Hey, everyone, I'm Tanner151, author/creator of the Fulgrimian Heresy, From the Ashes Reborn - a Dornian Heresy Continuation Story, A Storm of Steel and Fire (my first story, it's rough) and of Der Kampf: the Rise and Fall of the Austrian Führer. I'm mainly on AlternateHistory.com and FanFiction.net but I'm trying to spread my readership base.
I'm posting to gauge interest over my Der Kampf story snd whether to post its 23+ chapter story over here. The basic premise is that Hitler is refused entry into the German Army in 1914 and over a long course of events he rises from a spiteful near-homeless wretch in Vienna to Führer of the Austrian State. Obviously this is different to OTL. Hitler will never come to power in Germany, The Nazismhere is more akin to Austrofascism. There is much and more that is different with more changing and developing as the story progresses. Currently in 1919 during the Austro-Slovene conflict.
The symbol of Hitler's party will be a red-trimmed white KruckenkreuzThe party is the Austrian Social Nationalist People's Party (ÖSNVP).
Below is the Prelude and the Prologue. Let me know if you like it. Thoughts, constructive criticism, etc are welcome.
Prelude
"A plague has been loosed upon the continent and it comes in the form of a failed Austrian artist."
-George Lloyd, Head of the House of Lords, 1939
"With the outbreak of war between the United Kingdom and the Japanese Empire, I advise we remain steadfast and monitor the situation. Our friends in the Kuomintang are eager for more advisors, machine tools and heavy equipment in the joint efforts to modernize their country and military. It is my belief, Herr Generalfeldmarschall, that we should provide these to ensure they do not fall victim to Japanese aggression, or worse, the Communists. Please relay my suggestions to the Chancellor at your earliest convenience."
-Lieutenant General Alexander von Falkenhausen, advisor to Chiang Kai-shek, 1940
"The Germans were an ever-present threat, especially after the restoration, but little did I know that the true threat to Europe would come not from the Berlin but rather Vienna."
-Brigadier General Charles de Gaulle, Commander-in-Chief Armée d'Afrique, 1941
"They think they have broken us but this is a lie spread by their silver tongued propagandists. Breslauer and Pavolini tell their people that we are defeated, that we have been "relocated." Lies upon lies. Hear me, my comrades! Today I promise you that our people and our faith will survive this war! I promise to you, my brothers and sisters, that we shall march into Belgrade and cast down the Kruckenkreuz and reclaim our homeland!"
-Marshal Josip Tito, Leader of the Yugoslav Partisans, 1944
+ + +
"In history there are the defeated and the victor, the conquered and the conqueror, the vanquished and the triumphant. In the Great War our beloved country was defeated by the poor leadership of the Hapsburgs, the ethnic conflict that divided us so terribly into petty squabbles, and the Judeo-Bolshevik forces that sabotaged our nation from within while besetting upon us from without like locusts.
For Austria to not only return to but supersede its former position of power in Europe it must unite the lands of the former empire under the rule of Vienna. Not as an empire ruled by bluebloods and so-called 'products of high breeding', as one's birth into the aristocratic ranks does not gift one strength or credential as so many have erroneously believed throughout history, but rather one's blood of superior racial stock tempered by war and the struggle against the forces that seek to undermine our nation and its people. Territory once lost must be returned, whether by force of arms or strokes of a pen.
United under the principles and goals of the Party, this Movement shall seize the reins of power and right the wrongs of the past whilst ensuring our dominance in a Europe currently laden with undesirables and damnable ideologies. Only through the cleansing fire of Social Nationalism can we rise like a phoenix from the ashes and reclaim our position as a great power in the world."
-Preamble to The Struggle, Adolf Hitler
Prologue
Request Denied
August 1914
Munich, Bavaria
German Empire
"Your request is denied."
He stood there, dumbstruck, as the seated lieutenant looked up from his official papers and shrugged.
"Denied?" he muttered angrily, tiredly. "How, why?"
The Bavarian Army leutnant leaned forward, fingers crossed with a disappointed look on his face.
"Mein herr, you were denied enlistment into the Bavarian Army for two reasons. One is your health. You are as thin and pale as a ghost, good sir, and I doubt you could carry an infantryman's kit into the field without collapsing either from the weight or heart attack. On health grounds alone you would be disqualified from service."
The Bavarian enlistment officer snorted, either clearing his nose or in contempt.
"The second reason is that you are Austrian, sir. The Austro-Hungarian Empire is an ally of Germany and therefore you, a citizen of said nation, cannot join the armed forces of the German Empire."
"I will not join an army of mongrel races. I want to join the brave men of Germany!" An idea struck him, "I will write a petition! I will… I will go to another recruitment center in Germany. Bavaria may have denied me, but the Fatherland is hungry for soldiers! Surely one will allow me to enlist. Surely one will take me in." Desperation seized him as he stood before the seated officer. A manic look befell the sickly man from Austria, causing his dark blue eyes to dart about the room, as if searching for an answer that refused to reveal itself.
The Bavarian officer leaned back into his chair, a scowl upon his face. Behind the sickly disheveled man stood dozens of other men, far more healthy in appearance and more controlled in manner, awaiting to enlist and fight for King and Kaiser. They shuffled impatiently and many stared daggers at the dark haired Austrian who was delaying their patriotic duty.
