Saying Germany embraced the free market is not correct. Germany under Erhard had a social market economy (even during the "Wirtschaftswunder*, the economic mira

Saying Germany embraced the free market is not correct. Germany under Erhard had a social market economy (even during the "Wirtschaftswunder*, the economic miracle). While some free market principles were followed (price liberation, free trade) and it was certainly more market liberal than France at the time, it still came with substantial protection (universal healthcare, strong labor protections and unions, anti monopoly regulations etc.) The situation back then was decidedly _not_ what the term "free market" (of the libertarian variety) would imply today.