@BarkingFrogger_@iamthecat69@0Becky2i_m_back Productivity by german Labor force and by kidnaped slaves from other conquered counties and by stealing production of captured countries.
Tolkien never explicitly pits Gandalf against Sauron in a direct power match-up. However, looking at the lore, both represent the absolute pinnacle of the Maiar in different ways. Gandalf (Olórin) is the wisest, while Sauron (Mairon) is the most naturally talented and powerful.
But what if Gandalf took the One Ring? In Letter 246, Tolkien reveals a chilling truth: "If Gandalf had claimed the Ring, he would have remained righteous, but self-righteous. His good intentions would have been corrupted until he became worse than Sauron himself." Sauron’s evil is clear-cut, leaving a distinct line between good and bad. Gandalf, however, would enforce his own "goodness" and wisdom by absolute tyranny.
Under Gandalf's rule, righteousness and pity would become tools of oppression. As Tolkien explicitly put it in his handwritten marginal note: "Thus while Sauron multiplied evil, he left 'good' clearly distinguishable from it. Gandalf would have made good detestable and seem evil." There's a reason why Gandalf was utterly terrified when Frodo offered him the Ring.