December 14th, 1932
You turn the key in the lock, and it clicks shut with a kind of finality, signalling the end of one chapter in your life, and the start of the next. Katherine is waiting for you at the car but, as dumb as it sounds, you wanted a moment alone to tour your surgery before shuttering doors and leaving it in the care of some cleaners and guards.
Tucking the key in your suit pocket, you turn to your wife, and descend the steps, putting an arm around her as you both get into the back of the car the Crown Prince has loaned you. The expensive limousine cuts a swift path through the still largely deserted streets of Munich. Even after a week, normalcy is slow to return. There are some stalls selling produce, some boys playing in the street, but there is also still bits of rubble, buildings riddled with bullet holes, and long-dried bloodstains where men fell in defence of the Fatherland.
The ride to the Platz is brief, and unlike much of the city it has been cleaned up with incredible speed. You wouldn't even know that it was a glorified refugee camp a week ago. You get out of the car, and are struck by the sheer amount of security present. The
Volksbanner flag flutters alongside the Munich city flag, and the Bavarian flag, DnPB banners also proudly displayed by the buildings ringing the Platz.
It feels strange to admit, but the
Schwarz-Rot-Senf is actually kind of growing on you. You ascend the steps with wife in tow, VB-men saluting you as you pass them, with a greeting of
Oberst! Rupprecht's guards remain as stoic as ever as they open the heavy wood and wrought iron doors for you.
Otto is talking to someone on the other side, a VB-
Oberst if you read his hastily sewn-on patches right. Your one-armed assistant has a clipboard grasped firmly in the crook of his shortened arm, nodding along with whatever the man is saying, before seeing you and dismissing the man, walking over to you.
"
Oberst!" He snaps a sharp salute and holds himself in the best approximation of parade salute that he can manage.
"At ease, Otto. We're not in the army anymore." He does relax a tiny bit, but not much, and turns on his heel.
"I understand,
Herr Strauss, but still. You're a war hero and deserve proper respect." He begins to walk off, gesturing for you to follow. "I'll take you to your new office,
Oberst."
You're shocked by how clean everything has become in the week since you've been gone. Fresh plaster has been put over bullet holes, broken floor boards have been replaced, However, not all signs of battle were gone. Scuff marks from where doors had been placed as barricade, piles of sand from now-dismantled strong points, and Auxiliary Police Officers with rifles at the ready, eyes narrow and furtive as they watched for danger..
Your office is stunningly large, with a view of the platz below, it reminds you in many ways of your father's study back home, with the same huge wooden desk, portraits of the royal family (The Wittelsbachs, not the Hohenzollerns.), a bavarian state flag in a pen holder on the desk. The only real difference is that it has a name holder, with 'Dr. Hugo von Strauss, OMJ' emblazoned on it in bronze, and that the view is of the
Marienplatz instead of the family's estate.
You get behind it and sit down. The desk is brand new, and smells of varnish, it's a nice, if expensive, gesture from the Crown Prince. Sitting down, you ask Kathe what she thinks, and she shifts slightly uncomfortably, but nods, saying that it is certainly something.
You are about to ask her what kind of role she'd like within your ministry, when Rupprecht, already slightly red in the face, opens the door, throwing his arms wide in greeting.
"Hugo! It's about time you showed up. I've organised everything, and I cannot wait to start working with you!" He walked in, slightly staggered, and then sat himself down across from you.
"And I with you, Crown Prince." You smiled as Katherine went to the wall, simply watching as you began to chat with the Crown Prince about about how, exactly, you'd go about repairing Bavaria's broken healthcare system. When he mentioned getting you a secretary, Kathe stepped forward again.
"I could do that." She ventures, but shrinks back when you both look at her. You smile and nod, and Rupprecht seems to become contemplative for a moment, before he nods as well.
"Yes, that's a good idea. If your family is as unpleasant as you say, this is probably the safest place for her."
