German Red Prince

Page 168

If we're talking about major international events, the most significant was probably the change of US president. Coolidge stepped down, this symbol of America's decline leaving the presidency, and Herbert Hoover became the new US president, tasked with leading the American people out of the depression.

There was obvious excitement in the United States about this election, with many people marching when Hoover was inaugurated, accusing the election of being rigged.

However, many of the demonstrations were violently suppressed, with the National Guard deploying large numbers of armed troops to quell them. Many people were dissatisfied with the election results.

Hugh Iran publicly refused to recognize the election results. He was even attacked during a campaign speech. The attacker missed him and committed suicide by overdosing on pills while being taken to the police station. Hugh Iran suspected that the Bureau of Investigation had sent someone to assassinate him.

So several southern states united to boycott the election and marched in protest against Washington. The same was true in the north, where the Socialist Party also refused to recognize the election, believing it to be unfair and fraudulent. Their Red Guards had recently arrested many federal agents, and Reed had been assassinated, though unsuccessfully.

The implication is obvious: Hugh Iran and Reid were both assassinated, while Hoover escaped unscathed and became president. This is a huge problem.

While the southern states opted for marches, the north took a much more radical approach, resorting to strikes. With the assistance of unions, factories across the north went on strike, and the strike storm in Michigan swept through several northern states. The Socialist Party, which already held considerable power in the north, was directly provoked by this strike, which triggered a fierce backlash from the northern states.

The workers even blocked their transportation links with Washington, refusing to ship a single nail or piece of steel they produced to Washington.

In short, America is now preparing for a PUBG tournament. The Socialist Party and the American Supremacist Party are frequently exchanging opinions on the streets of Washington, D.C., and the entire United States is in chaos. No one recognizes the election results, and we can only wait and see how the president handles the situation.

This incident in the United States did not cause much of a stir in Europe. After all, it was a matter of the New World, and the United States had pursued isolationism for a long time, which meant that their ties with Europe were not strong. Europe did not deliberately report on this matter, but only casually mentioned it in a small section. However, although not many people cared, Thorne was very concerned about this matter.

Hoover's abilities were such that Roosevelt would have been humiliated by him in his own world. But the situation here is far more chaotic than in his timeline, and the domestic political environment in the United States is much more complex. How could Hoover's methods possibly be enough to control the situation at home?

The protests and strikes haven't escalated yet only because the economy is still holding up. If something major happens to the economy, then we're doomed. It won't just be a simple street brawl; it will be a second American Civil War.

The signs from the United States are becoming increasingly clear, so it is imperative to make preparations domestically as well. Although Thorne began preparations early on, the Rhine Kingdom's preparations are still insufficient.

The kingdom still needs time. One of its recent major achievements was Thorne's successful transformation of the Socialist Labor Party into the largest party in the Rhineland.

In the Rhine parliament, the Socialist Party of Labor gained a significant advantage. It must be said that the addition of Goebbels made things much easier. Thorne had wanted to recall Adolf, but Adolf did not come to the Rhine due to his time in Berlin. Goebbels successfully established a base in the north, allowing the Socialist Party of Labor to spread its influence in the north of the Kingdom of Rhine.

Goebbels devoted a great deal of effort to this, and in a very short period of time, the Socialist Labor Party gradually gained control of the north. This was also thanks to the efforts of the Communist Party of Germany.

When war breaks out, the first thing to deal with will definitely be the domestic situation. At first, Thorne was worried about the possibility of noble opposition, but he was relieved afterward.

There aren't many nobles in the Rhine Kingdom's army. Most of them have risen through the ranks step by step. The power of the nobility isn't as strong as Thorne thinks. Most of the middle-ranking officers and officers are of commoner origin. Under the influence of the military judge, Thorne can ensure that most of the army will stand on his side when war breaks out.

With the problems of the government and the army resolved within the kingdom, the remaining issue was external. The Gestapo was becoming increasingly active, and whoever possessed more intelligence now had the advantage. Thorne also learned that Prussia was building a new type of army.

Wilhelm II granted special permission to form a new type of army. Prussia did make adjustments after watching the military parade in the Kingdom of the Rhine. However, these adjustments were obviously too slow. The framework in the Kingdom of the Rhine had already been established, while the pilot program in the Kingdom of the Rhine had only just begun.

