German Red Prince

Page 185

"Comrade Thorne, news has come from Berlin."

Several coups in Berlin have thrown the government into chaos, and now intelligence there is essentially one-way transparent to the Frankfurt direction.

"Although Ludendorff is certainly smarter than Hess, he has been away from Berlin for too long, and he doesn't know as much about what's happening in Berlin as Hess does."

Thorne planted many informants in Berlin, and these informants have been lurking in Prussia, bringing a lot of intelligence to the Rhine. For example, the intelligence we have now is something that the Rhine already knows about, even though Manstein's plan has only just been finalized.

"Hamburg, Hanover, Leipzig, this defensive line is quite ingenious, but to sell out Bavaria like that, I wonder what Rupprecht's reaction will be when he finds out about Berlin."

I don't know how he reacted, but Thorne is overjoyed right now. To be fair, Manstein does have the technology, and if managed well, this defensive line could indeed hinder Rhine for a while.

Little did he know that Thorne was thinking further ahead. The Hamburg naval port had been almost entirely turned against its own side. As one of Germany's most important naval ports, the navy here had become a natural ally of the provisional government.

However, Thorne hasn't sent Heydrich into action yet. Instead, he's having him continue his undercover work with Pike. Heydrich is capable, and if the war hadn't been so rushed, he could probably have become the person in charge there in a few years. The situation would probably be even more interesting then.

"Clearly, Berlin's tricks have failed, and they have simply torn off all pretense of civility. At this point, negotiating peace is utterly ridiculous."

Thorne felt sorry for Ludendorff. In fact, his best decision was not to get involved. The fact that he was able to mobilize troops from Eastern Europe showed that he still had some influence in Eastern Europe. Thorne's current plan was only to liberate all of Germany. If Ludendorff did not get involved, he might be able to consolidate Eastern Europe and then confront the new East German government.

This could also serve as a buffer zone between Germany and Russia. Since the events in Germany, Russia has been in a precarious situation, and perhaps they have also set their sights on Eastern Europe. In that case, if Ludendorff fails in Germany, even if he safely retreats to Eastern Europe, he will be left with nothing and could very well be crushed by Russia.

"Contact Heydrich and tell them not to move yet. Hamburg is a hidden move, meant to be used at a crucial moment. Now is not the time. Let's pretend we don't know about Ludendorff's plan and inform Model and Guderian to also postpone the attack. It's been so long, the troops need rest. Let's transfer a few more divisions from the rear. There's no need to rush the Prussian war plan. Let's finish the war in Bavaria first."

Intelligence reports indicate that Prussia has completely abandoned Bavaria. This is indeed true; Prussia initially intended to attack Bavaria as well, but Dornprecht wanted to pull off a big stunt that backfired. What does this have to do with Prussia? It wasn't like they asked Bavaria to attack the Rhine.

Thorne had been worried that Prussia would reinforce Bavaria and then advance into the Rhineland from there, so Rommel had been playing very conservatively. Now that Prussia had no such intention and wanted to sacrifice a pawn to save the king, Rommel had no choice but to accept defeat.

“Send five more divisions to Bavaria; that should be enough to deal with them.”

Cheerful laughter filled the meeting room, and the atmosphere became lively. Indeed, the Kingdom of the Rhine did not even need ten divisions to deal with Bavaria. Prussia had already given up on them, and Austria-Hungary was also worried about getting involved. They hadn't even dealt with their own problems, so how could they have time to care about the fate of Bavaria?

"Tell Rommel to fight with all his might. I hope to end the war in Bavaria within two weeks."

"clear."

The recorder wrote down some of Thorne's instructions and then left. Rommel estimated that he wouldn't be fighting guerrilla warfare for the foreseeable future. With enough soldiers at his disposal and clear intelligence on the enemy, he figured he'd be able to easily encircle and annihilate them.

"We cannot forget the sacrifices made by our comrades on the second front so that this war can proceed smoothly."

"That's right. Without this intelligence, although we could have gained a local advantage, it wouldn't have been this smooth."

