2-July-1918
''They rejected our mobilization to the front again'' Alexander said, bringing with him the written response the OHL had sent us.
''Aaaaaah… Hindenburg'' I said, clenching my teeth while striking the desk I had in my base of operations in Berlin.
I had been trapped in Berlin for weeks by order of the OHL. We were already operationally ready, with reinforcements arrived from the Duchy, veteran troops, well-trained men and some rookies who had passed the necessary tests to be considered part of our special forces.
We had trucks, armored automobiles, new semi-automatic rifles, submachine guns and had even dismantled, together with the engineers, several French panzers to copy a good part of their system and try to manufacture a simpler German version.
Trying to expand the vehicle a little, and using my Ukrainian contacts together with the tractor factories, we had managed to work on a Panzer prototype for three occupants, trying to equip it with a machine gun and an anti-tank weapon so it could serve as a combat vehicle against both infantry and French panzer. In addition, several improvements were being added, such as sloped armor and an internal radio inside the vehicle, even if it was only for communication between the crewmen.
To speak inside a panzer, either you had to shout over the roar of the engine to make yourself heard, or you had to resort to hand signals, which also ended up affecting the soldiers' hearing. The engine noise was infernal if you did not have good-quality protection that blocked part of the sound.
That was why it was necessary to use a radio inside the vehicle, so the crew could communicate more easily. Although the prototypes kept being delayed by manufacturing problems, since I was demanding that the Duchy's communications engineers advance years of progress in very little time. However, it was completely necessary, especially because since our last participation at the front, we were supposed to have two months of rest before taking part in another great offensive.
But more time than requested had already passed and I had reported on several occasions that my division was perfectly equipped to continue vanguard operations, supporting the advance toward the secondary capital of the French, Bordeaux. So far, all my requests to go to the front had been denied by the OHL.
The possibility of an internal uprising inside Germany had frightened the high command of the German army, which did not want a rebellion at home while almost the entire army was fighting in France.
In addition, since the rebel cells of the Spartakusbund were equipped with military rifles, that left the police in a very bad position, as they only came with pistols and other weapons taken from some armories. Many of those men had never fired a rifle or a submachine gun, so equally inexperienced forces were facing each other.
That was why the presence of my men in Berlin and then in its surroundings had become necessary, to avoid diverting units that were already in the combat zone.
And that already had me completely out of my mind, because the window to push in France seemed to be closing. The more time passed, the more American troops arrived to cover the gaps the French had, causing the fronts to slowly begin stabilizing again. Advancing was becoming harder and harder, since the numbers were evening out with each passing day.
There were even entire American armies suffering devastating casualties while adapting to modern war. On several occasions, they kept trying to apply maneuver tactics that had not been used since 1914, except on the Russian front. That was why American casualties were through the roof in the short time they had been fighting against the veteran armies of Germany and Austria-Hungary.
''That bastard… we have everything to support a mechanized advance against the French and the Americans. We even have French tanks ready to fight. Why the fuck do they not approve our return to the front?'' I said, biting my left index finger and hearing the leather of my glove resonate in my ears.
''They did not give many more reasons. We must continue supporting security in the area against the Spartakusbund rebels. The authorities are truly frightened by how close a possible uprising came. Nobody wants things to end like in Russia. Their armies collapsed together with everything those workers demanded'' Alexander said, placing his hands behind his back after leaving the OHL's response in front of me.
''I know, Alexander, I know. But damn it, look at all our equipment. We have enough bullets and firepower to cut down an enormous number of men inside Berlin. The machine guns and semi-automatic rifles were not made to fire at workers with revolutionary dreams. We should be at the front, trying to give another great push before the Americans fill the line with their future corpses'' I said, bringing my hand to the bridge of my nose while pressing it a little.
''Well, for what it is worth, I learned that Paris finally fell after a long siege. The British, French and American defenders surrendered after heavy artillery and gas bombardments. The city was captured, although it is said that it looks more like a field of ruins than the capital it once was. Peace negotiations may be closer now. With the fall of their capital, the French may be more willing to negotiate'' Alexander said, pressing his lips together.
''I doubt it. The city had enormous military value, but not the same political value. Paris was the logistical center of the area, where all the railway lines passed, and that will severely affect Entente supplies for some time, at least until they establish new railway hubs. The factories they lost are surely already being replaced by the enormous American shipments of food and armaments. The only thing that mattered to force them to surrender were their politicians, and those were already evacuated to Bordeaux. That was the reason for our great attack toward the south: to reach there. But every day there are more Americans between that city and us'' I said, striking the table once more while standing up and walking aimlessly inside the room.