Meanwhile, Thorne also discovered something unusual in the intelligence: the National Party, which was currently being heavily relied upon by the Wilhelm II government, was frequently in contact with East Prussia behind the scenes. These people were also doing many things behind Wilhelm II's back, such as collecting large political donations from arms dealers and finding many powerful backers, all of whom were big capitalists. This allowed the party to expand rapidly in a short period of time.

To be able to connect with these big capitalists, there must be someone behind them. Otherwise, how could such a small, third-rate political party have developed so rapidly? When Thorne first heard about this party, it was just a small group on the streets of Berlin. Now it has developed into one of the major parties in Prussia.

In Vestap's political alliance, the National National Party has gained increasing influence, while the old parties that once held sway during the Tirpitz era have all disappeared.

The National Party appears to be a tool in William's hands, but it was also supported by another force. However, the party's actions clearly indicate that it is striving to expand its own power.

This three-way relationship is truly confusing; if it continues to develop like this, the future German civil war is sure to be quite a spectacle.

Thälmann is now actively contacting party organizations in Prussia and Bavaria, urging them to be ready to act at any time, while also keeping an eye on the naval bases, whose impact on the civil war is absolute.

367. The situation in Spain

The French Commune at that time certainly didn't have time to deal with German affairs, because something much bigger was happening in their backyard.

The economic recession is not limited to Germany; it is happening in many European countries. Larger countries are able to weather the storm, but smaller countries are already showing signs of trouble.

The Germans were most worried about fighting on two fronts. They were well aware of the pressure that fighting on two fronts would put on a country. So, after their victory, in order to guard against the French Commune, they began a long-term deployment in Spain.

During the early stages of the World War, Spain maintained a very flexible diplomatic stance. It did not easily take sides. A declining Spain could not afford the disaster that would result from a single defeat, so it maintained good relations with both the Central Powers and the Allied Powers.

To aid the victims during the war, King Alfonso XIII personally established the "European War Office," directly managed by the King's private secretary and headquartered in the Royal Palace of Madrid. This was one of King Alfonso's most important achievements, as it facilitated a compromise between the two sides in the conflict, allowing Spanish hospital ships to be deployed to the European battlefields. This also enabled Spain to maintain a significant international influence during the war.

However, this period of playing both sides didn't last long. The war ended quickly, and theoretically, the end of the war shouldn't have caused too many problems. But the outbreak of war forced Spain to choose sides.

In 1920, not long after the end of World War II, and before Spain had a chance to use the wealth it had accumulated during the war, the Revolt broke out in Spanish Morocco, which set the stage for the long Rif War. No one had imagined that the indigenous rebellion would be so serious, until Spain became increasingly bogged down in the quagmire.

Faced with a severe debt crisis, the French Commune naturally refused to lend money to Spain. The Republic was also suffering from sandstorms in Africa, and the debt to the United States had not yet been recovered. Spain had no choice but to end the crisis with the help of Germany.

The well-equipped Spanish army suffered several devastating losses against the Moroccan irregular forces. In several battles, they fought exceptionally well, with fewer than 3,000 Moroccan tribal militia members almost completely annihilating a Spanish brigade of nearly 20,000 men.

Faced with this crushing defeat, Alfonso did not return to Spain to comfort the families of the soldiers who died in battle. Instead, he continued his court games, showing no concern for the sacrifice of these soldiers.

Many Spaniards believed the battle was unnecessary; they thought controlling a port would suffice, and there was no need to fight the Africans. However, Alfonso insisted on fighting, earning him the nickname "The African."

He was not a constitutional monarch in the strict sense, because Alfonso supported the actions against the North African rebels without consulting a parliament. He wanted to conquer Africa and turn it into a new Spanish colonial empire to make up for the empire lost in the Americas and Asia.

The Rif Wars polarized Spanish society, with one faction being the King's faction, which wanted to conquer the African empire, and the other being the "Abandoners," who believed that Morocco was not worth the blood and wealth.

Following the epic defeat, the Spanish war in Rif was getting worse and worse. Due to the frequent defeats of the Spanish army in Morocco, the soldiers clearly lost confidence in going to Morocco.

