The autobahn freeway system quickly became a symbol of Nazi Germany. Its construction was seen as a major element of Germany's economic resurgence under Hitler, and was compared with the projects of Roosevelt's New Deal.
The reality was little different, however. Initially, the autobahn system was proposed and planned under the Social Democrats of Weimar Germany. At that point, the German military objected to the freeways because they might point the way for enemy aircraft seeking German cities! This was one of the reasons that the Nazis also objected to the plans. However, once they came to power, the Nazis realized its economic potential and enthusiastically endorsed freeway construction. To be sure, only about 100,000 people worked directly on the autobahns, but it did help other sectors of the German economy and became an essential part of the infrastructure for Germany's military in World War Two.
Today, the German freeway system is the second largest in the world. It is renowned for its lack of speed limits, though the government recommends a maximum of 130 km/h (!) and many dangerous sections do have some controls.
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