Always Late
Lacking in coffee, sleep, and brains
- Location
- Ohio
Looks like either the SS is sending a warning, or the Communists just decided to hand over Stalin's "Thank You" package for obliterating the Bavarian SA.
Against the Tide - Germany 1932.
- Thread starter KarvokaQueen
- Start date
- Original
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
That or someone really didn't like their last doctor's bill.
- Location
- Moon-Station
I can't believe it would have been better if we had not taken this action
- Location
- Around here
There's a chance we could have gotten equally bad rolls had we taken a different course of action. Those rolls on, say, meeting the bureaucrats or the heads of other departments could have gone with them refusing to work with us. Some people are dead, yes, but that's an immediate with fewer long-term consequences than a failed working relationship with our potential allies. And if we're clever, we can even use this to our advantage, to give us one more thing to point to when we rail against the SA and the NSDAP for their abject disregard for the rule of law. Craven, yes, but effective.
Obviously we'd all have rather not gotten such a garbage roll, but given the choice between garbage rolls I'd choose the one we got over the ones we could have gotten, which might have more negatively impacted our long-term plans for Germany more than a few
Odds are there would have been a roll for trouble regardless. At least this way there's actually people present to mitigate damage, however slightly.
Moving in - Results
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
[X] Enforce the RVO (Reichsversicherungsordnung)
Roll = 60. You've laid down the law (such as it is)
"So, we're clear?" You you look up from your paper, pushing your spectacles back up your nose to bring the Chief Administrator of the LMU's hospital into proper relief. The man, much older and more decrepit than yourself, harrumphs at the indignity of paying court to someone he considers inferior.
"Of course. Though, I trust that we will be maintaining our level of--"
"Yes. As an Alum of the Ludwig Maximilian University, I am aware that you've been afforded considerable leeway regarding the RVO. As long as we receive no further complaints about refusal to see patients, that will continue." The old, balding man, rather pleased with himself, rises from his seat, grabs his cane, and gives you another nod, and begins hobbling towards the exit.
"One last thing, Herr Doktor. I would mind who you take donations from. I would hate to have to revise the LMU's special status due to your personal actions." The man's haughty natures falters for a moment and he pauses, but it returns swiftly.
"Yes. Of course, Herr Strauss." Is the clipped reply, before he steps through the heavy oak door and closes it behind him. You sigh, and return to your paper. So much going on you've barely time to keep up with the day's events. At least you've only a handful more of these personal meetings before you can declare that you've enforced the Law, and will never again have to take tea with haughty noblemen masquerading as surgeons.
The RVO is being actively enforced in Bavaria, despite the unhappy grumblings of private practices, and the LMU
[X] Position Volksbanner 'Auxiliary Police Officers' at clinics
Roll = 15. Jailbreaks, nailbombs, and arsonists, oh my!
It's a quiet day in Nuremberg. Almost too quiet for the liking of Karl Schmidt. He'd been hoping that he'd be demobilized and allowed to return to his work for the Nuremberg Police Department once they'd put paid to Hitler's insane uprising. That had not eventuated, as evidenced by his standing in the snow with a thick woolen trench coat, rubbing his gloved hands to try and keep warm.
"How long till the next shift arrives?" He asks of his portly associate, who Karl had come to understand was a banker of some kind, his massive belly stretching the greatcoat he wore to almost comical effect.
"Not soon enough. Now stop complaining and stand straight, in case anyone sees us." The old, fat man snapped, adjusting his feldcap and going red in the face. Karl shrugged and turned back to face the street, almost totally abandoned thanks to the heavy snow and early hour. If Karl ever found the man who gave him the early day shift he'd shoot them himself.
They stood in relative silence, only the snow and wind to distract them, along with the occasional car somewhere off in a busier, more interesting part of the city. He turned to the banker again, desperate for some conversation to chase the chill out of his body.
"Do you think that bratwurst stall is open yet? I could do with s--" The banker coughed violently to cut him off, narrow eyes glaring at him and killing the conversation, just in time for them to both process a slim man wearing a postal uniform approach. He'd come out of a nearby alleyway and was making straight for them through the snow.
The banker unslung his rifle, but Karl kept his behind his shoulder, not wanting to spook the young looking lad as he approached. The postal officer couldn't have been more than eighteen as he smiled at them. "I've got a package for Herr von Salomon!"
