1917-April-11
''What do you mean they declared war on us?'' I said while covering my head after hearing the worst possible news.
''Yes, Oberst... they declared war on us. Apparently one of our submarines sank several ships carrying American passengers and that generated enough support for intervention in the war'' one of my men told me while explaining how the war had changed in the short time I had been away.
''Good... thank you. You may leave'' I said while biting my lip as I watched the soldier walk away.
This was bad, very bad... without Zimmerman there should not have been a war... why were the Americans now claiming that a few ships were enough to declare war on us?
This clearly tied into the Spanish Flu pandemic since supposedly patient zero had been an American, meaning the massive pandemic problem would arrive soon. But that should have been for 1918 when American troops started arriving in large numbers.
That changed everything because Germany was about to commit fully to a war of attrition against France, which should already have been on the verge of collapse. But American entry into the war would be fresh air for them, proof that help was on the way.
For the moment the German campaign of disrupting trade was working better than ever since there were now even more ships to harass in the Atlantic. Many ships that were supposed to supply France from British colonial positions now had to sail around Africa with the Suez blocked, and it was shorter to stop at Atlantic French ports than Mediterranean ones even if those were safer.
So Germany had not made many more advances, but it had inflicted enormous casualties while stopping Entente offensives since they were the ones still on the attack trying to gain ground while German attention remained focused on Italy.
That was the other major piece of news. The Italian front had collapsed within three months. The Italian army failed to resist the steamroller that crushed it when nearly a million German and Austro Hungarian troops launched massive assaults and bombardments against the Italian lines, violently driving the Italians back into their own territory, capturing Venice and advancing all the way into Lombardy.
The latest reports said Italy was already negotiating its exit from the war because it simply could not endure the German offensive much longer since the advance was nearing Lazio and that would mean total Italian collapse in a short amount of time.
That should have been the final nail in the Entente coffin, but no. Now the United States had entered the war for who knows what reasons, probably the banks realizing they were about to lose and all their loans would become worthless. They must have pressured something because according to what I knew there had been no Zimmerman telegram.
This put us in a terrible position. If Italy surrendered we would be left with a single front since I doubted anyone wanted to attack France through Italy considering that terrain would be even worse than the trenches.
I had very little time to prepare. And now the Kaiser had summoned me to Posen to discuss several matters that pulled me away from my work ensuring there would be bread for autumn considering they had increased my production quota and I now had to feed thirty million people for an entire year, a fifty percent increase.
Which was entirely feasible considering we now had far more tractors, but it still required immense work since I also had to produce food for the Ukrainian population and determine whether we could export food since that was exactly what every German allied state needed to sustain the war effort.
My head was already starting to hurt when I boarded the train toward Posen while ideas kept piling up in my mind regarding how to end the war before the American troops arrived.
But it was not as if I could pull a tank or an airplane out of my pocket. Those required countless things beyond my area of expertise, especially electronics, and that was the real headache because maybe I could create an assault rifle and completely skip the organic evolution of firearms, changing everything dramatically. Because if Germany loses... we will end up with the funny mustache man in power or someone similar since I doubt shooting him in the head would solve anything. In situations like these someone else always replaces them and I do not know whether that would be better or worse.
So the entire trip to Posen was spent thinking about how to manufacture an assault rifle since mass production of them could surely change the front if I managed to produce enough.
The trip only lasted a few hours, but it still consumed the entire day. Instead of inspecting fields or contacting machinery manufacturers to try fighting Ukrainian unemployment, I had to meet with the Kaiser for who knew what reason.
Arriving in Posen, without even stopping, I went straight toward the place where I had met the Kaiser several times before, where the presence of Imperial Guard soldiers was already obvious. With a simple glance they opened the doors for me.
''Your Majesty'' I said while lowering my head and sitting in the chair across from the Kaiser.
''Karl... much more tanned from what I can see'' the Kaiser said while resting his good arm beneath his chin.
''The average thirty degree heat of the Sinai sun works wonders, my Kaiser'' I replied with a faint smile.
''Let us begin with the first matter, Karl... excellent handling of agriculture considering the limited budget you had. The reports finally reached my hands while we reviewed this year's budgets and I still cannot stop being amazed by how such results were achieved with so little. Even through gritted teeth we got Hindenburg to admit that you did excellent work as an administrator... hopefully the new quota will not prove too difficult, but it would certainly help reduce the burden of rationing if you can fulfill it'' the Kaiser said while nodding.
''Yes, the budget was a little tight honestly... but this year we are still short of what I requested since we remain five hundred sixty million marks below what I asked for'' I replied, pleased that my results had been acknowledged.
''The war consumes everything, even now that Ukraine is largely capable of funding itself'' the Kaiser said.
''For the most part. The Russian civil war crippled any attempt to normalize the economies of the new states since there are not enough buyers to keep people working in the factories, and because few people have jobs, nobody buys anything. That creates the cycle where industry cannot grow because there is no local consumption'' I replied while explaining Ukraine's current problem.
