Not quite sure "squeezing" is applicable.
For instance, there was the Noilles family who LOST the French North American fur trade when the UK took over Canada at the conclusion of the French & Indian War.
One of the son in laws, Lafayette, came back and took away a good part of that fur trade from the UK. He also recovered, in full, the deer hide trade!
The King of France had obtained a substantial chunk of his income from French North America before that war. He'd also made money from the furniture business, but his primary source of aged and pre-cut hardwood had also been lost to the UK.
A free and independent America was definitely in the commercial interest of the French.
IMHO the Germany of today is edging its way back to facism but instead of a "hitler" it will be the all powerful "state" of socialism...seems the German mindset loves cvontrol over everything