Hearing that makes you cringe, but and you decide to bite the bullet and tell the Prince what has happened. "About that. We've received a missive from my mother, and there were photos. Of Katherine. If you would allow it, I would like to request a personal security detail." Rupprecht seems slightly shocked at the level of animosity between yourself and your family, but as he rises from his chair, he offers you a hand. You rise as well and take it.
"Of course, Hugo. And I will have some men look into this. You don't need to worry." The dark look on his face as he says that
makes you worried, but you shake his hand regardless, and he sees himself out.
You settle back in your chair and manage to smile at Kathe.
"I suppose that settles that, then. Are you sure about being my secretary? I can certainly find you work as a nurse elsewhere." She shakes her head as she sits down in front of you, hands folded in her lap as she does her level best to look like a professional.
"I don't want to leave your side, Hugo." She smiles, and you can't help but smile back. As chaotic as your life has recently become, Katherine is just as much there for you as ever. You relax in the plush office chair and start talking about what the two of you will need to do for the next
two weeks.
The Ministry of Health of Bavaria
Your new job, as the freshly appointed Minister for Health, is to overhaul the failing Bavarian health sector, and improve the quality of life for the millions of Bavarians struggling to get the medical care they need.
This is your mandate, and you aim to fulfill it to the best of your abilities. You don't have particular control over the department, and that limits what you can do for now. But they are eager to start working with you!
You have two actions.
[] Enforce the RVO (Reichsversicherungsordnung)
The Reich Insurance code is the law by which all people of the Reich are insured, but due to the economic crisis of the past few years, funding has fallen by the wayside. While you can only secure so much additional funding from the Crown Prince, you can send out bureaucrats to ensure that it is properly enforced, and no man is taking more than his fair share, and that people are still ensured.
(Chance of Success: Moderate-High. Result: RVO is actively enforced by the Government.)
[] Expand the RVO (Reichsversicherungsordnung)
The Reich Insurance code is, certainly, a noble project to ensure that Germany's poorest can survive the myriad illnesses that come with a working class life, but as Katherine points out to you when you are talking about it, nurses and midwives, as well as medical orderlies at smaller, private clinics (like yours) are not actually covered. While obviously, you could bring this to the federal government, you could easily justify this expansion as a 'trial' for future roll outs across the nation.
(Chance of Success: Moderate-Low. Result: RVO is expanded to cover 50% of the Bavarian population.)
[] Meet the bureaucrats
You've never been good with bureaucracies. You hated it during the war, and it was the biggest reason that made you avoid doing time in more major hospitals after the war. Unfortunately, bureaucracy is part and parcel of your new role as minister. Maybe you should put some of your fabled charm to work and try to win them over?
(Chance of Success: Moderate-High Result: Bonds formed with the bureaucracy.)
[] Network with other departments
Your charisma is much better applied when focused on a few select individuals, and as such you should focus on making friends with your fellow ministers, and with Rupprecht himself.
(Chance of Success: High. Result: Bonds formed with fellow ministers.)
[] Position Volksbanner 'Auxiliary Police Officers' at clinics
While the National Socialist Menace has, for the moment, been beaten back, there is the perpetual threat that they may seek revenge for this failed rebellion. As well, there are several important members both of the NSDAP and DnPB currently in Hospital, which the SA would very much like to have killed before they could speak out against them.
(Chance of Success: V. High. Result: Volksbanner units are put in place at hospitals to reinforce the police.
This will deploy 2k Volksbanner across Bavaria.)
The German National Patriots Movement (DnPB)
Of course, on top of your work as health minister, you are also in charge of the DnPB, the German National Patriots movement, and you need to devote some time to this work, as it is arguably just as important. Building up the National anti-Nazi movement before the entire country is lost to their insanity.
Movement Membership:
Bavaria
175'000 (Estimated. Primarily BVP/SPD)
Baden
15'000 (Estimated. Primarily Zentrum.)
Wurttemberg
9'500 (Estimated. Primarily Zentrum.)
Movement Finances: 501'000ℛℳ
Movement Cohesion: Cohesive and United.
