Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: The German Civil War - A Three-Day Reign (2)
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September 20, 1939
Kassel and Frankfurt, 9th Military District, Central Germany - New German Government Building (Occupied)
The mood within the military government, which had staged a coup within a coup with such great vigor, was now utterly bleak.
Proving they were once the leaders of the famously formidable German army, they had swiftly launched their operation and, with rapid movements, succeeded in neutralizing the new government and declaring a military junta in the blink of an eye.
Riding that momentum, they sought to make it a fait accompli by seizing the broadcast stations and immediately proclaiming the revival of the German Empire, vowing to bring the Kaiser back from the Netherlands.
But just one day later, Britain and France jointly sent an ultimatum, declaring that they would never tolerate the restoration of the emperor, a war criminal from the last Great War, and that they would stop it by force if necessary.
Mussolini of Italy, who had been testing the waters, not to be outdone, fiercely condemned the military government and issued a statement that Italy was willing to revive the Stresa Front to stand with Britain and France against Germany.
To make matters worse, their request to the Netherlands to escort the Kaiser back was met with a cold refusal, with the Dutch stating they had maintained their neutrality since the Great War.
“What do we do now?”
Only silence filled the room.
Contrary to their expectations, the German people did not welcome the military government’s proclamation to restore the Kaiser. Instead, upon hearing of the British and French ultimatum, they erupted in furious protests.
“We should have suppressed those damn newspapers...”
The Junkers had believed that securing the new government's leadership and the high-profile broadcast stations would be enough, but the price for failing to apprehend Dietrich Schacht was proving to be steep.
Using his connections at the *Frankfurter Zeitung*, he published articles denouncing the military government for dragging Germany toward war, shaking the new government that was just barely finding its footing, and calling on the people to resist and find freedom in the face of another dictatorship.
It was as if he had prepared in advance; before the military government could even react, the papers were scattered all over Frankfurt and the territories under the new government's control, making it impossible to stop.
The high command, having effectively entrusted the media war to Major Dietrich Schacht, knew little of his specific actions and had not fully grasped that newspapers had dealt the critical blow to the Nazis in the early days of the coup.
Thanks to their misjudgment, their prediction that radio broadcasts alone could sway a significant portion, if not all, of the public's support for the new government to their side was completely off the mark.
The people, caring little for the Kaiser or anything else, were driven by the single-minded goal of stopping the military government from plunging Germany into war. They launched strikes and riots, responding with fervent enthusiasm to Dietrich Schacht, who had become a familiar voice through the broadcasts.
Mackensen clicked his tongue as he watched the Junkers, who had become so listless in just a single day.
“At this point, is there any other way but to place His Highness the Crown Prince on the throne?”
“But he is refusing all our requests for an audience.”
The Crown Prince was cunning. He was well aware of the planned coup against the new government, but he had remained silent, offering no response. The moment things seemed to be going awry, he refused to even meet with them.
Dr. Goerdeler felt a deep sense of frustration. He didn't want to admit it, but wasn't everything unfolding exactly as that upstart, Major Schacht, had predicted?
“Does this mean we will never again see the day of the mighty German Empire that once commanded all of Europe?”
The air was thick with lamentations and sighs.
Many among them were, of course, men driven by a desire for their own vested interests. But at the same time, most were men who could have lived affluently within Germany without needing to stage such a coup.
They could have lived comfortably even under the Nazis, offering just enough flattery to Hitler. Yet, they had risked everything to stand against them. Surely, they were patriots.
Their leader, Mackensen, spoke weakly.
“It can’t be helped. It is a somewhat disloyal act, but we must abandon the restoration of His Majesty the Emperor and proclaim His Highness the Crown Prince as emperor. We shall obtain his consent later. We cannot let Germany fall into war again, can we...”
No one in this room wished for Germany's ruin. It was just that their perception of reality had failed to keep up with the changing times.
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September 20, 1939
Berlin, Northern Germany
While the new government was thrown into chaos by the military junta’s coup and the Anglo-French ultimatum, the cornered Nazi regime did not miss the opportunity that had finally presented itself.
