German Red Prince

Page 199

Manstein's promotions were like rockets; he had just been promoted to colonel not long ago, and not long after, another document came in, promoting him from colonel to major general.

While others congratulated Manstein, he himself felt no joy whatsoever. What time was it now? The Rhine army was poised to attack, and Prussia was clearly on its last legs. What good was being promoted to major general? Even being promoted to marshal wouldn't have made a difference.

"Being a major general isn't an easy job."

Manstein gave a wry smile. This time, in addition to promoting him to major general, the document also appointed him as the garrison commander of Berlin.

Ludendorff spoke very casually, saying that with great power comes great responsibility, and that appointing him as the commander of the Berlin garrison was an honor.

Prussia had no great generals, so Manstein had to be the vanguard. The only unit to escape from the encirclement of the Rhine was Manstein's performance, which showed that he was indeed capable of this important task, both in terms of reaction speed and strategic thinking.

Ludendorff was already preparing to leave Berlin. Although he had recently said he would die at the Brandenburg Gate, it was just talk, and no one took it seriously.

He has already begun a series of adjustments to shift blame, handing over overall command to Rundstedt and the defense of Berlin to Manstein, completely absolving himself of responsibility.

That's right. Although Ludendorff suffered defeats after taking over the war, as long as the last defeat was not commanded by him, it had nothing to do with him.

What does the surrender agreement signed by Rundstedt have to do with Ludendorff? As long as he wasn't the one who signed the surrender agreement, then he wasn't a traitor to the German nation.

Even if they were to flee, they couldn't do it now. The Rhine was still hundreds of kilometers away. If they fled now, wouldn't that make the marshal look like a coward?

As Rhine's forwards drew closer to Berlin, Ludendorff had to act increasingly "heroic," with propaganda everywhere proclaiming that Field Marshal Ludendorff was inspecting defenses in various parts of Berlin and was determined to live and die with the city.

"Marshal, there are already objections in Eastern Europe. If we continue to deploy troops there, I'm afraid we won't be able to control them."

I had just finished inspecting a defensive position in Berlin when I returned to hear this unpleasant news: Eastern European and Baltic countries have begun to express their dissatisfaction.

So many Eastern European soldiers were sent there, but not a single one returned. In fact, Prussia's disadvantage grew as the war progressed. Since they couldn't win, why drag Eastern European troops into filling the gaps? Who will speak up for them?

Why were the dictators in Eastern Europe able to maintain their rule? Wasn't it because they relied on the violent machine of the army? Ludendorff conscripted soldiers in batches, but who would help them suppress the local people?

Furthermore, what is the relationship between Eastern European countries and Germany? Why should they shed blood for Germany, and so much at that? The Germans are fighting their own wars, yet they expect them to risk their lives; they shouldn't be selling their blood like this.

"Hmph, these guys, they've only conscripted a few soldiers, and they're already jumping up and down, getting anxious."

“These Eastern European countries, we, the German Empire, fought against Tsarist Russia on the Eastern Front and helped them to be liberated from the oppression of the Russian Empire. Without us, they would still be slaves of Russia today.”

"The German Empire has protected them for so long, what's wrong with sending some soldiers? If Prussia wins, will they be shortchanged?"

Ludendorff complained here that Eastern Europe was his base of operations, where he was in charge during the war and spent so much time pacifying the intricate network of relationships there.

It would be quite dangerous for him to keep sending troops from there to grind the Germans into a pulp. The German Empire's victory would benefit them greatly, and the key is that they can win.

Power has essentially been handed over, and Ludendorff is now preparing for the second phase of the war. The Rhine has defeated Prussia, and that will certainly be the end of it. He also needs to focus on post-war reconstruction and cannot spare the energy to continue attacking Eastern Europe.

Eastern Europe had not been ravaged by war. Although there were bandits, they were minor issues. The industrial system was largely intact. As long as Ludendorff went back and reorganized it, they could continue to harass Germany and prevent it from rebuilding.

If the international situation changes, Ludendorff can travel from Eastern Europe back to his loyal Berlin.

“Tell them that I, Ludendorff, am grateful for the efforts of the Eastern European countries. Tell them not to be so anxious. I will gradually transfer the soldiers from Eastern Europe, and at the same time, I will also transfer some Prussian troops to Eastern Europe to assist in the defense. Eastern Europe is absolutely safe. Tell them not to worry.”

When we go back, we'll have drawn so much blood from Eastern Europe, and they're bound to be resentful. So this time, we need to establish our authority while also offering some benefits; otherwise, it won't be easy to deal with just Ludendorff going back alone.