A mutiny broke out in Spain, soldiers in Malaga refused to board the ship that would take them to Morocco, and left-wing unionists began burning Spanish flags in Barcelona. Such chaos was enough to demonstrate the social divisions and contradictions within Spain.

General Miguel Primo de Rivera, a veteran of the Rif War, marched on the capital and seized power in a bloodless military coup. His prestige from the war made him a powerful dictator whose authority far exceeded that of the king.

Rivera marched on Madrid, shaking the local garrison and quickly taking control of the city. Contrary to Alfonso's expectations, Rivera was very supportive of the King, who was dissatisfied with the Republicans and liberals. He quickly appointed Rivera as Prime Minister, establishing a new Spanish government.

Martial law took effect immediately, the original parliament was dissolved, a supreme governorate led by Rivera was established to govern the country, the Spanish bureaucracy was systematically purged, and hostile civil servants were replaced by loyal officers.

Rivera continued its operations against the Moroccan rebels. In order to resolve the war quickly, they began close cooperation with Germany. Germany was also very pleased to see a country on the Iberian Peninsula aligned with Germany and immediately provided assistance to Spain.

After breaking free from French control, Morocco immediately turned to Germany. Germany provided Morocco with a great deal of assistance in order to gain a foothold in North Africa. The painful memory of French colonization led Moroccans to frequently launch attacks against the Pétain government.

With Germany's help, Morocco was a force to be reckoned with in North Africa, possessing an army fully equipped with German weapons. After Spain requested German assistance, the rulers of the Kingdom of Morocco did not hesitate to launch an offensive against the Spanish-controlled Moroccan rebels in the north.

North African states had barely developed a concept of nationhood. Under tribal systems, they could attack their fellow citizens in Spanish Morocco with ease. With German assistance, the rebellion was quickly quelled, which led Spain to side with Germany.

After the war, Spain continued to develop greater economic ties with Germany. Rivera wholeheartedly embraced Spain's integration with Germany, and German capital and goods poured into Spain, financing the prosperity of industry and banking and putting the Spanish economy back on track.

Spain entered a period of economic growth. During this time, due to the vigorous development of society, the labor movement entered an unprecedented period of decline. As the economy grew, the Rivera government increased workers' wages and extended their rest time. Countless industrial jobs improved the workers' lives.

Spain's economy experienced a brief period of rapid growth, and the major labor unions in Spain were completely unable to organize a workers' movement. After all, the government had given workers such good treatment, so how could workers possibly go to the streets to strike?

So the French Commune has always been a thorn in its side, since it's impossible to force its way in. However, the situation in Spain has clearly improved, with more and more union leaders going to the French Commune for help, and the Rivera government's rule is becoming increasingly unstable.

His regime could only maintain its popularity for so long through prosperity and military victories. Rivera attempted to establish a nationwide, non-partisan corporatist government, but this not only failed to reconcile the centrists and the left, but even the right wing was not swayed by his cynical pandering.

The economy under the Rivera government is declining. Spain's early economic instability was due to the influence of various developed capitalist countries in Europe and the United States. After Britain and France became socialist, a large gap suddenly appeared in the world market, and Germany and the United States became Spain's main trading partners, which led to its economic take-off.

The now noticeably declining economic growth rate has once again brought crowds to the streets, and more critically, Rivera's health is deteriorating. Any health issues with this dictator would be a devastating blow to Spanish politics.

Rivera's political activities have not won the support of the military and the church, many of whom are strongly sympathetic to the Callisteans, who are considered by many to be a legitimate right-wing force in both dynastic and political terms.

Rising discontent has revitalized radicals and the center left, and the French Commune is now finally able to undermine Spain and supply weapons to unions in Catalonia. If France wants to avoid fighting on two fronts, it must first ensure the security of its rear.

368. French Ambition

Regarding elections, it's not just the United States; France is also facing a tense election that could determine the future of the French Commune.

General Secretary Léon Jouault is temporarily unable to handle affairs due to health reasons. The French Commune is currently being temporarily managed by Pierre Monat, a French politician who has been serving as the current chairman of the French Commune and leader of the Workers' Party since General Secretary Léon fell ill.