Thälmann agreed with Thorne that staying in Berlin was quite dangerous, and although they had gone underground, it did not mean they were safe.

“Adolf is a good comrade. We wanted him to continue his development in the Rhine, but he chose to stay in Berlin. Now it seems that his decision was very correct. Adolf staying in Berlin is equivalent to us deploying five more divisions on the front line.”

Back then, not only Thorne, but Goebbels also advised Adolf to continue developing in the Rhineland. With his abilities, it wouldn't be surprising if he made a name for himself in Cologne. However, even though Thorne, Goebbels, and Thälmann took turns persuading him, Adolf still stayed in Berlin, as the most important underground force in the Rhineland in Berlin.

"Berlin is very unfriendly to the Rhine people right now. Many civilians have been imprisoned on trumped-up charges. Hess's actions can be explained, after all, he was a madman. But Ludendorff's actions are hard to understand. He was a marshal during the war. Didn't he know how many Rhine people died on the Western Front?"

Thälmann questioned Ludendorff's continued strict ban, noting that Ludendorff was a marshal during the war and had commanded the Rhine army in their fight against the French. He wondered why Ludendorff showed no mercy.

"Prussia needs an enemy now, otherwise the entire kingdom will collapse. Besides harboring hatred towards the Rhine, what slogan can unite the Prussians? National unification or a campaign against William?"

With Hess arrested, the unification of Germany had become a fantasy for the Prussians. Emperor Wilhelm wouldn't speak ill of anyone, so what good options were there besides taking it out on the Rhineland?

"Let them run wild for a few days. Once they've defeated Bavaria, it'll be their turn."

Thorne is even more anxious than Ludendorff about when the more than 100,000 troops from Eastern Europe will arrive. He's begging them to hurry up so he can make dumplings for the New Year.

These more than 100,000 troops were a major obstacle to the liberation of Eastern Europe. It was not easy to gather them together. If they could be eliminated in Germany, the liberation of Eastern Europe would be much easier.

“Comrade Thorne, General Secretary Thallman.” Goebbels pushed open the door and came in to look at the two men.

"The French are here."

"I thought they weren't coming. I've been waiting for them for ages."

Thorne was not surprised at all by the arrival of the French; he would have been surprised if the French hadn't come. If the French could remain calm during the German Revolution, they should be the world's superpower.

"Whose representative is it?" Thorne asked Goebbels.

"Representatives of the Jacobins."

"Comrade Thallman, what do you think of this faction?"

France is currently rife with all sorts of chaotic political parties. Thorne has never been to France, and has only been there for a few years, so he certainly doesn't know as much as Thallman does.

"This faction is the Leninists, and after the failure of the Russian Revolution, it was one of the few Leninist factions that was relatively large and influential."

"That is not bad."

Thorne nodded. At least there were no fascist parties like Mussolini's, although they were quite influential, Thorne really didn't want to deal with them.

"So, are we going to see them?"

"Of course we'll meet. Why not? We are a revolutionary government, and we'll be friends from now on. Besides, we must restore normal diplomatic relations with France in the future, so we must meet."

Thorne had always been a staunch supporter of the theory of "making as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible." Since the French had come on their own initiative, and were Leninists at that, there was no harm in meeting them.

I heard that the French election has reached a fever pitch, and if they win, it will greatly help restore relations between Germany and France.

408. Special Envoy

As a Jacobin envoy, Marcel still can't believe that Germany would actually have a revolution. What a ridiculous joke!

This is as fantastical as telling a Frenchman that Louis XVI had his head reattached.

Like most French people, Marcel harbored more hatred than affection for Germany, especially the Rhineland. Eighty percent of the French people's dislike for Germany stemmed from their dislike for the Rhineland.

Napoleon led the French to conquer territories across Europe, reaching the height of his power. It seemed he was on the verge of unifying Europe and making France great again. However, a betrayal by the Rhine shattered France's imperial dream.

