26-July-1918
''This shit is really good'' I said, licking my thumb after having picked at some dehydrated mushrooms with salt and pepper.
''It is what we have managed to do, Mein Herzog. The soil may not be the same as in Ukraine, where we were raising greenhouses, but without a doubt, we have learned a lot along the way now that we are working here'' said one of my engineers, who worked on the construction of the greenhouses.
''Yes, it is good to have more types of food in abundance. That way we can sell the barley to the Russians, who keep starving to death with their civil war'' I said, taking a little more of the mushrooms.
''It has been difficult to adjust the size of the greenhouses. Since we did not know the climate variations well, it certainly took us longer than expected, but we should only be about fifty-three days behind the date we had previously estimated. Now no further delays are expected, unless weather conditions become too adverse'' the engineer said, looking somewhat nervous.
''That is a major delay, considering this is a nine-month project'' I said, stopping my smile while observing the inside of the greenhouse.
''We made… no. I calculated badly, thinking that the Baltic climate conditions would be similar to those in Ukraine. But the climate difference forces technical changes, in addition to making everything more expensive than I thought. We have to use slightly thicker glass to better insulate the heat. That means my previous preparations were… wrong, and that part of the budget has been lost on glass suitable for Ukraine, but not for these lands'' the engineer said, lowering his head.
''So, besides a delay of almost two months, turning the project into something close to a year, I have to pay more'' I said, looking at the engineer, who did not want to make eye contact.
''That is so, Mein Herzog. I fear that, because of my incompetence and overconfidence, I made a severe mistake. The time it will take the glass producers to fulfill the new orders will be the additional delay'' the engineer said.
''Hum… I gain nothing by shouting at you and removing you from the post. I would only make whoever replaced you have to review everything again and make sure the calculations are correct. So you will keep the position, but do not let it happen again. If this happens again, I will have you arrested'' I said, crossing my arms while leaving the greenhouse.
When I observed the area, I saw a group of twenty greenhouses that had already been built. It was little, considering that this place was expected to be full of them by this date, but that delay made everything difficult.
One of the great preparations was to make the Duchy agriculturally self-sufficient. It was, but by very little. Without knowing how things would evolve, we needed large food reserves and, above all, far more means of production than the country's internal consumption.
That was why I had devised a simple construction plan. Some areas considered to have high agricultural yield had been turned into lands full of greenhouses. At the same time, the construction of greenhouses had to serve as the basis for communal farms intended for the small villages that were forming, whether because I had ordered the dissolution of small settlements that were under direct control of State property, or because of the migration arriving from Germany and Austria.
Now that we were applying a more aggressive policy of German colonization in search of soldiers, in recent days we had had much more luck with the young Austrians and Germans who made up the occupation forces in the east. Their objective was, literally, to obtain land to cultivate and something they could call their own. That was why it was much easier to convince them than the troops of the Eighth Army.
The latter, for the most part, were conscript troops, with a core of professional soldiers who only sought to fulfill their duty and return home once this war ended.
So the new settlements, which united small villages to facilitate bureaucracy, logistics and infrastructure, had to be completely self-sufficient in every sense: in their consumption of proteins, carbohydrates and the other foods necessary to sustain their population.
That was why the technique of communal farms was applied. It allowed them to use the greenhouses I owned to plant basic foods such as lettuces, tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, legumes and other short-cycle plants. In addition, they were given a small chicken farm to obtain eggs, some cows for milk and rabbits that I had ordered brought from Flanders, using the Flemish giant rabbit as a direct source of protein. What was mainly lacking was a good intake of fat, but pigs had the problem that their smell was too strong, and we were already having enough problems with the cows.
All of this in exchange for part of what was obtained being delivered to the local town halls to form food reserves, somewhat decentralizing livestock and agriculture from certain areas and distributing them among the new villages.
This was the first step toward self-sufficiency in case of collapse, since it was the only thing I could ensure. The Baltic Duchy had no iron or coal reserves that could be exploited, so the only option left was to return to the basics and fill the warehouses with weapons and ammunition while we still had access to the German market.
Although I would like to warn Vasyl about the possible collapse of Germany and Austria-Hungary in the war, based on what I had seen and on the increasingly clear signs, that was precisely the problem. Vasyl would not waste that opportunity to make Ukraine a free kingdom. That man was always thinking of the Ukrainians as his people, so it was certain that this king would break his ties with Germany and Austria, in addition to rolling back any of the changes Germany had made to keep him as a loyal vassal State.
That would clearly complicate everything, since he would surely try to bring back Cyrillic, and once he began arming the Ukrainians and training them, he might not be so receptive to receiving orders, or even collaborating with someone who had spent all this time blocking the wishes of his people.
Therefore, prudence indicated not warning him and letting him continue depending on the occupation forces. Even if he wanted to do something, my men would have control of Ukraine, and we could try to contain him if he decided to go after his Ukrainian dream.
As for Waldemar, well, Ruthenia had its own problems, but it was the same. His security depended on the Eighth Army and the occupation forces, so it would simply be a matter of marching on Minsk and placing him under our control.
With almost twenty-one thousand men recruited, we met the goal by the end of the year. That way we would be ready for that fateful day, if Germany lost.
''How is the war in Russia continuing?'' I asked one of the diplomats Manstein had traveling back and forth to keep making deals with both sides of the Russian civil war.
