German Red Prince

Page 97

After the death of King Charlemagne in 1840, French Prime Minister Adolphe Thiers openly declared that 3.2 square kilometers of land on the west bank of the Rhine River actually belonged to France, and that the Rhine River should be the boundary between the two sides.

France then mobilized for war, preparing to wage war against the Kingdom of the Rhine. France's demand for Rhineland territory aroused the indignation of all Rhinelanders. Even pro-French German liberals turned against France and began to fervently call for German unification.

Some radical Rhinelanders even argued that the border between the Rhine and France, as demarcated at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, was unfair, and that the Kingdom of the Rhine should reclaim Alsace and Lorraine on the west bank of the Rhine.

France's actions, however, led to unprecedented unity in the German region. Prussia and Austria also discussed forming a military alliance to strengthen the defenses on the west bank of the Rhine together with the Kingdom.

During this period, "Defend the Rhine" was not only sung by the Rhine people, but almost all Germans sang this song that represented unity.

From then on, "Defend the Rhine" gradually evolved from a military song into the de facto national anthem in the hearts of every Rhinelander. After the establishment of the German Empire, this song became the kingdom's national anthem.

Schmidt suddenly felt a little dazed; singing this song in this setting made him involuntarily recall the past.

I remember the first time I sang this song, I was just a teenager, and everyone called me "Little Thing".

Time flies. In the blink of an eye, his comrades who took care of him back then are all gone, and he has become what others call an "old man".

Schmidt had no other thoughts; he simply hoped that the country he and his comrades had risked their lives to save would not become a pawn to be manipulated again, and that future Rhine people would not have to live the same life he had once lived.

Therefore, even though Schmidt is already so old, if the kingdom is invaded in the future, he will still choose to defend the Rhineland steadfastly, because it was the oath he took when he joined the army.

Chapter 157 The Rhine Dream

The song "Defend the Rhine" stirred everyone's emotions, and when everyone took their seats, they were still immersed in the atmosphere.

However, it must be said that although the Kingdom of Rhine claims to maintain peace with the Commune, its aggressiveness has been particularly strong since the start of the military parade.

France and the Kingdom of the Rhine have a history of grievances spanning nearly a century, since the Confederation of the Rhine, the original form of the Kingdom of the Rhine, was established by the French.

The veterans invited to watch the parade were all veterans who had fought against France.

If these people stood in a row, they would be a history book, from whom one could clearly understand all the wars that took place between the Rhine and France.

"They're very aggressive."

This was Duclos's initial impression of the parade. He hadn't expected the Kingdom of the Rhine to think so highly of the French Commune, which made Duclos rather pleased.

The more enemies target you, the more it demonstrates your strength. The fact that the Kingdom of the Rhine targeted France in this way affirmed the power of the Commune.

Ten years have passed since France's defeat, and the Commune's army has grown to the point where it once again instills fear in Germany, demonstrating that Duclos's efforts have not been in vain.

As a defeated nation, the fact that Germany was so terrified after only ten years of development shows that Germany had to acknowledge the power of the French Commune.

This also proves France's international standing once again; France will always be the big brother of the anti-German camp.

"Please welcome His Majesty Otto, King of the Kingdom of the Rhine and Commander-in-Chief of the Kingdom's Armed Forces, to deliver a speech at the military parade."

Prince Andreas then left the front of the audience, giving his seat to his father, Otto, so that he could open the parade.

"Citizens of the Kingdom, veterans, foreign guests, officers and soldiers, Happy 114th Anniversary of the Founding of the Kingdom of Rhine."

"Today we gather here to celebrate the 114th anniversary of the founding of the Kingdom of the Rhine. At this moment, all the people of the Rhine are proud of our great kingdom and wish it well."

"Here, on behalf of the Kingdom of the Rhine and the Rhine Royal Family, I pay my highest respects to all those who made immortal contributions to the independence of the Kingdom, and to the thousands who lie buried in the land they fought for, those sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, comrades, relatives and friends who never returned from the battlefield."