What followed was the Great War. The Rhine people were the main force facing France during the war. Countless people from both countries died on the front lines, and the Rhine people even captured Alsace-Lorraine, making them France's absolute mortal enemy.

The French have been eagerly anticipating a major battle with the Rhineland for years, and now you're telling me they've had a revolution and might become friends in the future?

Were all the despicable things Rhine did to France in the first place so that France could embark on the socialist path? The reason behind this is truly shocking.

Marcel didn't really want to come to Frankfurt, but he came anyway in order to help the United Front win the election. With the Sorel faction helping the resistance forces in Catalonia and the Jacobins developing relations with German revolutionaries, what chance did he have of winning the election?

Which coalition party has done something better than them? If the Unity Front succeeds, France will be able to create a coalition even larger than that of the Napoleonic era.

A union stretching from the Iberian Peninsula to the Central European Plain, with the British Isles also under its control, would be a great victory for the world revolution.

Thanks to the relationship between the Comintern and the German Communist Party, Marcel was able to enter Germany smoothly. He used to be able to come to this place secretly, with disguises and hiding. He never thought that one day he could come openly by train.

On the streets of Frankfurt, Marcel saw the new face of the revolutionary government. The tricolor flag and royal flag that symbolized the kingdom had all disappeared, and the red, black and gold tricolor flag was hung everywhere, along with the emblems of the Communist Party of Germany and the Socialist Labor Party. Red flags were also hung on the streetlights along the streets.

Marcel also passed by the royal palace of the Kingdom of the Rhine, a place they had previously called the "stronghold of reactionary forces." Now, passing by the palace, he found it closed, with a wheat flag hanging above the gates. This was the coat of arms of the provisional government, symbolizing that the ancient building had become state property.

In fact, the royal family had already moved out of the palace on the very day Thorne refused to ascend the throne, and for the first few days Thorne slept in his dormitory in the office building.

All of this seemed quite unbelievable to Marcel. In France, the change of regime was accompanied by bloodshed and revolution. Why did nothing seem to happen in the Rhineland? Why was there no large-scale conflict? It was as if it were perfectly normal.

Marcel didn't have to wait long before Thallian and his men arrived. Thorne didn't have much hostility towards France to begin with. Besides, France in this world was still the big brother of socialism, actively aiding the world revolution. The success of China's Northern Expedition was inseparable from the help of the French, so restoring relations as soon as possible was something he wanted to see.

"Hello, Comrade Marcel, we met in Paris. Welcome to Frankfurt."

"Hello, Comrade Thallmann, I am visiting the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Germany on behalf of the Jacobins."

Marcel stood up and shook Thälmann's hand. The atmosphere seemed good, which meant they could continue talking.

"Comrade Thallman, I come on behalf of the Jacobins and hope to establish good relations with the revolutionary government."

"Of course, we welcome all like-minded revolutionary comrades."

"We want to know what the revolutionary government's position is, or rather, what kind of revolution do you want to lead?"

This is what the Jacobins and all of France are most concerned about right now. Although they are a revolutionary government, there are many kinds of revolutions, including bourgeois revolutions and proletarian revolutions. Proletarian revolutions are accompanied by bloodshed, as the French have concluded. The proletariat cannot complete a revolution peacefully, and if it does, it will inevitably be revisionism.

The first half of the German revolution, regarding the revolutionary government, appears to have been a peaceful transition, which makes it unclear whether they were engaging in a proletarian revolution or a bourgeois revolution. Most French people believed that Germany was trying to overthrow the monarchy and establish a bourgeois republican government, which was essentially in opposition to the Commune.

Understanding the circumstances of the German Revolution could give the Jacobins a significant advantage in elections.

"Comrade Marcel, we've allowed our French comrades to come. Do you consider this a proletarian revolution or a bourgeois revolution?"

"The proletarian revolution is accompanied by bloodshed, but I have not seen any such thing happen in the revolutionary government."

"That's because our revolution has lasted for nearly a hundred years, and the people of the Rhine have been influenced by our ideas for nearly a hundred years. In Bavaria and Prussia, weren't the revolutions there bloody?"

