German Red Prince

Page 121

Hindenburg was merely a figurehead; the real power holder, Ludendorff, controlled every procedure and government decision from the shadows. Thus, although Ludendorff worked in his small office, that office held a far greater position and influence than the Kaiser's office at the time.

The German Empire was the world's number one power after the war, and Ludendorff, who controlled this great ship of Germany, became one of the most powerful people in all of Europe, surpassing his wartime partner Hindenburg.

The war was a major reason for Ludendorff and Hindenburg's rise to power, and also a major reason for their ability to remain in power. After the British Revolution in 1921, the world war was essentially coming to an end, and Ludendorff and Hindenburg's prestige began to decline.

The war was their only reason to continue ruling, because the war was over, and Hindenburg and Ludendorff began to fight for power in the government. At this time, the various political parties within the government achieved unprecedented unity and began to attack the military government. From the far right to the left, democrats began to criticize the military government. Of course, the Kaiser also played an irreplaceable role in achieving such unity.

Nationalists accused the government of failing to achieve its war objectives in the West and Asia, failing to completely defeat Britain and France, and failing to reclaim Asian colonies to their satisfaction. Left-leaning parties, on the other hand, accused the two men of being power-hungry usurpers who disregarded Germany's democratic constitution.

As the saying goes, "When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down," and more and more people began to criticize Hindenburg and Ludendorff. So, in 1923, when news of the Eastern Aid scandal and the failure of the Polish border project reached Berlin, the time had come.

Less than a week after the incident occurred, Ludendorff and Hindenburg were personally dismissed by Wilhelm II.

Wilhelm II reshuffled the German military very quickly. Hindenburg's position as chief of staff was taken over by Wilhelm Groner, while Ludendorff was stripped of all his power and "retired with honor."

Alfred von Tirpitz, who played a key role in dealing with the Ludendorff dictatorship, was appointed Reichstag, and democratic elections were held for the first time since 1912.

A coalition of nationalists, liberals, and conservatives, led by Tirpitz, declared their intention to lead Germany forward for the next decade.

Political struggles are a matter of life and death. Would former losers give up so easily?

Wilhelm II is getting old, and the conflict between him and Tirpitz is widening. Previously, Tirpitz and Wilhelm II had the support of most people because the German economy was booming, but now, everything is changing.

The venomous snake retracted its head, not out of fear, but in preparation for an attack. After five years of dormancy, it was time to make a comeback.

Chapter 214 The Unwilling Loser

Ludendorff was not one to readily admit defeat, as evidenced by his performance in several battles he commanded on the Eastern and Western Fronts.

Sometimes his retreat was not because he wanted to shrink his battle lines, but because he was accumulating strength to prepare for a more powerful offensive.

The experience on the battlefield improved Ludendorff's military skills and psychological resilience, so when he was sentenced, he was not greatly affected, because he had thought about this day when he began his dictatorship.

Ludendorff's downfall was one of the top headlines in newspapers around the world in 1923. Apart from Germany, the event was reported by most newspapers in the world. It can be said that at that time, the eyes of the world were on Germany, wanting to see how Germany would deal with this former war hero.

Because of their outstanding contributions in the war, Wilhelm II and the German government could not make things too difficult for Hindenburg and Ludendorff. Although their establishment of a dictatorial government severely damaged the political structure of the German Empire, they were not punished for such actions.

Amidst the global media spotlight, newspapers of all sizes across Germany flocked to Berlin to await the verdict. However, contrary to their expectations, the trial did not last long, and the international media did not receive the result they desired.

Ludendorff was not convicted of treason; the court only ruled that some of his political actions during his dictatorship were illegal, such as restricting citizens' political freedom.

Ironically, after the collapse of Ludendorff's dictatorship, German citizens' political freedoms were actually worse than before.

Ludendorff was relieved of his military command, followed by Hindenburg. Although they lost their military power, they retained the war honors they had received, which was equivalent to a glorious retirement. Ludendorff was also forced to leave the retirement home at Lake Starnberg in Bavaria and go to East Prussia to "retire" with Hindenburg.

