Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The German Civil War - Prelude to a Storm (2)
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September 6, 1939
Kassel, 9th Military District, Central Germany, Provisional Headquarters of the New Government in Frankfurt
A day after the Crown Prince and his wife arrived in Frankfurt, the new government earnestly began laying out their vision for the future before him.
“Public opinion is now on the side of the new government. Though some who dare not follow the legitimacy of the Hohenzollern Imperial House remain in the Nazi Wehrmacht, the army of the new government is loyal to the Imperial House!”
Dr. Goerdeler was passionately explaining to the Crown Prince, while the ultra-royalists, thrilled at the thought of re-establishing the Empire on this land, nodded in agreement, deeply moved.
Do they truly believe the public's support for the new government is directed at them and the Kaiser?
“We plan to sweep the remnants of the Nazis from our sacred Germany, bring His Majesty Wilhelm II back from the Netherlands, and restore him to his rightful throne! We will reopen the era of the Kaiser and the nobility, not the era of the mob!”
To think that a mere eighty years before the era I lived in, such fossils still proudly remained in the upper echelons of society. Good heavens.
Yet, the Crown Prince’s reaction was lukewarm.
“I see, Doctor. But it seems we are not yet at the stage to discuss such matters.”
What was this? Was the Crown Prince trying to play it safe until Germany was completely secured?
But that didn’t quite fit. The new government, approaching a full week since the coup, was finally getting on track.
Not just Germany, but the international community seemed to think we had formed a relatively stable government, as back-channel diplomatic contacts were beginning to be made.
In particular, the efforts of Foreign Vice-Chancellor Weizsäcker—now the new government’s Foreign Minister—and the Kordt brothers, alongside my own, were on the verge of bearing fruit in Italy.
The Crown Prince personally coming to Frankfurt to join us couldn’t be explained as him simply testing the waters due to an unstable position of the new government.
“I trust His Majesty will also be pleased with your loyalty. However, it seems the priority now is to solidify your government and win the struggle for dominance against the Nazis.”
“Ahem, my apologies, Your Highness.”
Dr. Goerdeler looked a bit embarrassed by the Crown Prince’s response but bowed his head.
“His Highness is correct. The new government is only just beginning.”
Hjalmar Schacht, the new government’s Minister of Finance and my father, spoke up, glancing in my direction before continuing.
“Fortunately, thanks to the new government’s radio broadcasts, public support and approval are high. Donations and the backing of our business community allies have left the new government’s budget in good shape. However, if we are to be recognized as the legitimate government of Germany, we must also worry about salvaging the economy the Nazis have ruined.”
The new government had secured some of Germany’s most developed regions—the Ruhr, Frankfurt, and Bavaria—without significant urban damage. Donations continued to pour in, and the competence of the Minister of Economic Affairs was beyond question.
Thanks to this, our side had achieved financial stability in a short time and had no immediate money worries. The problem was the Nazi-controlled territories. Just thinking about it gave me a headache.
“Is the German economy in such a dire state?”
“It is regrettable to say, but it has passed the point where the private sector can resolve it on its own. The munitions companies have grown excessively large, and if they stop churning out weapons, Germany will be flooded with the unemployed.”
The expressions of the military and royalist figures soured at my father’s answer to the Crown Prince’s question, but since no one here knew more about the economy, there were no rebuttals.
“Furthermore, instead of paying the munitions companies, the Nazis issued Mefo bills—bonds promising future government payment—and spent on a level of armament that Germany’s finances cannot sustain. The financial state of the companies that have yet to be paid is naturally precarious, and we must prepare for that as well.”
It was like how the bonds issued by North Korea are obviously worthless IOUs, but if unification were to happen, a unified Korea would have to honor them. Our situation was exactly like that.
“How much do those bonds amount to?”
“Over 20 billion marks.”
Everyone in the room was aghast. The total reparations imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles for its defeat in the Great War amounted to 132 billion marks over 20 years.
At the time the treaty was signed, Germany was a defeated nation, and the mark’s value was low. But now, thanks to my father’s reforms, its value had recovered. The Nazis had printed these bills at an insane rate.
Ironically, the civil war was preventing the collapse of Germany’s munitions-dependent economy, but that was nothing more than a temporary solution.