Marcel didn't quite understand Thälmann's answer. In fact, the socialist revolutionary movement in the Kingdom of the Rhine had been going on for over a hundred years.

Revolution began the day the kingdom was established. Why were the people of the Rhine able to accept the disappearance of the monarchy so readily? Why was there no resistance from nobles or the army? It was because these issues were already being addressed when the Rhine was first established.

The Rhine has been subtly influenced for nearly a century, so large-scale bloodshed is unlikely to occur there, unlike in Bavaria and Prussia. They certainly wouldn't be like the Rhine, otherwise the war would have ended.

Marcel didn't quite understand Thallmann's meaning, but he was certain that this revolutionary government was unlikely to become an enemy of France, and that the two sides could restore normal relations in the future. This would also be a good thing for the Commune, because Germany was the hegemon of continental Europe, and France had always been blockaded by the Reichstag, which was led by Germany.

Restoring relations between the two countries would be very helpful for France's development.

"Comrade Marcel, I can tell you very clearly that the revolutionary government has absolutely no hostility towards France. We hope to maintain good and normal relations with a friendly France, and I wish you success in the upcoming election."

"Thank you, Comrade Thallman. Please believe me, the Jacobins welcome all true revolutionaries."

The two sides have reached an agreement. Thälmann has already hinted that if the revolutionary government unifies Germany, it will actively ease relations with France. The Jacobins have also stated that they are willing to support the revolutionary government's unification efforts, and at least after the Jacobins successfully seize power, they will not engage in any underhanded tactics.

The century-old feud between Germany and France has finally begun to ease at this moment.

409. Mutiny

When the telegram reached Rommel, he had never felt so comfortable. He restrained himself and did not jump up in excitement.

The telegram was very clear, and to summarize, it contained a few points. One was that the news had been confirmed: the Prussians would not reinforce Bavaria from the north, and Rommel could fight freely.

Previously, Rommel had not dared to launch a proactive attack on Nuremberg, even though he had the ability to take the city. However, fearing being surrounded by Prussia and Bavaria, he had given up. With this intelligence as reassurance, he had no worries at all.

Furthermore, the Prussian offensive has been temporarily halted, which means that the Rhine has sufficient military supplies to support Rommel's army. Thorne hoped that Rommel could end the war within two weeks, but seeing the replenished military supplies, it's clear that it won't take two weeks. The war can be ended within a week.

Having never fought a war with such a substantial financial burden, Prussia wouldn't send reinforcements to Bavaria, but it had received tens of thousands of reinforcements on its own side. Bavaria had always thought Rommel was like a lynx hiding in the shadows, never able to capture the main force, so this time they were openly jumping out, saying, "I'm going to attack Nuremberg. I'm telling you clearly, send as many troops as you want, and fight a fair and square frontal battle. Let's see if you can stop the Rhine forces' attack."

"Notify the tank and armored units in Würzburg to advance at full speed, with Nuremberg as their target. Tell them that whichever unit is the first to storm the city, I will personally apply for a medal for them. Our artillery units have been resting for so long and are itching to go. Now that the supplies have arrived, tell them not to be stingy with their shells and to thoroughly plow through the enemy's positions."

"The troops in Ulm shouldn't be idle either. Go out and roam around, go and scare Rupprecht. That old guy has the guts to start a war with the Rhine, so why is he still holed up in Munich and doesn't dare to come out?"

Augsburg was the last stronghold on the way to Munich. Rommel had previously led a surprise attack and successfully captured it, which terrified Rupprecht. He sent a large army to retake Augsburg, but by the time they arrived, Rommel had already fled to another place to continue his guerrilla warfare.

Augsburg still has a large garrison, but they dare not launch an attack. Rupprecht is worried that if the troops attack, the elusive Rommel will suddenly march on Munich.

Nuremberg, Regensburg, and Munich are the three most important cities in Bavaria. In fact, a better tactic now would be to attack Regensburg, but the city is too far from the front line. Moreover, even though Rommel has received intelligence, he cannot guarantee that Prussia will not come to the rescue of its brethren, as the situation on the battlefield can change in an instant.

