But I Don't Speak German (an ISOT)
- Thread starter Rinasoir
- Start date
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- Tags
- isot (isekai)
- Location
- Dublin Ireland
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Well that's awkward.
Shaithan
Re-class is happiest class
- Location
- The worst part of Germany
Short answer. No.
Switzerland hasn't been German in a long time and has no desire to be, whereas Austria post-losing a shitton of territory was basically like "If we don't join Germany, we're going to end up Italy's bitch and what remains as Austria is mostly rural backwater with a massively oversized imperial capital." and Austria was specifically forbidden from joining Germany to ensure that Germany didn't have easy access to the Balkan. Otherwise Austria would have joined Germany in 1919, after the dismembering of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
Switzerland would need to experience some catastrophic invasion or something that they would accept membership in a German state, as they are fiercely wedded to their social model and things like Berlin being able to overrule them would not sit well with them.
And Germany would fuck itself by absorbing the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, given how hilariously reactionary Switzerland was (and is). It'd quickly turn into a haven for fascists and independence movements on the basis of "Switzerland has to pay for the poors in Germany. They spend Swiss money that could be spent on Swiss people instead."
Switzerland hasn't been German in a long time and has no desire to be, whereas Austria post-losing a shitton of territory was basically like "If we don't join Germany, we're going to end up Italy's bitch and what remains as Austria is mostly rural backwater with a massively oversized imperial capital." and Austria was specifically forbidden from joining Germany to ensure that Germany didn't have easy access to the Balkan. Otherwise Austria would have joined Germany in 1919, after the dismembering of the Austro-Hungarian empire.
Switzerland would need to experience some catastrophic invasion or something that they would accept membership in a German state, as they are fiercely wedded to their social model and things like Berlin being able to overrule them would not sit well with them.
And Germany would fuck itself by absorbing the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, given how hilariously reactionary Switzerland was (and is). It'd quickly turn into a haven for fascists and independence movements on the basis of "Switzerland has to pay for the poors in Germany. They spend Swiss money that could be spent on Swiss people instead."
Well if the french speaking Population beceomes increasingly anti German maybe
Chapter 95 - And so, we begin
- Location
- Somewhere
Chapter 95
The Reichstag,
Berlin,
April 3rd 1939
There were times when you needed to own up to your lies. Moments when you needed to know that by trying to keep up a falsehood, all you were doing was digging yourself into deeper and deeper trouble by not telling the truth. As he looked around at the other assembled worthies for the ceremony, Alex decided that he must be only a few metres short of bursting forth in the Chinese countryside, so deep was he going. He was scheduled to be on a flight later today back to London to ostensibly oversee the final packing and shipping of his families various baggage, but in reality to say goodbye to Bertie tomorrow and deliver the formal invitation to the British monarch for attendance to the coronation of the next Kaiser of the German Empire on 18th of May, his final duty as ambassador and he was determined that the soon to be Kaiser would wind up paying for having that task dropped on his lap. The date had been chosen because it was the 18th, which reflected the 18th of January when Germany was unified, and May because that would be nearly two months out and allow time for the recently approved new constitution to work out some of the kinks as well as some hopefully nice weather, no one wanted a ceremony in the rain after all.
Thinking of the kinks of the new constitution brought Alex's thoughts back to the ceremony he was currently attending, and it was definitely that and not Victoria's polite but firm elbow to his rib to draw his attention back. The new constitution referendum had happened in record time, most of the infrastructure including ballot papers and boxes being on standby helped, and was returned at an approval rate of over seventy per cent, all within the last week, and as part of the planned near month and a half of laying groundwork, the provisional government had decided that a ceremony to celebrate the new national anthem of Germany, and serve as a memorial service of the memory of the man who had written it, would be a nice non-partisan event it could organize to let off steam. Alex was already uncomfortable at the fact that a song he'd stolen wholesale and changed around a bit had been chosen, but after a brief conversation with Herbert, he realised that the very themes that decided why he picked the song for the Berlin Olympics had apparently touched on a much stronger cultural vein than he had planned. Hopefully there would never be a German Democratic Republic now, barring things going south fast anyway, but there were times were he was slightly uncomfortable with an anthem for a nation that was only marginally less evil than its predecessor, being as widespread as it was now. But he was the only one in the world who knew where the song originally came from, so he smiled and stood and did his best to look happy as anyone else when it was played.
The thing that was making him truly uncomfortable in all this though, was the fact that to avoid the spotlight for this, he'd needed to throw another man under the bus, or more specifically throw his widow under the bus. Alex had long had an informal agreement about what to do if it became necessary for "Eugene Reiter" to be revealed, anything else would have been a shocking lack of foresight on his part, and the plan was that in the event it had to come to pass, the revelation would be that "Eugene Reiter" was a pen name. Plans and schemes to totally fake a person, or fake his death, or anything else had floated in his mind, but the moment he had picked up a musical collaborator, the deal had been signed. Rudolf Heydrich had not been overtly happy with the more pop song stuff Alex had put out over the years, but he'd been happy enough to take Alex's money and keep his mouth shut, and even more happy to claim credit on the more "respectable" songs that Alex had introduced, Ecstasy of Gold especially. Granted, some others knew the truth of the matter, but most of them were unlikely to say anything, and the couple who couldn't be counted on totally to keep the information to themselves knew full well what Alex would do if they let it slip. Rudolf had died the year before, but that didn't mean Alex wasn't going to still use him, and Elisabeth Heydrich was on board with that. The problem was that while Mrs Heydrich had lost her husband the year before and had long before even then been on board with the plan, she had also very recently lost her eldest son, and that was what was making Alex feel bad.
He had been filled in by his contacts in the Wehrmacht, Reinhard Heydrich had died when a training exercise with one of the new model grenades had gone extremely wrong. The exact details were still unknown to him, but a grenade had failed to go down the practice range properly and instead wound up back among the marines that had been practicing with them. Reinhard Heydrich had, according to all reports, selflessly thrown himself over the grenade and while some others were still injured, at the cost of his own life, many more were saved. He had been posthumously promoted to the rank of Korvettenkapitän and only a month ago had been buried at Kiel with full military honours. Whether that was the full reality, he didn't know, after all it did make almost too good a story, but so far he hadn't found anything to dispute it. All this information was in the back of his mind as he had asked this grieving widow and mother to go out and lie for him, to say that her husband had indeed been Eugene Reiter, that she was proud his music was now what would be representing Germany to the world, and that as per her husbands private wishes, other pieces of music he had not published, as well as controlling rights over them and everything else so far, were left to his good friend and patron Alexander Waltz. As an exception, the new national anthem was entered into the public domain so that all could share in her husband's legacy.
It was the sort of business action that made Alex almost feel nauseous, but it was the one he chose and stuck with. That or notoriety were the choice, and while he was coming to accept that notoriety was at this point in his life unavoidable, he'd be damned if he didn't get to choose how it was heaped on him as best as possible. Concerns about that notoriety made him draw his attention towards Heinz Heydrich, the younger brother of Reinhard, he was not in on the plan, and worse was that he was a journalist. Granted, he worked for somewhere within WMG, so if Alex absolutely had to, he could pull strings to get the man placed far, far away from any clues about the reality, but he wouldn't do that unless the young man started looking into the issue too deeply. Hopefully his patriotism and love of his father would blind him to the reality. If not, well, surely there was something to report on in Abyssinia?
Buckingham Palace,
London,
Britain,
April 4th 1939
The formal affair had been over for a while. As the German ambassador was leaving, and it wasn't due to an outbreak of hostilities or being recalled in disgrace, a polite event had been organized, attended by various well wishers up to and including the Foreign Secretary, and the credentials officially revoked and the invitation to the coronation handed off. That done the now former German ambassador had departed Buckingham Palace in the backseat of a car off to whatever future held him. If a historian was to consult the log book of the Palace, they would find that some hours later, Mr Smith, a noted confidant and acquaintance of His Majesty, arrived quietly through one of the side doors without much ceremony. The guardians of protocol and tradition in the Palace were not fond of Mr Smith, or his wife and children, but those same guardians had seen the few of their number who dared to voice such displeasure find themselves congratulated for years of service and wished well in their future endeavors, while also being politely reminded to keep their mouths quiet about anything and everything that goes on in the Palace.
Of course, to Alex, the idea that said staff members would keep their mouths shut was one of those few moments were he felt that the world he had come from could have learned a thing or two. A world without "tell all" books and tabloid magazines willing to create a scandal out of something as mundane as the King having a friend was marginally more relaxing. It meant he could sit in this study with his friend, an extremely fine whiskey, and a dog by his feet. Alvin would likely have dismissed the idea of the diminutive Corgi being classed as a "proper" dog, but the much loved German Shepherd was in advancing years with more grey around his muzzle these days. That was going to be a hard day soon, but at least there was not now a second Ambassador's dog buried at Carlton House Terrace.
"Dark thoughts Alex?"
He looked up from the Corgi and realised something of his thoughts must have crossed his face, so he sighed a bit and looked at Bertie.