Supporting parties:
Bavaria
DVP, DNVP, BVP, SPD
Baden
Elements of the Zentrum and SPD
Wurttemberg
Elements of the Zentrum and SPD
You can pick two options, or double down on one to increase the chance of success.
[] Recruitment!
The Munich Uprising, as some newspapers have taken to calling it, has sparked a wave of interest in the DnPB, and this would be an ideal time to capitalise on recruitment outside Bavaria.
(Specify Political party/group for targeting. Can be '[STATE], General' Cost: Varies by target. Chance of Success: Estimated 75-80% Result: Membership expands in Bavaria, and possibly abroad)
[] Securing financial donors.
At present, even though the DnPB is quite flush with money, it has no real long-term financial plan. You have no real industrialist backing, and the people of Germany can only dig into their pockets so deep. You need to rectify that, and soon. The general good feelings about the DnPB, and especially Volksbanner, will do wonders in this regard.
(Cost: 8k ℛℳ. Chance of Success: High Result: Long-term Financial base secured).
[] Seize NSDAP assets.
A second way to raise capital in the short term is to use the Bavarian Police and still active Volksbanner units to seize control of NSDAP financial assets and reappropriate them for yourselves. Ordinarily, you wouldn't consider this, but the NSDAP are just unpopular enough at present that you are relatively sure you can get away with it, even if it makes you uncomfortable. Of course, in the week since the SA crackdown you don't doubt that the NSDAP have moved as much vital infrastructure out of the state as they are capable of.
(Cost: 15k ℛℳ Chance of Success: Estimated Low Result: NSDAP finances crippled, DnPB finances greatly bolstered.)
[] Found a paper.
Franz has begun to work on his newspaper proposal once more and is still adamant that he will lend you some of his printers to save on costs. It would certainly let you attack the NSDAP for their reckless behaviour more easily.
(Cost: 45k ℛℳ initial, 16k ℛℳ per week after. Chance of Success: Very High. Result: Newspaper founded. Can be used to boost/slander people/parties)
[] Sponsor a show.
You were enjoying a radio drama with your wife this morning when an advertisement for Franz's paper came on the air, and you had something of a small revelation. Why not sponsor a radio drama of your own? Something...patriotic.
(Cost: 35k ℛℳ initial, 8k ℛℳ per week after. Chance of Success: Very High. Result: Patriotic radio drama sponsored, with pro-DnPB propaganda at start and close.)
The People's Banner (Volksbanner, VB)
Morale: Excellent
Cohesion: Limited
Active VB-men: 15'000
Inactive VB-men: 45'000
You can pick one option.
[] Rupprecht über alles, Teil 2.
With the good will earned from fighting against the SA starting to fade, it is likely a good idea to try and weld both groups together now, before it becomes almost impossible, and it breaks apart.
(Cost: 10k ℛℳ Chance of Success: Moderate-High Result: Reichsbanner/Stahlhelm in Bavaria more tightly integrated.)
[] Expand the VB
The Volksbanner is a sizeable force as it stands, but could always do with more men. After all, if anyone is injured or killed you only have so many reservists, and only so many of them can take time out of their life to work as foot soldiers for the DnPB.
(Cost 10k ℛℳ to recruit, 12k annually. Chance of Success: Guaranteed Result: Active VB-men nearly doubled.)
[] Crack down on the SA remnants
Some lunatics in the SA have grabbed rifles and made for the hills in Bavaria. While Rupprecht has cracked down on them, you're sure he could use the help of some good
Volksbanner auxiliary police, to deal with the problem.
Player selected level of commitment (Active VB-men only)
[] Secure Weapons.
While you were able to raid various weapons stores across Munich during the first uprising, it's a good idea to begin building your own stockpiles, as if not for the arrival of Lettow-Vorbeck you may well have had to march on Nuremberg, and you don't have the equipment for that.
(Cost: 12k ℛℳ Chance of Success: Moderate Result: Contact made with someone to supply you with weapons.
They must be bought seperately.)
Trying out a new format! If there are any questions, feel free to ask, I'll be around for a good few hours working on my other quests.