"114 years ago today, King Charlemagne was crowned King of the Kingdom of the Rhine, officially establishing the Kingdom of the Rhine. This great event completely changed the situation of a century of division and poverty, and changed the tragic fate of the Rhine people being bullied by others."

"For 114 years, the people of the kingdom have been united and worked hard, achieving great success. No force can shake the position of our great kingdom, and no force can stop the people of the Rhine from moving forward."

"It is the dream of all the people of the Rhine to make the kingdom stronger, more open, and more inclusive, and it is also the dream of the entire kingdom."

"To realize this dream, we must unite the strength of everyone and the strength of the entire kingdom, and spend the next fifty years building an even greater kingdom."

"We want to build a prosperous and harmonious kingdom, where not only material needs are met, but also spiritual and social needs are satisfied."

"Regardless of the circumstances of their birth or the region of their birth, the men and women of the kingdom can obtain their respective status."

"Everyone's potential can be unleashed, and everyone's social status can be recognized. This is the goal we will strive for next, and this is our dream."

"People of the Rhine, unite! Our Rhine dream will surely come true!"

"The Rhine's past has been written into the annals of human history, the Rhine's present is being created in our hands, and the kingdom's future will surely be even brighter."

"The people of the Rhine must unite more closely, keep our mission in mind, and strive to achieve the 'Fifty Years' goal and realize the great Rhine dream of the Kingdom!"

"May God forever bless the devout people of the Rhine, and may the great Kingdom of the Rhine live forever!"

After King Otto finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in enthusiastic applause. This speech marked the first time he had mentioned the concept of the "Rhine Dream."

Regarding national dreams, Wilhelm II had also proposed a "German dream" more than a decade ago. However, his "German dream" was entirely based on national and personal ambitions, with the ultimate goal of creating a thousand-year empire for himself.

Wilhelm II's German dream was based on militarism and war, attempting to use force to make Germany a world power.

In retrospect, he was successful in some respects; Germany has indeed become the world's leading power.

How long this hegemony can last is up to fate. Although Germany has become the current world hegemon, even the poorest patriots in West Berlin will involuntarily straighten their chests when they talk about Germany's wealth and industry.

However, the sharp domestic contradictions will soon wake these impoverished patriots up, and after seeing the reality clearly, these people may become the first to resist, taking up arms to smash William's crown.

Against the backdrop of a global economic downturn, every country experiences internal conflicts to varying degrees, and this is also evident in Germany.

When people talk about Germany's development, they always show great confidence. They can clearly tell foreigners how many new warships and aircraft their country has acquired.

At the same time, they can proudly tell foreigners about their country's international standing, vast colonies, and impressive economic achievements.

However, when asked about their own situation, ordinary German citizens often cannot answer. They lack information about their monthly income and their lives. Germans are full of confidence in their country, but have no direction for their future.

After the victory in the war, the German Emperor did not keep his pre-war promise to let the Germans bask in the sunshine. What did the war bring to the German people?

The spoils of war were quickly divided up by the upper class, and the quality of life for the German people hardly improved; in fact, it is now showing a downward trend, and the golden age of the German economy seems to have come to an end.

In the early 1920s, income inequality in Germany was easing, but now it is showing signs of worsening. Chancellor Tirpitz's health is declining, and while he is alive, he can still keep Wilhelm II in check. If he were to die, the Germans would hardly dare to imagine what life would be like afterward.

Rheinland proposed a new "German Dream," which is not only the "dream" of the kingdom, but also the "dream" of ordinary people. This is very rare. In the current power struggles between major countries, most leaders usually think about issues from the national level and neglect the development of individuals.

The most frequently mentioned phrase is "Without a country, you are nothing." These slogans always focus on the nation, neglecting individual development.

Although the country has made great strides in development, individuals have hardly achieved any development, which leads to a lack of participation among the people and even makes them feel deceived.