"Yes, just thinking that Alvin is approaching the end of his life and the children will take it hard. As will I, however worrying for my children is easier than myself."
"Yes, I was once told by a kennel master that it's the great trade off for the joy dogs bring to ones life, it is that inevitably must be buried by you, and all the joy makes that h-harder."
Bertie's tone was sincere, and Alex noted that his friend had a distant look on his face then.
"If it is like any other grief Bertie, I hope that my children learn it is ok to be sad, and that it doesn't end on one day, but it gets easier at least in time."
The dog in the room at that moment decided, based on whatever mood controlled it, to at that moment stretch, stand up and leave the room, doubtless in search of Prince George and his inevitable ability to sneak some form of treat to them.
"On a similarly dreary note, Alex, what exactly are you planning when you get back to Germany?"
"Me? Plan? Bertie I never plan anything."
"A fair point. What exactly are you scheming and plotting to do when you get back to Germany?"
It was said with a smile and Alex let out a bark of laughter.
"Now that's more like it. In truth though, nothing too over the top. Otto wants me for some cabinet position, it's why I wound up here in the first place to buff out my portfolio a bit before trying to do so. Probably I'll be back in Economic Development, and happy to do it for however long that government lasts. A few years to make sure things are ticking along smoothly, and then back to civilian life. Of course, until then I'll be splitting my time between the Company and my past and future constituents' concerns."
"You are certain that your crowd of godless communards and anarchists will be in a position to still sit you somewhere at a cabinet?"
"Oh the moment the first people's organized democratic council of resistance against the tyranny of monarchy is in, even with the inevitable kicking from the Prussian debacle we will get the SPD will have the largest share of the grand coalition, I'm sure once the trading is done, I'll either have my quiet posting or be just another member of the Reichstag. But on the plus side, you'll be able to offer your German opposite some advice on dealing with a godless socialist government."
Bertie snorted into his own drink at that and took a moment to speak.
"Yes, well, I'll say this much for Mr Atlee, he at least doesn't bloviate like some other politicians I know. S-straight to the point and remarkably efficient in his word usage."
Britain was also staring down the face of elections soon as Stanley Baldwin's government had cracked under the various domestic pressures. Mainly the economic recovery had been lacklustre, and Labour was using the dual examples of both the United States and Germany as to how it should be done and getting a lot of backing for it. It wasn't a question as to who the next PM would be, just one of how big Clement Atlee's majority in Parliament would be. The lack of major foreign crises was helping Labour, as while the dual fascist regimes of Italy and France were there, the odds of straight war with them was not viewed as inevitable, though the Mediterranean stations of the Royal Navy had been getting more resources poured in for a few years now just in case. The Soviet Union, while a fundamental threat to the existence of any non-Stalin controlled regime in Europe, wasn't a naval power so Britain didn't care, and Moscow was being quiet enough since their snatch and grab in Mongolia during the Sino/Japanese scuffle. The US was busy rebuilding and being left well enough alone, and Japan was too bust reinforcing the line that their war had ended on to bother invading China, and China had too many issues to try pushing Japan back to their islands. All and all, the world was at peace, and Alex sincerely and honestly hoped it would stay that way.
"There is another matter Alex that I wish to discuss with you, though I must stress reluctance to do so."
Alex gave Bertie a slow but slightly worried smile.
"And that is?"
"Well, it's a sensitive topic for both of us, and I wish I didn't need to bring it up, but I have to ask for Lilibet's sake, will Eckhardt be continuing to write to her from Berlin?"
Alex closed his eyes and sighed, his body suddenly weighing slightly more. It seemed that familiarity had bred infatuation, at least on the part of his eldest son and Bertie's daughter. All things being equal, Alex would have just shrugged and suggested letting it play out, all things being real though, his eldest son was an adopted orphan and technically his wife's half-brother. He loved his son in totality and would back him to the ends of the Earth, but the reality was that Eckhardt was almost the bottom rung of the social ladder, and Elizabeth rested somewhere near the top. In a book that wouldn't be an issue, but life wasn't a story.
"I can speak to him if you wish. I don't want to you understand, this is my son we are talking about and I love him as much as you do Elizabeth or George. But I can understand the reality as well."
"I appreciate that Alex, and I would ask you to do so. They don't have to stop being friends, but, well, anything more than that would not be appropriate at all."
"That will help cushion it I hope. He hasn't had many friends, and I'd hate for him to lose one that he has made."
"The loneliness of being a royal child is why I am willing to still let them correspond. It can be a right bastard, but the trappings of p-propriety mean it can not be anything more than that. Lilibeth is fond of him, and their shared interests are ones that neither I nor her tutors dislike."
Bertie chuckled then and Alex just stared at him.
"Sorry, just her correspondence with that Professor Tolkien is one of those areas where the Gatekeepers are not happy but both Lilibet's tutors and her mother are. The girl's practically taking a study course in ancient English mythology at this point."
"That might not be a bad idea you know" Alex said, and he spoke slowly and carefully "times are changing, and if Elizabeth has the interest, a university degree wouldn't be a bad thing."
He was watching Bertie carefully now, there were very few fault lines in their friendship, but trying to push Bertie in one direction, especially when it concerned his family, and it being one he didn't want to go in already was an easy was to upset him.
"You sound like Lionel with that idea. Luckily for the pair of you, Elizabeth tends to agree for both the children."
"There is a problem though Bertie."
"Hmm?"
"If Elizabeth goes to Oxford, you'll have to send George to Cambridge, or else there will be a civil war."
The Waltz Residence,
Berlin,
April 6th 1939
The beauty of having separate bedrooms again alone would have meant that Christopher was happy to be back in Berlin. Not that he had been unhappy in London, lonely perhaps as outside of the Merry House of Windsor for company he'd been quite isolated, but not having to share a room with his brother would always be met with a certain amount of relief and joy. That, however, did not mean he was now totally isolated from his siblings, and while Maria was busy reading and studying all things aeronautical ever since she had gotten her first flying lesson, Eggie was moping, and that would not do. His brother's door was locked, and finding himself lacking any sudden revelations on lock picking ability, Christopher started on his second round of getting the door open.
He was on his seventh repetition of knocking "shave and a haircut, two bits" on the door when it finally opened and a clearly pissed off and distraught Eggie was staring at him.
"Oh you are in there. Well then don't mind me." Christopher half moved, half shoved his way into the room and all Eggie managed was a half growled response as Christopher simply moved to a chair, dumped the pile of clothes off said chair onto the ground, and started to regard his brother.
"Chris, I don't want you in here. Get out."
Eggie was still standing by the door, his hands balled into fists, his face now a shade of red.
"Nope. I'm not leaving here till you tell me what Father said to do this" he gestured at his brother "to you."
"That's none of your business, get out."
"Bruncle, you can tell me, or you can make me, but that's it."
The door behind Eggie closed as he kicked it and started across the room at Christopher with a roar. Granted, calling Eggie Bruncle always had that effect, they'd both been sat down by their parents and had certain biological things explained to them years ago. It was some time after that when the issue of how Eggie had to be adopted came up, this meant that both Christopher and Eggie knew exactly where on the genetic family tree they were placed, and calling Eggie a portmanteau of "Brother" and "Uncle" tended to piss him off.
Christopher dived out of the chair as Eggie tried to grab at him and reached out for a pillow that was on the detritus covered floor. By that point Eggie had his hands on one of his angles and was hauling him backwards. Christopher threw the pillow with full force at his brother while half turning to use his other foot to try and pull himself loose. Instead he found Eggie grabbing that foot, and lacking anything else to do, he twisted himself around to deliver a blow to the side of Eggies knee, causing him to lose his balance and his grip. That done Christopher moved to tackle him until he had his arms wrapped around him and his brother on the ground.
"Come on Eggie, just tell me and we'll see what we can do."
The response he got was his brother throwing himself wildly against his grip and breaking it, rolling away and coming back to his feet, his eyes were full of anger and rage now, and Christopher realised he may have just slightly pushed too far. But that was ok, if Eggie was at a stage of being all rage, it also meant he was at his most emotional, ask him the right question, and his brother would break like a match.
"It has to do with Lilibet doesn't it?"
Christopher knew he was smarter than his brother. He had spent years helping to lift him up academically and socially while covering his own academic performances with ease. He could do mathematics that should have been difficult for anyone his age with a breeze, could recite chapter and verse from passages dusty and dry with only some minimal effort, nearly had his Father's skill with languages and otherwise was very, very clever. That did not mean he wasn't sometimes an idiot, and his misjudging the situation right now would be one of those occasions.
He wasn't quite sure what had happened, one moment he had been standing up facing his brother, the next he was on the floor, stars in his right eye and his left eye was just a combination of red, black and purple colours.
"Oh Chris, shit, oh, fuck, shit sorry sorry sorry sorry"
Eggie was beside him now, and Christopher reckoned he had just been punched. This was a problem as while he and Eggie could get on each others nerves, and their parents didn't mind them "rough-housing", actual hitting each other like that was a line they were told to not cross. The pain started almost at once, and he shot a hand out for what he prayed was a clean pair of socks and yelled into them to muffle the cry. They both stayed there like that for a while, Christopher sobbing and yelling into socks, Eggie repeating apologies, until eventually, the pain subsided and Christopher pushed himself into a sitting position.