''Stalled. The Mensheviks have more men, but they are poorly armed. Many rifles, few bullets and a lack of food, especially after the Whites managed to expel them from Moscow'' the diplomat said.
''That does not sound like a stalled front to me. They just recovered one of the largest cities from the hands of the Russian Provisional Government. That would be reason to worry a little'' I said, raising an eyebrow at the diplomat's statement.
''At a great cost in lives, which is causing problems for the Whites, since they have been attacking without rest for some time. They are not lacking bullets, because they have under their control most of the chemical factories necessary for ammunition production, but the advances have stopped. For the moment, they are running out of food and are waiting for the harvest from their territories to supply themselves and launch another offensive'' the diplomat said, showing his teeth.
''And there is the problem, from what I understand. The Mensheviks do not have many cultivable lands under their control. Well, they have large areas, but at the same time they possess an enormous number of urban centers, so they need much more to feed their armies and their population… Sell the food to the Mensheviks. Nothing for the Whites. We do not want them to launch an offensive in spring next year and end up winning, because they will surely recruit all the citizens of Moscow'' I said, thoughtful about the possible plans of the White Russian high command.
''Understood, Mein Herzog. I will make sure the food shipments reach only the Mensheviks and try to take a good slice of their gold from them, making them believe I am selling them the right for us not to sell anything to the Whites'' the diplomat said, with a small smile beginning to form on his mouth as he said that.
''Yes. Do exactly that'' I said, pointing at him with my finger, enjoying having someone quick enough to profit from the conflict.
''Mein Herzog, a person claiming to be your father has arrived for a meeting'' one of the bureaucrats said, opening the door to my office.
''Ah, finally. Bring him in'' I said without rising from my seat.
''Well, with your permission, Mein Herzog, I am going to take many gold ingots from the Mensheviks to sell them food'' the diplomat said, lowering his head before turning and walking out the door.
Under Manstein's expectant gaze, my father finally arrived, walking slowly while we listened to how his boots echoed against the floor of my work area.
''Son'' my father said dryly.
I noticed that Manstein had risen from his seat to look at my father, who removed his gloves while observing everything around him.
''Father, I hope the journey was not too tedious'' I said, rising and approaching to embrace him.
''It is only a train journey. It is no great thing, my son. Tell me, what did you want to talk about?'' my father said while straightening up and placing his hands behind his back.
''Something simple, but I preferred to discuss it here to avoid the letter being intercepted. One never knows what could happen. I want to see the feasibility of moving the canning factories here and, at the same time, trying to offer homes to the workers, taking advantage of the contracts we have with them over the use of land, but offering them land tenure in the Baltic'' I said, patting him on the shoulder.
''That would be extremely difficult to carry out in the middle of the war. Obtaining the permits to stop production and move a factory considered important to the war effort will not be simple'' my father said, making a gesture with his hand toward those watching us.
''They are trusted, so relax. Look, I think the war is not going very well and we are preparing for the worst case. Ideally, we would have to move as much as possible here, where we will try to prevent the worst from hitting us'' I said, looking at my father, who slowly frowned.
''What you are saying borders on treason, Karl. What is happening to you? Since when did you become a pacifist?'' my father asked, frowning.
''I am only saying what I saw, Father. The Americans are arriving in France by the millions. In addition, there is the disease, which is only a matter of time before it reaches Germany, even with all the efforts to stop its spread. That is why you have to try to move the family's properties. In addition, we are about to buy Swiss francs for when the German market begins to consider the turn of the war. Inflation should skyrocket when controls are released and…'' I tried to say, noticing the anger in my father's eyes.
''Karl… I do not know what happened to you, but instead of doing this cowardice, you should be fighting for the country. If I were not so old, I would also be doing it, like all my sons. But here I only see you thinking like a coward'' my father said, showing himself severe.
''AND YOU THINK I DID NOT TRY? SEVEN TIMES I ASKED TO BE MOVED TO THE FRONT. ALL SEVEN TIMES THEY DENIED MY MOBILIZATION. I AM NOT A COWARD, BUT I AM NOT STUPID EITHER'' I said, raising my voice and silencing my father.
''The only thing I have known about you is that you were killing workers who refused to work. It seems your change was only temporary'' my father said, becoming much more aggressive.
''I was at the damned front. I was part of the southern offensive with the Crown Prince's group… I lost men and was wounded. Did my letters not reach you?'' I said, clenching my teeth.
''Nothing'' he said dryly.
''Hindenburg… that bastard cut off my letters too'' I said, striking my desk.
''Is that how you refer to your commanding officer, Karl? Respect the rank, even if you do not respect the man'' my father said, shaking his head.
''You know what? The offer is on the table. Think whatever you want. If you want to hear my opinion, fine. If not, do not come crying later when you lose everything'' I said, sitting in my chair and noticing everyone's gazes.
My father did not even respond. He only shook his head and left without saying more.
''Remember that the press is heavily controlled. It is normal that your father does not know many of the things happening, beyond what the high command allows to get out'' Manstein said, looking somewhat worried.
''Forget it. He is a Junker. He is like most of the high command… only he is my father and he cared for me. That is why he sometimes tolerated me, I suppose'' I said, beginning to type on my typewriter an order to buy Swiss francs.
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