"Is that right, boy? How do we know you aren't one of those brownshirted spies." The banker hissed, aiming his rifle at the boy, whose eyes widened in fear as he threw up his arms, as if to ward off any incoming bullets. The package, forgotten, dropped to the ground with a harsh thud.
Karl turned to the banker to tell him to calm down, but before he could the package hit the ground, and the yelling and gun waving was interrupted by a violent explosion, the nailbomb detonating and tearing through all three men.
--
The explosion threw the half-dozen guards relaxing in the relative warmth of the hospital into immediate action, each man grabbing a rifle, or stick, or whatever weapon he had to hand, and rushing to set up a defensive perimeter at the room of their charge.
But as they waited, every man gripping his weapon with a white-knuckled intensity, the follow up never came. Tapping the two MP-18 armed men, their leader gestured for them to head for the main door, to see just what had happened. The hospital was eerily quiet as they descended the steps, only the terrified whimpers of orderlies and the occasionally panicked groan of a patient. The tension was thick enough it could be sliced with a knife.
As they got to the ground floor though, they saw three shadowy men advancing and opened fire, bullets bouncing off the stone walls around the men as nurses and doctors on duty screamed and ran for cover.
The men were yelling back, and the lack of return fire led to the VB-men stopping, peering cautiously around the corner to see just who they'd almost shot dead. Three frightened looking policemen looked back. With visible relief both VB-men emerged from cover.
--
"So, who do you think set up the bomb?" One of the men asked the police officers, as they led them back up the stairs to help secure their charge. The lead officer shrugged.
"Probably the Roterkampfbund. Bet they're kicking themselves they missed a chance to repeat 1919." That got a laugh from the two nervous VB-men, as they approached the room where they'd been keeping von Salomon under lock and key.
"Is this everyone?" One of the officers asked, and as they reached the room door, the second VB-man felt a chill run up his spine.
"Yes, why?"
The officers didn't respond, grabbing their handguns and before any of the assembled men could react, gunning them down. The SS-men in disguise acting with clinical precision. By the time one of them entered the room of the terrified traitor von Salomon, he was trying to rise up out of his bed, but he never made it further than halfway upright before he was cut down.
Two SS-men were already splashing gasoline around the room, another was fishing matches from his stolen coat the rest securing the perimeter and ensuring the handful of terrified night-staff stayed well away.
Soon, the room was ablaze and the six men were hurriedly leaving the hospital, narrowly avoiding two police cars and firetruck racing towards the hospital. Stripping down in an Alleyway, none of the men would be seen in the city again.
Franz von Salomon assassinated. Franz Ritter von Epp wounded in a failed break out. Karl Wahl escapes detainment. Hitler loudly condemns communists exploiting anarchy in Bavaria. Splits within VB worsen over allegations of 'SA infiltrators' (Stahlhelm) and 'Communist fifth-columnists' (Reichsbanner)
[X] Securing financial donors.
Roll = 59. Thyssen and Schacht suggest a sit down.
You don't bother to hide your incredulity as Hjalmar Schacht enters your office. The tall half-dane cuts a surprisingly strong figure as he makes his way over to you, unfazed by the half-dozen armed guards along the edge of the room.
"So, I've read your letter, and I'm curious. You never responded to my entreaties after the Harzburg catastrophe1, why come to me now?"
"Well, it wasn't apparent at the time, but I think in light of recent events that we may have overestimated the level of control Hitler has over his little minions."
You snort derisively at the notion Schacht and his friends ever exerted any control over the Madman they'd been lobbying to take up the Chancellery. "Finally coming to your senses then."
The Dane pushes his glasses up and looks down his nose at you, but after a few moments, he nods. "I suppose that you could put it like that." He doesn't continue, so you take over for him.
"And now, you want to come to the National Patriotic movement? Not that I am in a position to reject your support, but I'm curious as to who this 'interested party' you claim to represent is."
"Fritz Thyssen. And maybe others. There is some complaint even amongst Hitler's ardent supporters that he has allowed the SA to get away with its criminal acts."
You rock back in your chair, steepling your fingers as you consider this development. You remember Thyssen as one of the men who bankrolled the slander against the KVP in 1930. You're skeptical but you are smart enough to realise that you have few enough options that the Dane before you, and the industrialist who slandered you, offer a lifeline that the DnPB desperately need. "And this surprises you? All he did after the Stennes mess was to puppet the Berlin SA with his own fresh brand of cultists." He mumbles something, but you pay it no heed. "He's a would-be autocrat who has deluded himself into believing his bastardisation of darwinism will somehow create a more functional state, instead of an incoherent, dysfunctional mess." Schacht briefly opens his mouth to interrupt you, but you can rock forward in your chair, staring him down as you feel your anger from the past weeks rising to the surface.
