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Not that it should matter, but considering the source (and time), the phrasing could be understood to imply a level of pride that we got there first. Although, they do seem to give the Germans credit for expanding the technology. Nevertheless, it's the reader that chooses how to interpret the text, and what lessons to learn from it.

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That sounds plausible, too.

Various nationalism and other thinking, in different groups, at different times, are still largely a mystery to me. It seems relevant to group thinking we see today, which is still confusing (e.g., why is much of the thinking and dialogue around the two main US political parties doing what it's doing, and how is that representative/determining of what the broader population actually thinks).

Divide and conquer approach of the populace, IMHO. From an international perspective, though, it may be useful to spur competition.

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