[My esteemed German people. I cannot hide the heart-wrenching sorrow I feel in these tragic times. As the Führer of the German state and nation, I wish to announce three things. One, despite the vile attack by those traitors who call themselves the new government, I, your Führer, am alive and well.]
Just as he had seized control of Germany by exploiting the chaos of the Weimar Republic, Hitler capitalized on the new government's weakness, heralding his spectacular return and firing the starting shot for his comeback.
“Move quickly! To Potsdam!”
The Nazi regime, unable to trust the Wehrmacht, had begun to massively reinforce the Waffen-SS and deploy them as combat troops starting in 1939, a departure from the original history.
With the Ruhr occupied and already scarce equipment, they decided it was better to arm the troops who were unequivocally on the Nazi side than to give it to the untrustworthy Wehrmacht.
[Two, they have framed me and the legitimate German government, claiming we intended to start a war, and have spread all manner of propaganda and fabrications. Yet, they have proven that it is they who are truly pushing Germany to the brink of war with their anachronistic attempt at monarchical restoration.]
“Why are you so slow!”
At the reprimand from SS-Obergruppenführer Erich von dem Bach, a middle-aged SS-Obersturmbannführer with a receding hairline and a Hitler-esque mustache giggled obsequiously.
“Oh, my apologies, Herr Obergruppenführer! These ones are such poor walkers. What are you lot doing! Drag them away at once!”
[Three, as the one and only legitimate Führer of the German state and nation, I declare that these despicable traitors will soon be crushed. Any form of assistance to them will be considered treason against the German state and nation and will result in summary execution.]
Even von dem Bach, who in the original history would become infamous as a monstrous war criminal, frowned at the sight of the prisoners being dragged away on the orders of the SS-Obersturmbannführer.
“Tsk, to think we’re so desperate for troops that we’d call a thing like that an Obersturmbannführer.”
Of course, that particular colonel, Oskar Paul Dirlewanger, was too consumed with excitement at the thought of strapping these ‘human shields’ to his tanks and charging into the enemy lines to have heard him.
[My esteemed German people. The traitors’ time of lies is over. They now face the overwhelming fury of the German state and nation and shall meet the most horrific end as the price for daring to betray their fatherland!]
“Heil Hitler! Sieg Heil!”
“Victory to the Führer!”
“Death to the traitors!”
“Glory to the Schutzstaffel!”
Nazi Germany’s counterattack had begun.
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September 20, 1939
On the border of the 9th Military District, Kassel and the Rhineland
“Wh-what the hell is that!”
Following the martial law declared by the military government in Frankfurt, the new government's forces were controlling all routes leading into the 9th Military District.
But that was only effective as long as what was approaching was something that could be controlled.
“This is Checkpoint 18! A massive number of troops is approaching!”
[What? Massive number of troops? Are you talking in your sleep? How many, specifically!]
The reaction from headquarters was perfectly understandable, but the checkpoint commander was at a loss for words, staring at the immense number of troops—no, troops and civilians—that filled the entire road.
How was he supposed to describe that?
“Impossible to confirm numbers. They are filling the road as they approach. They are carrying the banners of the Free Corps and the black-red-gold flags used during the Weimar Republic.”
[Damn it! They’re rebels! Hold them off, even for a moment!]
The call ended, but the commander and his men could only stare blankly at the overwhelming numbers of the citizen army.
Finally, a man who had been riding in a car at the very front stepped out.
“Thank you for your hard work. I am Major Dietrich Schacht, spokesman for the new government. Please open the way.”
The name Dietrich Schacht had become so well-known in the new government's territory that anyone who heard it would immediately think, *ah, that man*.
“But Major, our orders from above are to block this position...”
“Those superiors are traitors. We are in the middle of a military operation, so please cooperate. Or else.”
Major Schacht grinned and gestured to the surging Free Corps and enraged citizens behind him.
“Will you try to stop us?”