"Just look at the state of Munich. Hell, look at the mess in Nuremberg! We've got Hitler's thugs throwing bombs into god-damned cafes!" You rise from your chair as your voice elevates to a shout. "He and his jackbooted criminals have stomped all over the good name of Germany, and even now he's likely planning on how to better overthrow the Bavarian government. And it won't just be us on the chopping block if he becomes chancellor. It'll be you, Thyssen, anyone who dares question his morally-deficient madness! And then he'll march us back to war and damn another generation of Germans to lose their fathers, their brothers, and their sons! And it--" You finally catch yourself and take a deep breath, sitting back down and taking another breath to calm yourself before you accuse the man trying to imply he'd support the DnPB if you asked him.
"He must be stopped." Schacht, who had recoiled slightly at your heated outburst leans back in, his earlier attitude gone from the fire and conviction in your words.
"But we cannot allow Germany's weakness to linger. If you can promise me that, once Hitler and his advocates are dispatched, you will fight to restore Germany, then we may have the beginnings of a deal."
"Of course. Crushing the evils of Nazism are just the first steps on restoring Germany to greatness." For reasons that elude you, Schacht laughs as he rises from his chair, offering a hand that you rise to take.
"I will be in contact soon, Herr Strauss. I feel that Thyssen will like you." And thus, the dane leaves you and you sink back into your chair. Your stomach churns at having to deal with Thyssen, but at the same time, bringing him on board would possibly bring the entire VSt2 on board. It'd be a coup for your finances, and cause no small amount of pain for the NSDAP. Still, much will depend on how things go with Thyssen.
Contact made with Hjalmar Schacht, ex-president of the Reichsbank, and an offer of contact has been made by the famous industrialist Fritz Thyssen.
[X] Sponsor a show.
Roll = 43. A modest success, from a modest (and inexpensive) program.
"Before we start the latest episode of 'Bomb on the Danube' we would like to thank the German National Patriots Association for sponsoring this broadcast. We here at…"
You tune out the noise coming from the Radio and instead focus on your paper. The Madness going on in Nuremberg is seriously worrying and has taken up a considerable amount of your focus for the week.
As you turn another page of the paper, you shake your head in frustration at the news. It's absolute chaos out there. Nazi speeches, A beer hall catching fire, and the von Papen government calling for calm as Nuremberg burns.
But even as you read the news, having your wife up against your side as the fire crackles and warms the room, the radio playing in the background, calms you greatly. Even if the show is not to your tastes, Katherine clearly enjoys it and soon your mind is totally off the grim nature of the attacks in Nuremberg.
They will have to be addressed, but for now, you just relax and enjoy the first quiet moment you've had in a full fortnight.
The 'Bomb on the Danube' radio show is a modest hit, especially amongst more low-class Germans who are drawn to the drama and action of it. The plot follows former Doctor and Weltkrieg hero Ludwig von Stieger and his attempts to foil an Austro-Fascist plot to assassinate Crown Prince Otto von Habsburg.
[X] Rupprecht über alles, Teil 2.
Roll = 77. Disloyal Stahlhelm and Reichsbanner captains sacked, the VB is more united than ever.
You have to hide your smirk as you listen to Franz upbraid one of the Reichsbanner captains outside your office. As much as the insult of 'having brown underpants' irritates you, it was satisfying to see the man be dragged out by his collar.
Still, after Franz forcefully expelled the young thug out of the City hall, the Stahlhelm Captain who'd come with him is eyeing you warily. Having seen how quickly you'll dispatch leftist agitators, he's clearly waiting to see just how you handle the rightist counterpunch.
"Now that we've dispatched with Herr Geffen, I believe we need to deal with you." The yelling outside fades and you push your glasses up the bridge of your nose to adjust them slightly, and bring the older, uniformed thug into sharper relief.
"Your men were assigned to guard Karl Wahl, Correct?" Despite his height and thuggish appearance, the man seems slightly cowed as he nods.
"That is correct, Herr Strauss." You shuffle the paper in front of you, still focused on him with only a brief moment to casually check them before continuing your rather relaxed questioning.
