Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Two Sides of a Coin (2)
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"Chemical weapons?"
"Most notably, poison gas. You pack it into shells and fire it at the enemy."
"Hmm."
Perhaps not quite grasping it, Falkenhayn tilted his head slightly.
I continued indifferently.
"You'll remember the report I submitted before my cadet days. In truth, that report omitted many things, and these chemical weapons fall into that category."
"...Due to ethical concerns?"
"It was a report meant to catch the eye of the higher-ups and create opportunities, so it had to be innovative without stirring too much backlash."
"So what are you getting at?"
As he asked with deep curiosity, I replied.
"It means chemical weapons hold tremendous potential. Enough to certainly be adopted as the doctrine of chemical warfare."
"...!"
"If even this doesn't quite click... I can introduce you to someone who can explain in more detail."
Once I opened my mouth, the words flowed smoothly.
My sense of guilt must have only amounted to that much.
I swallowed a bitter smile and continued.
"There's Dr. Fritz Haber, who is researching chemical weapons as the director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Chemistry."
"Ah, yes. Isn't he the one who developed nitrogen fertilizers?"
Falkenhayn spoke as if he knew of him.
Fritz Haber.
The scientist who made bread and death from air.
The front side: inventing nitrogen fixation, solving humanity's food production problem.
The back side: inventing poison gas production, spreading mists of death over the Western Front.
A man whose evaluations split to extremes, like the two sides of a coin.
"Come to think of it, I recall hearing that a renowned doctor made some peculiar claim... It must have been about chemical weapons."
"The Hague Convention prohibits it, so the upper echelons probably paid little attention. But... we're no longer in a position to pick and choose."
Falkenhayn nodded gravely at my words.
Good. Seeing his serious demeanor, chemical warfare was sure to be seriously discussed.
But a little more... I needed to push their backs just a bit further.
"Furthermore, if we formally introduce chemical weapons, I ask that you don't bother circumventing the Hague Convention."
"Hmm, it's still international law. Its prestige..."
"International law only means anything in the face of power. If we use it, they'll use it too. In that case... better to trample the line decisively from the start."
"...I see."
I looked into Falkenhayn's slightly wavering eyes.
And spoke to him clearly and earnestly.
"If you're going to cross the line... do it from the beginning. Crush it thoroughly. Moreover, Ypres is a key position we must secure due to supply demands."
"..."
"Thanks to the Schlieffen Program, our production has greatly strengthened, but there are clear limits."
Yes, no matter the four-year economic plans or whatever, we couldn't match Anglo-French industrial power.
Because the naval blockade prevented our economy and industry from operating at full capacity.
"The longer this drags on, the more the Entente's industrial power will erode ours. Then it becomes a war of attrition, a test of endurance... No matter what, we have to aim for a short war as much as possible."
Whether fighting a war of attrition against the Entente or trying to whittle down their strength as much as possible.
"If we want to kill the enemy quickly, in great numbers, and efficiently... we must use the most efficient method."
We had to act as if... no, as though there had never been a line to begin with. In the most efficient way.
"I... understand."
A man as brilliant as Falkenhayn would surely grasp my meaning.
He nodded with difficulty at the idea of tearing up the Geneva Convention.
I denied the faint satisfaction rising within me and said,
"Very well. For the details, please consult Dr. Haber. I have other ideas as well... but I'll roll them out gradually while working as a logistics staff officer."
"Chemical warfare, eh. I'll give it deep thought... In the end, Pandora's box must be opened."
Falkenhayn, who had been chewing his lip in contemplation, stood up with a bright smile once more.
It was a smile revealing deep fatigue and ominous madness he couldn't hide.
"Hahaha. To rely so much on you, who is little more than a fresh arrival, is a disgrace as Chief of the General Staff."
"Not at all."
"Thank you for understanding. I'd love to assign you to operations, but alas, the people here at GHQ all opposed it, so here we are."
Falkenhayn patted my shoulder amiably as we both rose, smiling.
I smiled back, but my heart was cold.
As our conversation continued, my understanding of the Chief of the General Staff deepened.
Even as he treated me so kindly and seemed to open his heart... I was gradually realizing this man was a sociopath.
If someone more capable than me appeared, he would discard me instantly and treat them the same way.
"Not at all. It's an honor to be used like this."
"Haha. You're the only one I can rely on."
Well, I wasn't one to talk.
I was dealing with him from a similar perspective and mindset, so in the end, birds of a feather.
"Off you go, then. The Western Front has become a supply-devouring vortex, but a talented fellow like you will shine even there. I look forward to it."
"Understood. I'll take my leave."
"Go on."
I saluted and quickly left the room.
Lest that intelligent man somehow read my thoughts...
'Killing French troops and keep killing them... Fine words, but the more they die, the more of ours will too. Do you think you'll emerge unscathed from that political shock?'
Before pushing the door handle to close the door, I made eye contact with Falkenhayn one last time.
As he smiled, I smiled back.
'Anyway, it's good for me. For the future, I need to drive the Entente into ruin as much as possible. So you keep pushing hard too.'
Click-
'Until I place someone even more efficient in that position soon.'
Falkenhayn.
He had too many enemies.
That was the problem.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As Christmas approached, humanity was slowly unveiling fragments of enormous sin.
On the Eastern Front, German forces maintained overwhelming superiority over the Russians and continued advancing, but Russia did not yield.
On the Western Front, GHQ opted to strengthen defenses and slaughtered the French soldiers launching their grand offensive.
Britain, having suffered massive losses of elite troops at Ypres, prepared for a prolonged war.
Despite various difficulties, strategic initiative still rested with Germany.
"Ypres front is still the issue. Supply inferiority."
"Supply efficiency is worse than expected. We're consuming more materiel than anticipated."
"Ugh, we need to take Ypres quickly, but operations still has no ideas..."
In the meantime, I had built some rapport with various figures in OHL.
Most still resented my meteoric rise without attending the War Academy.
Nevertheless, under Falkenhayn's full trust, I expanded my influence and wielded it to some extent.
As a result, we succeeded in improving trench construction, trench foot issues, some food and supply problems, communication systems, and even parts of offensive and defensive doctrines.
"Rommel, what do you think?"
"We should wait until winter passes. Climate is worsening supply demands, and trenches are flooding or freezing, sharply reducing combat effectiveness. Attacking now would just mean losses."
"Indeed."
There were risks and backlash, but my arguments proving correct allowed me to build a solid foundation.
See, most logistics staff officers, regardless of rank higher or lower than mine, were nodding in agreement.
"Is that so? But the longer we delay, the more the enemy will fortify Ypres into a fortress?"
"..."
...Most, anyway. There were some contrarians.
I cleared my throat and responded to that staff officer's rebuttal.
"Ahem, but there's little we can do on the front right now... Instead, I hear the upper echelons are planning something interesting during this lull."
"Ah, yes. I heard too!"
Another staff officer chimed in at my words.
"Surely... London?"
"Who knows."
I touched my mouth as if stroking it, hiding a smile.
"From what I know, it's Paris."
What were we talking about?
Strategic bombing.
That in this damned war, there were no sanctuaries.
The enemy had to learn that clearly.