"Eggie, it's ok, I'm sorry too. If you don't want to talk about whatever this is, then we don't need to, but you can't stay up here moping and not talk to me. One or the other."
The tension in his brother returned at once, and for a few brief moments Christopher was starting to worry that things were about to go badly again, but then, as if someone had let go a balloon, his brother just seemed to deflate.
"Father says I'm not to write to Lilibet again. Or at least if I do, it's to be more "casual", whatever that means."
"I see, and was there any reason for him to think your letters would not be casual?"
Eckhardt's face took on a pained expression and he looked at Christopher.
"You know why."
Yes, he did. His older brother had fallen for the British Princess, and hard, years ago. That he had taken up horseback riding as an excuse to impress her among other things was evidence of that, even if Eckhardt hadn't once confessed the situation to him. Christopher didn't quite understand why he had, Lilibet was a perfectly fine and charming person but that was about it, but his brother had honed in on something, and it didn't require an expert eye to see it wasn't exactly one sided.
"Ok then, we'll just have to do some subterfuge about it then, won't we?"
"What?"
"I mean, not exactly difficult. You two have your shared interests, and I doubt any gatekeepers of communication betwixt you will be large fans of Tolkein or any of the other pulp novel topics you two enjoy."
Christopher had read the Tolkien book that Eckhardt and Lilibet had come to both enjoy a lot, and wasn't very impressed by it, more enjoying some of the larger themes than the story itself. Ironically, he got a lot more out of his brother's letters to and from Tolkien on the topics of mythology and language. And Tolkien was the high end of his brother's book preferences, the less said about the science fiction stories, the better.
"But what if Father wants to read them? You know he'll see anything if I try to be subtle."
"Yes, your inability to get things past our Father is noted" that comment got him hit with a pillow, and after making sure to lay back with it under his head, he continued "but that might be one of our strengths in the issue. You don't need to lie, you are keeping the letters casual, if Lilibet happens to read something else in them, that's not your fault is it? And if she doesn't keep the letters casual, that's on her, not you."
"You keep saying us and we Chris."
Christopher smiled then.
"Eggie, I've been carrying your arse for years now, what's a few more between brothers? Besides, we can fit this in among the schoolwork easily enough, unless you've changed your mind on that front?"
"No. We'll still work on that. Father won't like it, but as Grandfather said, it is the family business."
"Yes, and that a chestful of medals would doubtless impress a certain British girl you are sweet on?"
There were more pillows thrown at him for that, but with a laugh, and that was all that mattered.
Excerpt from "Arise from Ruins, A History of Germany in the 20th Century" by Dr Philip Clarke, published by Cambridge University Press:
"The coronation of Kaiser Freidrich-Wilhelm V began early with officials making certain that parts of the city of Berlin were closed off and that barricades were arranged along Unter den Linden for the later parade from the Berlin Cathedral. The crowds that would gather would prove be one of the largest gatherings in the history of Berlin, and the decision by the Kaiser to make certain that not only was the coronation recorded by film cameras, but transmitted live across the burgeoning television network, would see sales and rentals of televisions jump up again in a style similar to the Berlin Olympics of 1936. As the royal barge made its way along the Spree, it was followed by both crowds of well wishers, as well as a record setting number of film cameras of all shapes, and as the Royal Couple disembarked at the Berlin Cathedral, the television cameras would begin their broadcast to Germany, and the wider world."
Berlin Cathedral,
Museum Island,
Berlin,
May 18th 1939
Wilhelm, no matter his regal name he would always think of himself as such, was sweltering in the impressive, flashy and above all else uncomfortably heavy and warm clothes he was wearing. The exact protocol for this coronation had been altered a lot from the one his Grandfather had gone through, but try as he might, the ermine cape had been kept as well as other aspects that attributed to his feeling like a ham in a cooking pot. Due to the protocols established, he couldn't even lean on his wife for some sarcastic or sardonic comments, instead he had to sit straight backed, being gawked at by the crowds in the cathedral, and look dignified as the religious blessings were offered.
It had been his brothers suggestion that there be present high ranking clerics of all the major German faiths to bless him on this day, though the actual crowning would be done by the representative of the Lutheran faith, and it was a suggestion that Wilhelm had found very agreeable, especially as Kira had also backed the idea as it meant an Orthodox bishop would be included. The only sticking point with the people organising the affair had been the inclusion of the representative of the Jewish faith, but Wilhelm had put his foot down, he was to be the Kaiser of all Germans, and he'd be damned if he'd exclude some due to their being Jewish. That those same people were the ones who had balked at the inclusion of invitations to the Abyssinian and Kuwaiti monarch to attend the coronation had helped to make sure those people would not be long for life in the employment of the house of Hohenzollern. This wasn't his grandfather's age, he needed to be a representative of Germany, and that meant being kind to Germany's allies, not like when Germany had simply been a representative of the monarch.
He let his facial expression stay serious and regal as he allowed his eyes to wander over the front rows of the crowds to yet again go over who was present and with whom. His family's presence was reassuring, his mother was sat beside his sisters, holding the hand of Alexandrine as she looked on with undisguised pride. Both his sisters were to be styled "Princess of Prussia", and he had already arranged it so that Alexandrine would be taken care of forever by funds in the family estates, as well as allowing his mother to keep her home. His brothers were also present, Friedrich was already being courted by the people of Hohenzollern Province to become their new Prince, which would doubtless mean lots of fun and testing of the new constitution, and that Wilhelm would need to sit his youngest brother down and have a polite chat on the matter and how exactly he would not be supporting him if it came to a legal fight.
Hubertus was looking to be a solution to a problem no one wanted to deal with, mainly that to prevent the other few Kings or Arch-Duke's who were now in Germany from feeling too offended, that the titles of Kaiser and King of Prussia were set for a divorce, with Hubertus to take the Prussian crown. It was not the person that those in Prussia who wanted a King back wanted to have the crown, but it was who they were getting, and Hubertus was already smart enough to know that he'd be a figurehead for the State at best, not that he objected. Wilhelm's gaze lingered on his last brother for a few moments, long enough for him to notice and surreptitiously stick his tongue at him and Wilhelm for the millionth time today cursed his younger brother. There would be no styling or title for Louis, simply he would be Mr Louis Ferdinand Preußen, private citizen, and he was happy for it.
Wilhelm didn't bother looking for the man who had corrupted his brother to such a Republican lifestyle, he wasn't in attendance, but they had both worked that out months ago, instead he turned his attention towards the momentarily to be former President of the German Empire and the Chancellor, the former looking relieved, the latter as formal as anyone who was watching something they didn't particularly like. Wilhelm could commiserate with the SPD Chancellor, and made a mental note to make certain to bring it up when they next spoke, as there was no doubt he'd still be Chancellor once the imminent election was over.
The tone and pitch of the people blessing him changed, and Wilhelm knew it was about to be time for his Grandfather's crown to be placed on his head, and he found himself suddenly grabbed by a sense of giddiness he barely contained at the hope that the carriage ride that would come next would at least be more steady than the damned barge ride over.
Franco-German Border,
Shortly after Midnight
May 19th 1939
One of the first things that had changed under the Nungesser regime had been a, what appeared at the time, rather innocuous repeal of a law from 1872. It had been lost in the flurry of dictates and changes that had been designed to lift France out of her disgrace and place her back as the leading light of the world. The pages of Action Française, at least after it had been melded to be more suitable to the regime's needs and views, had barely even mentioned it as instead page space was spent on decrying Germany, Britain, or anyone else viewed as responsible for France's downfall. It had been the law preventing the collection of a citizen's ethnicity or religion by way of national census. The first census after it had been met with some opposition because of this, but as it passed and nothing untoward happened, those that protested dwindled in number, and as the gears turned and people saw the expulsion of undesirables from France, be they political or criminal exiles to the colonies or the mass deportation of the Gypsy population to anywhere that wasn't France, many indeed started to support the idea. Even he had, at first, now though as the 4th Infantry Division stood near the border with Germany, assisting the radicals in their blueshirts that served as the muscle for the Consul and his "dictates", he was very much feeling like Paul on the Road to Damascus.
Before him, huddled and frightened and carrying only what could fit in a single case per family, people were being directed towards the German border, each one of them wearing only what they had been wearing when they had first been collected and with the same piece of paper pinned to them by sneering blueshirts as they had been "processed".
"German people, returned to their German Emperor."
Anyone who had been deemed as "too-German" was being sent over the border, and while he knew this was nowhere near the scale of what had happened to Alsace-Lorraine after the war, that hadn't been on the same level of cruelty as this was now being. Fathers who talked back or attempted to defend their children regularly received the touch of a club for their efforts, but they were still sent alive though bloodied with their frightened wives and children towards the astonished and baffled German border guards who had simply thrown open barriers at a lack of what else to do at this point. There was no hesitation, no demanding paperwork, just a small handful of men in uniforms trying to help and keep the peace as best they could. They could not even count on the presence of German military support as the Rhineland was still mostly de-militarized, a fact he was certain was about to change following these events.