Pierre Monat had enough prestige that he was a member of the trade unions before the war and had been arrested several times for opposing the government. He also organized workers to participate in the protests after the Courrière mine disaster, which led to his rapid rise in the General Confederation of Labour and even forced him into brief exile due to the Republic’s crackdown on the movement.

When the war broke out, he vehemently condemned the government's despicable actions and was soon sent to the front lines. However, these deeds earned him even greater prestige within the party. After the war ended, Monat played a crucial role in overthrowing the Third Republic and made outstanding contributions to the subsequent formation of a socialist state.

Pierre Monat led the "centrist" and "radical" factions within the Workers' Party. He was the more radical side of the party, advocating war against Germany and a continental revolution. However, although he was radical within the Workers' Party, he was also a centrist party in contemporary French political parties, cooperating with anarchists.

In the current French Commune political arena, the most influential faction is the Workers' Party, the Anarchists, the Jacobins and the Sorels. Because the Jacobins and Sorels share some common goals, they formed a solidarity front to expand their influence. Their alliance also forced the Workers' Party to cooperate with the Anarchists.

In general, the French Commune's attempts to export revolution in recent years have been unsuccessful, with much of its investment going down the drain. The export of revolution has fallen into a slump, which has caused dissatisfaction among many people at home. The Workers' Party has always been a major advocate of world revolution, and its current slump has naturally led to a decline in its approval ratings.

Conversely, the support for the Sorel and Jacobins is rising year by year. The Solidarity Front's political propositions include improving the current government structure and getting rid of certain syndicalist ideas. They believe that the revolution is not yet over, the current commune is still in a transitional phase, and has not truly transitioned to a socialist state. They believe that the state needs to coordinate the war against Germany and that the state needs a certain degree of centralization.

Valois was an advocate of French totalitarianism. Unlike Maurice of the Jacobins, Sorel went to Italy and witnessed Mussolini's rule, where everyone admired his totalitarian system. Mussolini was the first to put totalitarianism into practice, and Valois also studied Mussolini's ideas. In the British League, Maurice was also an advocate of totalitarianism.

Spain is clearly a key area for a successful election. Spain's dire domestic situation has allowed left-wing forces to grow rapidly, and representatives from major Spanish labor unions have flocked to Paris to seek support. If this is successful, it will greatly help improve the party's approval rating.

The Latin alliance of Valois was indeed very appealing to the French. The dream of reviving the glory of the Napoleonic era was a deep-seated desire in the hearts of every Frenchman. By controlling the Iberian Peninsula and uniting with Italy on the Apennine Peninsula, France could once again become the center of Europe.

The idea of ​​a Latin alliance that would allow France to rise again is something that every French person probably longs for deep down. If it were to succeed, it would mean restoring half of Rome's territory.

Sorel developed a favorable impression of Mussolini's regime after his last visit to Italy, but he died shortly after returning home. Valois, as the leader of the Sorel faction, was determined to realize this dream: an alliance of Italy, France, and Spain.

Although this idea may have contradicted the goals of the Comintern, it still had many supporters after it was proposed. The explanation given was very simple: the premise of world revolution is regional revolution. After the success of regional revolutions, alliances are formed to fight against reactionary forces. This process of continuous expansion can eventually achieve the goal of world revolution.

In short, although it has aroused dissatisfaction among many internationalists, the French Commune is still fully engaged in its work on Spain, even neglecting its work on Germany. Germany is a powerful opponent, and whether it can be defeated is another matter, but if a victory in Spain is certain, the impact on France will be enormous.

Because Catalonia is adjacent to the French Commune, the Commune could easily trade weapons. In addition, the forces opposing the current Spanish government were not limited to the labor unions in Catalonia; in Galicia, the Caristes were also actively involved.

Because the Catalan trade unions are anarchists, they have a relatively good relationship with the current ruling coalition of the French Commune, which is led by the Workers' Party, as there are also anarchist forces within the French Commune. However, the southwestern part of the Commune has always been the stronghold of the Sorel faction.

