German Red Prince

Page 85

"Hasn't the French Republic been making some moves lately? They even went to see Emperor Wilhelm, it seems they want to curry favor with us, so why don't we go and help them out?"

"The relationship between the Ottomans and Germany was never good to begin with, so it wouldn't have been bad for us if France attacked the Ottomans, and it wouldn't have been a conflict of interest for Germany if we went to help the French Republic."

“Since William has not made any move, he has tacitly approved of the conflict between France and the Ottomans. We can provide them with assistance, but we need France to do something for us.”

"We will provide France with some of the latest weapons, but they must first arm the troops stationed on Corsica with these weapons, and increase the number of warships sent to patrol Corsica."

"By having the French Republic exert pressure on the Commune from behind, the Commune's actions against us will certainly be delayed, and then we will have enough time to make arrangements."

After hearing Thorne's plan, everyone was relieved, realizing that this young man had quite a few ideas.

King Otto breathed a sigh of relief. He had sent Thorne over so that he could come up with some ideas to convince the old generals, as some of the bad ideas he had just heard had terrified him.

“We old folks are only analyzing things from a tactical perspective. His Highness, on the other hand, has a far-sighted view and can resolve this matter diplomatically.” Folbeck smiled. Thorne approached the issue from a broader perspective, using the conflict between the two Frances to delay the Commune’s plans.

If France makes any move in North Africa, the Commune's attention will certainly be drawn to it. The Commune's troops are all engaged in a standoff with Germany. If the Republic were to suddenly land in the south of the Commune, the entire Commune could collapse instantly.

Previously, we had been thinking about how to strategize between Germany and France. The overall situation was that France would attack and Germany would defend. Now that Thorne has come up with this idea, they can break out of this situation and use the law to control the law.

Chapter 131 A Letter of Recommendation from Berlin

Thorne's proposal to use the French Republic to deal with the French Commune received the support of many generals.

This method is currently the fastest way to get out of the predicament, and if it is actually implemented, there may be unexpected benefits.

Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Thorne pressed on, pointing towards North Africa and continuing his charade.

“In North Africa, Ottoman rule is becoming increasingly unpopular, and Egypt, now one of the strongest powers in North Africa, hopes that the Ottomans will suffer a setback.”

"If the Ottoman influence in North Africa disappears, it will undoubtedly be a good thing for Egypt. Although the Ottomans have declined, their control over the Arab region remains very strong."

"If we help France, firstly, Egypt will not interfere, secondly, their goodwill towards Germany will increase, and perhaps we can even find friends in the Arabian Peninsula."

Thorne knew how rich the oil resources were in the Arabian Peninsula; if he could get in touch with them, half of Germany's crude oil problem could be solved.

Previously, due to German intervention, the Ottomans did not fully control the entire Arab region, and many tribes on the peninsula still resisted their rule. If they could cooperate with them and help these tribes break free from the empire's control, the benefits would certainly be substantial.

“Moreover, our entry into the game can also serve as a deterrent to the French Republic, preventing them from moving forward.” Thorne pointed in the direction of Cyrenaica. “A few days ago, there were also people secretly contacting Germany in Cyrenaica. Their intentions were very clear: the Ottomans were also involved.”

“Cyrenaica was a good entry point. The locals wanted to break free from Ottoman rule. If a war broke out between the Ottomans and France, Cyrenaica would definitely have to conscript a large number of soldiers, which is why they sought help from the Germans.”

"We don't need to directly intervene in the war between the Ottomans and France. We can sell arms to both sides, and it would be best if they fought to a draw. But we can directly send troops to Cyrenaica."

"Germany cannot directly intervene in a war between two countries, otherwise it will definitely cause diplomatic problems. However, we can start with Cyrenaica's war of independence."

"An independence war has no diplomatic disputes. We can send volunteer troops and, incidentally, give our colonies in Africa a good talking-to."

The current tensions between France and the Ottoman Empire present a good opportunity for Germany to wade into troubled waters. If they seize this opportunity, Germany might be able to establish a foothold in North Africa.

“These are good ideas. We can report them to Berlin and then make preparations.”

Hearing this, Thorne was somewhat displeased. Why did William take all the benefits? If he reported this to William, all of these things would be his. North Africa was a crucial piece that Thorne had to take.

Helping Cyrenaica break free from Ottoman control and achieve national independence would allow Thorne to become a familiar face in North Africa, giving him a potential ally. Given that the German revolution would be a world-class event, having a foothold in North Africa wouldn't be a bad thing.

Besides, William probably isn't interested in North Africa. With Central Africa under his control, he doesn't care about other places. Cyrenaica is such a poor place that it's probably not even worth the cost of taking action. Even if the report is submitted, he probably won't have any thoughts about it.