Thorne's draft clearly expresses the intention of mobilizing the enthusiasm of every Rhineman, letting them know that their efforts are for their own benefit, so that everyone can realize their own dreams, and only in this way can the power of the kingdom be united.

During this time, Thorne was not only busy with the military parade, but also with the future development of the kingdom.

Next, Thorne needs to work on both hard and soft power, first pulling the people of the Rhine out of their slump so that they can build a better future.

Chapter 158 Inspection

"Rhine Dream?"

This new slogan also piqued Hemingway's interest, as the United States was then mired in an economic downturn, and ordinary people were affected to varying degrees.

Perhaps America also needs a "dream" to help the American people overcome their current difficulties.

He picked up a pen and began to write in his notebook, “America needs a dream, a dream that can support every American.”

"Americans need a heroic tough guy to save them and help them overcome the hardships of life."

Hemingway wanted to use his pen to awaken the Americans who were still asleep, to awaken the Americans who were still confused. America also needed a dream, a dream of moving forward. The American people needed a great spirit to lead them forward.

"Standard soldiers, take your positions!"

One hundred and fourteen pacesetters marched in unison to their designated positions. These more than one hundred people were selected from across the entire army.

They walked in the square hundreds of times a day for the past few months, which has created muscle memory, and every step is a standard distance.

The photographers were also busy recording every scene on the field. Every shot here is a classic, and since the soldiers rarely appear in front of the camera, they also valued this opportunity very much, and everyone showed their fullest emotions.

This put Fritz at ease; after so much rehearsal, the chances of making a mistake were very small, and he could shoot with complete confidence.

However, he was also very nervous. He knew that these soldiers would have very few opportunities to be seen. These were warriors who needed to be remembered, and Fritz dared not miss a single shot.

The car slowly drove out and headed towards the parade ground. King Otto stood in the car, which was specially made by Thorne so that His Majesty the King could personally inspect the soldiers before the parade began, which would also help boost the soldiers' morale.

At the other end, a similar car slowly drove up, with Marshal Schulz of the Kingdom standing on it. The reason for choosing Marshal Schulz was that he was the youngest of all the marshals, and having him as the commander-in-chief of this parade would showcase the vitality of the Kingdom's army.

"Your Majesty, the troops are in formation and await your inspection. The Commander-in-Chief of the Parade is Marshal Schulz of the Kingdom of the Rhine!"

"start."

King Otto also saluted Schulz.

Before the troops being reviewed were the Royal Rhine flag, the Rhine Royal Flag, and the Rhine Armed Forces Flag carried by the honor guard. King Otto first saluted the three flags, and then the military music sounded again. King Otto's car began to drive towards the formation of the troops being reviewed.

"Next, His Majesty the King will personally inspect the armed forces of the Kingdom of Rhine," Helena announced to everyone via the broadcast.

The king personally inspected the troops, something the soldiers present had never experienced before. They were extremely excited. Brück felt his heart pounding wildly and his breathing became very rapid.

You have to understand that an ordinary soldier might never see the king in his entire life. He went through layers of selection to pass the military parade test and was able to be personally inspected by the king.

Brück adjusted his breathing, awaited the signal, and prepared to face the king's personal inspection.

"salute!"

"Guten Tag, lieber Kamerad!" (Greetings, comrades!), King Otto waved to his soldiers.

"Es Lebe Der Konig!" (Long live the King!), the soldiers shouted in unison.

"kameraden, ihr habt gute arbeit gegleistet!" (Comrades, you've worked hard!)

"Demkonigreich dienen!" (Serve the Kingdom!)

"salute!"

Upon hearing the signal, Lübeck immediately turned his head to the left and paid his respects to King Otto.

"Guten Tag, lieber Kamerad!"

“Es Lebe Der Konig!”

Lübeck shouted along with the other soldiers, feeling incredibly proud at that moment.