"And they were rostered on at 11pm, on Tuesday night?"
"That is correct, Mein Herr."
"So, when the barracks were attacked by unknown assailants at 11pm, where were they?"
"We were conducting security inspections nearby."
You nod amiably as he explains, as you ready to drop the net on him. "Inspections at the beer hall?"
"That….is not how I would characterise that."
"How would you characterise two dozen men being in the beer hall, while a handful of off-duty Reichsbanner men were murdered by assailants?"
"We were following up rumours of SA men hiding in the basement of the hall, of course."
"Really? That is interesting, because I have a statement signed by the owner of the establishment, and countersigned by four serving girls, as well as two bartenders working that day that you and your men were drinking heavily when you were supposed to be working."
"I…"
"Now. Not only has your negligence let a wanted criminal escape Bavaria for god knows where but in your own report, you claimed that it was the RB men who worked with the communist assailants to help break Wahl out." You lean in, lowering your voice as you roll right over whatever excuse he plans to use.
"Now, if this were some low level thug being broken out, I might be inclined to believe that you had gone drinking assuming nothing would happen. Given you have cost us one of the highest ranking Nazis in Bavaria, and nearly cost us another when the attackers shot Ritter von Epp, I'm starting to think you might be perfectly competent, and working with the brownshirts."
"I would never! Herr Strauss, my men fought and bled during the uprising! You can't seriously accuse us of working with the brown-shirted scum!"
"Really? You would sign an affidavit disavowing any ties you have to the NSDAP, right now?"
"Of course! I'm not a damned traitor like Rohm and his thugs!"
"Very well. Sign it, and then turn in your badges. If you're telling the truth, that will be the end of it. Otherwise…."
"I….of course. I understand."
"Dismissed."
Volksbanner split is prevented, troublemakers are largely removed from power within the organisation, but properly unifying them as one cohesive organisation will require more work.
--
Roll = 60. You've laid down the law (such as it is)
"So, we're clear?" You you look up from your paper, pushing your spectacles back up your nose to bring the Chief Administrator of the LMU's hospital into proper relief. The man, much older and more decrepit than yourself, harrumphs at the indignity of paying court to someone he considers inferior.
"Of course. Though, I trust that we will be maintaining our level of--"
"Yes. As an Alum of the Ludwig Maximilian University, I am aware that you've been afforded considerable leeway regarding the RVO. As long as we receive no further complaints about refusal to see patients, that will continue." The old, balding man, rather pleased with himself, rises from his seat, grabs his cane, and gives you another nod, and begins hobbling towards the exit.
"One last thing, Herr Doktor. I would mind who you take donations from. I would hate to have to revise the LMU's special status due to your personal actions." The man's haughty natures falters for a moment and he pauses, but it returns swiftly.
"Yes. Of course, Herr Strauss." Is the clipped reply, before he steps through the heavy oak door and closes it behind him. You sigh, and return to your paper. So much going on you've barely time to keep up with the day's events. At least you've only a handful more of these personal meetings before you can declare that you've enforced the Law, and will never again have to take tea with haughty noblemen masquerading as surgeons.
The RVO is being actively enforced in Bavaria, despite the unhappy grumblings of private practices, and the LMU
[X] Position Volksbanner 'Auxiliary Police Officers' at clinics
Roll = 15. Jailbreaks, nailbombs, and arsonists, oh my!
It's a quiet day in Nuremberg. Almost too quiet for the liking of Karl Schmidt. He'd been hoping that he'd be demobilized and allowed to return to his work for the Nuremberg Police Department once they'd put paid to Hitler's insane uprising. That had not eventuated, as evidenced by his standing in the snow with a thick woolen trench coat, rubbing his gloved hands to try and keep warm.
"How long till the next shift arrives?" He asks of his portly associate, who Karl had come to understand was a banker of some kind, his massive belly stretching the greatcoat he wore to almost comical effect.
"Not soon enough. Now stop complaining and stand straight, in case anyone sees us." The old, fat man snapped, adjusting his feldcap and going red in the face. Karl shrugged and turned back to face the street, almost totally abandoned thanks to the heavy snow and early hour. If Karl ever found the man who gave him the early day shift he'd shoot them himself.
They stood in relative silence, only the snow and wind to distract them, along with the occasional car somewhere off in a busier, more interesting part of the city. He turned to the banker again, desperate for some conversation to chase the chill out of his body.