"Sir, you attempted to enlist in the Bavarian Army six months ago. You were denied then, just as you are denied now. Nothing has changed."
The dejected man slammed his hands down on the wooden table separating the two men. "Everything has changed! The world is at war! Soon enough the armies of empires will march across Europe, Africa and Asia. Nations will fall whilst others rise, and glory and honor will be for those who dared to fight in this war, it being the greatest endeavor Mankind has ever faced. We are brothers, you and I. German, Austrian, two sides of the same coin. Our language is the same, our love for Germany is the same. Don't let pedantics of birth and nationality dilute the German blood that flows through my veins. I may be an Austrian by birth but I am a German by blood. I deserve a chance to fight for the Vaterland and for its people. It is my right. "
The officer raised an eyebrow, minutely impressed with the passionate fervor of the man before him… but orders were orders, the rules and regulations in place must be followed. Not even an impassioned Austrian could bend the rules.
"I'm sorry, but the answer is the same. You are denied entry into the Bavarian Army and will continue to be denied based on your poor health and foreign citizenship. Neither the Bavarian Army nor the German Army will accept you into its ranks. I, as military representative of His Majesty Ludwig III of the Kingdom of Bavaria and Kaiser Wilhelm II of the German Empire, bid you farewell."
The Austrian slumped, his soul sapped of its energetic will. He turned and walked out of the recruitment office, eyes downcast at the concrete floor, unable to even look at those men who would go on to fight for Germany.
Germany, the Fatherland he never had. A nation of Germans for Germans, a place he could call home and a country he had come to love in his months of living in Munich. He had hoped that with the outbreak of war the requirements for enlistment would have lowered. But he was wrong, and now he was defeated. What was he to do? He had only a couple of Goldmarks in his pocket, the remnants of his family inheritance, his clothes were worn thin, rough, and patchwork. He had not showered in days and his stomach rumbled from hunger, a minor pain wracking his abdomen.
Grimacing, he turned to walk… somewhere. He didn't know where to go anymore.
"Hey, you!" called a voice from behind, coming from the recruitment center. The Austrian turned, excited, thinking that at last the officer had come to his senses. But instead of the portly mustachioed officer, a man about his age with dark hair and eyes approached him, a friendly smile on his face.
He noticed the gentleman's expensive clothes and top hat, and the way he walked, assured as if nothing would ever deny him or be out of reach. The Austrian could almost smell the wealth coming off of the man. While he detested the wealthy elite, many of whom were Jews, he nonetheless smiled and tried to present a friendly face. It was after all what he did to help sell his art down in the Kunstareal.
"Hello," said the rich man as he neared, holding out his hand. "I must say I loved your speech back there. Really fired up the flames of patriotism in myself! Well done, well done indeed!"
"Oh, umm, thank you. Much obliged, herr-"
"Walter Schulz at your service!" The man took off his hat and gave a small bow while smiling.
Good God, he is like the theatre in the flesh, he thought sardonically.
"Herr Schulz. Thank you for your kind words. They have lifted my spirits somewhat."
"It's a damn shame you weren't admitted. We could use you in the Army. Like you said, you might be an Austrian by birth but you're a German by blood. And it'll be that same noble blood that sees our two countries emerge victorious in the months ahead."
"Thank you, that means a great deal to me," he said, truly touched by the man's comments. A brief silence existed between them, the nearly-penniless Austrian not knowing what to say and the rich German having spoken his piece.
"Well I'm sure you're busy, Herr Schulz, and I must be off as well. I have… other matters to attend to."
Schulz's eyes flicked over his appearance and a look of pity flashed over the well-to-do German's face.
"I see, yes, of course, I'm sure you are quite busy." Schulz went for another handshake but with the opposite hand, it having emerged from his pocket. The Austrian shook it awkwardly, eager to end this odd meeting, and felt something in the man's palm slip into his. He looked at it and saw a fifty Goldmark banknote. His eyes widened and he stared up at the taller man.
"I-" his tongue felt stiff and dry so he swallowed. "I don't know what to say other than thank you." The relief and honesty in those words poured forth with conviction.
"That's more than enough for me. While you may not be able to fight for Germany directly, perhaps you could do so in another way by joining your nation's army. Our countries share the same enemies after all. You would still be fighting for Germany, if indirectly. I overheard your comment about fighting beside mongrels races, but better to fight beside the Slav and Magyar then to not fight at all, eh?"
The Austrian nodded, realizing the truth of the words.
"Use that," Schulz gestured towards the banknote, "to eat a hot meal, stay in a comfortable hotel tonight, and take a first-class ticket to Vienna."
A tear formed in the Austrian's eye that he was quick to blink away. "Thank you so much, this… this has saved me."
Schulz nodded, understanding. As the German turned away, bidding farewell with a wave, he stopped mid-turn.
"I apologize, mein freund. I never asked your name."
"Ah, the fault is mine, I forgot to give it. My mind is a whirlwind of emotion."
Schulz laughed. "I'm sure it is. So what is your name?"
The destitute, dejected, recently elevated from impoverished by the fifty mark banknote painter from Austria scratched his cheek and locked his blue eyes with Schulz's hazel.
"My name is Adolf Hitler, pleased to make your acquaintance."