This was not in the interests of France, this was egotism plain and simple, and while he had no love for the Boche, he could not understand in what way this would help France, or what simply doing this to antagonise the Germans for their actions in restoring their Emperor would achieve? He couldn't say anything, of course, he didn't want the Committee knowing his presence more than they had to, but he knew what he was watching, the death of what France was meant to be. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity were being escorted out of the country under the watchful eye of his soldiers and thugs, and Captain de Hauteclocque knew he could either just let it happen, or he could plan, and he'd be damned if he'd do the former. It would take contacts, and he would need to be careful, but this could not stand, not any more. The first thing though, before anything else, would be when he got home, those copies of Action Française would be getting consigned to the pit of Hell they deserved.
The Reichstag,
Berlin,
May 30th 1939
Adjusting to a new Kaiser had been, as expected, a period of mild chaos that had not resulted in much friction at all. Granted some groups had protested the whole thing and while Alex hadn't joined them physically, he had been with them in thought and spirit totally. No offence to his new Emperor, but the existence of Monarchy was just not something he could get behind, something which both Michael and Bertie found equally amusing in letters for different reasons. However the confetti had barely hit the ground on the royal parade when campaign season had started, and the French had thrown a serious curve ball into the whole affair by deporting a few thousand people under duress during the early hours of the 19th. They had been sent into Germany as they were individuals that were descended from Germans ostensibly, in reality they were not all German descended, indeed some had families that had been in France since the days of Charlemagne, but they had been pillars of communities, or property owners, or even simply protestants or atheists, and they had been sent with the promise from the French that more were coming.
Co-ordination of when that would happen would be difficult as in response to this, Otto had ordered the expulsion of the French ambassador and the re-militarization of the Rhineland had been expanded and accelerated as soon as the League of Nations could be informed it would be. Alex wasn't privy to all the details, nor as someone who wasn't an elected member of the government with a cabinet position, should he be, but he had picked up more than a few details as he had personally overseen the deployment of what aid and provisions he could to help those people, and between his fortune, his company, and his connections both governmental and non-governmental, that meant he had been able to get a lot of things down there rapidly. If he hadn't been campaigning for the solid week of "official" campaigning that had followed the coronation in Berlin, he would have been there in person, but the shortest turn around on a national election was happening, and as such he had not had the time.
The election had been on the 25th, again having all the infrastructure and paperwork ready in advance had helped it get underway quickly, and while it was only a week after the coronation, the reality was that the unofficial campaigning had been going on for weeks with posters and slogans and speeches appearing everywhere. Mordechai had joked that the coronation was a holiday not just from work, but from electioneering. At least the country wasn't at war, and he was praying that it wouldn't be, yes he was greatly insulted at what the Fascist bastard in Paris had done, but while this was bad, it still wasn't something that couldn't be dealt with in subtler ways. Especially after his sons had informed him of their intentions to join the Heer as soon as they passed the necessary examinations for the officer program. That conversation had not gone down well, but part of him knew that if conscription came back, or even worse a war broke out, at least if they could be officers the odds of them being totally in the line of fire was lesser, not gone, he was after all a veteran of the trenches that chewed through junior officers like no-ones business, but maybe he'd be able to pull some strings and get them placed in a supply depot far far away from the frontlines.
He knew his thoughts were wandering, but he had little else to do as he sat, yet again in his life, in front of the Chancellor's office and waited to be called in to it. The results had been in and while the SPD was still the largest party, the share had narrowed a bit with the DNLP and Zentrum both taking gains on their nominal coalition partner. There was also grumblings from both in and out of the party that the Grand-Coalition system was starting to face the end of its usefulness, and now that the threats to democracy in Germany were hopefully slain for a while by the new constitution, if one was of a Republican dint, or the return of the Kaiser, if one was a Monarchist, that the question of why they were still united with those damn reactionaries/bloody socialists, delete as applicable, was getting asked. It wouldn't be this election, maybe not even the next election, but very soon there was going to be a reckoning, and that was going to be the day Alex made sure he was out of politics for good.
The door opened to the office, and the man that walked out was very much on the list of people Alex didn't particularly care for, but still politeness required he couldn't simply ignore the man, so Alex stood and offered a hand to him.
"Congratulations Mr Adenauer on your re-election."
Konrad Adenauer annoyed Alex, not because in another world he'd been a Nazi, as he very much hadn't been, nor because he was a dogmatic conservative, as he wasn't. He annoyed Alex because unlike some of the other leaders and member of Zentrum Alex had interacted with over the years, Adenauer was good at being a politician. He was smart, very capable at both managing his own people and his commitments to his constituents and Germany as a whole, and he was even charismatic enough that Zentrum was liable one of these days to fully turn into the broadly "Christian Conservative" party that was doubtless coming as ecumenical divides between Protestant and Catholic in Germany continued to be less boundaries than you used to be.
"And to you on your election as well Mr Waltz" the older man said as he took Alex's hand in a firm shake "though it will be Minister Adenauer for the moment."
"Congratulations again then sir, which ministry have you been asked to serve in?"
His language choice was deliberate, to make clear that in Alex's opinion Adenauer hadn't gotten to choose his posting, as he doubtless had, but had been asked politely by Otto Wels to serve at the behest of the German people.
"Your mentor's former position, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs."
And there was one of the reasons why the dislike was simply one sided between the men. Adenauer's dislike of Gustav Stresemann had been strong and was well known, as well as the man's dislike of Prussians in general. A category that included Alex, even if Alex would happily argue he was a Berliner, not a Prussian, as much as Adenauer would say he was a Rhinelander and not a Prussian. But the man still viewed Alex as Gustav's heir, which was laughable, and had transferred his dislike from Gustav to Alex on top of the other reasons he disliked him, at least that was the Opfor profile Alex had on the man said.
"Well, I'm certain that international relations of Germany and the world will be much the better for your firm hand at play."
Before Adenauer could respond, the Chancellor's voice called from his office.
"Alex, if you'd please?"
With a slight shrug and roll of his eyes, Alex left the new Foreign Minister and made his way into the office of Otto Wels, closing the door behind him. Otto looked tired, and with everything going on Alex couldn't blame him for being so, but he looked at Alex and smiled from his seat behind his desk.
"Alex, pleasure to see you as always. This meeting will have to be short as I have an appointment with the Kaiser soon and I'd like to be able to present him with the major cabinet positions and who will be holding them."
"Certainly Otto, where do you want me?"
It was a formality really, Alex was too junior for the Foreign Affairs, so that was never going to happen, and he was definitely not going to wind up in charge of the purse strings, he'd scream bloody murder at that long before anyone could even mutter the word "corruption". The Interior ministry and Justice would be served by better men than him, and probably would have both gone to the DNLP anyway as they tended to have one or both offices in every election. It was likely he'd be given either Labour or Transport, both were somewhat important, didn't require anyone too senior, and were SPD solidly held ministries. And while Alex might be on the shortlist for "Wealthiest Man in the World", his credentials with Labour were pretty strong, and he already had inroads with Transport from the post-Vienna crash days.
"Ministry of the Wehrmacht."
"Fucking what?"
The death glare Otto shot him was the clue to Alex that he had spoken out loud, but the shock had been total. He could not be put in charge of the Military Ministry, hell, by the terms of the new Constitution he would be the legal head of the military second only to the Kaiser and Chancellor, and that was a fight and a half that had not been pretty. He should know, he'd been the one who had fought it. And on that sudden thought, it clicked in his mind.
"You set me up for this."
Otto hadn't even responded yet, and Alex spoke quietly.
"Yes, I did. Having you take point on negotiations with the Wehrmacht during the Constitutional Convention was part of it."
"That alone isn't it though, is it? You had Germany participate in those British air shows so I'd have to interact with Walter Wever."
"Yes, I also asked why the procurement of new military equipment was not consulting with the man who had designed our current standard rifle, so you'd have more contacts in that section, my commiserations on losing that contest by the way. I also made damned sure you stayed at your post in London so that if your name is attached to it, the British will hopefully not immediacy think we are up to our old tricks again when we re-arm. Never mind making you step up to a seriously senior posting in the Foreign Office to do it."
"We have re-armed already."
Otto scoffed at that statement, and Alex started to feel his own anger rising.
"We are not even close Alex, and you know it. The Fascists in Paris and Rome are itching for a fight, and if we don't seem to be doing something they will come looking for it. The British might not be on their side, but they aren't going to save us, and that's without considering if Warsaw and Prague might join along for the ride. I hate it, but we need to be stronger and we need to be ready, and for that I need you."
"Otto, I'm not a general." That would be a not insignificant issue, the German military high command was staffed with people who'd take one look at him, and even if he hadn't been a socialist, would dismiss him as little better than something stuck to their boots. He knew that, Otto had to know that.