Wilhelm II was traumatized by the two men. In order to monitor them, he arranged a large number of security personnel around their estate under the pretext of protecting their safety. People entering and leaving the estate every day had to be registered and checked.

Furthermore, there were strict management and restrictions on the identities of guests visiting the manor. First, military officers, especially high-ranking German military commanders, were completely prohibited from visiting. Second, high-ranking government officials were also strictly prohibited.

Only retired government officials and low-ranking military officers were allowed to visit the estate, and there was a daily limit on the number of visitors. The two officers were in poor health and could not receive too many guests in a day.

Although under close surveillance by the Kaiser, Ludendorff and Hindenburg seemed resigned to their fate, spending their days taking walks, hunting, and writing their memoirs at the estate. But this was only a facade, at least for Ludendorff. From beginning to end, Ludendorff harbored strong political ambitions and wanted to make a comeback.

Königsberg had a good environment, but because William was worried that Ludendorff was in contact with others and continuing to plot something, his estate was built in a very remote place.

Ludendorff's estate was backed by a forest and had a large lake nearby. When he had nothing to do, he would go into the forest with his hounds to hunt or go fishing by the river, where he could sit for a whole day.

Ludendorff also learned some skills here. Sometimes when he was feeling down or bored, he would take an axe to the edge of the forest to chop down trees. Over time, his woodworking skills improved rapidly, and he would give away his wooden handicrafts whenever someone came to visit.

Wilhelm II would also send people under the guise of checking on the couple's health to "visit" them. Everyone knew this was to monitor the couple for any unusual behavior, but each time the feedback indicated that the two were behaving very well and there was nothing else going on.

However, what they didn't know was that although Ludendorff was far away in Königsberg, his influence had already reached Berlin. Wilhelm II had blinded and deafened him, but he didn't know that he had already planted spies when he left Berlin.

It had just rained, and the soil was very moist. The land on the estate was very soft, and it felt as if water could be squeezed out of it when you stepped on it. Ludendorff stared solemnly at the large pit in front of him. He personally hammered the nails into the coffin and watched as the small coffin was lowered into the pit.

"General, our guests have arrived," the manor's steward reported to Ludendorff.

"Okay, call him over," Ludendorff said expressionlessly, holding a shovel in his hand.

"General."

The man bowed respectfully to Ludendorff, but Ludendorff did not respond and continued to stare at the coffin in the pit with his shovel.

"Farewell, my old friend." After a long silence, Ludendorff finally sighed.

"sit down."

He waved to the person who came, and the two of them sat down in front of the large pit.

Ludendorff remained silent, and the newcomer naturally said nothing either; he simply waited quietly.

“Barus had been with me for quite some time; he came with me to East Prussia.” Ludendorff sighed. “He was a loyal hunting dog, and I liked to take him hunting with me. With Barus, the catch was always several times better than usual. It’s just a pity that he died of old age.”

"What a pity, General Ludendorff," the visitor said regretfully.

"Who can argue with that? Barus is an excellent hunting dog. He has very sharp claws and teeth. Even if he leaves, he can survive perfectly well, and even live a better life."

Ludendorff stood up, picked up a shovel, and began filling the pit with soil, muttering to himself as he did so.

“When it was in its prime, I loved to carry it with me. It was my most prized weapon when I went hunting. It’s just a pity that it got old and its claws and teeth gradually deteriorated. After that, I gradually stopped liking to carry it with me when hunting, because it became a burden.”

"Later, Barus became so old that he could no longer walk. He lay on the blanket and could not even stand up. I decided to personally send him on his way."

“Once they lose their usefulness, no matter how much they were valued before, they will be abandoned without hesitation in the end.” After covering up the pit, Ludendorff wiped his sweat and sighed.

"What brings you here?" After filling the hole, Ludendorff looked at the Nazi Party member who had come to visit, the one he had planted when he left Berlin.

"Reporting to the general, Wilhelm II has fallen into a coma."