It's hard to imagine that at this time, Rommel, who was always aggressive in warfare, would become conservative and choose Nuremberg, the easiest target, as his first choice for attack.

Würzburg is less than 100 kilometers from Nuremberg. Especially for tank and armored forces, if there are no enemies blocking the way, they can all arrive in a day. However, even if some blind troops try to stop them, it doesn't matter. On this land, there are really no tanks that can beat the new tanks currently available in the Kingdom of the Rhine.

The morale of the Bavarian soldiers was very low. Even though Prussia had experienced two coups in Berlin, its martial tradition allowed its frontline troops to withstand several attacks from the Kingdom of the Rhine. Bavaria was a country that was primarily known for its arts, and apart from its equipment, its combat strength was far inferior to that of the Kingdom of the Rhine, resulting in generally low morale.

Guarding the seemingly endless trenches, these soldiers lived in constant fear. The trenches seemed endless, but their lives seemed to have an end in sight. Whenever a group of small black dots appeared on the other side, it meant their lives were over.

The weather had warmed up, but Rudolf still couldn't help shivering. Every night he had nightmares about Rhine tanks rushing over and crushing him into a bloody pulp.

Want a cigarette?

As darkness fell, Hermann walked up to Rudolf and asked him a question.

"Don't tremble. Don't worry, the Rhine people won't attack at night, because they can easily win during the day."

As he spoke, Hermann shrugged helplessly. Even when fighting guerrilla warfare, the Rhine Kingdom's army rarely took action at night. They simply looked down on the Bavarian army's fighting strength.

"This is a good thing, too. We can take a break when we're on night duty without worrying about them suddenly slitting our throats."

Herman lit a cigarette, stood in the trench, and looked out into the empty distance, blowing smoke rings.

"Are we crazy? We know we can't beat them, but we still insist on provoking them."

"Shh, are you out of your mind?! If the officers above hear you say that, they'll shoot you on the spot!" Rudolf quickly made a gesture.

After the war began, the army started talking about it. Without exception, they all cursed the unit that went looking for trouble and had to provoke others. Why did Bavaria have to get involved in the war between the Rhine and Prussia? Wouldn't it have been better to just watch the show?

If you insist on getting involved, then fine, but you can't even beat them. Right now, the main force of the Rhine is all in Prussia. Bavaria was beaten to a pulp by a small force. Who gave them the courage to provoke them in the first place? Even William didn't have that guts.

The impact of such remarks is certainly quite bad. It would be very easy for the military to intervene; if caught, they would be shot on the spot. Daring to speak like that is the same as desertion.

“Shoot us? Look how long it’s been, which officers have come over? They’re not like us. They’re already thinking about their escape route. I heard that the division commander is packing his things and preparing to flee to Austria.”

Hermann whispered to Rudolf the rumors he had heard. In fact, quite a few people were already preparing for the future. Even Rupprecht, who said he would never leave Bavaria, had already transferred many of his businesses to Austria. It's better to have the resources than the resources to rebuild, so it's understandable.

“They’ve all run away, but we have nowhere to run. When small black dots appear in the open space ahead, we’ll probably be done for here. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after, who knows.”

Herman threw his empty cigarette on the ground and patted Rudolf on the shoulder.

"I heard that the Rhine isn't a kingdom anymore, it's been changed to some kind of revolutionary government. They've changed their ways, it seems to have become some kind of republic, and they're speaking up for ordinary people. Isn't that great? Look how good their royal family is, they just gave up the right to inherit the throne, unlike us, who only think about using us like livestock, and didn't even take us with them when they ran away."

Without comparison, there is no harm. The transformation of the Rhine into a republic has impacted the lower classes of both kingdoms, especially the military, causing considerable influence.

"What if we don't fight? Those officers don't care if we live or die, and they haven't even issued supplies in ages. Why should we risk our lives for them?"