"No, you are a retired Major, who got there the damned hard way. The same retired Major who served to get the Luftwaffe their planes and pilots when they were forbidden to do so, brought about methods to make steel and shipbuilding so much cheaper that the Navy can work with the budget we've given it and develop submarines in the Baltic, and outside of the very long list of things you've done for the Heer, you are the reason why the current head of the Heer is even back in uniform. You may never have passed the doors of the Staff College, but to those who matter, and you best believe I asked them, you are more than acceptable."
Otto had come around from his desk at this point.
"The military needs to expand, we need someone who they not only find acceptable, but will be able to see through their bullshit and reign in their worst excesses. That's you Alex, either I go with you, or the post goes to one of the other parties, and I'll be damned if I don't want my own man on the inside for it. Gustav Noske served as the first civilian to head that department, now I want you to as well."
"Otto, do you still have that envelope?"
It was Alex's final option, but the only one he had left if he wanted to avoid this.
"Oh, the one with the piece of paper inside that said "IOU"? That one? It got burned a while back."
That was unexpected, and Alex felt his jaw open in shock.
"You seriously thought I wouldn't open it? Well I did Alex, and while I appreciate your attempt at using it to avoid consequences for your buying Austria, the question now is, which would you dislike more, for everyone to know what you did then, or you doing your duty to party and nation?"
Otto's voice had been harder than Alex had ever heard before, and he could see that Wels was not backing down. The contents of that envelope had been designed to be a soft blackmail on the issue, instead it had gotten turned right back around on him and Alex realised that he didn't really have a choice in the matter.
"Two conditions."
"Name them Alex."
"What I do, you back me to the hilt. If I go in there, it is not going to be pretty, no matter what who you talked to said, and that will mean changes."
"Agreed, and the other?"
"One term. I do this for the length of this government and then I am out."
Otto looked at him for a long moment.
"Agreed. Congratulations Minister Waltz, I will look forward to seeing you at the first Cabinet meeting tomorrow."
Excerpt from "A Concise History of Modern Europe – Chapter 17 "The Death of Peace"" by D. Mason
"When speaking of the 3rd and 4th of June of 1939, many things must be considered about what led to that two day period, and how it would serve as the final klaxon for the events that would follow it in the years to come.
The fracturing of relations between the regimes of Fascist France and Italy over the dividing of spoils from the Spanish Civil War. The rise of broad-spectrum support of people against those that would seek to oppress them. The territorial ambitions of authoritarian regimes, and the lengths that democratic regimes would go to stop them or fail to stop them.
All these would play into the events that would begin on the 3rd of June in three different parts of the world, and they would all play out again in a more deadly version in the coming years."
Athens,
Greece,
June 3rd 1939
The clock ticked towards midday, and Ioannis Metaxas watched the second hand move with trepidation. The ultimatum would be up at midday, and he had a speech prepared to go not too shortly afterwards. He had hoped that Germany or Britain would intercede on his behalf, to threaten the Italians into relinquishing their foolish claims, but the response had been a combination of good news and not enough. Neither Berlin nor London was willing to bleed for Athens, but they would supply him if he fought. They both pointed to Abyssinia as an example of how that could work, and Metaxas was stuck facing the fact that this was likely to be the best he could get from them. He didn't want war with the Italians, but ever since the Corfu debacle, the war had been coming, and they had been given the choice of subjugation like Albania, or to fight like Abyssinia.
There was only one choice for a true Greek, and so the military had been called up, resources were made ready, and he prepared to face the Italian onslaught.
Excerpt from "A Concise History of Modern Europe – Chapter 17 "The Death of Peace"" by D. Mason
"The first event we will look at will be the Italian invasion of Greece. Based around desires by the Italian leadership of establishing domination of the Eastern Mediterranean and securing a southern border against Yugoslavia, this war would see the forces of Italy invade from across the Albanian border as well as attack from the sea as the Italian Navy would face its Greek counterparts.
The South-East of Hanoi,
Vietnam,
June 3rd 1939
"SHIT!"
The word escaped the lips of the French blueshirt as the bayonet on the old rifle in Sergent Michèl Lagréne's hands struck true and deep into the man's mid-section. He pulled it back and simply stepped over the bleeding man as he advanced forward, turning his head only to make sure that Pham was still on his feet behind him. The smaller Vietnamese man was behind him and working the bolt on his rifle as he moved. They both were using the same rifle, an old German one by way of China, and while it was just about big in Michèl's hands, in the hands of the native soldier he was fighting with it was massive.
"Watch your pig sticker Pham, that will serve you more in here."
"Yes Sergent sir!"
They had both been working the docks together until only a few months ago, and that wasn't exactly enough time to instruct him or the others in Michèl's ad-hoc platoon on the formalities of military hierarchy, and it could wait until after they had cleared this building. He passed a window, and couldn't help but look outside at the flames rising to the south-east as the fighting in what had been the main military quarter must be continuing. There had been defections and surrenders of course, but not enough to avoid any bloodshed, but the Provisional government had been insistent, any French soldier who lays down their arms would be treated with honour.
A sudden movement to his left and Michèl was finding himself pushed back against a wall, the rifle in his hands being forced against his neck and it taking all his strength to stop it from choking him, suddenly the corridor he was in boomed with the sound of God's own rage and the force against him dropped off as the blueshirt fell over to his side clutching his wound, with that, Phem passed by him and drove his bayonet into the wounded man's neck.
"Dammit Phem, how many times do I need to tell you?"
Michèl said as he got back on his feet and stood over the now dead man.
"Stabbing them in the neck is only going to get your knife caught on bone."
The orders of the Provisional Government when it came to matters of the Fascist enforcers in blueshirts was less lenient, and even if they hadn't been to kill on sight, one tour of the basement of the building Michèl's platoon was clearing would have been enough to dissuade them.
Excerpt from "A Concise History of Modern Europe – Chapter 17 "The Death of Peace"" by D. Mason
"The second event will be the beginning of the Vietnamese Revolution, and how the failures of Fascism to properly enforce the necessary total devotion to their rule at the edge of a global empire not only secured a revolt by indigenous peoples, but by the very same French people it had hoped would colonise the region."
Ministry of External Relations,
Moscow,
Soviet Union,
June 4th 1939
Maxim Litvinov was seated at his desk, as even on a weekend he would need to work for the future of the Soviet Worker. Not that he usually did most Sunday's, but the Vozhd had given instructions that he be there today as he needed to contemplate an action and wanted Maxim ready to execute the People's Will as soon as he was able. For a man like Litvinov who had watched as Rykov was shot on Stalin's orders for failing to execute the People's Will sufficiently, he made damned sure he was sitting by his desk phone waiting. He had been waiting since the 3rd, but no phone call had come yet, however he doubted that meant he was not needed, so he stayed to wait as time ticked on, and he used a waste paper bin by his desk to relief himself in instead of be away from his phone. Finally, at 3 am on the 4th, the phone answered and he picked it up before the first ring even finished.
"Yes Comrade-Secretary?"
"Close, but not quite."
The voice on the other end of the line nearly caused Maxim to spit. Beria. The weasel who couldn't seem to do wrong in the eyes of his master.
"Orders from him though" the voice continued "you are to give the messages the oppressors to the West that if they don't accept membership of the glorious Soviet Union, we will come and make them. Make sure your people in Berlin and Warsaw are warned first though, if either of those two do anything, you will make certain we know as soon as they do."
"Yes Comrade Beria."
"Good, see you soon Comrade Litvinov."
Hands shaking from the possible implications of that last sentence, he returned his telephone to its cradle, and for a few brief moments he did nothing but breath, and then he picked the phone up again to connect to the central switchboard, and gave the orders he already had prepared.
Excerpt from "A Concise History of Modern Europe – Chapter 17 "The Death of Peace"" by D. Mason
"The third event would be the issuing of the so called "Baltic Decrees" by the Soviet Union. Believing Germany too weak and Poland likely to be too isolated from Allies, the Secretary-General of the Soviet Union issued three simultaneous ultimatums to the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, essentially demanding they allow Soviet troops to be stationed in their countries to "protect" them from any imminent European war. While the international condemnation of this move would be near universal, and have knock on effects years down the road, this did not change the fact that by the end of the week, Soviet forces would be marching through the borders of the Baltic nations and establishing new regimes."
The Office of the Minister of the Wehrmacht,
The Bendlerblock,
Berlin,
June 5th 1939
Once, when discussing the man who had become the German Minister of the Wehrmacht, Paul had asked the Emperor of Ethiopia what he thought of him. The Emperors response had been simple, "well to befriend, dangerous to make an enemy, and principled nearly to a fault". And as Paul sat and waited for his appointed time, he found himself agreeing with the words as he thought more on the man in question. He was not alone, of course, he was just one of three men waiting for an appointment.