Upon hearing this from the Nazi Party member, Ludendorff's eyes lit up. He was not one to sit idly by and wait for his fate; when the opportunity arose, he would not hesitate to bare his fangs.

Chapter 215 The Night Before the Storm

What's the quickest way to get a group of men together?

One is women, and the other is politics. So where is the best place to discuss these two topics?

There are many options, but in Germany, the best place to discuss these two topics is a beer hall.

During the Enlightenment, French thinkers enjoyed gathering in cafes for cultural salons to discuss political views. Where there are people, there is politics, and beer halls also played an important role in the political development of Germany.

Just like the beer hall Thorne renovated in Berlin, this was his political headquarters in the Berlin area and the "front line of the revolution." The Stasi's branch in Berlin was also directly managed by Heydrich, and all intelligence received was reported directly to Thorne without going through any intermediary channels.

With two legendary figures, Adolf and Goebbels, in charge, Thorne felt quite at ease. Goebbels' regular speeches were subtly influencing the workers in West Berlin, and with these workers as a base of support, it would be a little easier to continue his work in the future.

The KFC in Berlin can't be considered a traditional beer hall; it's more comprehensive and cheaper than other parts of Berlin.

KFC primarily offers fast food service, which is very friendly to workers because they don't have to spend a long time waiting for their lunch or dinner. Fast food is easier to carry and eat, giving them more time to rest.

The German Empire is currently experiencing economic downturn and social contradictions are becoming increasingly acute. These acute contradictions have led to the rise of resistance from the lower classes, which is a very bad sign. If the emotions of the masses are stirred up by those with ulterior motives, it will be extremely disastrous. In particular, the French Commune, once noticed by them and its organizers receiving funding from France, will likely instigate riots.

Sending police to arrest them and silence them was a foolish approach, as it would only intensify the people's resistance. The best approach was to appease them and divert attention.

Tirpitz revised the German Work Law, shortening the daily working hours. However, if you really look at it, the workers didn't actually benefit, because their rest time was reduced.

However, in any case, at least in this struggle, the people have "won" and are now able to leave work a little earlier than usual every day.

It was Thursday, and as everyone knows, KFC has promotions on Thursdays, so the restaurant was packed. The place was spacious with plenty of seating, and there was even a children's play area for families. This thoughtful service attracted many workers who had just finished get off work and were about to rest to sit down and relax. It was quite cheap to have a meal there anyway.

Where there are people, there is politics. As mentioned before, with so many people gathered here, mainly men, and they're drinking, the conversation inevitably veers towards politics. That's why beer halls have always been activity centers for various political parties.

Especially for some smaller political parties, if they get to know the tavern well, it becomes their vote bank, and the regulars there become their party's most loyal supporters.

KFC is a well-known place in the Berlin area with a huge customer flow, so it also attracts many small and medium-sized political parties to try their luck.

"Hello, Mr. Adolf." Sheriff York greeted Adolf familiarly as he entered.

"Sheriff York is here? We haven't had a class here in a long time. What's wrong? Is he here to keep watch again?" Adolf asked, half-jokingly.

"I'd like to keep an eye on things, that way I can come over every day and sneak in some donuts." Sheriff York chuckled, slapping the table impatiently. "The usual three things, isn't it Thursday? And two more servings of fried chicken."

“No problem, it will take a while. Why don’t you find a place to sit for a bit?” Adolf said to Sheriff York after finishing writing the form.

“No need, I’ll stand here for a while.” Taking the beer Adolf offered, Sheriff York leaned against the table and looked around.

"Where is Dr. Goebbels? I haven't seen him."

“Dr. Goebbels is out. He’s very busy these days. He doesn’t have time to stay in the tavern every day,” Adolf replied.

Goebbels' main job now is as an editor of the Rheinische Zeitung. His legal consulting firm is still open, but most of the work is handled by others. Goebbels goes out almost every day to investigate the situation at the grassroots level in Germany. This is also a task given to him by Thorne: to understand the situation in Berlin and strive to liberate Berlin at the lowest possible cost.