"Do you think that bratwurst stall is open yet? I could do with s--" The banker coughed violently to cut him off, narrow eyes glaring at him and killing the conversation, just in time for them to both process a slim man wearing a postal uniform approach. He'd come out of a nearby alleyway and was making straight for them through the snow.
The banker unslung his rifle, but Karl kept his behind his shoulder, not wanting to spook the young looking lad as he approached. The postal officer couldn't have been more than eighteen as he smiled at them. "I've got a package for Herr von Salomon!"
"Is that right, boy? How do we know you aren't one of those brownshirted spies." The banker hissed, aiming his rifle at the boy, whose eyes widened in fear as he threw up his arms, as if to ward off any incoming bullets. The package, forgotten, dropped to the ground with a harsh thud.
Karl turned to the banker to tell him to calm down, but before he could the package hit the ground, and the yelling and gun waving was interrupted by a violent explosion, the nailbomb detonating and tearing through all three men.
--
The explosion threw the half-dozen guards relaxing in the relative warmth of the hospital into immediate action, each man grabbing a rifle, or stick, or whatever weapon he had to hand, and rushing to set up a defensive perimeter at the room of their charge.
But as they waited, every man gripping his weapon with a white-knuckled intensity, the follow up never came. Tapping the two MP-18 armed men, their leader gestured for them to head for the main door, to see just what had happened. The hospital was eerily quiet as they descended the steps, only the terrified whimpers of orderlies and the occasionally panicked groan of a patient. The tension was thick enough it could be sliced with a knife.
As they got to the ground floor though, they saw three shadowy men advancing and opened fire, bullets bouncing off the stone walls around the men as nurses and doctors on duty screamed and ran for cover.
The men were yelling back, and the lack of return fire led to the VB-men stopping, peering cautiously around the corner to see just who they'd almost shot dead. Three frightened looking policemen looked back. With visible relief both VB-men emerged from cover.
--
"So, who do you think set up the bomb?" One of the men asked the police officers, as they led them back up the stairs to help secure their charge. The lead officer shrugged.
"Probably the Roterkampfbund. Bet they're kicking themselves they missed a chance to repeat 1919." That got a laugh from the two nervous VB-men, as they approached the room where they'd been keeping von Salomon under lock and key.
"Is this everyone?" One of the officers asked, and as they reached the room door, the second VB-man felt a chill run up his spine.
"Yes, why?"
The officers didn't respond, grabbing their handguns and before any of the assembled men could react, gunning them down. The SS-men in disguise acting with clinical precision. By the time one of them entered the room of the terrified traitor von Salomon, he was trying to rise up out of his bed, but he never made it further than halfway upright before he was cut down.
Two SS-men were already splashing gasoline around the room, another was fishing matches from his stolen coat the rest securing the perimeter and ensuring the handful of terrified night-staff stayed well away.
Soon, the room was ablaze and the six men were hurriedly leaving the hospital, narrowly avoiding two police cars and firetruck racing towards the hospital. Stripping down in an Alleyway, none of the men would be seen in the city again.
Franz von Salomon assassinated. Franz Ritter von Epp wounded in a failed break out. Karl Wahl escapes detainment. Hitler loudly condemns communists exploiting anarchy in Bavaria. Splits within VB worsen over allegations of 'SA infiltrators' (Stahlhelm) and 'Communist fifth-columnists' (Reichsbanner)
[X] Securing financial donors.
Roll = 59. Thyssen and Schacht suggest a sit down.
You don't bother to hide your incredulity as Hjalmar Schacht enters your office. The tall half-dane cuts a surprisingly strong figure as he makes his way over to you, unfazed by the half-dozen armed guards along the edge of the room.
"So, I've read your letter, and I'm curious. You never responded to my entreaties after the Harzburg catastrophe1, why come to me now?"
"Well, it wasn't apparent at the time, but I think in light of recent events that we may have overestimated the level of control Hitler has over his little minions."
You snort derisively at the notion Schacht and his friends ever exerted any control over the Madman they'd been lobbying to take up the Chancellery. "Finally coming to your senses then."
The Dane pushes his glasses up and looks down his nose at you, but after a few moments, he nods. "I suppose that you could put it like that." He doesn't continue, so you take over for him.
"And now, you want to come to the National Patriotic movement? Not that I am in a position to reject your support, but I'm curious as to who this 'interested party' you claim to represent is."
