19-August/1915
The train journey was fast. Normally I would have been glad to leave the front, but knowing what was happening made me uneasy… famine… innocent people dying… and there was not much that could be done. The number of people who were going to starve in Ukraine would be massive, and there was little anyone could do about it.
As long as there was no treaty giving Germany control over Ukraine, there was no real reason to invest there, other than exploiting it as efficiently as possible, squeezing the population to feed Germany. And since I did not know how the German harvest had turned out, I assumed it was worse than the previous year due to the war and everything affecting production: the lack of fertilizers and the shortage of workers serving in the army or factories.
So I doubted there would be enough food to feed the Ukrainians, especially with winter approaching. I did not even want to think about what could happen if we did not find a way to solve the food crisis that was coming, because I was almost certain there were already problems with the German harvest. It did not take a genius to understand that with fewer workers and requisitioned horses, agriculture would suffer, at least on a smaller scale. Large estates might hold, since they had the means, but that left the peasants completely ruined.
I tried to prepare another report as quickly as possible to present to the Kaiser, using data from Posen when we passed through on the way back. I showed that it was possible to have multiple harvests, since we already had another large mushroom yield, which continued to feed Posen thanks to our high production levels. We even had enough to export. The income was modest, but steady, which meant I had more than enough food for myself. But I doubted forty million Ukrainians could be fed on mushrooms alone. Soon we would plant tomatoes and potatoes again to achieve a more balanced diet once the natural fertilizers were ready.
So I did the best I could with the limited hours available in the following days, because by sheer luck the Kaiser was reviewing the western front. We were placed in empty military barracks while waiting for the meeting with him and the award ceremony they wanted to hold for most of us.
I worked relentlessly with a typewriter, without rest, preparing another report of one hundred and twenty pages. This time I included everything we had learned from multiple mushroom harvests and my projected production estimates, trying to convince the Kaiser with actual evidence that investing in agriculture was necessary… hoping that data on German wheat harvests, livestock, and overall production would support my argument and make him see reason.
The first event was the award ceremony. All the original jaegerkommandos, the two hundred of us, received additional medals, better versions of the ones we already had, while the rest were given lower-tier decorations.
Photographers surrounded us, taking pictures while the Kaiser, accompanied by his aide, approached and placed medals on each of us. I received the most attention, since I had been awarded a Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves for capturing one Russian general and killing another.
For the public, we were presented simply as highly effective snipers. They did not mention that we operated behind enemy lines conducting sabotage, likely to prevent those tactics from spreading beyond what the Russians could relay to the Entente.
After that came the headache of dealing with journalists. My kill count had been updated again, combining the western and eastern fronts. I had reached seven hundred confirmed kills, making me by far the most lethal soldier of the war.
There were many jokes about reaching a thousand soon, but I found them disturbing. Many journalists spoke as if these were hunting trophies, trivializing the fact that I had killed hundreds of Russians, French, and British soldiers.
Then came the interviews. I had to answer questions again for state propaganda. Everything was heavily censored. I could say little beyond the fact that we were winning and could not reveal anything about what was actually happening at the front. The entire day was spent answering questions for newspapers.
The one who enjoyed it the most was Hans. Within the unit he had the fourth highest number of kills, behind Friedrich and another selected soldier from my operations group. He was interviewed and photographed, hoping to appear in the newspapers so his parents could see him and be proud.
He tried to talk about how we captured Brusilov, but that information was restricted, so most of what he said was censored by members of Abteilung IIIb before the journalists left.
Finally, when the day ended, we returned to the barracks. Another mission would probably come soon.
The next day, just like the first time I tried to convince the Kaiser, I made myself as presentable as possible, wearing my new decorations, and reported to the imperial palace, hoping that this time I would achieve something more.
Once again I was in the same room, though this time it was emptier. Previously the head of Abteilung IIIb and several Prussian advisors had been present, but now there were far fewer people.