“Dr. Goebbels is certainly busy,” Sheriff York couldn’t help but remark, glancing around the restaurant again. “Oh? Where’s Miss Eva? Why isn’t she here?”

Eva usually helps out here at this time, but Sheriff York didn't see her today.

“There have been some things going on at school lately, so Eva has been coming home quite late,” Adolf explained.

"You're back late? You'd better be careful then," Chief Inspector York warned. "Let me tell you, although the security situation in Berlin has improved a lot recently, it's still quite dangerous at night. We just caught one recently."

"I'll be careful, thank you for reminding me." Adolf didn't say much after hearing this, he just nodded.

"Your food has arrived. Enjoy your meal."

"Thank you."

After taking the tray, Sheriff York found a place to sit down. He had to admit, it was quite comfortable to sit here after get off work.

"Get out of here! Nobody wants to support your party!"

Just as Chief York was about to enjoy his meal, a discordant sound erupted from the restaurant, followed by laughter from the crowd, interrupting his enjoyment of the food.

"Get down here, nobody here will support you!"

Some people below were jeering. Sheriff York didn't know what had happened, but he saw a man with a flushed face jump off his chair and leave the tavern.

"What happened?" Sheriff York asked the person next to him.

"That man told us to support Auster, but who doesn't know how that factory owner exploits his workers?"

"Humph."

Hearing this, Sheriff York laughed. This guy must be a fool, coming here to campaign for votes. You know, most of the people here are workers. It would be a miracle if he could get any support.

His words also reminded Sheriff York that the Imperial Parliament would soon hold another round of elections. Although everyone knew that the top few established parties would remain unchanged, the smaller parties still had to fight for a chance, as they would at least have some say in the elections.

“I prefer the National Socialist Party; at least this party truly cares about people like us,” the man added.

"National Socialist Party?"

Sheriff York had also heard of this party; he didn't know when it had emerged, but it had considerable influence at the grassroots level and might very well gain a seat in Parliament in the upcoming election.

But what does this have to do with him? Sheriff York shrugged and continued to enjoy the food on the table.

The eve of the storm was so peaceful that no one cared.

Chapter 216 Planting Mines

"Tell me, what's going on?"

Ludendorff put down his shovel and went to the lakeside to ask the Nazi Party member about the situation.

"We don't know the specifics of the situation. The palace has strictly controlled the news, and the only thing they've said to the outside world is that the Emperor is unwell."

"When did this happen?"

"It was earlier today, around five or six o'clock."

"You guys found out pretty quickly, huh?"

"Of course, isn't this all thanks to your arrangements at the time, General?"

This member of the National Socialist Party offered a small compliment, which made Ludendorff laugh out loud. Indeed, these were all arrangements he had made back then.

As a dictator, how could he not have a few backup plans? Ludendorff placed many people in the government, and although these were nominal positions, they were very well-informed.

"It seems His Majesty is getting old," Ludendorff remarked after laughing. Although he didn't know the reason for Wilhelm II's coma, he was certain that if there was a first time, there would be a second. He was certain that Wilhelm II's health was not as good as before.

"After William fell into a coma, who handled things in Berlin?"

"General, it is Chancellor Tirpitz."

"Oh? His Majesty trusts him that much?"

Ludendorff was somewhat surprised that, after a series of provocations, Wilhelm II's desire for power was extremely strong, and he was actually willing to relinquish power to Tirpitz.

Although Tirpitz played a significant role in bringing him down, William would never trust him because of that.

"No, General. His Majesty William did not give any instructions, but it is said that before he fainted, he called out the name of a young officer and told him to come over."

If that's the case, then Wilhelm II's coma this time might be an unexpected accident. Ludendorff pondered in his heart that although it was an accident, it was very fatal for Wilhelm II. After he woke up, he would definitely carry out the next power arrangement to prevent any changes from happening when he fell into a coma again.

"You said His Majesty called a young man over while he was unconscious? What was that person's name?"