"Fritz Thyssen. And maybe others. There is some complaint even amongst Hitler's ardent supporters that he has allowed the SA to get away with its criminal acts."
You rock back in your chair, steepling your fingers as you consider this development. You remember Thyssen as one of the men who bankrolled the slander against the KVP in 1930. You're skeptical but you are smart enough to realise that you have few enough options that the Dane before you, and the industrialist who slandered you, offer a lifeline that the DnPB desperately need. "And this surprises you? All he did after the Stennes mess was to puppet the Berlin SA with his own fresh brand of cultists." He mumbles something, but you pay it no heed. "He's a would-be autocrat who has deluded himself into believing his bastardisation of darwinism will somehow create a more functional state, instead of an incoherent, dysfunctional mess." Schacht briefly opens his mouth to interrupt you, but you can rock forward in your chair, staring him down as you feel your anger from the past weeks rising to the surface.
"Just look at the state of Munich. Hell, look at the mess in Nuremberg! We've got Hitler's thugs throwing bombs into god-damned cafes!" You rise from your chair as your voice elevates to a shout. "He and his jackbooted criminals have stomped all over the good name of Germany, and even now he's likely planning on how to better overthrow the Bavarian government. And it won't just be us on the chopping block if he becomes chancellor. It'll be you, Thyssen, anyone who dares question his morally-deficient madness! And then he'll march us back to war and damn another generation of Germans to lose their fathers, their brothers, and their sons! And it--" You finally catch yourself and take a deep breath, sitting back down and taking another breath to calm yourself before you accuse the man trying to imply he'd support the DnPB if you asked him.
"He must be stopped." Schacht, who had recoiled slightly at your heated outburst leans back in, his earlier attitude gone from the fire and conviction in your words.
"But we cannot allow Germany's weakness to linger. If you can promise me that, once Hitler and his advocates are dispatched, you will fight to restore Germany, then we may have the beginnings of a deal."
"Of course. Crushing the evils of Nazism are just the first steps on restoring Germany to greatness." For reasons that elude you, Schacht laughs as he rises from his chair, offering a hand that you rise to take.
"I will be in contact soon, Herr Strauss. I feel that Thyssen will like you." And thus, the dane leaves you and you sink back into your chair. Your stomach churns at having to deal with Thyssen, but at the same time, bringing him on board would possibly bring the entire VSt2 on board. It'd be a coup for your finances, and cause no small amount of pain for the NSDAP. Still, much will depend on how things go with Thyssen.
Contact made with Hjalmar Schacht, ex-president of the Reichsbank, and an offer of contact has been made by the famous industrialist Fritz Thyssen.
[X] Sponsor a show.
Roll = 43. A modest success, from a modest (and inexpensive) program.
"Before we start the latest episode of 'Bomb on the Danube' we would like to thank the German National Patriots Association for sponsoring this broadcast. We here at…"
You tune out the noise coming from the Radio and instead focus on your paper. The Madness going on in Nuremberg is seriously worrying and has taken up a considerable amount of your focus for the week.
As you turn another page of the paper, you shake your head in frustration at the news. It's absolute chaos out there. Nazi speeches, A beer hall catching fire, and the von Papen government calling for calm as Nuremberg burns.
But even as you read the news, having your wife up against your side as the fire crackles and warms the room, the radio playing in the background, calms you greatly. Even if the show is not to your tastes, Katherine clearly enjoys it and soon your mind is totally off the grim nature of the attacks in Nuremberg.
They will have to be addressed, but for now, you just relax and enjoy the first quiet moment you've had in a full fortnight.
The 'Bomb on the Danube' radio show is a modest hit, especially amongst more low-class Germans who are drawn to the drama and action of it. The plot follows former Doctor and Weltkrieg hero Ludwig von Stieger and his attempts to foil an Austro-Fascist plot to assassinate Crown Prince Otto von Habsburg.
[X] Rupprecht über alles, Teil 2.
Roll = 77. Disloyal Stahlhelm and Reichsbanner captains sacked, the VB is more united than ever.
You have to hide your smirk as you listen to Franz upbraid one of the Reichsbanner captains outside your office. As much as the insult of 'having brown underpants' irritates you, it was satisfying to see the man be dragged out by his collar.
Still, after Franz forcefully expelled the young thug out of the City hall, the Stahlhelm Captain who'd come with him is eyeing you warily. Having seen how quickly you'll dispatch leftist agitators, he's clearly waiting to see just how you handle the rightist counterpunch.