The industrial region in the north has more Jacobin supporters, while the agricultural region in the south has more Sorel supporters. Their alliance can complement each other and make up for the disadvantages during the election campaign, which is a major reason for their cooperation.

Although the trade unions in Catalonia are anarchist, Valois can still find supporters within the unions, which are divided into many factions, and Sorel can also find supporters among them.

Maurice was also seeking supporters in Catalonia. The French Commune of today was not the same as the socialism envisioned by Maurice Torres. Maurice envisioned a Leninist model of socialism, but due to the failure of the Russian Revolution he led, this model was not adopted by the Commune. Instead, it underwent certain reforms and was combined with the then-popular syndicalism, laying the political foundation for the Commune.

Maurice was not optimistic about the current system of the French Commune. He preferred to follow Lenin's path. Among all left-wing ideologies, there were actually not many factions that adhered to Marxism-Leninism. The Jacobins also supported one of these factions in Spain. Because of the cooperation between Maurice and the Sorel faction, the faction they supported also merged together, becoming a relatively powerful armed force within the trade union.

Given the current general process and pace of development, a civil war in Spain might not break out for quite some time, but the event that was enough to change the world order still happened.

The Berlin stock market crash cast a dark shadow over Europe once again.

369. Preparation

Germany's economy had been booming and developing very well in the past, but in recent years, unexpected events have occurred, and some economic problems have emerged, causing the lives of ordinary people to gradually deteriorate.

Despite some setbacks, Germany still has plenty of leverage and is not going to stand idly by and wait to die. Germany has vast colonies and vassal states that can provide massive impetus for domestic development. In order to further stimulate the domestic economy, the government needs to invest more cash.

Getting enough funds is simple: just drain them from outside. Germany's first thought was Russia. Ever since the Treaty of Versailles was torn up by the French Commune, Germany has lost a lot of external funding. Since France is unwilling to provide it, then they'll target Russia.

After the French Commune refused to repay the debt, the German government demanded that Russia repay the remaining reparations stipulated in the Treaty of Brestlittovsk ahead of schedule. During the Berlin Conference, President Alexander Kerensky and Prime Minister Pavel Milyukov were forced to accept the terms and repay the reparations ahead of schedule by implementing severe austerity measures.

"Let the people suffer, and I will bear the blame," Kerensky said.

After all, Germany has a huge advantage over Russia. Russia has lost all its key regions in Eastern Europe, as well as Central Asia and the Far East. If Russia were to confront Germany head-on, Germany could wear Russia down without even sending troops.

Because of Russia's advance reparations, Germany's economy became more active for a period of time, during which a large amount of capital was invested in the stock market.

During Tirpitz's era, there was still regulation of the stock market, but Vestap reduced regulation in order to stimulate the economy. After all, the stock market was indeed profitable; even workers who knew nothing about finance could make a considerable profit by investing money in it. In short, the stock market was like an efficient ATM.

The booming stock market has also made the banking industry very prosperous. Many banks issue loans to people without even credit checks. People then invest the money in the stock market, and so on. However, if any link in this cycle goes wrong, it will be fatal.

Germany is very prosperous, extremely prosperous, but this prosperity comes at a price.

Rapid social development has exacerbated social polarization, because the current social rules in Germany are inherently biased towards the rich, who will only become richer, while the poor will become poorer. As Thorne and Thälmann walked the streets of Frankfurt, even here, the gap between the rich and the poor was still shocking.

Some people can spend a whole day in a luxurious café, while others have to scavenge for spilled swill at the back door of a restaurant. In the dark corners where the lights don't reach, that's the real Germany.

"Ernst, do you think Germany is strong now?" Thorne asked Thälmann, who was standing nearby, and then began to speak to himself.

"Germany has the world's most powerful military force. Our navy even surpasses the glorious Royal Navy. We possess the world's most extensive colonies. We are the next British Empire. Our country is so powerful. But what lies behind all this? Although Germany's economy is developing rapidly, at least 60% of the German population still lives below the poverty line. That glamorous 10% represents the whole of Germany. What about the rest?"

Leaving one's comfort zone is an extremely difficult decision, but Thorne can disregard all of that because he is now among the top 10%, or even the top 5% in Germany. Revolution? He doesn't need a revolution at all. In fact, reform is the best solution for him. He may not be the next king of the Kingdom of the Rhine, but he will definitely be the king the year after that.

