesome is
However, there was a serious lack of talents proficient in German during the Anti-Japanese War, which caused great difficulties in communication between the two sides.
But the most troublesome thing happened after the war. After the founding of New China, the central government decided to repatriate these Germans who had completed their mission. These Germans had suffered enough in the Soviet prisoner-of-war camps before they were handed over.
, except for some who were originally in East Germany or whose family members still stayed in East Germany.
The rest either asked to stay in China or insisted on going to West Germany. As for the East Germany controlled by the Soviets, most of them would not go back even if they were killed. These people had suffered enough from the Soviet army in the prisoner-of-war camps and had no idea about returning.
East Germany controlled by the Soviet Union can almost be described as fearful.
The central government was also very hesitant about these German demands. Although East Germany was founded six days later than New China, it established diplomatic relations with New China twenty days later. Although the central government did not implement it at this time
It is a one-sided policy, but relations with the socialist countries in Eastern Europe need to be paid more attention to.
Moreover, the newly founded East German government at this time, for its own economic construction needs and the consideration of restoring the main battlefield as the main battlefield at the end of World War II, the entire East German region was almost flattened to the ground for industrial considerations. As early as half of the year before the establishment of diplomatic relations with New China
In August, they requested the central government for this batch of Germans who by the end of 1945 had reached more than 100,000 in China.
In addition to sending special personnel to China to do the work of these Germans, they also put pressure on the central government through the Soviet Union. They tried to use the Soviets' so-called influence on China to force the Chinese government to hand over all these Germans to East Germany.
to relieve your own pressing needs.
It's just that most of these Germans, except for some whose hometowns are in East Germany, simply don't buy it. Not only are Germans whose family members are in West Germany firmly opposed to going to East Germany, but even some of them are originally from East Germany.
, and they are determined not to settle in East Germany. But these people dare to be so determined, that is, in China, which is quite tolerant to them.
If you were a Soviet person, wouldn't you rather go to the motherland of socialist East Germany and have to go to capitalist West Germany? Well, you just don't want to go back at all. Either stay in the Soviet Union and continue to develop Siberia for the Soviet Union or
Make contributions to the Transcaucasus and Central Asia. Either way, the Soviets, who are vast and resourceful, will not waste some land and bullets and send you to see God.
It was the Chinese people's tolerant attitude towards these Germans during the war that made them so bold. These German prisoners of war spent their days in China far more comfortably than their colleagues who stayed in the Soviet Union and were captured by the United States and Britain.
Much. It can even be said to be a rare enjoyment for all prisoners of war.
Although escape was prevented during wartime and no contact with the outside world was allowed, the food provided was quite sufficient in terms of quantity and quality. Clothes were also rationed according to quantity. Although the Soviet-style large cotton-padded jackets were not as good as those worn by the Germans
Woolen coats are lightweight, but have much better thermal insulation properties.
And when providing food, they also take into account the eating habits of the Germans as much as possible, providing a sufficient amount of horse meat, German red sausage made from other meats, and Germans' favorite sauerkraut. Of course.
These are just raw materials provided by China, and production is their own business.
Except for engineers and senior generals who are used as consultants, the living environment is eight people per room. Washing and toilets are also public. Not only are they well ventilated, but the heating equipment and coal required in winter are quite large.
There are plenty of them. Even though some dormitories use traditional Chinese kangs, they are always warm.
Moreover, the corresponding salary was paid in cash according to 60% of their salary standard in Germany. Of course, a part of the monthly salary is deducted as living expenses, but the amount is not much. The remaining amount for these Germans is still
A lot.
Every German has a considerable net worth when they leave China. Even those who don’t know how to calculate have savings of tens of thousands of RMB in their hands. However, the biggest problem these Germans have when living in China is that they use RMB in the form of
The wages were paid.
Due to the strict controls during the war, these Germans, who could not leave their workplaces most of the time, had no place to spend their money even if they were paid. After the war was over and the Anti-Japanese Alliance lifted the strict controls on them, they wanted to spend money.
But I don’t know what to buy. And the savings I have accumulated are all in RMB, so I can’t spend them when I bring them back home.
However, first the Anti-Japanese Alliance and later the new Chinese government promised them to contact the German government and convert the RMB in their hands into marks when they returned to China, they had no objection at all. It was also China
People's attitudes towards them made these Germans extremely tough on their return home.
If it were the Soviets, even if you gave them ten courages, they wouldn't dare. Don't say that you are originally an East German. Even if you are a West German and want to return to West Germany, you must act in accordance with the attitude and will of the Soviet Union. If you are an East German
If you want to go to West Germany, there is no way.
In view of the contribution made by these Germans during their stay in China, as well as the suggestions made by Yang Zhen and others over the past few years, the central government could not force the repatriation. However, the extremely tough attitudes of the Soviet Union and East Germany made it difficult for them to repatriate the Germans just after the founding of the country.
The Soviet Union was also in a difficult position when it fell out with the central government.
In the face of difficult negotiations, many people even preferred to stay in China as foreign language teachers rather than return to East Germany. The issue of the repatriation of more than 100,000 people did not arise until the West German Chancellor visited the Soviet Union in 1955.
West Germany sent a large delegation including the deputy prime minister, foreign minister, and economic minister to visit China before the issue was truly resolved.
In addition to the more than 10,000 people originally from East Germany who had been repatriated to China at the end of May 3rd, and the hundreds of Germans who decided to settle in China, the vast majority of them eventually followed the requirements of the German prisoners of war and the West German government.
He made an offer that the Chinese government could not refuse, and was eventually deported back to West Germany.
Of course, Yang Zhen was sent by the central government to handle the repatriation of German prisoners of war. Yang Zhen, who had always adhered to the philosophy of not taking advantage of the bastard, would never let this opportunity go in vain. He took advantage of the West German government to send people to China to rush to deal with these prisoners of war.
The opportunity to return to China, in addition to asking the West German government to use the West German Mark, which had been strong for decades, to use the U.S. dollar exchange rate to exchange the RMB that was originally paid as wages in the hands of these Germans, introduced a foreign currency that continues to appreciate to the world.
They also took the opportunity to take advantage of the Germans' desire to do everything possible to bring back prisoners of war living abroad and to establish diplomatic and economic and trade relations with New China. Although due to obstruction from some quarters, only charge d'affaires level diplomatic relations were finally established, but with the West
Germany reached a package of economic and trade cooperation agreements.
In addition to West Germany using spot trucks and mechanical equipment as the price for China's repatriation of these German prisoners of war, it also transferred a batch of industrial technology and military technology. In particular, the latest Western submarine manufacturing technology and processes, as well as large-tonnage load capacity, were urgently needed by China at that time.
Truck production technology was introduced at this time.