''Complicated from what I hear'' the Kaiser said while rubbing his beard as he continued observing me.
''Yes, which is why we are going to try selling uniforms to the Russians. At the very least if they kill each other we should profit from their civil war. What we still question is whether we can sell them ammunition so they can keep killing each other. Considering we still have available production capacity, it could help solve that problem if we are allowed to sell weapons and bullets to the Russians'' I said while watching the Kaiser carefully for his reaction.
''Nicolai'' the Kaiser said.
''I would recommend selling to the conservatives since they seek to restore the monarchy under the closest relative of Tsar Nicholas due to the belief that he is dead. It would be possible to place the deposed tsar as the head of state for the conservatives if we bring him out of hiding'' said the German intelligence chief.
''Sell uniforms for the moment. Weapons and ammunition will be discussed with the OHL since as you already know the United States has now entered the conflict claiming we killed many of their citizens aboard a British ship we sank... something our commanders can confirm should not have happened because supposedly there was nobody in the area during the attack, but something must have happened and we are investigating it. Though it hardly matters now. We must prepare for a long war because it seems millions of soldiers armed and supplied with food will soon come from across the ocean'' the Kaiser said.
''That is exactly what I have been thinking, my Kaiser, which is why it is important that I return to agricultural production as quickly as possible to guarantee Germany has massive food reserves for what is coming'' I replied while nodding.
''Yes, you must be extremely busy now, but well... second matter. General Friedrich Kress von Kressenstein cannot stop praising you for being such a capable officer and claims that if he had more Jaegerkommandos under his command he could easily take Egypt. There are also recommendations from several pashas regarding your discovery of the British sabotage base. It is far too soon to promote you again and I doubt it would be accepted considering you only received a double promotion three months ago... but that does not diminish the excellent work you did helping the Ottomans'' the Kaiser said with a slight smile while glancing toward Nicolai.
''Yes... although why exactly did you need forged documents?'' Walter Nicolai asked.
''We had contact with someone serving alongside the saboteurs and planted false information claiming the deal the British offered the Arabs was fake and a lie... just to see what would happen'' I replied with a shrug.
''I see... I have no further questions, Your Majesty'' said the intelligence chief while stepping back and stiffening his expression.
''Good. And third, the main reason you are here... you remember the payment you requested, yes?'' the Kaiser asked seriously.
''Of course. Hard to forget a pension and a noble title for my services'' I said with a smile while expecting the reward to be worthwhile.
''It was discussed, negotiated, and finally decided to grant you the title you wanted and place you into a vacant position we did not know how to fill'' the Kaiser said while moving his hand in what felt like a rehearsed speech.
I did not like where this was going.
''It was difficult explaining why you should receive a noble title of that rank, but by using many of my connections we reached the conclusion that you were the ideal candidate, which means you are now the Herzog of the Vereinigtes Baltisches Herzogtum'' the Kaiser said while staring directly at me.
I remained silent while staring back at the Kaiser for a long moment.
''That does not seem to be what you expected'' Walter Nicolai added after seeing my reaction.
''I wanted a noble title and land... not a noble title tied to an administrative state position'' I said seriously.
''It had to be this way, young Herzog... do you think it is easy convincing a crowd of nobles who all presented themselves as the perfect candidates for that title that you were the best option? I had to present your agricultural results, your anti partisan operations, your ability to maintain control... along with your good relationship with the King of Ukraine so it would not appear to be mere favoritism... although it is... and so your appointment would be accepted instead of simply handing you the title outright... because if I gave you a high noble title for no reason at all... it would raise suspicions, especially among Hindenburg and his followers within the OHL... so this was the best way to conceal payment for your services'' the Kaiser explained while watching me throughout the entire speech.
''Well... I suppose what is done is done... this does not come with a mandatory political marriage or something like that, does it?'' I asked while widening my eyes slightly.
''No, but if you want one I can arrange it'' the Kaiser replied while raising his hand.
''That will not be necessary... I suppose that administrative nightmare is mine now... dear God... is there anything I specifically must do for German interests in the region or do I have freedom to decide there?'' I asked while covering my face with my hands.
''Yes... actually'' the Kaiser said while looking at Nicolai.
''Fourth point. A work visa law must be approved so workers can temporarily be sent to Germany and employed in the factories. I assume that fits perfectly with your unemployment problem, yes?'' the intelligence chief said.
''Somewhat... it creates communication problems, but if they are paid fair wages I see no reason why not'' I replied.
''Excellent... then I will not keep you any longer, Herzog Karl... because you now have to put the German position in order so it properly serves our interests'' the Kaiser said while gesturing toward the exit.
I stood up, lowered my head, and left the room making a grimace because the multicultural headache of the duchy now belonged to me... without even mentioning my enormous agricultural workload in Ukraine since nobody had said anything about replacing me there.
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