"We don't actually need to wait for Berlin to take action; we can do it ourselves."

Thorne's words surprised the generals below the stage. If they took action without waiting for Berlin, it would be difficult to explain later.

"Even if we report to Berlin, Emperor Wilhelm may not take our advice. People from the French Republic and Cyrenaica went to Berlin recently, but they were turned away. What's the point of us waiting for them to take action?"

"William was just thinking of using Rhine's strength, wasn't he? Compared to the Commune, we are probably their biggest enemy. Otherwise, why didn't they arrive on time during the great battle?"

It is common knowledge that they failed to arrive on time during the great battle.

At the time, Wilhelm declared war on the Allied Powers on behalf of Germany, but at the very beginning of the war, although the Prussian army was fully mobilized, it did not actually go to the battlefield.

The mobilized army just sat there watching the show. During the two-month border war from August to September, the main force that Prussia had promised to send did not appear at all on the front lines.

Wilhelm used precious time in the early stages of the war to wear down the Rhine Kingdom, which was essentially the German version of "pacifying the country before resisting external aggression".

They only mobilized Prussia's main force to go to the front lines after both sides had fought to a standstill, by which time the Rhine had already lost tens of thousands of troops.

Not only in this matter, but also during the years of the stalemate in the war, especially during the years when Germany was at a disadvantage, Berlin and the Allied Powers were exchanging glances.

There are reports that if Germany had been defeated, Wilhelm was willing to exchange the Rhineland for an armistice, including the Rhineland demilitarized zone and the Ruhr region for reparations.

However, with Germany's victory, the veracity of these reports has become uncertain. But if they are true, and Germany is defeated, Wilhelm can shift all the blame to the Rhineland. Perhaps only the Kingdom of the Rhineland will suffer, and Wilhelm II will not have to flee to the Netherlands.

The demilitarized zone of the Rhine and the administration of the Ruhr region could wipe the Rhine back to square one overnight. At that point, it would probably no longer be Hitler's struggle, but rather the struggle of the Rhine.

However, under such harsh conditions, it's unlikely they would achieve anything significant, and the final outcome would probably be that Prussia would take over.

“Prussia was already so dishonest back then, we don’t need to wait for their news anymore. Besides, our actions in North Africa have not violated the original Proclamation of the Three Kings.”

"The Kingdom of the Rhine has a certain degree of diplomatic autonomy, so we do not directly participate in the war between France and the Ottomans. We sell arms to both sides. Is there a problem with doing business?"

"We also have a way to deal with Cyrenaica. If Cyrenaica wants to get rid of Ottoman rule, it must first eliminate the Ottoman forces in the country. That will definitely lead to a civil war in their country."

“We can intervene in the war under the pretext of protecting Rhine businesses and citizens in Cyrenaica and help Cyrenaica gain independence. North Africa is a small place and can’t cause much trouble, so we don’t need to send many people and it won’t attract attention.”

“With our intervention, the war will probably not be too difficult. Moreover, our reason for intervening in the war has changed from helping Cyrenaica gain independence to protecting local Rhine businesses and citizens, which makes the deployment of troops more reasonable and less abrupt.”

"At the same time, by intervening in the war on this grounds, we can also use the excuse of continuing to protect and restore enterprises to establish a long-term presence in the region, allowing the Kingdom to gain a foothold there. The Kingdom of Rhine also has its own interests."

Upon hearing Thorne's words, the crowd fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter.

“Your Highness is right, the Rhine also has its own interests.” Vörbek nodded. He felt comfortable with what he said. When he ran for governor of Central Africa, all the candidates in the end were Prussians. Even though he had made countless military achievements in Africa, his identity as a member of the Kingdom of the Rhine excluded him.

In the vast colonies controlled by Germany, Prussians always held key positions, which is why Völbeck returned home from Africa.

When you need him, they treat you like royalty; when you don't, they just throw you aside. When you need his help, they're like brothers to you, but when it's time to run for governor, they all disappear.

Therefore, the current Germany has only achieved nominal unification, and the internal relationships within Germany in this timeline are much more complex than in the original timeline.

Germany has not achieved complete unification, and the three kingdoms each have their own conflicts. As things stand now, Thorne feels that the relationship between the three kingdoms is somewhat similar to that between Scotland, England, and Wales.

The relationship between the Kingdom of the Rhine and Prussia is somewhat like that between Scotland and England. Although they are within the same country, the other side is happy to see one side suffer a setback.

After discussing the North African operations, Thorne then turned his attention to the funds Wilhelm would provide for building the defensive lines. Although the Kaiser said he would take funds from the Central Bank and give them to the Rhine for the construction of the defenses, Thorne estimated that they would not actually provide much.