"Now that we've dispatched with Herr Geffen, I believe we need to deal with you." The yelling outside fades and you push your glasses up the bridge of your nose to adjust them slightly, and bring the older, uniformed thug into sharper relief.
"Your men were assigned to guard Karl Wahl, Correct?" Despite his height and thuggish appearance, the man seems slightly cowed as he nods.
"That is correct, Herr Strauss." You shuffle the paper in front of you, still focused on him with only a brief moment to casually check them before continuing your rather relaxed questioning.
"And they were rostered on at 11pm, on Tuesday night?"
"That is correct, Mein Herr."
"So, when the barracks were attacked by unknown assailants at 11pm, where were they?"
"We were conducting security inspections nearby."
You nod amiably as he explains, as you ready to drop the net on him. "Inspections at the beer hall?"
"That….is not how I would characterise that."
"How would you characterise two dozen men being in the beer hall, while a handful of off-duty Reichsbanner men were murdered by assailants?"
"We were following up rumours of SA men hiding in the basement of the hall, of course."
"Really? That is interesting, because I have a statement signed by the owner of the establishment, and countersigned by four serving girls, as well as two bartenders working that day that you and your men were drinking heavily when you were supposed to be working."
"I…"
"Now. Not only has your negligence let a wanted criminal escape Bavaria for god knows where but in your own report, you claimed that it was the RB men who worked with the communist assailants to help break Wahl out." You lean in, lowering your voice as you roll right over whatever excuse he plans to use.
"Now, if this were some low level thug being broken out, I might be inclined to believe that you had gone drinking assuming nothing would happen. Given you have cost us one of the highest ranking Nazis in Bavaria, and nearly cost us another when the attackers shot Ritter von Epp, I'm starting to think you might be perfectly competent, and working with the brownshirts."
"I would never! Herr Strauss, my men fought and bled during the uprising! You can't seriously accuse us of working with the brown-shirted scum!"
"Really? You would sign an affidavit disavowing any ties you have to the NSDAP, right now?"
"Of course! I'm not a damned traitor like Rohm and his thugs!"
"Very well. Sign it, and then turn in your badges. If you're telling the truth, that will be the end of it. Otherwise…."
"I….of course. I understand."
"Dismissed."
Volksbanner split is prevented, troublemakers are largely removed from power within the organisation, but properly unifying them as one cohesive organisation will require more work.
--
- The Harzburg Front was an attempt to forge a united 'revolutionary right' front between the DNVP, NSDAP, and others. It ultimately ended with the DNVP losing almost half its vote to the NSDAP and crippled the party in the long term.
- The VSt, also known as the Vestag or Vereinigte Stahlwerke (United Steel Works) was a very important backer of the NSDAP, having given them half a million Reichsmarks in 1932 to support Hitler's electoral campaign. It united Thyssen AG, Phoenix AG für Bergbau und Hüttenbetrieb, Rheinische Stahlwerke, Rhein-Elbe-Union GmbH, Deutsch-Luxemburgische Bergwerks- und Hütten-AG, Bochumer Verein, and Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-AG. Notably it did not include Hoesch AG, Krupp AG, Klöckner-Werke, Gutehoffnungshütte, and Mannesmann, but regardless still exerted huge influence in German steel manufacturing.
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KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
This took a lot longer than I'd like! There's been some personal drama but I'm mostly back on track. I hope you all enjoy the more fleshesd out results post!
Artemis
What's a pirate's least favourite letter?
- Location
- The Seven Seas
The assassination is a bloody nightmare, but we definitely got saved by some of the other rolls keeping the Volksbanner together. Let's hope it'll stay that way.
Dirtnap
Kanmusu Affecionado
Yes this is good. IF we can get the VSt on our side that is a lot of industrial backing that hitler won't have. It's not necessarily the biggest bloc of industrial names in Germany but it's up there.
Subtle propaganda in their factories would be amiss either, if we get them on side.
Subtle propaganda in their factories would be amiss either, if we get them on side.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
As always, I encourage and can even reward discussion about stuff in future turns! Plus it gives me ideas about where to take the story which brings updates faster ^^;
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
I mean, the attempt to co-opt the revolutionary right didn't exactly work out fantastic either.