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September 21, 1939
Kassel and Frankfurt, 9th Military District, Central Germany - New German Government Building (Occupied)
It was the third day since the declaration of the military government.
The monarchists of the military government had compromised with reality, given up on Wilhelm II, and proclaimed the Crown Prince as Wilhelm III. Unfortunately for them, it was a compromise only they had made.
“Britain and France say their position is unchanged. Either nullify the restoration of the imperial family or face war.”
As Dr. Goerdeler reported this with a despairing face, the monarchists let out sighs that seemed to shake the very ground.
Perhaps if they had simply enthroned the Crown Prince from the start without mentioning bringing back Wilhelm II, Britain and France might have reacted differently.
But they had already issued an ultimatum regarding the monarchical restoration. Simply swapping out one emperor for another was not enough for Britain and France to back down without losing face.
France, in particular, facing certain defeat in the upcoming general election if they didn't achieve something, was pushing a reluctant Britain to take a hard line.
While Britain had no desire for a war for France’s sake, Wilhelm II, the man the monarchists had initially tried to restore, was still an object of hatred throughout Britain, leaving them no choice but to act this time.
“Mussolini is also looking ominous. The only reasons he was holding back were the Pope's support and Britain and France...”
The unspoken words hung in the air, understood by everyone present.
“What of the front lines?”
“Generals von Witzleben, von Hammerstein, Lurtz, and von Leeb have all refused to support us or send reinforcements to Frankfurt. They say the Nazis have started a counterattack and they have no troops to spare.”
The Free Corps was marching on Frankfurt right now, yet the numerous generals in this room had no troops to stop a citizen army led by a mere major.
“Haha, hahahahaha!”
Amid the stunned silence, August von Mackensen burst into hearty laughter.
Only the sound of Mackensen’s laughter echoed through the quiet meeting room where no one else dared to speak.
“We, who claimed to be loyal subjects of the Empire, are driving this Germany to ruin.”
His laughter subsided, and Mackensen summed up the situation in a single sentence, a hollow smile on his face.
“How pathetic life becomes when an old man gets greedy.”
Dr. Goerdeler could not lift his head.
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September 21, 1939
Frankfurt, 9th Military District, Central Germany
At an hour when the city would normally be settling into a quiet slumber, Frankfurt was in an uproar, teeming with an enormous crowd.
“For the freedom of Germany, advance!”
“W-we surrender! We surrender!”
The elite of the new government, the old Wehrmacht, were mostly on the front lines against the Nazis, led by Generals von Witzleben, von Hammerstein, Lurtz, and von Leeb.
Therefore, the rear areas, including Frankfurt, had only a small number of troops loyal to the Junkers. The rest were mostly members of the Free Corps.
The monarchists of the Black Orchestra had repeated the same mistake they made in the original history.
The biggest reason Stauffenberg and the Black Orchestra failed was their delusion that the capital's reserve army would obey their orders simply because they had seized command authority through Operation Valkyrie.
And this time, too, they believed that by seizing the new government's leadership and the radio station, they could command the Free Corps.
But the vast majority of the Free Corps were volunteers who had responded to the call for anti-dictatorship and freedom that I and the new government radio had championed.
How naive was their assumption that the Free Corps would follow their orders just because they held the authority of the army high command.
“If they surrender, just subdue them! There’s no need for pointless bloodshed!”
“Yes, sir!”
Not only were the military government's forces ridiculously outnumbered compared to ours, but they also seemed to sense that things had already gone wrong, offering almost no resistance.
If anything, our forces were growing as we marched toward Frankfurt, with more and more Free Corps members joining us—a strange phenomenon indeed.
Operation Freiheit (Freedom) was nothing complicated. We lacked the time to draw up a detailed plan, and the Free Corps itself had a severe shortage of officers to command its vast numbers.
So, all we did was issue a simultaneous order to all Free Corps units to advance on Frankfurt.
That, combined with the *Frankfurter Zeitung* article I had hastily circulated, was enough to gather a citizen army that blanketed the entire city. At this point, even I had no idea how large our force was.
