September 20, 1939
Central Germany, 9th Military District, Kassel, Frankfurt - New German Government Building (Occupied)
The atmosphere within the military government, which had so boldly launched a coup within a coup, was disastrous.
As if to prove they were the leaders of the once-famed and mighty German army, they had succeeded in neutralizing the New Government in an instant through swift operational execution and rapid movements, declaring a military government.
Then, riding their momentum to create a fait accompli, they seized the broadcasting stations and immediately announced the revival of the German Empire, proclaiming that they would bring back the Kaiser from the Netherlands.
But just one day later, Britain and France simultaneously sent an ultimatum, stating they would never tolerate the restoration of the emperor, a war criminal from the last Great War, and would stop it by force if necessary.
Italy's Mussolini, who had been testing the waters, not to be outdone, fiercely condemned the military government and issued a statement that Italy was willing to revive the Stresa Front with Britain and France against Germany.
To make matters worse, their request sent to the Netherlands to escort the Kaiser back was met with a blunt refusal, with the Dutch stating they had maintained their neutrality since the last Great War.
“What are we going to do now?”
Only silence filled the air.
Contrary to their expectations, the German people, far from welcoming the military government's proclamation to restore the Kaiser, were staging fierce protests upon hearing of the ultimatum from Britain and France.
"We should have suppressed that damn newspaper company…"
The Junkers had thought it would be enough to secure the New Government's leadership and the highly visible broadcasting stations, but the price for failing to capture Dietrich Schacht proved to be steep.
Using his connections at the Frankfurter Zeitung, he shook the fledgling New Government, slandered the military government for driving Germany toward war, and distributed newspapers urging resistance to find freedom against another dictatorship.
As if he had prepared in advance, they were scattered all over Frankfurt and the areas controlled by the New Government before the military government could react, making it impossible to stop.
The leadership, having virtually entrusted the entire information war to Major Dietrich Schacht, knew little of his specific actions and had little awareness that it was newspapers that had dealt a fatal blow to the Nazis at the start of the coup.
Thanks to their misjudgment, their prediction that radio broadcasts alone could win over a significant portion, if not all, of the public's support for the New Government was completely wrong.
The people, caring little for the Kaiser or anything else, started strikes and riots with the sole purpose of stopping the military government from dragging Germany into war, and they responded enthusiastically to Dietrich Schacht, who had become familiar to them through broadcasts.
Mackensen clicked his tongue as he watched the Junkers, who had become so powerless in just one day.
"Things being what they are, isn't our only choice to place His Highness the Crown Prince on the throne?"
"But he is refusing all of our requests for an audience."
The Crown Prince was cunning.
He was well aware of the coup plot against the New Government, but he gave no answer of any kind, biding his time, and as soon as things seemed to be going awry, he refused to meet with them at all.
Doctor Goerdeler was feeling a deep sense of frustration.
He didn't want to admit it, but wasn't everything unfolding exactly as that young brat, Major Schacht, had predicted?
"Does this mean we will never again see the day of the mighty German Empire that once commanded all of Europe?"
The room was filled with nothing but laments and sighs.
Many among them were, of course, men greedy for their vested interests.
But at the same time, the majority were men who could have lived affluently within Germany without ever needing to stage such a coup.
Even though they could have lived comfortably under Nazi rule by simply flattering Hitler, they who had risked everything to stand against the Nazis were surely patriots.
Their leader, Mackensen, spoke weakly.
"It can't be helped.
It is a somewhat disloyal act, but let us give up on restoring His Majesty the Emperor and proclaim His Highness the Crown Prince as Emperor. We will get his consent later.
We can't let Germany fall into war again, can we…"
No one in this room wished for Germany's ruin. It was just that their perception of reality had failed to keep up with the changing times.
-
September 20, 1939
Northern Germany, Berlin While the New Government was thrown into chaos by the military government's coup and the Anglo-French ultimatum, the cornered Nazi regime did not miss the opportunity that had finally arrived.
[My respected German people.
In these tragic times, I cannot hide my heart-wrenching feelings. As the Führer of the German state and nation, I wish to announce three things.
One, despite the vile attack by those traitors calling themselves the New Government, I, your Führer, am alive and well.]
Just as he had seized control of Germany by exploiting the chaos of the Weimar Republic, Hitler did not miss the New Government's weakness, signaling his comeback with a grand declaration of his return.
"Move quickly! To Potsdam!"
The Nazi regime, unable to trust the Wehrmacht, unlike in the original history, began to massively reinforce the Waffen-SS and deploy them as troops starting in 1939.
Having lost the Ruhr and with already scarce equipment, they decided it was better to give it to the army that was definitively on the Nazi side, rather than to the untrustworthy Wehrmacht.
[Two, they framed me and the legitimate German government, falsely accusing us of trying to start a war, and spread rumors with all kinds of agitation and fabrication. However, by attempting an anachronistic restoration of the monarchy, they have proven that it is they themselves who are truly pushing Germany into the danger of war.
]
"Why are you all so damn slow!"