The United States escaped the Great Depression through the New Deal and World War II, but after the war ended, didn't even the mighty U.S. struggle with such financial hardship that it had to decommission the legendary decorated warship, the *Enterprise*?
And America could afford to do that because its mainland had suffered no damage. If the civil war intensified and the new government’s army and the Wehrmacht began an all-out war that laid waste to the German homeland, there would be no way out.
My intention to start a civil war to oust Hitler and the Nazis and normalize Germany was born of necessity. If it had been possible without such extreme measures, who would risk their life to plunge their own country into civil war?
Of course, I never wanted Germany to turn into a living hell like Spain, which is why I planned the media campaign. My goal of actively exploiting the Wehrmacht’s resentment toward the Nazis to start a civil war while minimizing full-scale conflict was, for now, being precariously achieved.
But this was hardly the time for the new government to be discussing rosy optimism and spouting nonsense about bringing back the Kaiser.
“Grave indeed. What is the situation on the front and with the Wehrmacht?”
His face now serious after hearing about the economy, the Crown Prince posed a question to Ludwig Beck.
“With public opinion shifting in our favor, the front has reached a stalemate. We have instructed General Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, who was attacking the SS training center at Wewelsburg Castle, to maintain the siege without provoking the Wehrmacht.”
We had halted the attack on Wewelsburg Castle after our armored thrust toward Berlin was blocked.
If the Wehrmacht decided to wage all-out war against us, we currently had no way to respond, so we couldn’t give them any pretext.
“Have there been no defections yet?”
“There are generals who are considering it, but nothing has been confirmed. They seem to be cautious, as the Nazis are still propagating that Hitler is alive and well.”
The Nazi propaganda that Hitler was well was still being maintained, yet Hitler himself had not appeared on any broadcasts.
At this point, the leadership was guessing that Hitler wasn't dead, but severely injured.
They reasoned that if he were truly dead, it would be unlikely they could keep up the pretense for so long, as the fallout would only be greater when the truth came out.
The fate of the handsome young Count Blumenthal, one of the most zealous members of the resistance, was still unknown.
As a functionary who had gotten to know him quite well, I, along with Oster and Tresckow, hoped for his safety, but the leadership’s joy at his exploits had been fleeting.
“And what of the navy?”
The Crown Prince’s next question was directed to Admiral Canaris, the head of the Abwehr and a Vice Admiral in the navy.
“The Nazi regime attempted to move the 3rd Army of Army Group North, stationed in East Prussia, to Berlin, but the navy refused to cooperate and declared its neutrality.”
The Kriegsmarine (the Nazi German Navy) was deeply dissatisfied with the Nazi regime.
How could they not be, when the regime had reassured them there would be no war and initiated Plan Z to build battleships and aircraft carriers, only to abruptly decide to start a war and divert a large portion of the budget to the army?
Moreover, the conflict between the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Erich Raeder, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Göring, over the *Graf Zeppelin* was notorious.
The legendary mess he made by refusing to provide carrier aircraft for a completed aircraft carrier rivaled the infamous rivalry between the Army and Navy of Imperial Japan, who were known for their irrationality.
"On the surface, it is neutrality, but it is a great help to us."
The Commander-in-Chief of Army Group North, Fedor von Bock, was a very stubborn, old-school Prussian Junker type of general. As we had hoped, he had offered no cooperation to the Nazi regime and remained stationed in Pomerania.
The commander of the 4th Army in Pomerania, Günther von Kluge, shared his views. Within Army Group North, only Georg von Küchler of the 3rd Army in East Prussia was an adherent of Nazi racial ideology.
But with the navy refusing them transport ships, their "neutrality" meant they were practically on the new government's side. This was likely thanks to Director Canaris's efforts.
“I see. Your efforts have been great. It has been nearly a week since the new government was established. The Hohenzollern Imperial House wishes you and Germany a bright future.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Crown Prince Wilhelm spoke only in platitudes before departing.
After he left, Dr. Goerdeler looked extremely displeased, but the first meeting with the Crown Prince ended up being little more than a status report, with little to show for it.
It was a good thing he wasn't getting carried away with Dr. Goerdeler's absolutist fantasies, but I hadn't expected him to be so completely hands-off. Yet, he wasn't entirely indifferent to our affairs either.