So far, they have done a great job: training a new type of army, opening up kingdom territories overseas, and having trading partners in Asia. Thorne has also imposed strict restrictions on the stock market, and countless banks that violated regulations have been shut down.

They are fully capable of withstanding the impact of the economic crisis and becoming the kingdom that resolves the crisis the fastest. Then, the much-anticipated reunification of Germany will occur, requiring little effort and even being welcomed by the Germans. It will simply be a change of emperor, and he might even be mentioned in history.

However, what needs to be done now is to completely change this country, which is a more difficult path and will certainly not be understood by most people. But he still has room to retreat. He can issue a statement first thing tomorrow morning to ban the Communist Party of Germany and let history take a different turn.

“I was born into a family of carriage workers, and my family also ran a shop. The poor people who came to the shop to buy things looked so pitiful. I felt this deeply when I was a child. I often talked about these things with my parents and sister, but I could never solve this mystery.”

Talman began to tell Thorne about his experiences. He was born into the lower class and his experiences were naturally different from those of the upper class. Just as those in high society did not understand why workers liked to rebel, they had no idea what kind of life the people below were living.

“My father was a worker who often complained and even cursed God in private, but he was not an atheist. My mother was a devout believer who prayed to God every day. I often asked my mother very seriously why the omnipotent God did not help these poor people. This question also troubled my mother. Her answer was that these people were destined to suffer sacrifice.”

“Every time I asked this question, my mother would always answer me that the poor should endure sacrifice. Over time, I felt that this answer was untenable. I began to doubt the justice of the omnipotent God that people praised so highly, his love for mankind, and the comfort he offered for himself with this elusive afterlife. I doubted whether this was just a psychological self-comfort for the poor to justify what they were experiencing.”

“Every day I see the differences between the rich and the poor, the wealthy and the penniless, the bankers and the workers in real life. My mother said that the poor can only receive God's help by praying and begging to the Almighty God. I cannot believe this statement because I know that some working-class families have prayed earnestly, but their suffering has not been alleviated.”

“When I was a child, I began to seriously doubt the justice of an omnipotent God and the belief that people could have eternal life in the afterlife. I asked myself, why does such injustice exist in human life? Why must we have the afterlife as a comfort? On the one hand, I doubted that there was anything supernatural or imperceptible in the world. On the other hand, I also doubted that there was any justice in society.”

“I joined the Social Democratic Party when I was seventeen, worked as a laborer for a while, and even went to the battlefield. I even received two medals from the German Emperor. But the questions in my heart were not resolved until I came across Marx’s works. I then realized that society itself is unfair. Those who make the rules never have to follow the rules because these rules are set for us.”

After his doubts were answered, Thallman also found his goal: to break the shackles of the old world. The poor should no longer fantasize about the blessings of the next life, but should fight for their rights in this life with their own hands. He understood the meaning of the Internationale: there is no savior, and to create human happiness, we must rely on ourselves.

These prayers are merely psychological comfort, an attempt to force oneself to accept the status quo. Where is there an omnipotent God? Haven't all of humanity's historical achievements relied entirely on itself? If God is so omnipotent, then why does He tolerate all this injustice happening in the world?

Hearing Thälmann's reply, Thorne strengthened his resolve. For the sake of human happiness, he might have become a good emperor for Germany if he didn't have a revolution, but Thorne's ambition lay elsewhere. Capitalism had developed for a century, and humanity now needed to enter the next era, a completely new era, an era in which everyone could look up at the stars.

"Ernst, our troops are ready. Now let's quietly await the arrival of a new era."

After that night, Germany was no longer as peaceful as before. All Germans should remember this day. It was just a small bank in Berlin that declared bankruptcy, and what followed was a flood of disaster.

370. The relationship is delicate.

Investing money in the stock market is almost the most direct and simple way for an ordinary German to get rich.

Tirpitz's golden age was supported by various loans. The government issued huge amounts of loans to promote the development of various industries and post-war recovery. Farmers needed to purchase a lot of machinery to resume production, and the manufacturers of this machinery needed raw materials. This is how development was driven.