VV(13): Enters Weismann

[jbor]

Along with the payment of huge Reparations and other conditions, the Treaty
of Versailles (28 June 1919) dictated that Germany surrender all colonies
for distribution under a system of mandates to the Allied Powers (annually
reporting to the League of Nations), and that the German army be limited to
100,000 men with no General Staff.

Although the wisdom of requiring large amounts of money from defeated
countries which had lost many colonial markets was criticized at the time by
many economists, especially J.M. Keynes, in April 1921 German Reparations
were fixed at £ 6,600,000,000 (plus interest), and the German govt paid a
first instalment of £ 50,000,000 promptly. But with the inflation that
ensued they suspended payments after that, which in turn led to the
occupation of the Ruhr, the major mining and manufacturing region, in
January 1923 by French and Belgian troops.

It seems pretty clear that Sudwest was actually being administered by the
Dutch in 1922: cf "the grass hut of Willem van Wijk, a minor extremity of
the Administration in Windhoek." (229.8) And, what is happening there is
obviously an uprising of the indigenous population (it's why the European
guests are under *siege* at the villa), not an extension of colonial
genocide at all. I agree that it's pretty sick of Foppl and Vera to have the
other guests reenact the circumstances and responses to the 1904 revolt,
which were genocidal, but Weissmann isn't the instigator of that either.

Though there is no direct information in either _V._ or _GR_ it's entirely
possible and logical that he is a Lieutenant of the Weimar German army at
this time, a sort of diplomatic attaché sent to the former colony. But he
certainly seems much more politically-aware in _V._ (of the rumblings of
opposition to the Weimar govt within Germany, both Hitler *and* Kautsky, as
well as of what was going on in Italy at the time) than he does in _GR_.

These are hardly "hair-splitting distinctions" as Doug contends: they are
historical actualities which Pynchon is aware of and foregrounding through
his narrative.

best

----------
>From: "Otto" <o.sell at telda.net>
>To: "jbor" <jbor at bigpond.com>, <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>Subject: Re: VV(13): Enters Weismann
>Date: Thu, Apr 12, 2001, 8:25 PM
>

> Of course the Weimar Republic wasn't involved in any genocides.
>
> But was Weissmann on an official mission for the Weimar Republic at all? I
> don't have that impression when he talks to Kurt about Munich, Hitler
> fascism and national socialism. When he says that "we can get it back" (the
> protectorate, on p. 242) this is fascist ideology and no official policy.
>
> Additionally I don't have the impression that he is "personally" on a
> genocide-mission from what I read about him in V., so it's really a stretch.
>
> Do we ever get an info in which organization he is an officer in 1922? There
> is no regular German army at this time, only the Reichswehr.