Page 72 - The Making of the German Post-war Economy

THE FREIBURG SCHOOL 45

Economy). More important, however, due to the consolidation of
47
institutional powers and the media in the German Third Reich, Röpke
aimed to raise awareness of Germany’s economic and social situation
abroad and hoped to stimulate and influence public discussion in
48
Germany from abroad about a German and European post-war economic
49
model. An analysis of Wilhelm Röpke’s voluminous bequest at the
IUHEI, containing substantial correspondence and numerous newspaper
articles, documents that due to his preoccupation with the German
economy and society he succeeded in both achieving publicity and
initiating a public debate on economic policy issues in neighbouring
Switzerland and other European countries. Furthermore, by his
50
eagerness to contribute to the rebuilding of the German economy and
51
his scholarly works advocating a humane order for society and economy,
in particular his acclaimed sociocritical trilogy, Wilhelm Röpke gained
52
national prominence and some considered him the intellectual figure par
53
excellence in the establishment of economic liberalism in post-war
Germany. However, as few Germans could then afford international
54
newspapers, Röpke also became one of the most frequent and prominent
authors in German newspapers, such as the Stuttgarter Zeitung and later the
liberal-conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. By inviting various
55
representatives of ordo-liberalism to explain their economic ideas in his
56
paper, the editor of the FAZ, Erich Welter, hoped to influence the
German public. Wilhelm Röpke appreciated the invitation to publish in a
57
German national paper, which he considered an ample platform to
communicate his economic and socio-political views to the German
58
people.
Finally, his equally elaborate and numerous articles in various national
and international newspapers not only earned him a wide reputation – for
instance, Röpke’s articles reportedly attracted the attention of the
Reichsbankleitstelle in Hamburg, i.e. the Central Bank of the British
occupation zone which also informed the Zonal Executive Offices’
Finance Division of the Banking Branch – but also contact with Konrad
59
Adenauer. The then leader of the CDU in the British zone of occupation
60
61
was familiar with the best known works of Röpke, and frequently
referred to the economist’s ideas. Equally, Wilhelm Röpke’s journalistic
62
essays and monographs left a mark on Ludwig Erhard, who, as Director
63
of the Administration for Economics in the Bizonal Economic Council,
often used the economist’s terminology when expounding his own
economic and political convictions; both, for instance, referred to
‘Kapitalistisches Freibeutertum’ (capitalist exploitation) or ‘Kollektivismus’
(collectivism). In the course of time, a mutual relationship of trust and
64
respect developed and the two economists frequently met either in