- Location
- France
What I am afraid of is our group being seen as a coalition of party to save the failing weimar republic, because Frankly that is what it look like from the outside, and at this point people absolutely loath Weimar.
If we end up in a political deadlock after we win it will make everything so much worse.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
I mean, sort of?
Keep in mind the list of parties you can reasonably work with are the Weimar parties, plus the absolutely shattered remains of the DNVP in Bavaria. And the DVP, I suppose, if you decide to exclude them from the 'Weimar Coalition'
- Location
- U S of A
I think it may be possible to unify around the a variation of German nationalism - if we frame the NSDAP and the KPD as being hostile to the German identity (as represented by the legacy of the Kaiser and the German Empire, as opposed to the much less popular Weimar Republic), it provides a potential rallying point. The SPD won't be thrilled but it's a start at least. Given that the KPD and the NSDAP are both steeped in the idea of revolution and societal transformation (although in different directions) I think it could be somewhat effective. Not a perfect plan but just throwing it out there.
Edit: We could even use the Weimar Republic to help frame the argument in the sense of 'see how well the last revolution went?'
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Artemis
What's a pirate's least favourite letter?
- Location
- The Seven Seas
The solution isn't abandoning ship. All that will do will continue to aggravate the situation of so many separate parties fighting against each other for disagreements while the NSDAP continue to amass power. A coalition is the only reasonable solution to uniting Germany against the threat of fascism. We're already making progress with bringing together the conservative/monarchist and left of Bavaria through organizations like the VB. Giving up that progress and trying to strike out on our own is terminal stupidity. You may have your doubts in the Republic's strength but that doesn't mean we have to give up. We simply need a different approach, which is what we're doing now: creating a united front against fascism that is effectual at pushing back Nazi influence.
Now, no doubt we're not quite as stable as we should be, but right now we have a potential offer that will expand our coffers multiple folds, simultaneously putting a dent in the NSDAP's own funds, and a VB that is still standing strong despite all attempts. At this point Bavaria is ours, and we couldn't have done it without working with all the elements available to us. Let's continue using that to our advantage.
Exactly. While we won't be able to bring over either the hard-left (communists) or the hard-right (the Nazis themselves), there's no bigger political tent on Earth apart from hating Nazis. It's time to get our dirtbag centrist on and do what we can to unite Germany against the threat to German identity, whatever you happen to think that is.
- Location
- France
My doubt doesn't come from our ability to beat the Nazis with such a coalition, but from our ability to govern/reform the nation with it, because if we can't, I can tell you that not only will we have to dissolve the Government, but Hitler will win the subsequent Election with a supermajority.
Just because we win this election doesn't mean we beat the Nazis.
Also, I don't doubt the Weimar republic, I am absolutely convinced that it is an absolute Failure and has to go, most people at the time know this too.
I like it, hopefully we can bring back the Kaiserreich. My fear, as I said, is that our coalition will fly apart because of this, since it has republican and people from the left.
- Location
- U S of A
As I said, the SPD won't be thrilled, but the SPD actually did pretty well for themselves back in the Kaiserreich, and isn't anything better than this madness? (or so the pitch to them will go anyway) Not to mention, they have an influential noble backer in the form of Prince Rupprecht, so they have reason to believe that a constitutional monarchy might have benefits for them, at least as far as Bavaria goes.
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KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
Hitler never even won a regular majority, a supermajority, in a system as proportional as the Weimar would be a near impossibility even if Hitler hadn't frittered away the support of the VSt.
- Location
- France
Yes, but if we became another failed Coalition I wouldn't say it is an Impossibility. People were just that sick of it by then.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
No, I'm dead serious. The system is designed that, if you win a majority, you've more or less straight broken it. Hitler would need to win over 50% of the vote in the Reichstag election, something that, even at the height of his popularity in late 1932 was never in the cards. Even if the DNVP totally folded into his party, that was never going to happen.
KarvokaQueen
Queen of the Coffee Cups
- Location
- City of Coffee, Upside-down land
The Bavarian SPD are....weird.
Like, really weird. More monarchist than the BVP, despite being fairly left-wing and trade unionist in bent. Weimar politics could be really fucking odd.
- Location
- Europe
I'm not opposed to continue building up the DnPB but a paramilitary organisation can only take you so far in politics, especially one as broad and "anti-something" as the DnPB is. Sooner or later, we need to either take control of the DNVP, join a different party or create our own party if we want to do more than just playing whack-a-nazi.