At the roar of SS-Lieutenant General Erich von dem Bach, a middle-aged SS-Lieutenant Colonel with a receding hairline and a mustache like Hitler's giggled.
"Oh, my apologies, Herr Lieutenant General! These things are just so bad at walking.
What are you all doing! Drag them away at once!"
[Three, as the one and only legitimate Führer of the German state and nation, I declare that those vile traitors will soon be suppressed, and any form of assistance in sympathy with them will be considered treason against the German state and nation and will result in summary execution.]
Even von dem Bach, who in the original history would later become infamous as a tremendous scumbag, frowned at the sight of the prisoners being dragged away by the SS Lieutenant Colonel's men.
"Tsk, no matter how desperate we are for troops, to call that thing a Lieutenant Colonel."
Of course, that Lieutenant Colonel, Oskar Paul Dirlewanger, was too excited by the thought of soon tying those 'human shields' to his tanks and charging into enemy lines to hear him.
[My respected German people. The traitors' time of lies is over.
They now face the overwhelming fury of the German state and nation and, for daring to betray the fatherland, they will meet the most gruesome end!]
"Heil Hitler! Sieg Heil!"
"Victory to the Führer!"
"Death to the traitors!"
"Glory to the Schutzstaffel!"
Nazi Germany's counterattack had begun.
-
September 20, 1939
9th Military District, Kassel and the Rhineland border region
"Wh-Wh-What is that!"
The New Government's forces, under the martial law declared by the military government in Frankfurt, were controlling all roads leading into the 9th Military District.
But that statement was only valid as long as what was approaching was something that could be controlled.
"This is Checkpoint 18! A massive number of troops is approaching!"
[What? A massive number of troops? Are you sleep-talking? How many, specifically!]
The response from his superior was perfectly understandable, but the checkpoint commander was at a loss for words, staring at the immense number of troops—no, troops and a crowd—that filled the road as they advanced.
How was he supposed to describe that?
"Their numbers are impossible to confirm. They are approaching, filling the entire road. They are carrying the flags of the Free Corps and the black-red-gold flags used during the Weimar Republic."
[Damn it! They're rebels! Hold them off, even for a moment!]
The call was cut off, but the checkpoint commander and his men could only stare blankly at the overwhelming number of citizen soldiers.
Finally, a man who had been riding in a car at the very front got out.
"Thank you for your hard work. I am Major Dietrich Schacht, spokesman for the New Government. Please open the road."
The name Dietrich Schacht had now become one that anyone in the New Government's territory would immediately recognize with an, "Oh, him?"
"But Major, our orders from above are to block this road…"
"That superior command is composed of traitors. We are in the middle of a military operation, so please cooperate. Or else."
Major Schacht grinned and gestured to the surging Free Corps and angry citizens behind him.
"Will you try to stop us?"
-
September 21, 1939
Central Germany, 9th Military District, Kassel, Frankfurt - New German Government Building (Occupied)
The third day after the declaration of the military government.
The royalists of the military government had compromised with reality, given up on Wilhelm II, and proclaimed the Crown Prince as Wilhelm III, but unfortunately, that compromise was theirs alone.
"Britain and France's position hasn't changed. They say we either nullify the restoration of the imperial family, or we go to war."
As Doctor Goerdeler reported this with a despairing face, the royalists let out sighs so heavy it seemed the ground would collapse.
If they had just enthroned the Crown Prince from the start without saying they would bring back Wilhelm II, Britain and France might have reacted differently.
But having already issued an ultimatum regarding the restoration of the monarchy, Britain and France had their own prestige to consider; they couldn't just withdraw it because the choice of emperor was switched.
France, in particular, facing certain defeat in the general election if they didn't achieve something, was pushing a reluctant Britain and clamoring for a hardline response.
Britain, while not wanting a war for France's sake, had no choice but to step in this time, as Wilhelm II, the figure the royalists had initially put forward, was still an object of hatred throughout all of Britain.
"Mussolini is also not to be taken lightly. The only reason he was holding back was because of the Pope's support, and Britain and France…"
The rest of the sentence went unsaid, but everyone in the room knew what it was.
"What of the front?"
"Generals Witzleben, Hammerstein, Lutz, and Leeb have all refused to support us or send reinforcements to Frankfurt. They say the Nazis have started their counterattack, and they have no troops to spare for their rear."
The Free Corps was advancing on Frankfurt right now, yet the many generals in this room had no troops to stop a citizen army led by a mere pipsqueak of a major.
"Haha, hahahahaha!"
Amidst the surprise of everyone in the room at the sudden outburst of laughter, August von Mackensen laughed heartily.
In the silent meeting room where no one dared to speak, only the sound of Mackensen's laughter echoed.
"We, who claimed to be the loyal subjects of the Empire, are driving this Germany to ruin."
Stopping his laughter, Mackensen, who had summed up the situation in a single sentence, smiled emptily.
"Getting greedy in my old age has made my life this ugly."
Doctor Goerdeler could not raise his head.
-
September 21, 1939
Central Germany, 9th Military District, Kassel, Frankfurt At an hour when Frankfurt would normally be growing quiet as people went to bed, the city was in an uproar due to an enormous crowd.
