ABSTRACT
In 1927, Germany became the leading importer of whole soybeans worldwide, and, with the exception of a temporary disruption in 1934–1936, held this position until the German invasion of the Soviet Union. This chapter shows that a globalized market, a favorable price, and a notion of independence secured soybeans a prominent place in German industry and agriculture during these years. In the Weimar Republic, the German preference for soy had little to do with the bean's nutritional properties. Its value lay in its fat content, which was mainly used in the production of margarine and soap, while the residue from the milling process served as fodder. After the Nazis gained power, the established pattern of usage remained the same, but there was an initial drop in soybean imports in order to save on foreign currency. Soybean imports did not rise again until a 1936 barter agreement with Manchukuo and Japan was in place. However, from about this period onward, soybeans were used less to obtain fat and fodder; instead, Nazi propaganda focused on establishing soybean flour for direct human consumption. When this attempt failed, the product was channeled into factory canteens and Wehrmacht provisions.
