Chapter 25: The Ruhr

The bizarre deaths of four French officers in Germany, rumored to be the result of an incredible three-car chain-reaction traffic accident, made everyone sweat for Germany.

At the beginning of 1922, cars were not as common as they are today. The streets and alleys were not yet filled with endless streams of traffic. Especially after eight o’clock at night, cars on the street were pitifully few. For a three-car high-speed collision to occur against such a backdrop made many people suspicious. The fact that these four French officers had their accident while on their way to inspect a German military barracks made the case even more suspicious.

However, the German side did not cooperate with the French investigation, hastily concluding the inquiry as a traffic accident. The German military representative, von Seeckt, poured out his grievances before the Allied Military Control Commission, arguing that the French officers’ late-night excursion was itself very suspicious. This argument at least won the sympathy of some of the Allied Commission officials.

This incident chilled relations between the Reichswehr and the French military to a freezing point. The two sides accused each other in international conferences, and another crisis that suddenly erupted made it impossible for the French government to tolerate Germany’s hostile attitude any longer.

At the end of 1922, the German Mark began to devalue wildly. The German leader, Ebert, cabled the French Prime Minister and the British Prime Minister, and also sent a note to the French and British ambassadors in Germany. His purpose was to request that the Allied governments temporarily suspend the heavy war reparations required by the Treaty of Versailles.

However, this seemingly helpless yet reasonable request was flatly rejected by the French Prime Minister, Raymond Poincaré. The French military fanned the flames from the sidelines, frequently mobilizing troops on the border, putting the Prime Minister in a difficult position. For a time, dark clouds gathered over Europe, and war seemed imminent.

At this very moment, in Paris, France, in a conference room, the French high command was holding an emergency meeting on this matter. Most of the generals at the meeting believed that they should send troops into Germany and completely destroy its ambition to dominate the entire European continent. But those who understood politics even slightly did not favor this plan at all. The United States, Great Britain, and even the Soviet Union would not tolerate a powerful France dominating the European continent. Therefore, once the operation began, France would be beset by enemies on multiple fronts and fall into crisis.

“Mr. Prime Minister, we must make the Germans pay! The blood of French soldiers cannot be shed in vain!” a general challenged the French Prime Minister, Raymond Poincaré, from his seat.

Prime Minister Poincaré shook his head helplessly. “General, sir! We cannot declare war on a country because of an accident that only looks like a murder! The national budget has already been cut by three times since the end of the war. With what am I supposed to support a massive war?”

“Hmph.” Another general sneered. “Germany only has one hundred thousand men now. We only need to dispatch two army groups to completely destroy their entire army. Then we can march to Berlin and make Germany’s Ebert and that detestable von Seeckt kneel before us!”

“And Britain? Have you thought about that? If we attempt to dominate Germany, Britain will side with Germany. The United States will also take the opportunity to kick us while we’re down. At that point, the Treaty of Versailles will be the dog leash tied around our own necks!” Prime Minister Poincaré was somewhat exasperated with a group of generals who didn’t understand politics. He had to translate the problems he faced into words these generals could understand.

He pointed to the map, jabbing his finger forcefully at the border region between France and Germany. On the French side of the territory, there was a long, thin line. “Parliament has just passed the bill to build the Maginot Line. The majority of the military budget will be used to establish this super defensive line that will ensure France is never invaded again. The attack plan you envision will never be approved.”

“Then, sir, what if we make a small modification to this plan?” From a corner, a colonel raised his hand. “What if we only send one division, using Germany’s overdue war reparations as a pretext, and occupy Germany’s vital industrial base, the Ruhr region?”

He took a step forward and said, “We can achieve two objectives with this: first, the Allied Military Control Commission has recently received news that Germany is secretly expanding its army. They are clearly not resigned to their previous defeat. We can completely destroy the foundation of their rearmament! That is the Ruhr industrial zone. Second, if Germany resists, they will expose their military strength. This will immediately arouse Britain’s vigilance. In this way, our actions will not be viewed with hostility by the British, correct?”

“That makes sense, Colonel de Gaulle. This way, our plan is much more secure. By sending fewer troops, we won’t provoke the hostility and resentment of the British government. As long as our diplomatic department holds out for a week, Germany will yield,” a general said, standing up.

Colonel de Gaulle frowned. “General, I don’t think we can be so optimistic in our estimation of the situation. I predict this operation will take at least a month to achieve the desired effect. We must be prepared for the German Reichswehr not to resist.”

