Become a millionaire in this war

Free Thinker *

Observing the Manipur scenario, one may call it a continuing skirmish but in reality, it has become a prolonged miniature war. Now, it is turning more sophisticated evidently with the deployment of rockets and drone-bombers. Such a development is good for business. This is going to be a lucrative affair for Shylock-like suppliers and contractors.

In this continuing conflict many may make fast bucks - just like people minted money and became millionaires & billionaires during the Great Wars. Here, one can become at least a millionaire if not a billionaire. First world war was fought for 4 years and Second WW for 6 years. During those war periods many had become stinkingly rich and wealthy.

War-time supplies are extremely profitable, though risky. You get quick money or gold; but sometimes the payment may be delayed or may not come due to unforeseen circumstances. Supply of arms and ammunition, food items, medicines, hospital materials, fuel, wine & cigarettes, vehicles and planes etc., are too lucrative.

We are told that even in Manipur during the Japan Lan (WWII) some people in Imphal and Moirang had minted money simply being ration suppliers (rice, vegetables, meat, milk, eggs etc.). Few local contractors also became rich.

During WWII General Motors’ net income jumped from $150 to $200. In fact, American industries produced 2/3 of all Allied military equipment during the war. They became immensely prosperous. Boeing started manufacturing war planes and at one time they produced 350 planes in a month. The famous B-29 aircraft of Atom bomb notoriety was Boeing’s creation.

Likewise Swiss Companies like Oerlikon-Buhrle, Dixi, Tavara and Hispano-Suiza made enormous profits from war time supplies like anti-aircraft guns, cannons, military tools and instruments from the Nazis. Again, during the First world war when London was bombed Wall Street made a profit from the construction companies who tasked with the rebuilding of the city.

In fact, many risk-takers made money during the Great Wars. There were a good number of industrialists, manufacturers, brokers, transporters, suppliers and builders who made immense wealth during the World wars.

At the global level if the clash is propagated as a conflict between two religious groups – we understand which side will be advantageous. In this subcontinent if the clash is projected as a conflict between two people belonging to two different faiths – obviously we know the winner. But the tragedy is - there will be no victor in a war or conflict. Can we visualize a winner in the present clash between Russia and Ukraine? For me – both are losers.

First world war and Second world killed millions of people and destroyed property worth billions. In the Second World War alone 24 million soldiers were sacrificed and 50 million innocent lives were lost. Still one side will be declared as the victor – the other side the loser. In fact, both sides were losers. But the irony is that the so-called winners-imposed war indemnities on the losing side. What a farce!

Before WWII Coca-Cola was booming all over. It was spreading like wildfire. In 1941 the United States entered the war. All official contacts in the German part of the Company became defunct. On top of that, the scarcity of ingredients in Germany made it almost impossible to make Coca-Cola. Most employees left the Company but Keith; he decided to make a new beverage to suit the needs of Germany. Thus, Fanta was launched.

It became so popular. Keith sold bottle after bottle, building factory after factory and employing worker after worker. Kieth was told to change his company’s name to some other, other than Coca Cola. He was summoned to Berlin for nationalization of his company. Fortunate for him, Berlin was bombed heavily and he escaped the call. Germany lost the war, Keith’s company was reunited with the Coca Cola Company. Later Fanta had a world-wide release.

One Cramer wrote, “All the major American companies supplied goods to war efforts. My Mom and Dad lived through WWII said that everyone made money during the war. It was not just the industry that made money. My dad was in the US Navy and was posted at a port.

He was looking through his binoculars and saw a building and leading from the building was a line of soldiers a couple of hundred yards long. He gave his binoculars to a sailor, and asked him if he knew what that was. The sailor looked, laughed, and said, "Yes Sir, that is a whore house”.

What I am trying to say is that during war or conflict people mint money by any means, legal or illegal, moral or immoral. One takes risks. It is always better to do legitimate business – but everyone is tempted to indulge in more profitable ways.

In the beginning of the conflict the demand-supply was limited to guns, mortars, grenades, explosive-devices, bullets etc. Now the trend is moving towards missiles and drones. So, the business model is expanded from arms and ammunition to drones and bombs. It may further escalate to tanks and fighter-jets. Suppliers and Contractors, be ready for the augmentation. Hit the jackpot soon. Earn from this chaos.