He had previously instructed Heydrich to pass on intelligence about the Commune's plans to deal with Germany, so that the Kaiser would not suddenly cut off funding one day.

Why not take this money? Besides, who knows if 500,000 marks will be enough to buy bread in the future? Shouldn't we save money to buy bread now?

He presented the various intelligence he had gathered, and Thorne was about to explain the Commune's intentions to everyone. This intelligence had all been obtained by the Stasi from various sources.

The Stasi have now become the kingdom's largest intelligence agency, and with Thorne's support, they can rival the Empire's intelligence services.

"The commune caused quite a stir a while ago, which made the people of the Rhine Kingdom very uneasy. When I came back, I also found that there were soldiers patrolling everywhere. It seems that the commune really did us a lot of trouble."

"Indeed, the Commune was very good at intelligence. It is said that during the British Revolution, they had infiltrated the British government so thoroughly that Paris always got the intelligence before London."

"We have very little intelligence about France and cannot accurately deduce their true intentions. We can only strengthen our own defenses."

At this point, Chief of the General Staff William Heyer spoke up. He was in charge of the border defenses, so he was the most qualified to speak on the possibility of a French attack.

"Based on my deduction, France is most likely to launch a war in the Alsace region. Combined with the intelligence I obtained from French agents, I suggest strengthening the defenses in this region. France has spent a lot of money building its defenses, and we cannot fall behind. If we want to fight a protracted war, Germany will definitely be the final victor."

“General, if we all know that Germany will be the final victor in a protracted war, doesn’t the Commune know that?” Thorne walked toward the map.

"Why did the commune spend so much money to build a defensive line? Abolishing the treaty would have allowed him to do many things. Don't you all think this defensive line was built just for our benefit?"

Building a defensive line in the Alsace-Lorraine region is impossible. Thorne would definitely pass this hot potato back to France. How could Thorne allow himself to expend so much effort here?

"France was defeated in the war, but it still had huge colonies. Now it has none of its colonies. Do you think it will use the same old tactics?"

"So I suspect that the Maginot Line was a hoax." Thorne took out the intelligence and began to explain to everyone, "After the defeat, France began to look for a completely new way of fighting. They started to use tanks. France's current strength cannot support it to fight for a long time as before, so what they want is a quick victory."

"The Maginot is just a way for France to lull us into a false sense of security. Its real purpose is to cover up the tank units that are secretly researching. When war breaks out, while we are still waiting on the front line, France may break through in an unexpected place."

“When the French attack comes, it’s most likely not from the south, but from the north.” Thorne pointed to the Ardennes. “The French are most likely to break through from this direction. When our main force is in the south, they will suddenly appear behind us from here.”

Upon hearing this, the generals below looked on incredulously. Break through from here? Was this terrain suitable for the French tank unit? This was all jungle; how could tanks possibly get through here?

"When it comes to the study of French tanks, none of us can compare to one person, Lieutenant Colonel Guderian, whom I invited from Berlin. His research on tanks far surpasses ours."

"He is currently teaching at the Charlemagne Military Academy. His research focuses on the same area as France: the use of tanks, specifically whether tanks can pass through the Ardennes Forest. You can refer to his analysis report."

The report from a lieutenant colonel was still not entirely believed, but since the man had been invited by Thorne, he must have some exceptional abilities. This also reminded them that they were only concerned with the south, and if the commune attacked from the direction of Belgium, it would be a troublesome matter.

"After the last defeat, France is unlikely to spend money on the defense line. They are trying to wear us down. If we finally manage to build the defense line, they will bypass it. Wouldn't that be a waste of money? They would be better off using that money for something else."

"Therefore, I propose that the Kingdom of Rhine should also establish its own armored force. We should not disperse our tanks, but concentrate them into an iron fist."

"As for the defense line, we can just repair it however we want and make a big fuss to make the French think we've been tricked. This way, we can get funding from Berlin, and then we can use that funding to build our own armored division."

Listening to Thorne, everyone felt that only the last sentence was sincere, and that he was saying all this just to get free funding from Berlin. But what Thorne said also made sense. How could France go to such great lengths just to build a defensive line? There must be a conspiracy involved.

But this concerns the fate of the kingdom, and the issue of the defense line needs careful consideration; it cannot be resolved in just a few words. Everyone turned their attention to King Otto; it was time for him to make a decision.

Otto had just listened to Thorne's analysis, and the idea was indeed a bit bold, but it seemed like it might succeed if it were actually implemented. He couldn't make a decision yet.

“We just mentioned Lieutenant Colonel Guderian. Thorne said he’s an expert on tanks, so let him analyze the possibility of the Commune breaking through the Ardennes.”

