Chapter 40: Not So Smooth Sailing

At this moment, Akado was truly feeling a bit smug. After all, he had finally changed history and strengthened the Reichswehr ahead of schedule. The current foundation of the Reichswehr was extremely solid, enough for him to expand this army exponentially in the coming decade.

At the same time, far away in Berlin, General von Seeckt was meticulously plotting for his own lifelong dream.

Unlike the several future panzer divisions that Akado was carefully cultivating, Seeckt had turned the few divisions under his control into elite infantry and cavalry divisions. His troops were mostly equipped with bicycles and horses, and even horse-drawn carriages and cavalry.

Taking Seeckt’s most prized 1st Division as an example, General Hammon’s 1st Reichswehr Division had nearly 13,000 men, but only 140 motor vehicles and 52 armored cars. Most soldiers were equipped with bicycles or horses. This division also had an independent cavalry force of up to 3,000 men.

Hammon had complained to General von Seeckt about this more than once, because the 15th Division, which was also a main force unit of the Reichswehr, was equipped with 70 armored reconnaissance vehicles and over 500 motor vehicles. But the 15th Division only had 10,000 men, and a thousand of its troops were currently receiving tank training. They were set to evolve into a true panzer division once equipped with tanks.

But Seeckt was dismissive of Akado’s efforts. He always believed that war would continue in the mode of the First World War, so he was enthusiastic about outdated equipment like bicycles and warhorses.

He certainly knew that Akado was conducting secret military exercises in the mountainous region of southern Bavaria, and had left the traditional routine military exercise of Germany to be commanded by General Hammon’s 1st Reichswehr Division, under the fine-sounding pretext of “preventing the Allied Military Control Commission from spying on the secrets of the Reichswehr.”

So this time, Seeckt prepared a grand military exercise to knock down Akado’s arrogance and to reclaim his dominant position in the Reichswehr. Because he sensed a crisis. More and more Reichswehr soldiers and officers, and even high-ranking generals, had joined a secret organization. He had been investigating this organization for a long time, but all he knew was that it was called the Greater Germany Party.

Because of this matter, Major Gascoigne had even been singled out and criticized by Seeckt. The Gestapo’s investigation and espionage work in other areas was impeccable, but in the investigation of the Greater Germany Party, it had made no progress at all.

Even now, Seeckt still felt a simmering anger in his heart, but he didn’t want to use any excuse to get rid of Akado. After all, Akado was also trying his best to strengthen the Reichswehr. Besides, he knew that Akado privately owned many companies and enterprises, and these businesses were all sponsoring the development of the Reichswehr. For both public and private reasons, Seeckt did not want to bear the infamy of killing the hounds after the hares are caught.

But while he thought this way, others were a different matter entirely. The routine military exercise of the Reichswehr was underway, and the observation groups from various countries were all crowded together, talking and laughing. This grand exercise was less like a military training and more like a comedy performance.

The tank-less Reichswehr rode on tall horses, soldiers carried 50-plus-jin Maxim heavy machine guns between trenches. There was no sign that Germany’s armed forces posed any threat. This exercise, at the right time and in the right place, was a resounding slap in the face to the Allied Military Control Commission, which had been constantly stressing that the Reichswehr was rearming on a large scale.

“General von Seeckt,” a middle-aged man sitting next to General von Seeckt said with a smile, “It makes me very happy to be able to watch such a spectacular military exercise.”

This middle-aged man was wearing a magnificent Prussian military uniform, his chest adorned with various ceremonial medals, looking exceptionally heroic. If one looked closely, they would find that he was seated on Seeckt’s right-hand side. This middle-aged man’s status was even more noble than Seeckt’s.

This person was the eldest son of the former German Emperor, Wilhelm II, whom Seeckt had deliberately invited to observe the ceremony today. That is, the former Crown Prince of the Second German Empire, His Imperial Highness Friedrich Wilhelm Victor August Ernst—hearing such a long name, you know just how impressive this person was in aristocratic circles.

Over the years, Seeckt had always maintained contact with the former imperial family, because he was a monarchist through and through. He sometimes even hated the Weimar Republic and the inaction of the old army.

“This is a gift dedicated to Your Highness,” Seeckt said, pointing to the refreshed-looking Reichswehr soldiers. “Even with only ten thousand men, these Reichswehr soldiers can defeat an enemy ten times their size. They are the best!”

“Will you support me in returning here, to take back everything my father once owned?” the Crown Prince asked, looking at the heavy machine gun company conducting live-fire exercises in the distance, and turning his head to ask General von Seeckt beside him.

“This will still take time. Those merchants who have just come to power are not so easy to deal with! Their voices are always present in the Reichswehr. I have been committed to eliminating these opponents, but I have made no progress,” Seeckt said, wanting to tell the Crown Prince that seizing power was not something that could be done in a day or two. The current situation was not favorable for the royal family.