King Otto felt the same way; he was as excited as all the soldiers present, amazed at how powerful the kingdom's army had become.

During the inspection, he could directly feel the strength of the kingdom's armed forces and the fighting spirit emanating from each soldier.

"This military parade is a full display of the Rhine Kingdom's modern military strength and a concentrated reflection of the characteristics of the Rhine Kingdom's military power. This is the first time the Kingdom has adopted a new format for a large-scale military parade, and it is a comprehensive debut of the Kingdom's military power after its reform and restructuring," Levitt announced to the crowd.

"Marshal Schulz has already completed the inspection of the various soldier formations with King Otto, and their inspection vehicle has now returned from the turnaround point," Helena continued.

"Hundert Schlachten, hundert Siege, Angriff ohne Fehlschlag!" (Invincible!) The soldiers chanted as they saw King Otto and Marshal Schulz off.

As the convoy returned, King Otto went back to the reviewing stand, and the soldiers began to change formations, preparing to go on stage. The soldiers, who had been standing in neat rows just moments before, mounted motorcycles, boarded trucks, and started tanks, ready to be reviewed by the people of the Rhine.

Schmidt kept gazing into the distance, eager to see the Rhine Army as it was today, and to see how much it had improved compared to the army of a hundred years ago.

Lübeck's formation had also turned around and lined up on Stermez Avenue in front of Mainzplatz. Although it was January, he still felt hot all over, as if he were about to burn. He was about to cross the square and wondered if his parents would see him.

"The infantry formations that have just been inspected by the Supreme Commander have now adjusted their formations, and the soldiers driving vehicles and operating equipment have also taken up their respective combat posts."

The fighter jets parked at the airport were also started up. Goering took a deep breath and piloted the fighter jet forward on the runway. The engines roared and the propellers began to spin rapidly. Various types of aircraft in the fighter jet formation took off one after another, formed ranks in the air, and flew to Mainzplatz.

The flight was going well, and Goring gave a thumbs-up to his comrade next to him to indicate his current condition. His teammate next to him also gave a thumbs-up to indicate his condition.

Göring seemed to have rediscovered the feeling of flying back in the day. As the fighter jet continued to move forward, he could already see Mainzplatz and the crowds in the square.

"The parade is about to begin. 42 ground formations and 13 air formations will pass in front of Mainzplatz in turn."

Upon hearing Levitt's announcement, the audience members all looked up at the sky, eager to see their own fighter jets. Some with good eyesight had already spotted the black dots flying in the distance.

"The parade begins!" Marshal Schulz announced.

Military music played, and the first batch of fighter jets had arrived in the air. Goering's squadron had reached the designated position above the square.

They pressed the button, and colored smoke billowed from the tail of the plane—blue, white, and black, the colors of the kingdom's flag. Amid cheers from the crowd, Goring Squadron flew over the square.

The flight from one end of the square to the other only took a dozen seconds, but the moment he flew over the square, Goring felt that his hard work over the past few months had not been in vain.

He joined the army, retired, and joined the army again. Although more than a decade has passed, he remains a proud air force soldier.

Chapter 159 The Legion of Glory

"The air force contingent is being reviewed. They consist of several types of aircraft, including fighter jets, bombers, and reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft that just flew past is the Fox fighter jet, which is in service with the Kingdom."

"As the best performing fighter plane in the war, the Fox continued to serve after the war, and its various improved models are still in service with the Rhineland Air Force."

Lieutenant General Milch and Major General Sperler also saluted the fighter jets flying overhead, and photographers and reporters present recorded the scene.

Regoye felt like he was missing two hands. Taking photos and writing articles at the same time was really too much for him. He didn't want to miss a single shot, but he also had to write the article.

Once the official parade begins, people inside the field are not allowed to leave, and the reporters present are not allowed to send out their press releases and film. So at this moment, they can only frantically record the important scenes and send them out together after the parade ends.

"Hans, you take notes, and be quick."