''I see you return once again with proposals'' said the Kaiser, observing with a faint smile, his gaze fixed on the thick stack of documents in my arm
''Fulfilling my duty, my Kaiser'' I said, saluting him
''Bring me the document'' said the Kaiser, as his advisors exchanged glances
Without wasting a second I handed him the report I had prepared, licking my lips as sweat ran down my forehead from the nerves
''Honestly, Karl…'' the Kaiser began as he started reading ''I do not know what to do with you… without question you are by far the best marksman in the army… but I do not know what you have done to turn Hindenburg against you… he only speaks badly of you: insubordination… too rebellious… he even requested that you be expelled from the army…'' the Kaiser said, making a slight grimace as he turned the pages
''My… actions… seem cowardly to him… according to him, the death of a general should come in honorable combat, not by being slaughtered like a dog, which is how he referred to how I killed and captured those two Russian generals, along with the deaths of dozens of officers we ambushed'' I replied, tightening my jaw
''Especially now that those two generals will not stop making demands… now that they are national heroes with all their victories… refusing to negotiate with the Russians'' said the Kaiser, shaking his head while continuing to read
''What do you mean they refused peace?'' I said, widening my eyes
''Diplomatic channels were opened to negotiate an exit from the war with Russia, offering Poland and additional territories… but Hindenburg simply stated that Russia must be contained, and that taking only Poland was insufficient… that we should take almost all western Russian territories to prevent their resurgence from threatening the Reich… and well… I cannot afford to anger Germany's heroes'' said the Kaiser with some irritation
''Your Majesty, I do not believe it is necessary for a Major to know such confidential information…'' said the head of Abteilung IIIb
''I do not think it matters much… what does matter is that Hindenburg no longer wants you in the army, so I am trying to decide what to do with you… while avoiding distracting the Ober ost from his decision-making'' said the Kaiser
''I will do whatever is within my power to support Germany, my Kaiser'' I said, lowering my head
''Hindenburg has completely refused to allow you any promotion… even though I sent you to the western front, you did not learn much, although my son mentioned you showed natural leadership when you led the assault against a French camp during a counterattack… but you never attended a single class with the generals, so you do not meet the requirements for promotion… however… I believe there are several options'' said the Kaiser as he continued flipping pages
''Such as?'' I asked, interested
''You left quite an impression on Archduke Wilhelm von Habsburg… he said that for someone with hundreds of lives on your hands, you were… strangely a good man… someone who tries to do what is right when possible…'' said the Kaiser, looking at me closely
''A von Habsburg? And when was I ever with one?'' I said, raising an eyebrow
''Do you not remember?… when the Ukrainians were killing each other and you tried to intervene and he stopped you?'' asked the Kaiser
''The Oberst?… he was a von Habsburg?… but he introduced himself as a Ukrainian…'' I said, surprised
''Well… that explains quite a few things'' said the Kaiser, running a finger along his mustache while glancing at the head of Abteilung IIIb
''In any case, he suggested sending you to the Austro-Hungarian Empire as an advisor to their army and in sniper training, where they would grant you a promotion to sweeten the deal'' said the Kaiser
''That is not the same as dealing with Hindenburg… or worse…'' I said with some doubt
''It is a disaster…'' said the Kaiser, now halfway through the report ''the other option is to send you as an advisor to the Ottoman Empire… you could sabotage British installations in the region and their fuel fields… two promotions could be considered there, but you would remain part of the Ottoman army… until Hindenburg reconsiders his decision'' said the Kaiser
At that option I remembered the infernal heat of that region… and I had no desire to roast in the desert… although the sabotage there would certainly be effective, the time needed for acclimatization, camouflage, and equipment would be significant
''Is there no way for me to remain in Germany… you already know'' I said, pointing at the document he was reading
''That falls more under the jurisdiction of the Preußisches Landwirtschaftsministerium… your previous report was delivered to the minister… which he rejected, claiming that a single harvest proves nothing and that crops would be fine… as if this year's harvest had not dropped by 15% and potatoes by nearly 30%'' said the Kaiser, rubbing his temples
''Those… are terrible numbers…'' I said, surprised
''Yes… I will submit this… hopefully they will attempt to address the food shortage… we were supposed to gain large amounts of grain from Ukraine, yet our hands are empty… so if you wish to remain in the German army, there is no way you will be removed. I will not approve that for poor reasons… but Hindenburg intends to have you patrolling streets… and refuses any transfer of your unit…'' said the Kaiser
''What if I give Hindenburg what he wants and resign… but become a private contractor?'' I said, looking at him, clearly irritated by Hindenburg's obsession with me
''Private contractor?'' the Kaiser said, puzzled
''A mercenary, but it sounds better… I would still serve Germany… I would not be part of the army, so Hindenburg is satisfied, and I would recruit young men not yet required to serve and prepare them for war, delivering them to the army when called… training them and taking rear-area missions like in Ukraine… because if you look at page 112 you will see that sooner or later partisan activity will rise due to the lack of food, and that will bleed the German army dry if occupation continues… since I speak Ukrainian I can coordinate better with them and try to assist in the rear… and it leaves me open to missions from the OHL if Hindenburg changes his mind… I also have some freedom to support the agricultural recovery of Ukraine… you can see it yourself, I have the knowledge to do it'' I said seriously, pointing at the document
The Kaiser read the final pages, skipping ahead, and remained thoughtful
''I will present this to the OHL… we will see what happens… if I approve it, these private contractors would serve me or the State'' said the Kaiser, now serious
''Your Majesty'' said one of the officials, alarmed
The Kaiser silenced him with a raised hand
''The Kaiser'' I said firmly, understanding what answer he wanted
''Very well… you may withdraw for now… we will speak tomorrow'' said the Kaiser, gesturing toward the exit
Without saying anything I left… hoping at the very least I would not be sent to the Ottoman Empire… I had no desire to spend my days drenched in sweat and dying of heat
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