At this moment, they needed no commander, no detailed operational plan.
Their spirit of resistance, their will to fight against the military dictatorship and the Nazis who were dragging Germany into war, was their command and their plan.
“All of Frankfurt has been secured!”
“Good work.”
It’s good that it was quick and smooth, but this feels a little too easy.
The siege of the new government building was complete, but I had somewhere else to go first.
I stepped alone into a two-story mansion surrounded by the citizen army.
“You’ve come.”
Guided by a frightened servant, I entered the second floor to find the Crown Prince sipping brandy, looking down at the sea of citizens outside the window and the waves of the German Republic's black-red-gold flag they were waving.
No, is he no longer the Crown Prince?
“You knew about the coup, didn’t you?”
The Crown Prince, no, Emperor Wilhelm III, swirled the brandy in his glass, took a sip, and smirked.
“Well, I might recall overhearing some nonsensical chatter.”
For the Crown Prince, whose offer of an alliance I had rejected, the next best thing to a constitutional monarchy was the success of the hardline monarchists' coup.
He must have hoped that if the monarchists brought back Wilhelm II, he could control him as much as possible and inherit the German crown with minimal trouble.
Failing that, he could be crowned emperor himself when the attempt to bring back Wilhelm II failed, just as he was now.
“I would like to thank you for at least not rashly supporting the military government.”
“Ah.”
If he had, it would have been the end of everything, constitutional monarchy and all. But he had shown no support.
And because of that, we had to recognize him as our nominal monarch.
Even now, the generals fighting the approaching Nazis without joining the military government's coup were, for the most part, monarchists. If we were to depose a legitimate emperor who hadn't even participated in the rebellion, many of the remaining senior officers in the Wehrmacht would cease to follow us.
But that was that. I was still quite displeased with him.
“Thanks to you, Germany is now in a position where it must either depose Your Majesty or face war. Was this what you wanted?”
Without a word, Wilhelm poured brandy into another glass and gestured for me to come closer.
He really isn't an easy man to deal with. As I approached, he handed me the glass and asked.
“So, are you going to depose me?”
Although it was the military government that did it, the proclamation was ultimately made through Ludwig Beck, the Imperial Regent of the new government, so we couldn't very well do that.
“Ha. I find you extremely disagreeable.”
As I took the glass, Wilhelm smiled faintly and clinked his glass against mine in a toast.
He took a sip and spoke again.
“A pity, as I quite like you. The two of us simply placed our bets and rolled the dice.”
I wondered what this man considered a loss and what he considered a stake. The taste of the fine brandy felt quite bitter.
The Emperor, Wilhelm III, gazed at the surging crowds outside the window and slowly closed his eyes.
“The times have changed. I admit it, you’ve won.”
He drained the remaining brandy in his glass and let it drop, shattering it on the floor.
Was this the end of an era?
Feeling the brandy burn hotly down my throat, I let my own glass fall and shatter. Wilhelm turned to me, his smile gone, replaced by the face of an emperor.
“As the rightful Emperor of the House of Hohenzollern, I hereby intend to appoint your father, Hjalmar Schacht, as Chancellor, and you, Dietrich Schacht, as Vice-Chancellor. I grant you the authority to form and lead an emergency wartime cabinet until the day all of Germany is reclaimed and a democratic government is established by the will of the people.”
Wilhelm III looked at me with solemn eyes and extended the back of his hand.
“As the Chancellor-designate is currently absent, I shall receive your oath. Dietrich Schacht, do you accept the position of Vice-Chancellor and swear to devote your all to serve in the face of the crisis our fatherland confronts?”
Since I wouldn't marry into the imperial family, he appoints my father as Chancellor and me as Vice-Chancellor instead.
His obsession with the chancellorship was almost absurd, but the man certainly knew how to scheme.
There was no turning back now. With the situation spiraling into the abyss, we couldn't afford to worry about procedures.
To create this mess and then offer a favor I couldn't refuse—what a detestable man to the very end—
I kissed the back of his hand.
“I accept with pleasure, Your Majesty.”
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