An initially conciliatory posture failed in 1919, leading Germany to institute an economic blockade of Poland in January 1920.[6] This effort to force changes also failed, and led to severe losses for German businessmen.[7] These failures led Germany to look for other alternatives, which reached their most extreme form in the proposal of Hans von Seeckt, commander of the Reichswehr (German military), who suggested that Germany and the Soviet Union should conclude an alliance to jointly invade Poland, followed by a war on France. His proposals did not have much impact on official policy, but the general idea of seeking closer cooperation with Russia began to gain currency among a number of groups, including German businessmen who saw market opportunities in Russia.[8]