He had to lead his troops back. Ludendorff would no longer draw troops from Eastern Europe, but instead allow Prussian soldiers to be stationed there. Only by having his own forces could he deter those dictators who believed in the supremacy of the strong.

Moreover, they also need to receive some benefits. Without benefits, why would they follow you? Those soldiers who are fighting desperately on the front lines become the best bargaining chips.

These soldiers, in their own right, are merely consumables on the battlefield; one more or one less makes no difference.

However, for those Eastern European countries, whoever died the most was considered to have made a greater contribution to Prussia, and this would serve as proof for future rewards and honors.

The family with the most deaths will receive the most compensation. In order to hinder the future reconstruction of Germany by the Rhine, Prussia and Germany will definitely be completely emptied out.

The old Reichsmark will be nothing but a piece of paper in the future. Ludendorff wanted to seize Germany's gold and empty the national treasury before the Rhineland reached Berlin, leaving nothing for the Rhineland.

Ludendorff was actively engaged in various activities here, preparing for his future counter-offensive, while Wilhelm II was also actively connecting with the old Junker aristocracy.

These people would never be willing to go to Eastern Europe with Ludendorff. We are the Plain Black Banner. What qualifications does he have to point fingers at these old nobles?

In fact, Ludendorff also knew about William's plan, but he did not stop him. If William went to Africa, he could raise a considerable army by relying on this banner.

For the Rhine, Africa was certainly a threat as well. Sending William to Africa was far more valuable than going with him to Eastern Europe. If they went with him to Eastern Europe, it would be hard to guarantee that no one would use William II's name to do anything.

Since he was going, Ludendorff supported him. They were a mess when they were together, but scattered when they were apart. If William managed to escape, he could give the Rhine a good thrashing.

Rundstedt took over an incredibly fragile defensive line, and Ludendorff not only refused to give him any troops, but also wanted to go to the front lines to draw more soldiers back.

They were supposed to be returning to defend Berlin, but when they arrived in Berlin, they didn't even stop; they were immediately taken to Eastern Europe.

Schleswig has been completely occupied by the Rhine, and the Rhine army at the front has begun to exert its strength. There is very bad news: the Rhine army has occupied Wolf.

Brunswick and Magdeburg appear to still have many soldiers stationed there, but in reality, Ludendorff has already drawn most of them away.

Rundstedt, now a lone commander, can only hope that his remaining soldiers can hold off the Rhine in Brandenburg for a while, allowing those who are meant to leave Berlin to leave, at which point his mission will be accomplished.

449. Berlin Underground Station

The Rhine revolutionary army showed no signs of stopping. After liberating Wolf, they continued to advance. It was almost impossible for Rundstedt to maintain the entire defensive line with these stretched-out troops.

The revolutionary army was fighting very well on the front lines, which was inseparable from the help of underground workers in various regions, especially those in Berlin.

Before the outbreak of the war, the Gestapo had been deployed to various regions of Prussia to hide, and these people are now supporting the entire war from underground.

The Rhine Revolutionary Government obtained a lot of important intelligence from them and won many key battles. At this time, underground work is quite dangerous.

Prussia was aware that it had been infiltrated by the Rhine, and adhering to the principle of better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free, it began a large-scale manhunt within Prussian territory.

They arrested many people by mistake, but the scope of their arrests was too broad. Now that the war was in its later stages, Prussia was desperate. Ludendorff was even preparing to flee, and the Gestapo officers who had been imprisoned were being systematically executed.

Although intelligence gathering in Prussia was dangerous, someone had to do it. The most dangerous place in all of Prussia was probably Berlin, the enemy's headquarters and the heart of German imperialism.

The intelligence that can be obtained in Berlin is extremely crucial and valuable, so it is necessary to assign a trustworthy and reliable person to it. Since Adolf was willing to stay in Berlin, he is naturally in charge here.

Goebbels greatly admired Adolf, and after taking office in Frankfurt, he recommended Adolf to lead the work of the Socialist Labour Party in Cologne, but Adolf declined.

There were many signs before the Rhine and Prussia officially went to war. According to the Rhine's arrangements, Adolf closed the store that Thorne had opened in Berlin.

It's no longer safe here. Once war breaks out, we'll definitely be targeted. We should close the stores and lay low for a while, then find another base in Berlin.

After Prussia declared war on the Rhine, Hess indeed began to investigate Rhine assets in Berlin, and Adolf lost contact with the Rhine, specifically with Thorne, and Goebbels became his contact person.