Thorne knew from Otto's words that he was still undecided, but it was alright. He had already spoken to Guderian, who had broken through the Ardennes in his previous life, so there shouldn't be any problems this time. This report might also help the kingdom understand the importance of tanks.

Offense is always the best defense. The tactic of back-and-forth battles between defensive lines is outdated. What's needed now is to move.

After he left, someone outside handed him a letter, saying it was from Berlin and that someone was waiting for him. Thorne took the envelope and saw that it was from Adolf. Why would he need to send another letter if he wanted to come over?

Upon opening the envelope, Thorne knew why he had sent the letter: it was a letter of recommendation.

The person recommended was someone that Thorne exclaimed in amazement about: Hermann Göring.

Chapter 132 Rebuilding the Richthofen United Team

Thorne held the letter in his hand, feeling that this world was truly amazing, how could these people be gathered together here.

Thorne had previously thought that if the war was won in this timeline, Goring, as an ace pilot, should be able to live a good life and wouldn't have to run around taking bullets for Mustache anymore.

Unexpectedly, Adolf's letter brought this guy back to him. This Adolf wasn't as insane as in the previous life, so Thorne figured that this Göring probably wasn't as bad as he was in that world.

In the original history, Göring was fortunate enough to take a bullet for Adolf, and lived a carefree life as the second most powerful figure in the Nazi Party, Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Reichsmarschall, and the Führer's designated successor.

Unexpectedly, even Göring had to rely on Adolf's recommendation. This older brother had taken care of him for two lifetimes; Göring was quite fortunate.

However, Thorne probably won't be able to stay as the Air Force Commander-in-Chief. Just thinking about those infamous operations gives Thorne a headache.

Since it was Adolf who recommended him, Göring must have some extraordinary qualities. Thorne picked up the letter and read it carefully.

In the letter, Adolf said that he had met Göring a few months earlier, and the two found they had much in common as they talked, and eventually felt like they had known each other for a long time.

Göring retired from the Richthofen Air Wing, his resume was impeccable, and his performance on the battlefield was far superior to Adolf's. Adolf only received the Iron Cross in the end, while Göring directly received the Blue Max Medal.

Adolf repeatedly emphasized that he had once been a respected soldier, but in the aftermath of the war he suddenly lost everything, and the regiment that symbolized his honor was disbanded.

He and his team were forced to leave the army to make a living, and in the end they also lost the opportunity to go to Africa to serve, thus ruining their promising future.

The letter stated that Göring was truly desperate and left the government after his hopes of going to Africa were dashed.

Because he studied political economy and history at university after leaving the Air Force, he became a history teacher after resigning from his public office.

Looking at the contents of the letter, Thorne understood that Goring, this once-promising son, still worked hard for a period of time after being forced to leave the Air Force.

Then, under the harsh blows of reality, he completely gave up, lay down, and chose to find a place to grow old alone.

However, he was probably still unwilling to give up, and likely went drinking frequently, otherwise how could Adolf have become so familiar with him and even wrote a letter to introduce him?

The letter had already been sent, so how could Thorne possibly turn Göring away again? Besides, the guy was quite capable; he just got a little carried away with his success later on. If he could control himself, Thorne believed he wouldn't perform as poorly as he did in World War II.

"Where is that gentleman? Take me to see him," Thorne asked the person standing to the side.

When Thorne asked about it, the officer led him to a nearby room. As soon as the door opened, Thorne saw Göring waiting anxiously there.

Goring seemed very well prepared, probably having thought of many things before coming. Whether he can turn things around probably depends on whether this letter of recommendation will be useful.

Thanks to his good brother Adolf, I never expected that he would know the Rhine royal family and be willing to help introduce them. He really is amazing, I'm so happy.

Göring had secretly vowed that if this really succeeded, he would definitely bring his good brothers to support Adolf.

Even if he doesn't succeed in gaining the royal family's favor this time, he will still be very grateful to Adolf, who can definitely be considered his benefactor.

Thorne looked at Goring, who was standing ramrod straight. The guy was in pretty good shape now, unlike in those photos from later years. At least he looked like a soldier now.

“Mr. Göring, you don’t need to be so nervous.” Thorne gestured for him to sit down, then began to scrutinize him, making Göring feel uneasy.

“Wearing his old Air Force uniform and the medals he received back then, he’s here to see me as an Air Force officer. I guess he doesn’t want to forget his past honors,” Thorne thought, looking at Goring’s attire.

"I know you. You even received the Knight's Medal from the Kingdom of Rhine back then, didn't you?"

“Yes, Your Highness.” Goring quickly replied when Thorne spoke.