The three men who sat in the waiting section, between them, had authority to command every branch of the German armed forces. Being as they were Admiral Karl Dönitz, Generaloberst Walther Wever and Generaloberst Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and they had divided the area between them, though the office in question was one they all knew and had rarely all been in at once. They had been summoned, and there was no better word for it, to appear before the new Minister of the Wehrmacht and Paul had to smile at the temerity on display of the former Major. Waltz had balls, always had by the information in his military file, but this meeting had been called for and planned before the events of the weekend had transpired, and none of those same events seemed to have ruffled him as the seconds counted towards eight o'clock in the morning and the second they reached there, the woman who had easily matched eyes with the three men and not flinched informed them they could go into the office.
By grounds of seniority, Paul went through the door first, Dönitz came next and Wever last, their personal assistants would probably need to divide between themselves on the next order through, though Paul would be shocked if Abdalla wasn't at the head of that group, though doubtless that pin-headed Schörner would try to push in first. The office he walked into was different than the last time he had been in it. The previous occupant had typically allowed shelves to run over with paper and allow dust to build up in some corners as well as decorate the walls with pieces of art. In comparison, the room now practically shone and the shelves were tidy. On the walls where art had hung, filing cabinets were now in place, with only two pieces of art remaining. One, a portrait of the Kaiser, the other, of all things, a painting of Charles XII of Sweden. Between them was a simple glass display box with a Major's shoulder insignia, a letter of service, and medals. Ignoring the others, Paul moved towards there to inspect the paintings, and saw a plague under the painting of the Swedish monarch.
"I have resolved never to start an unjust war, but never to end a legitimate one except by defeating my enemies."
The voice spoke from the desk at the other end of the room, and Paul turned and came to attention with the other men as he did so. Alexander Waltz looked as well as the last time they had spoken, a few more lines around his eyes, but that was it.
"A quote I felt fitting to this office. It was a gift from a friend when he heard about my posting here, Carl Gustav has a sense of humour like that, trust a Finn to reference a Swede who didn't know when to stop fighting. Gentlemen, please, be seated."
He waved his hand towards where a series of chairs was lined against the wall, and pulling one from the stack himself, he placed it to face them, and returned to his desk for a folder while the three men and staff settled down. The chairs were basic, but the alternative would have meant a meeting in a bigger room, and Paul knew enough of politics to know what Waltz was doing here, making them come to his territory to speak.
"I have reviewed the notes of my predecessor" he said as preamble "and frankly I've half a mind to go throttle him. The events of the weekend mean that instead of me getting to use this meeting as a first formal introduction at once, even though some of us have met before, that I need to hit the ground running. But first, a reassurance. You three" he indicated to them with a sweep of his hand "are the heads of your branches. You also all would have been able to order me to go dig latrines between now and the end of time if I was still in uniform. I know this, I'm aware of this, and as such I am not about to try and give you orders and demands as if I'm suddenly your superior."
Waltz paused for a moment to let that sink in.
"However" he said "while i am not your superior, by the oaths you have given, the Kaiser and the government are your superior, and barring my dismissal, I am their representative and speak as their voice. That goes the opposite way too, as I am also going to be there represent you, and your demands and wants to them. If they ask me for something from you and you say it can't be done, I will make damn sure that is understood, but the other way is true, in that if you say you want something and they say it can't be done, I have to be the one that comes from. I'll ask you to remember that once your budget requests come in, I'll fight so you get one thousand new bombers, ten thousand new panzers and enough battleships to walk across the Atlantic, but when I come back and say they only will allow you ten of those, I want you to know it is not because I didn't try."
He looked at them again, and Paul cleared his throat before he spoke.
"I think Minister, that we all know that and will respect that situation. I do not speak for my colleagues, but I for one would appreciate it if we could get to the meat of this meeting?"
Waltz looked at him, and then smiled a predatory smile.
"Certainly Generaloberst, I just wished to get that out of the way before I deliver to you all my first set of demands, and no, these are not polite suggestions or requests. I will want readiness reports from all of you, naturally, as the Chancellor and the Kaiser are both deeply concerned by the actions of the French and the latest round of strong man bullshit that the Soviets are up to. After that, I want any and all reports we have with regards to projections of capabilities of the Czech military as the issues of the German minority there have managed to remain a point of contention in the government even without all the new ones. Finally, reports on all projects currently in development within the Wehrmacht, budget costs and reasoning. No, I'm not about to go slashing everything, but I want to be armed and ready if anyone tries to ambush me about why, for example, a small training camp in the Stendal has an outsized budget, or why the construction of our new battleships is slowing down, or why exactly someone is trying to build a four engined dive bomber."
Paul blinked in surprise, and he didn't need to check his two compatriots to be sure they had been caught off guard as well. The training at Stendal was a pet project of his, and the way the other two had been listed seemed to have similar effects.
"Also" Waltz said before any of them could speak "while wishing to avoid cliche, I do need to let you know that there will be some reforms coming. Not that I'm seeking them, not that I'm advising you they may happen, that they will happen. To start with, the handling of the Abwehr is to change, I understand that attempts were made in the past, but let me be clear gentlemen, I want a single unified service that will protect Germany from foreign intelligence threats while gathering what it can to our benefit. That means the end of the individual services own intelligence departments and strictly no operating in Germany domestically. That will be the domain of the Reichspolizei, and I will brook no argument on this."
A side door to the office opened then and a younger man came in pushing a cart with folders on it.
"As for everything else" Waltz said as the new man started to hand out folders "you will find what I'm proposing in these folders that Herbert is passing out, and gentlemen, with everything I would appreciate your feedback and suggestions, though do note the things written in red are non-negotiable."
Paul quickly flitted his eyes over the section marked "Heer", and saw the table of what Waltz was proposing, and he couldn't help but smile ever so slightly. The former Major definitely had balls, and it was going to be a fun time for all in the short term, but fair being fair, Waltz hadn't gotten to where he was by not having them, it was time to see if he could actually match his words with actions, and that would be fun. Though maybe he might need to have his claws clipped back just a little bit before he tried to push the boundaries too much.
- Location
- Pacific NW
Huzzah! A magnificent update!
And here we go, World War II.
- Location
- Somewhere
It goes, not great, not terrible, just goes.
Since some territory is in france is filled with germans like Alsace Lorainne do they wanna join Germany as province? Like the region alsace lorainne
- Location
- Pacific NW
Those folks of German extraction who liked being Germans in Alsace Lorraine got encouraged to move to Germany in the aftermath of the Versailles Treaty.
The people being kicked out of France now have the misfortune of Germanic last names. Heck, most of them are probably of Austrian descent since a big chunk of Lower Lorraine and current Belgium used to be the Austrian Netherlands for awhile.
The people being kicked out of France now have the misfortune of Germanic last names. Heck, most of them are probably of Austrian descent since a big chunk of Lower Lorraine and current Belgium used to be the Austrian Netherlands for awhile.
- Location
- Somewhere
How angry are people on Germany about that? Also can you tell us Stalins and Churchills opinion about him?
This is all quite interesting, though I admit I'm curious what's going on in the various Nordic states. As things start tumbling down towards a second world war I find myself wanting to know more about the states of China, Japan, Korea, and the rest. Especially if things are just as bad in all of Frances colonies or not.
Chapter 96 (a) - Yes this is getting split up again a bit, sorry but IRL
- Location
- Somewhere
Chapter 96 (a)
The Office of the Minister of the Wehrmacht,
The Bendlerblock,
Berlin,
June 6th 1939
Well, it couldn't be said that he wasn't hitting the ground running. Granted, how much of that was actual desire to do the best job possible and how much of it was needing to deal with the fact the ground he was on was constantly moving could be the subject of much later debate in his life. Alex spared himself a brief moment to snort at his thoughts before he started to run through the next in a seemingly unending series of reports and memos that were filtering into his office. His desk was already starting to approach something resembling a bomb site, although there was a method to the disorder and the various piles fell under certain particular topic. There was the pile for budgetary concerns, the pile for developmental projects, the pile for complaints from other non-military sections and the pile for the current developments with regards to the ongoing attempts by the Italians to reanimate a corpse in a new Roman empire, the fact that Uncle Ho's Heroes were kicking off in Vietnam with a seriously unexpected help of a group referring to themselves as the Provisional Government of the Fourth Republic, and that the Soviet Union was making moves to bring the border ever so closer together.
The first situation seemed to be going as well as the version in another time and space did, and already Alex was preparing notes and suggestions on how exactly Germany could get goods into the Greeks to help. Sealed trains and the Balkans were the name of the game, though that had highlighted some serious infrastructural failings in Germany's access to Romanian oil, and that was something that needed to be looked into as even with good relations with Kuwait and all that brought, most of the oil needed by the military came from Romania, at least for now. As far as the second one was going, well, the fact Germany had been indirectly sending supplies to Ho Chin Minh for years via the Chinese meant that his proposals on that front would be little more than modifications on an already in place plan, one he had been the author of in the first place. Granted, they couldn't go supplying them with anything too top of the line, but even though the rebels were equipped with mostly old Gewher 88's, or their Chinese variant, supplying ammunition in large amounts was a big help. The third situation was the one that was occupying most of his thoughts, as this was Stalin acting in a way to secure the Baltic, and now Molotov/Ribbentropp pact to mean it wouldn't have caused German intervention. Either Moscow figured Germany and Poland wouldn't act, or he had something else in his hand, and it was infuriating to not know what was going on.