I glanced over at Colonel Oster and Colonel Tresckow, but they could only shrug.
What on earth was the Crown Prince thinking?
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September 10, 1939
Kassel, 9th Military District, Central Germany, Frankfurt - Dietrich Schacht’s Residence
On a rare Sunday, I was preparing breakfast in the house I had bought in Frankfurt.
Considering that just last weekend was so hectic I had to catch naps at the broadcast station, it seemed we had weathered the crisis well.
The collapse of Nazi Germany, which had once seemed impossible, now seemed within reach. Though there was still a long way to go, the new government was becoming more stable by the day.
“Hm- hmm-”
With a bit of breathing room, a hum escaped my lips.
The new government, encompassing royalists, the military, liberals, and social democrats, was cooperating with surprisingly little conflict, united by the common cause of opposing the formidable enemy of Hitler and the Nazis.
Dr. Goerdeler and the extreme royalists still disliked us, but Crown Prince Wilhelm’s unexpected attitude had given us a respite.
It was a completely unforeseen situation, but since it wasn't a bad turn of events for us, I decided to think positively.
I made an incision in a freshly bought morning *Brot* (German staple bread), spread a layer of mashed potatoes, and added scrambled eggs and fried bacon. Done.
Honestly, it was a rudimentary creation, but what did it matter? I wasn't a professional chef.
After finishing breakfast, I went upstairs to the second floor.
“Claudia.”
“Ugh, just a little more.”
“A cold breakfast is no good, Ms. Journalist.”
Claudia thrashed under the covers for a moment before sitting up with a dazed expression. I was probably the only one who got to see this side of her, a far cry from the highly professional aura she usually projected.
I smiled faintly and handed her a glass of water. She took it naturally, drank, and handed the cup back to me before getting out of bed.
It had become a natural part of our morning routine.
“Mm, this is delicious.”
“Glad to hear it.”
It was really nothing special, a simple dish barely on par with a hamburger, but Claudia always said it was delicious.
I could never tell if she was just being polite about the effort I put in, or if she was sincere.
I had a rough idea from what I’d seen at her place in Berlin, but her life skills were disastrously bad.
Cleaning was out of the question, and the only thing she knew how to "cook" was coffee. As a result, since we started living together, I naturally took on the cleaning and cooking duties. She was in charge of post-meal coffee.
Still, though…
A smile automatically formed on my face as I watched her munching away while checking the morning paper, the ring on her finger catching my eye.
“What’s so amusing?”
“Oh, nothing. Just because.”
Claudia followed my gaze to her ring, and her eyes curved into a smile.
The house I had bought to hide her in had now become our home.
“Happy, thanks to your fiancée?”
“Haha. It’s more happiness than I deserve.”
When I answered with sincerity, her face flushed slightly, but she smiled.
Honestly, when I first woke up in Dietrich Schacht’s body, I wanted to grab God by the collar and shake him. But now, I felt just a little, a tiny, mouse-sized bit of gratitude.
I had run myself ragged to get this far, and things were still precarious, but I was prepared to do whatever it took to protect this happiness.
A short while later, as Claudia and I were finishing our meal and chatting over coffee, we had a visitor.
“Hmm? Were we expecting anyone today?”
“No, not that I know of.”
“Me neither.”
I peeked out the window and saw a man in a suit and fedora standing at the door. This isn't one of those scenes you see in period dramas, is it?
Colonel Tresckow’s warning flashed through my mind. I swallowed hard and drew my pistol. The moment Claudia saw it, she quickly hid.
I was inwardly grateful for her quick reaction as I readied myself to fire at any moment and opened the door.
And I was the one who froze.
The man in his fifties, wearing a simple suit and fedora instead of a splendid uniform, smirked at me.
“What’s this? Were you a Nazi spy, perhaps?”
“My apologies, Your High-”
“Shh. Are you trying to announce it to the whole neighborhood?”
He cut me off and strode in as if he owned the place.
“Pardon the intrusion. I trust you’ll welcome me.”
While I stood there dumbfounded, the man walked in nonchalantly and sat on the sofa where Claudia and I had just been drinking coffee, crossing his legs.
“Coffee, excellent. May I have a cup as well?”
Crown Prince Wilhelm had barged in on a Sunday morning and was boldly demanding coffee.
What in the world is happening?
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