Word: germanized
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1950-1959
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Even a decade ago, so successful a Drang nach Osten seemed hardly possible, for twice in 30 years calamitous wars wiped out Germany's stake in the lands curving about the eastern end of the Mediterranean. Yet in ten years, West German exports to Greece, Turkey and the Middle East have jumped from less than $10 million a year to $500 million...
...overall sales, West Germany's peaceful invasion force -some 500 German businessmen operate out of Cairo alone -has yet to catch up with Britain and the U.S. But in three lucrative markets-Iran, Syria and Greece-West Germany outsells any other nation. In Egypt and Israel the West Germans are now No. 2 in sales...
...They Like It." West Germany's success story owes most to the skill of its technicians and the acumen of its businessmen. But the German tradition of high quality has also gained from the shoddiness of some postwar U.S. products and from the fact that Russia's achievements in rocketry have created doubts about U.S. technological preeminence. German traders have also won an enviable reputation for fast delivery. Last summer when Saudi Arabia's King Saud decided he needed a three-truck caravan (sleeper with bath, dining car with throne, and a supply van), British and French...
After delivery, most German firms guarantee prompt, expert maintenance-wherever possible by local workmen trained by Germans. Says an official of Munich's Siemens & Halske electric company: "Nationalistic Middle East governments like it when they find that in dealing with Siemens they are dealing with a nearly all-Arab group...
...Good War Record." West Germans also enjoy two other competitive advantages. One is the aggressive trade policies of their own government. To help foster West German exports, the Federal Republic sponsors an insurance organization called Hermes, which offers exporters a guarantee against default by their customers. Thanks to Hermes (which has so far committed $600 million to underwriting Mideastern deals alone), West German businessmen can often offer credit to customers whom other Western businessmen must pass up as bad risks. Sometimes the Bonn government steps in directly to help. West Germany is about to give the Greek government $150 million...