German Fear of Inflation is Causing Collapse of Europe

by Martin Armstrong

Germany’s obsession with anti-inflation policies inspired by the Hyperinflation of the 1920s is so misguided that it is not threatening to collapse all of Europe. Former ECB banker Lorenzo Bini Smaghi has now even called to rescue the Italian banks with European taxpayers’ money. He is correct in warning that the insistence of Germany on the prohibition of state funding bailouts could evolve into a threat to the entire European financial system. The ECB is desperately trying to support the euro, but a strong currency only promotes deflation – not recovery.

The German hypeinflation was the result of a collapse in confidence because of the 1918 Communist revolution in Germany. Nobody would lend the government money after they invited the Russian communists to take over Germany. This had NOTHING to do with printing money. That was the result of the collapse in confidence, not the original cause.

This misguided interpretation of the German hyperinflation is causing the exact same response. People are hoarding cash, not investment, and banks are collapsing. Deutsche Bank says it need 150 billion euros. This is a full blown sovereign debt crisis that will tear Europe apart. Negative interest rates are accelerating the process.