Luckily, his next meeting might just help to alleviate that ever so slightly, and so Alex finished tidying up the notes for his proposal on how to react to the Soviets coming invasion of the Baltic nations, well more the proposal that the soon to be made official OKW, had made up and of the options Alex had picked the most "palatable" option. That it was going to involve co-ordination with Adenauer's domain was going to make this even less pleasant, but the needs must when the Devil drives. On that thought, his office door opened and a man in a naval uniform entered. His uniform was that of a Kapitän zur See, which was to be expected as the older man's career had not gone the exact same trajectory it had in another place and time, but there was no criticising the state of his uniform nor the small clutch of medals he wore along with the Submariners badge. The man came to a stop and saluted.
"Captain Wilhelm Canaris, reporting as ordered."
Alex returned the salute from his seated position and waved towards a chair that had been left in front of his desk for this very meeting.
"Be seated Captain, this meeting will not take long."
The other man's expression took on a brief weary expression, but he hid it behind a mask of professionalism swiftly enough and sat down. Alex picked up a folder and pretended to scan the paperwork inside.
"Captain Wilhelm Canaris, enlisted in the navy in 1905. Distinguished yourself during our brief scuffle with the neighbours during '14-18. Managed to evade the British in South America before talking your way home on a Spanish ship."
Alex looked up from the paper, which was actually a budget request form, he'd already committed Canaris's file to memory but people tended to find his ability to recall written things off putting so some prop work was required.
"It says you are fluent in Spanish?"
Alex asked the question in Spanish, and the older man half smiled and replied.
"Yes Minister, I do. One of six, which while not on your reputed level, does tend to come in handy."
The response was also in Spanish, and so Alex nodded in response and continued his spiel, but he kept speaking Spanish.
"From there you were involved with setting up intelligence operations in the Mediterranean, after that you went into the submarine forces. Somewhere in there you were awarded the Iron Cross First Class, a not insignificant achievement by any stretch."
Alex slightly nodded towards where his own was displayed, along with his other medals and military paraphernalia.
"But then the war ended."
Alex put the folder down and turned his full gaze on Canaris.
"I'm not going to go through your whole career after the war, though considering the strange parallels we had at times, it is almost absurd that we never did meet face to face before. My father-in-law sends his regards by the way, and that you still owe him ten marks."
It really was absurd that Alex and Canaris had not met before. Christopher Gottschalk, Alex's father-in-law of a fashion, had indeed known the man and counted him as a personal friend. They, on a more senior level than Alex, had both been involved in running guns and evading the constraints of the Versailles Treaty. Even after Alex's time with Maurer had ended, the strange crossing of paths hadn't ceased.
"Please tell Christopher the next time you see him that it must have gotten lost in the post. Again."
The response was said with a polite humour, though Alex could tell that was perfunctory.
"I will. I did ask him for his strictly professional opinion of you, please try not to hold that against him, but I don't believe in ignoring useful tools."
"Not at all. May I inquire as to what he said?"
"His general opinion of you is that like all Naval officers, you treat anything further left than Zentrum with suspicion, think democracy is an unnecessary complication in the running of the nation, and while you are loyal to the Kaiser, your loyalty to the Reichstag isn't as solid."
The words had the effect of making Canaris's expression turn flinty and hard.
"He also said that you are a consummate professional. Will do what you are needed to do, and outside of a few brief spills with some bad luck, you are a rock solid man. And, frankly, you are wasted in command of that old tub."
Canaris's expression softened slightly, and then he took on a weary expression again.
"Am I to guess then Minister, that this is why you summoned me here?"
"Yes, as I mentioned, I am not fond of ignoring useful tools, and you are an answer to a few different problems. I need something to offer as a peace offering to Admiral Donitz before I go and investigate what the hell is taking so long in our Capital Ship program. I also need someone to head up a single unified intelligence service for all matters foreign. If you are willing to accept the position, it will come with a promotion to Rear Admiral, transfer to Berlin, and the knowledge that you will exist outside the chain of command to anyone but myself, and the soon to be established Supreme Command of the Armed Forces."
It was a lesson to Alex to never play poker against the man as Canaris's expression didn't even alter a tiny bit as Alex put the job proposal before him. The other man just looked at him for a moment.
"I am, of course, willing to agree Minister."
"Before I accept that as your final decision, there are conditions."
"Minister, after the last six years on the Schlesien, whatever conditions you have for me I will be willing to accept."
Alex looked at him. This was not how he had expected this to go, he thought that Canaris would wheedle and argue and debate, but then he realised that there was a hungry tone to the man's voice, and Alex realised he wouldn't be able to guess at what exactly had changed in the man's life without Hitler, and suddenly he wondered if maybe this wasn't the best idea in the world.
'Oh well Alex, in for a penny and all that.'
"Very well Admiral" he said out loud "the conditions are as follows. You will not operate within Germany without the express knowledge and permission of the Reicshpolizei. The exact details of how you will co-operate will be drawn up soon, but that is a hard and solid rule of this position. Secondly, you will be answerable to the Reichstag for any and all actions that are taken by your organisation, a small select committee will be assigned for any oversight that is required of your organisation, their composition to be determined. Thirdly, while you will be given free reign to accomplish the goals that are set for you, you will not act in a way that will besmirch Germany or cause it international embarrassment."
"Is that all the conditions sir?"
"Not quite, I have one final one that's just a bit personal."
Alex stepped around from behind his desk and opened the door out on to the main reception area for his office.
"If you would join us Oberst?"
He turned back and stood beside his desk as a man in the uniform of an army Colonel walked in behind him.
"This is the final condition Admiral Canaris. I will not be able to sit and watch you at all times, but I'm not so foolish as to not have someone to keep an eye on you. May I introduce you to Oberst Mordechai Bresler? He will be my eyes and ears in your organisation."
Mordechai saluted neatly, and at it being returned by Canaris, held his hand out to the soon to be Admiral with a smile on his face.
"Congratulations on the promotion Admiral" Mordechai said, speaking the first German words in the office for the last while "I look forward to working closely with you."
Excerpt from "A Concise History of Modern Europe – Chapter 17 "The Death of Peace"" by D. Mason
"There was no question of the Baltic nations holding out against the Soviet Union, and the opportunity for assistance from foreign nations was, at best, limited. Poland, the first choice for aid in the matter, was unwilling to throw everything into a war with the Soviets. While the last Polish-Soviet war had been a victory for the Polish state, and indeed Poland was in a stronger position than it had been during that war, so were the Soviets, and with tensions rising in Western Europe and Germany re-arming, the idea of leaving half of the nation exposed to any potential attack from Berlin was not welcome. Instead Poland, outside of opening the borders with Lithuania to allow passage of people into Poland for further processing, did nothing but formally condemn the Soviet actions.
That the Warsaw government was joined in that condemnation by Germany is now known to have come with a fair measure of welcome surprise. Germany, as well, was not willing to try and fight the Soviets at this time, fearing that a war in the east would be far too inviting a target for the French and Italians to take advantage of. Plans were proposed, but Operation: Armageddon was discarded by the German cabinet as simply intolerable. It was also an issue of far too narrow a front to try and fight on as to engage the Soviets would either mean ferrying supplies across the Baltic sea to supply a front based purely out of Eastern Prussia, or invading Poland to open the front, neither of which was viewed as a viable option.
This did not, however, mean that Germany would not react. The German cabinet instead voted on and authorized the execution of Operation: Moses."
Excerpt from "Our Watchword is Vengeance" by Aleksander Tõnisson, Tallinn University Press, 1952
"It is not, as some commentators like to claim, a matter that Germany came to our rescue with Operation Moses. Nor, as some others have opined, did it happen straight away with no warning. I was, at the time, retired but found myself contacted and called upon for advice with the Soviet ultimatum, and as such I know the full extent of the German forewarning, and consultation with my brothers in similar positions in Latvia and Lithuania has informed me that their issues were similar enough with the exception of Memel, that I feel confident in outlining the following for us all.
Our governments were contacted by the Germans at roughly the same time, and told in no uncertain terms that Germany was not ready to go to war with the Soviets at this time, but was ready and willing to render all assistance to extradite any and all individuals wishing to escape ahead of the Soviets if our governments were preparing to capitulate. I will not comment on the decision of the capitulations, that is a matter for other men, but I will always commend the decision to seize the German offer with enthusiasm. German aircraft from Lufthansa, as well as military marked craft, started to land in Estonia to ferry people to Finland air ahead of later transport by ship to Germany proper. German aircraft also started to land in Latvia to carry out similar evacuations as well as naval ships from Riga, this time straight to East Prussia. Finally, the German border with Lithuania was opened, and pushed into Lithuania by some distance as the German military, at the invitation of the Lithuanian government, occupied the Klaipėda Region. The Lithuanian government in exile, as well as the Latvian and Estonian ones in time, established itself in Memel and while the German action was condemned, the condemnations quietened up rather quickly.
