German culture is older than ww1/2. The german respect for labour predates the 20th century. So too in japan. Some like to think of modern japan and germany as only a product of post-ww2 development programs, but that denies the long history of these great nations. That they were able to participate in ww1/2 demonstrates thier success prior to that conflict. (Imho ww1 and ww2 should be read as one historical narrative.)