“Not resist? Then we will occupy the Ruhr, and use the products from there to compensate for our deployment costs and war reparations,” the general sneered.

De Gaulle wanted to say more, but he was interrupted by the Prime Minister. Because Prime Minister Poincaré was eager to agree to this smaller-scale operational plan. After all, compared to the original plan of sending dozens of divisions, this was much more palatable. “Absolutely no problem, General, sir. I will persuade Parliament to approve this military action.”

“I hope the Germans are as foolish as our generals,” de Gaulle lamented to his aide as the meeting concluded. “Once this plan fails, no one will be able to stop Germany’s rearmament.”

The plan to invade Germany’s Ruhr industrial zone was approved by Parliament. The French army immediately began to mobilize. The logistics department started to distribute reserve ammunition and fuel to the front-line troops participating in the operation.

“Ring! Ring! Ring!” In the intelligence department of the German Reichswehr High Command, Major Gascoigne picked up the phone. A few seconds later, his eyebrows knitted together. He then gave an order in his thick Prussian accent, “If there is any more intelligence on this matter, report the contents directly to Colonel Akado.”

He then hastily hung up the phone, put on his hat, and walked out of his office. He went upstairs to a room with a closed door. On the door hung a small wooden sign that read “Special Affairs Office.”

Gascoigne straightened his uniform and then knocked solemnly on the door. Hearing the “come in” from inside, he pushed open the door, then looked eagerly at the man sitting at the desk who hadn’t looked up. He clicked his heels with a crack, stood at attention, and saluted. “Colonel Akado! The intelligence department has important intelligence to report to you! The French have made their move!”

In fact, Akado’s rank was only two levels higher than his, and he was not Gascoigne’s direct superior. Nominally, the intelligence department reported directly to General von Seeckt. Logically, Gascoigne should not have treated Akado this way.

However, Akado had single-handedly created Germany’s current intelligence department, painstakingly building what was now an almost omnipresent German shadow force. He had given Germany’s intelligence department a name that would thunder through later generations: the Gestapo.

And Major Gascoigne had been personally cultivated and secretly promoted by Akado. He was a loyal subordinate who revered Akado as a god.

Therefore, the German Reichswehr intelligence force that Seeckt was always so satisfied with, the Gestapo, had in fact always been an important force under Akado’s control.

“The French have made their move?” Akado looked up at his excited subordinate and smiled. “They finally couldn’t resist making a move! Our chance has come!”

“Colonel, sir, it’s exactly as you predicted. The French are preparing to invade the Ruhr region. We had already deployed the 4th and 6th Divisions near the Ruhr half a month ago. This time, we can easily devour the invading French forces,” Gascoigne said, feeling that Akado’s foresight was unparalleled. He had successfully predicted the French course of action at the very beginning of the crisis.

“That won’t be necessary. Plan A is shelved. Give the order to execute Plan B. I will immediately report this matter to General von Seeckt. This time, I will use this trap to bury many people,” Akado said with a smile and a wave of his hand. “Go back. Don’t come looking for me so casually in the future. If General von Seeckt discovers anything, you might lose your position!”

After Gascoigne left, Akado took out the prepared plan, tucked it under his arm, and went to Seeckt’s office.

“Look at the fine mess you’ve made. The French have indeed made their move! Do you know that once war breaks out, we will be completely annihilated?” Seeckt looked at the relaxed Akado with a frown, feigning anger as he reprimanded him. “Let’s hear it. What’s your plan?”

“War will not break out! Because the Reichswehr will not offer any resistance!” Akado said with a smile. “The resistance will be spontaneous, initiated by the people of the Ruhr industrial zone! Not by our Reichswehr.”

Raising an eyebrow, Seeckt immediately understood Akado’s intention. “A brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone! Truly worthy of Colonel Akado.”

“Didn’t the General already think of this long ago? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have kept the most capable 1st and 17th Divisions in place, with no sign of mobilization at all,” Akado said very calmly. It was impossible to tell that he had just unsheathed his knife against the French and several internal enemies at the same time.

“First, the Reichswehr is powerless to fight back, proving that the military budget must be increased. The German government is in crisis and needs the military’s support. This is a win for us. Second, a rift will appear between the French and British governments, and the Allied Control Commission will suffer a heavy blow. It will be easier for us to fish in troubled waters,” Seeckt said, looking at Akado. “I am more and more convinced that choosing you as my aide back then was the right decision!”

“At least, for the Reichswehr, it was absolutely correct,” Akado said, looking at General von Seeckt, who was becoming increasingly wary of him.