''Yes, I know. I only wanted to give good news, in case it was worth something'' Alexander said, breaking eye contact and lowering his head completely.
''Withdraw for the moment and stay attentive to future orders'' I said, sitting back down in my chair and staring out the window, observing the streets of Berlin, which were somewhat empty because it was working hours in the factories.
''At your orders, Oberst'' Alexander said, saluting before leaving my workplace.
I remained alone, looking out the window without saying anything, while feeling as if my head was going to explode. It seemed that everything I had done for Germany was going to waste. All my efforts and sacrifices were coming to nothing, because slowly, this seemed to prove that Germany was still condemned.
I did not want to think about what would happen if Germany did not win this war. That meant the radical parties would have the best breeding ground to expand and manage to take power. In addition, the constant pressure that some Russian side might win the civil war and try to reenter the war was a problem that grew closer every day.
The American fever continued its course, although in Germany the situation was still under control. There were already outbreaks in some cities, but until the vaccine was developed or we found some way to prevent the disease, we were only delaying its effects. Even so, it was only a matter of time before it spread through the Entente.
But I did not know what to do with all this. With Hindenburg keeping me trapped in useless work, I could influence the war very little. Everything that could be done had already been done, except fighting. Handing our equipment over to the Crown Prince's divisions would not be of much use, since the lack of training would make those weapons almost useless. In addition, the risk of them falling into enemy hands to be studied was a problem that had to be taken into account.
I got up from the chair, went to get a case, placed it on the desk and opened it. There was my sniper rifle. I stared at it for a long time.
Although the lives of hundreds or thousands of men had been in my hands in both my lives, I had never consciously pulled the trigger against someone innocent. It had always been against enemies, because of war or because of a contract.
While listening to my own breathing, each time oxygen entered my lungs, the idea of blowing Hindenburg's head off passed through my mind.
Although not as a passing thought, nor as some idiotic impulse someone might have when he was too bored and could not find anything to end the tedium.
No. This time it was like thinking about murder. And there appeared all the problems I would have to consider if I wanted, or did not want, to turn such an act into reality.
Hindenburg, the de facto dictator of Germany, the man who had the civilian government under his control and forced it to obey his will to guide the war, was the one in my sights. But the great dilemma was how to reach him, especially with me being in Berlin.
I had to be in the same area as my target and, worse still, with an incredibly tiny margin of time. I also needed an alibi, because if someone put a bullet in that bastard's head, the first one they would point at would be me, because of my constant problems with him.
The second problem was locating him. It was not as if I could simply ask where Hindenburg was, travel there and shoot him. That would raise every alarm or, at the very least, every suspicion if I managed to do it.
I could not disappear for long either. It was the same. In addition, I had to think about what would happen if I failed. That meant the shit would fall on a lot of people, not only me. In the past, I would not have given a damn about going and putting lead into Hindenburg's head, but now I had a father. One I did not know well and whose relationship with the real Karl I did not even know, beyond a few small conversations. I also had brothers, and an enormous problem would fall on them if something went wrong.
I sat down and ran my leather-gloved hands over my face while staring at the ceiling of the room.
''And what will happen to Germany if it loses its command in the middle of the war?'' I said, throwing the question into the air without taking my eyes off the ceiling.
If I killed Germany's dictator, Ludendorff could continue with the military dictatorship, or perhaps other generals would try to take part in power. Someone worse than Hindenburg could even appear. If the Kaiser recovered control, perhaps that would be something good, although I could not act only on a hunch.
And if that caused a civil war between the Kaiser and the generals… or Germany's unconditional surrender.
''So many possibilities… my damned head hurts'' I said, grabbing my temples with both hands. ''I am so tired of this shit''
My eyes focused on my rifle and I closed them.
I kept them closed for a long time. Then I opened them again and, after sighing heavily, I got up and began going down the stairs, observing my men, who were still managing many matters related to preparing documents for the judges about the socialists of the Spartakusbund.
''Alexander'' I said, looking at the officer who was working.
''Yes, Herr Oberst?'' he said, standing up and saluting.
''Send another message to the OHL. Ask them to assign us to the east, to allow us to return to the Duchy to make sure there are no socialist plots in the area'' I said, making a grimace with my mouth while continuing down to the door that led to the street.
''At your orders, Herr Oberst'' Alexander said, nodding.
When I opened the door, I saw the usual sunny day and took a few steps to stand there, feeling the sun on my skin while staring at nothing.
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