This situation was not good for Adolf, who remained in Berlin. In the early stages, Rhineland even showed signs of being unable to cope. Fortunately, it was Adolf in Berlin who stabilized the morale of the underground station in Berlin.

The Rhine revolutionary army was getting closer and closer to Berlin, and the liberation of Berlin was inevitable. As the head of the Gestapo and KGB in Berlin, Adolf was systematically infiltrating Berlin. It is no exaggeration to say that he had "all the connections" in Berlin.

It seems Thorne has also developed new skills for Adolf; besides being a great speaker, he's also quite good at gathering intelligence.

Ludendorff cracked down hard on the Rhine spies, after all, it was on his orders.

Just like destroying Hanover and Hamburg, he could give the order and then run away, leaving others to bear the name of a sinner for all time.

It seems like Rhine is about to win the war. What's the point of sending people to arrest Rhine spies if they arrest too many? Will they then be sentenced to prison? Let's see how many bullets they have to face.

Overall, Adolf was relatively safe in Berlin. The Prussian government became increasingly incompetent as time went on, and many people tried to contact Adolf through various channels.

Adolf had received information from various sources that Berlin was almost a ghost town, and Ludendorff was planning to transport Berlin's gold out of the country, with troops being deployed eastward.

Looking at the map on the table, Adolf could roughly guess what Ludendorff was up to: transporting troops and useful supplies to Eastern Europe. He was still not giving up and wanted to make a comeback.

The Rhine troops are advancing rapidly, but they are still some distance from Berlin, and the news must be reported to Frankfurt.

Thorne's first battle after transmigrating was in Poland. Wilhelm II annexed Poland into the Empire with a wave of his hand, and now Ludendorff has changed Poland into a governorate and sent people there to arrange related matters.

Rundstedt was in charge of the war on the front lines, while Ludendorff was busy behind the scenes manipulating things in Eastern Europe. It seemed like he wanted to integrate the Eastern European countries of the Imperial Pact into an Eastern European Federation.

The phrase "died at the Brandenburg Gate" will surely become Berlin slang. Ludendorff could be anywhere, but not in Berlin. What part of his mind was at the Brandenburg Gate?

Rundstedt and Manstein became firefighters, both of whom were militarily capable, but unfortunately had no opportunity to utilize their skills.

I'm fighting on the front lines, shouldn't you be helping me out from behind? But instead of helping, you keep making things difficult. The situation at the front is already terrible, and you're not giving us supplies or soldiers. Not only are you not giving us supplies, you're also pushing them back to the rear.

Even with immense talent, could the Commander-in-Chief lead a few regiments to fight against several enemy armies and win? If they could win, then Ludendorf wouldn't stand a chance.

The uprisings in Hamburg and Kiel gave Adolf a lot of inspiration, and Manstein actively planned the defense of Berlin. If a war really broke out, it would be easy, but after all, this was the heart of Germany.

After the war, in order to highlight his achievements, Wilhelm II ordered the reconstruction of Berlin. A large portion of the reparations from various countries was also spent on the reconstruction. It took nearly five years to transform Berlin into a city that the world longed for.

If a real war breaks out, Manstein's defenses probably won't last long. But would he surrender and peacefully take over Berlin? Probably not. The only hope is probably to disintegrate the city from within.

The idea of ​​launching an uprising in Berlin may sound unbelievable, but it is indeed feasible in practice.

Wilhelm II wanted to flee, Ludendorff wanted to flee, and to get them to escape, how many cannon fodder troops would be spared? Surely some of these troops defending Berlin didn't want to stay here and wait to die.

Do you want to perish with the old government, or do you want to cooperate with the new government? How many rebel armies fought their way through the Rhine? These people were all treated quite well.

Then why wait to die in Berlin? Who are they protecting? Those who were supposed to flee have already fled, so what are they protecting?

Adolf had two subordinates, Himmler and Ribbentrop. Himmler also owned a chicken farm, which was eventually seized by the Prussian government.

The brothers' winery and chicken farm were all seized, and they went bankrupt instantly.

Unable to find a way out, Ribbentrop was arrested by Prussia on some pretext. It was Adolf who came up with a solution for them. They had developed a lot of connections through business, which were perfect for intelligence work.

Ribbentrop was in the wine business and had a number of good quality wines, which allowed him to establish connections with the military.

Now is the time to use them. Through their connections, we can secretly win over officers of all ranks stationed in Berlin and unite more forces. The third uprising that Ludendorff could never find will break out in Berlin.

450. Instigation

Himmler and Ribbentrop were absolutely miserable.