“Yes! Too many have betrayed us! Including those who had always supported us! These villains will sooner or later face the judgment of justice!” The Crown Prince frowned with some anger. “That bastard Hindenburg actually became president. He was nothing more than a minor officer in front of my father!”

He glanced at Seeckt, knowing that discussing figures within the army would do him no good, because to belittle Hindenburg was to insult the present Seeckt. So he quickly changed the subject: “And that damned Gustav Krupp! He only married Miss Bertha Krupp because of my father’s trust! And in the end, he actually sided with those profit-seeking merchants!”

“And recently, he has been very close to Colonel Akado Rudolph, supporting some of his internal activities in the Reichswehr! This has also brought difficulties to my control over the Reichswehr,” Seeckt said helplessly.

“So you’ve lost your patience?” the Crown Prince said, somewhat displeased. “You hastily invited me to observe this military exercise so that everyone would know your position and you could win more supporters?”

Seeckt nodded. “Yes. I am going to have a showdown with Akado, who represents those merchants! I believe Hindenburg will stand with me. In the end, we will gain control of the entire Reichswehr. In that way, we can welcome His Majesty the Emperor back to Germany.”

“Have you not considered the reaction of those merchants? They might resist even more fiercely! And Hindenburg’s side is not a sure thing either,” the Crown Prince’s tone held a slight nervousness, because if Seeckt’s plan succeeded, he would once again have the power to command the winds and rain.

“President Hindenburg is a monarchist! Trust me!” Seeckt said smugly. Because the artillery positions in the distance were conducting live-fire exercises, his voice was much louder. Not far behind him, the German Foreign Minister, Gustav Stresemann, raised the corners of his mouth into a smile.

At the same time, the news had already reached the secret military base in the mountainous region of southern Bavaria. Krupp was pacing around Akado in the lounge. “What are we going to do! Seeckt has actually brought out the Crown Prince. This way, those old nobles and the supporters of His Majesty the Emperor will all side with him. We’re going to be finished.”

Akado smiled. “Why do you say that? Since the emperor has abdicated, it proves that the power of the capitalists is already sufficient to shake the imperial throne. What do we have to fear?”

Krupp said, as if scolding him for not living up to expectations, “But not all of these merchants support you. I was originally a follower of the royal family myself. It’s possible that one day I will also go over to their side! Then you will have nothing! You might even end up on the guillotine.”

“You? You won’t go over to their side! Because there is no benefit in doing so!” Akado laughed. “But for them to rise, they will always need the support of the army. But the army’s attitude is not unified. For example, me, and for example, President Hindenburg. A forced action will only lead to civil war.”

“How can you be so sure that President Hindenburg will not side with the monarchists! You know, a year ago, he was an important figure in the monarchist party who had close ties with His Majesty the Emperor,” Krupp said anxiously.

Akado looked at the anxious Krupp and said teasingly, “Don’t you worry. Field Marshal Hindenburg is a loyal supporter of the emperor, but President Hindenburg absolutely does not want such an emperor.”

“What if the emperor returns and promises to make Hindenburg the Chancellor?” Krupp said after thinking for a moment.

“Do you still remember Bismarck?” Akado burst out laughing. “Promise to make Hindenburg the Chancellor? Then where does that leave Seeckt? Field Marshal of the Reichswehr? He already is!”

Krupp relaxed and sat back down in his seat. “So you’re saying we don’t have to worry about anything this time?”

“Worry about what? Worry about these people jumping out to seek their own death?” Akado said, taking a sip of coffee. “I’m more worried about the royal family standing behind certain political parties to fan the flames for their own benefit, rather than standing behind a few individuals in a vain attempt to regain power.”

“You are that wary of Hitler’s Nazi Party? He’s still in prison right now,” Krupp said, his sense of crisis lifted. At this moment, he was in high spirits and spoke with some dismissiveness.

Akado shook his head. “You’ve also been to prison, and not long after, you became a national hero. If I didn’t need the Nazi Party to stir up trouble on the side, I should have ordered them to shoot Adolf Hitler that day. I’ve always worried that this was the biggest mistake I ever made.”

“Are we going to do nothing this time? Isn’t that letting that old man Seeckt off too easily?” Krupp changed the subject, no longer arguing with Akado about the Nazi Party. After all, Hitler was a former good friend of Akado’s. Krupp felt it was somewhat impolite to discuss Hitler’s life and death with Akado.

“Watch your language, Krupp! Seeckt is an indispensable figure in the revitalization of the Reichswehr! Although he is not in the same camp as us, you still must maintain respect for him!” Akado reminded him. “Besides, I of course will not do nothing.”

Krupp was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing.

………………

Author’s Note: In the original history, General von Seeckt allowed Crown Prince Wilhelm’s son to participate as a soldier in the military exercises held in 1926. This article, for the needs of the plot, has been changed to the Crown Prince himself and advanced to 1924. I ask that those familiar with history please not hold it against me. Thank you very much.