Of course Operation: Moses couldn't get everyone out, so our own governments did what they could to assist. The Estonian air force joined the ferrying efforts to Finland as best they could, but the combat aircraft, as well as the ones of Latvia and Lithuania, simply flew south-west at best speed to inter themselves in West Prussia. It was in a state of sullen anger, sadness, and wanting to do something about it that I found them, and what I would do with them will be the point of this entire book."
The Office of the Chancellor,
The Reichstag,
Berlin,
Germany,
June 9th 1939
"...and in summary, the Soviets are leaving their reactions of our actions in the Memelland to condemning our blatant imperialism in Pravda and every other government mouth piece that they have."
There was a sigh of relief at the pronouncement from Adenauer, and Alex allowed himself a brief moment of leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes. Evacuating people out of the way of the Soviet's was not something he had any issues with, but he had not been happy with the Memelland action when the OKW had included it in the plans for Operation Moses, but he had been over-ruled by the rest of the cabinet on the decision to go for it as they, as the OKW had felt, would not abandon a large number of ethnic Germans in a territory that had until twenty years ago been part of Germany. His fear had been it would give the Soviet's an excuse to try and kick things off, and considering fighting the Soviets would either be at the far end of a dubious logistical train, or involve a shortcut through Poland, he didn't want it to go that way. To say nothing of the madman in Paris seeing an opportunity to attack, but thankfully the attention of that particular individual seemed to be on hunting people in France who might be loyal to the "Fourth Republic".
"While this means we may have dealt with the issue at hand in the Baltic" Otto said after a moment "we now need to address the other foreign policy elephant in the room. Czechoslovakia and the Sudeten Germans. Alex, I believe you have a report from the military for us on this matter?"
Alex straightened in his chair and looked towards Otto.
"Yes Chancellor. If you give me one moment I have copies available for everyone waiting outside?"
Otto nodded, and Alex left the conference table that had been brought into the room for the meeting. He went outside, waved at Herbert who oversaw the moving of the locked box that a poor corporal had handcuffed to his wrist into the Chancellor's office. The box was opened and Alex withdrew the contents, which consisted of what he knew to be several folders inside a sealed paper envelope to make certain they had not been opened. That done, he thanked the Corporal and Herbert and sent them back out of the Office again, and set about distributing the copies to the other members of the Cabinet present for this meeting.
"All a bit excessive Alex?" Konrad said from where he sat, starting to light up a cigarette as while Alex's own distaste for cigarette's was well known, Otto had not had them banned from his office.
"Oh completely Konrad, but information security can not be half-arsed. Ask Zimmerman."
The response earned him a slight snort from the other man and a half nod of acknowledgement, but once the files were handed out, Alex took his seat again and paused for a moment to collect his thoughts as all attention was turned to him.
"Gentlemen, the folders in front of you contain the most up to date estimates of Czech military strength, as well as a summary of the events and political realities that have taken place in Czechoslovakia over the last few years. I would like to thank Minister Adenauer's ministry for their assistance in gathering the political information."
Courtesy cost him nothing, and while Konrad and he may not get on at a personal level, at least the other man was a professional.
"As well as that, towards the back of the report, you will find the options recommended by the OKW with regards to a military solution to the current tensions in the nation, and how best a military solution could be used to resolve the issues with regards to the treatment of ethnic Germans in the area."
There followed the sound of paper rustling and murmuring as the various people around the table read through the file. Alex didn't bother to pretend, he had already read the thing twice and had helped to formulate the exact wording of a few instances. He didn't like manipulating the information to push his own agenda, but he had long since learned that being economical with information could be a hell of a lot more beneficial than just handing people the whole truth to do with as they wished.
"As you will note though" he said after the others had familiarized themselves with the files for a few minutes "on page 17, paragraph 4, it states that the OKW estimates that any sort of direct ground conflict with the Czechoslovakian Military would need to achieve complete and total surprise at the outset or else our military would face nearly catastrophic loses in attacking the Bohmerwald, Ore and Sudetes mountain ranges and the fortifications in place there. They also acknowledge that the possibility of achieving said total surprise is estimated in the twenty to twenty five per cent range at best case."
This was true, and if anything optimistic. Alex had sat in with the men who were making up the current OKW, and while the Navy had not offered much in the way of input, saving a mention of making sure to have a group of marines to seize the enclave in Hamburg the Czechs owned, the Heer and Luftwaffe had a lot to say on the matter. Wever was certain his men could dominate the skies, and Alex was inclined to agree as they had the Czechs heavily outnumbered in material numbers, but all the bombers in the world wouldn't clear out the fortresses the Czech's had in the mountains. Lettow-Vorbeck's opinion on the matter was that the Heer could take those positions, but they would be extremely costly in terms of lives lost for Germany. That the scenario was also only considered in terms of a vacuum of only needing to fight Czechoslovakia and not also France, Italy and the Soviet Union, with the opinion of the OKW being such a multi-fronted war would be simply suicide by additional steps.
"As such it is the opinion of the OKW and myself that any potential diplomatic solution possible that can be found, be tried first and the military left until absolute last resort as a solution to this matter."
There was some mumbling at this, but it was quickly cut off.
"Thank you Alex. Well then, Konrad I must ask if there is any potential diplomatic solution instead?"
The other man took a moment to tidy up the contents of the file Alex had given him and then looked at Otto.
"Yes Chancellor, I believe there may be, though how popular it will be is the problem. As Minister Waltz has alerted us to the fact that a military solution would not be the best one, I have considered the root cause of the issues in Czechoslovakia with regards to Germany. The fact of the matter is that the German population in the country are feeling discriminated against and desire, instead, to reside in a country where they feel they won't be discriminated against. They are not alone in this matter, as the ruling party has managed to alienate support from all sides and anger not simply the German minority, but also the Slovaks and other groups as well. It is not our duty to sort out this mess for them all, but there is a solution for our matter that could be done."
Adenauer took a moment to take a drag from his cigarette before he continued, and Alex almost had to applaud the political theatre on display.
"My suggestion is this. I go to Prague to negotiate on behalf of this government, and ask the Czech government to acknowledge dual-citizenship for all individuals of sufficient German heritage in their country. This being to allow for any German identifying person, with sufficient evidence, in the country to apply for, and receive German citizenship and therefore have the choice to relocate to Germany as they wish. Naturally this would mean we would also be much keener in making certain that German citizens are treated well in Czechoslovakia itself, and needing certain new legal reassurances that these people will be treated as fairly as a Czech would be in Germany. To that end, I wish to propose a joint travel and work agreement with the Czechs, removing barriers allowing citizens of our two countries to travel, reside, or work in the other, as well as removing barriers to trade. Those barriers will be designed to better benefit the Czech's than ourselves, to serve as the enticement to them to agree with our plans."
There was a hushed tone in the room as the various cabinet members tried to digest this information. Alex did his best to look like he was one of them, but he had known this was coming ahead of time as he had very quietly discussed this matter with Adenauer and helped to craft the idea. It was not something planned to be the start of some proto-EU, if anything it was a highly watered down version of the Good Friday Agreement, and he had no faith it would serve as a permanent solution, but it didn't need to be that. Germany needed time, and one of the major issues that was preventing that from happening was the way Prague government had managed to piss off everybody and make the issue of the treatment of ethnic Germans a handy rallying point for the nationalists at every hands turn.
"And you think the Czechs will go for this Konrad?" Otto said.
"Quite possibly, especially if they think we are prepared to go for the military solution if they will not. I wouldn't suggest Minister Waltz order anything too provocative, no wargames along the border or anything like that, but so long as they think that option is on the table, when in reality we are just going to try and pay them a big enough bribe to fuck off, it should hopefully work. Doubtless the details may get changed a bit in the negotiations, but barring the military solution or direct act of the Almighty, I see this as the only way to get the Sudeten issue off our minds for a while yet."
"Very well. Is there any objections to going with Konrad's plan?" Otto asked and swept his gaze around the table, it lingered on Alex for a moment longer than the others, and Alex responded with a miniscule shake of his head in the negative.
"Well then, Konrad consider your actions approved and I wish you luck. I will want regular updates on how the negotiations go, if the Czechs even agree to the idea in the first place."
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- Somewhere
Yes, but less than the Slovaks were.
Basically Czechoslovakia wound up with a particular group of Czechs consolidating power, and they wound up discriminating against anyone who wasn't part of that particular clique. I'm over simplifying, but essentially unless you were the right sort of Czech, you would be looked down upon, and the level of discrimination grew the further out from that group.
KlinkerKing
Man bites dog?
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Oh you sneaky, Schengen-instituting bastard! On the bright side, Czechoslovakia does contain a whole lot of very very good mechanical engineers - the Skoda works and they CZ subsidiary is one hell of a card to play in terms of military design bureaus.
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This isn't full Schengen, not by a long chalk, but it is the sort of deal that one day in our world would become it.
Can you give us the impression Churchill and Stalin have of the Protagonist?