I finally managed to make a name for myself in Berlin, but then the war broke out and all the supplies were regulated. If it was just regulation, that was fine; I could just wait until it was over.

However, as the war on the front lines continued to falter, the Prussian government became increasingly inhumane. When Himmler returned home that day, he was greeted by a group of stern-faced government officials who told him that his chicken farm had been forcibly requisitioned by the government.

With a large group of heavily armed, burly men standing there, could Himmler say such a thing? Could he refuse? He could only be forced to agree and contribute to the war effort.

After signing the document, the officer smiled at Himmler and said, "Well, you're one of those people who know how to be accommodating." He then symbolically gave Himmler two thousand marks.

Two thousand marks sounds like a lot, but that would be in peacetime. What is it now? Prussia is on the verge of defeat, and the mark has plummeted in value, becoming practically worthless.

The Reichsmark has collapsed, depreciating continuously since the start of the war; now the most valuable asset is the Rhinemark.

Below the Reichsmark were the Rhinemark, the Prussianmark, and the Bavarianmark. The German Empire seemed unified, but there were still several different currencies within the country. So even if this war didn't break out now, it would definitely break out in the future.

The Imperial Mark depreciated, and the Prussian Mark inevitably followed suit. With Bavaria gone, no one dared to buy the Bavarian Mark anymore.

The only thing Germany can hold onto right now is the Rhinemark. But if you used the Rhinemark in Prussia, you probably know what the consequences would be: you spend it in the morning, and someone might be knocking on your door in the afternoon.

Prussians were secretly exchanging their money for Rhinemarks. The price of the Imperial Mark changed every day. Some people had saved up money for half their lives, only to have it turn into worthless paper. Who could stand that?

Himmler had no one to turn to with those two thousand marks; what use was that worthless paper to him? Ribbentrop was in the same boat, but he was even worse off than Himmler.

Himmler did receive 2,000 marks, but during wartime, alcohol was definitely a controlled substance. They found a pretext to accuse Ribbentrop of bootlegging and arrested him. The distillery was also seized by the Prussian government.

Himmler and Ribbentrop had connected with Thorne early on, but they were primarily business partners, unlike Adolf.

These two men collaborated with Thorne for their business, including in Berlin and Adolf. They had no specific missions and simply traveled around doing business.

In retrospect, this was actually an advantage: both of them had clean backgrounds, traveled extensively throughout Berlin, and had a wide network of connections.

Now that Ribbentrop has been arrested, Himmler, his close friend, will surely come to Adolf if he can't find a way out. They've already been ruined by Prussia and are penniless, so why not start a revolution?

Himmler did indeed find Adolf and began to pour out his grievances, spouting "madness" without even having a drink, and utterly vilifying Prussia.

Since he hated Prussia so much, Himmler was eager to surrender after only a little prompting from Adolf. He wished Prussia would disappear tomorrow.

"Mr. Adolf, Joachim has been arrested by the Prussian government. Is there any way to get him out?"

“Prussia is in a state of high alert right now. The person who was arrested and imprisoned could very well be convicted while still in prison. It is very unsafe for him to be in there now.”

Compared to the original timeline where Himmler abandoned the shampoo boy and ran away after World War II, infuriating the mustachioed man, this timeline's Himmler clearly possesses exceptionally good character; he still remembers his good brother even now.

Speaking of the Berlin police, Adolf is quite animated; he had already established connections with the Berlin police a long time ago.

When Adolf's tavern was still open, these policemen frequented it. After Goebbels left, the workers' study groups became smaller and no longer needed the police to keep watch, but they still came as usual.

In Berlin's police department, Adolf was constantly thinking about how to breach Prussia's defenses from within. These Berlin police officers, though police, at least had combat capabilities, and perhaps he could try to win them over.

“Heinrich, don’t be nervous. I will handle Joachim’s matter. However, I will need your help afterward.”

"Rest assured, Mr. Adolf, as long as we can bring down Prussia, I will do everything in my power, even at the cost of my life!"

“There’s no need to make it so drastic.” Adolf smiled after hearing this. “Mr. Heinrich, all I need is your connections, and then I can do a little bit of manipulation.”

After Himmler agreed, Adolf also went to the police station to bail him out. These days, no one has an easy time, including these policemen. Why risk their lives for a few hundred marks a month?

Moreover, the mark has depreciated significantly, and Berlin is quite insecure, with the Rhineland threatening to invade. Who knows what might happen then?

"Sheriff York, someone is looking for you."

An officer walked into the office to report to York, and a man outside said he was an old friend of Sheriff York.

"An old friend?"