"For the freedom of Germany, advance!"
"W-We surrender! We surrender!"
The New Government's elite, the old Wehrmacht, were mostly being led by Generals Witzleben, Hammerstein, Lutz, and Leeb on the front lines against the Nazis.
Therefore, in the rear, including Frankfurt, there were only a few troops loyal to the Junkers. The rest of the forces were mostly the Free Corps.
The royalists of the Black Orchestra repeated the same mistake they made in the original history.
The biggest reason Stauffenberg and the Black Orchestra failed was that they mistakenly believed the capital's reserve army would follow their orders just because they had gained command authority through Operation Valkyrie.
And this time, too, they believed that if they just seized the New Government's leadership and the radio station, they would be able to command the Free Corps.
However, the majority of the Free Corps were volunteers who had responded to the banner of anti-dictatorship and freedom that I and the New Government's radio had championed.
How naive was the judgment that the Free Corps would obey them just because they held the command authority of the army's high command.
"If they surrender, just subdue them! There's no need for pointless bloodshed!"
"Yes, sir!"
The military government's army not only had ridiculously few troops compared to ours, but their resistance was almost non-existent, perhaps because they sensed that things were already going wrong.
Rather, a strange phenomenon was occurring where our forces grew as we marched toward Frankfurt, with more and more Free Corps members joining us.
Operation Freiheit (Freedom) was nothing special.
There was not enough time to formulate a detailed operational plan in the first place, and the Free Corps itself had a dire shortage of officers for its number of troops.
So, all we prepared was to issue an order to all Free Corps units to advance on Frankfurt.
With just that and the Frankfurter Zeitung newspapers I had hastily circulated, a citizen army large enough to cover all of Frankfurt had gathered. Now, even I don't know the size of our forces.
At this moment, they need no commander, no specific operational plan.
Their spirit of resistance against the military dictatorship and the Nazis who are driving Germany to war is their command and their plan.
"All of Frankfurt has been secured!"
"Good work."
It's good that it was fast and smooth, but why do I feel like this was too easy?
The siege of the New Government building was complete, but I had somewhere else to go first.
I stepped alone into the two-story mansion surrounded by the citizen soldiers.
"You've come."
Guided by a frightened servant, I stepped onto the second floor, where the Crown Prince was drinking brandy, looking down at the surging waves of citizen soldiers outside the window and the black-red-gold flags of the German Republic they were waving.
No, he's not the Crown Prince anymore, is he?
"You were aware of the coup plan, weren't you."
The Crown Prince—no, Emperor Wilhelm III—swirled his glass, took a sip, and then chuckled.
"Well, I seem to recall overhearing some presumptuous chatter."
For the Crown Prince, whose proposal for an alliance with me had been rejected, the next best thing was not a constitutional monarchy, but the success of the hardline royalists' coup.
If the royalists brought back Wilhelm II, he would have wanted to control him as much as possible and inherit the German crown intact.
If not that, then to be seated as Emperor when they failed to bring back Wilhelm II, just like now.
"I would like to thank you for at least not rashly supporting the military government."
"Ah."
If he had, it would have been the end for any constitutional monarchy or anything else.
But he expressed no support.
And since that's the case, we must recognize him as the monarch, at least nominally.
Even now, the generals who are fighting the approaching Nazis without siding with the military government's coup are royalist in nature, and if we were to depose a perfectly legitimate emperor who did not even condone the treason, many of the remaining generals in the Wehrmacht would not follow us.
But that was that, and I found him quite detestable.
"Thanks to you, it seems Germany will have to go to war unless Your Majesty is brought down. Was this what you wished for?"
Wilhelm said nothing, poured brandy into another glass, and gestured to me.
Really, he isn't an easy one. As I approached him, he handed me the glass and asked.
"So, will you depose me?"
It was something the military government did, but in the end, the declaration was made through Ludwig Beck, the Imperial Regent of the New Government, so we can't really do that.
"Hah. I really don't like you."
As I took it, Wilhelm smiled faintly and clinked his glass against mine in a toast.
He took a sip and spoke again.
"I rather like you, so that's a shame. We both just placed our stakes and rolled the dice."
For this man, what was the loss, and what was the stake? The taste of the fine brandy felt quite bitter.
The Emperor, Wilhelm III, looked at the surging crowd outside the window and slowly closed his eyes.
"The times have changed. I admit it, you've won."
He drained the remaining brandy in his glass, then simply dropped it, shattering it.
Is this the end of an era?
Feeling the brandy burn my throat, I too shattered my glass. Wilhelm then turned to me, his expression that of an emperor, as if he had never smiled.
"As the legitimate Emperor of the House of Hohenzollern, I intend to appoint your father, Hjalmar Schacht, as Chancellor, and you, Dietrich Schacht, as Vice-Chancellor. Until the day all of Germany is reclaimed and a democratic government is established through a popular election, I grant you the authority to form and lead an emergency war cabinet."
Wilhelm III looked at me with solemn eyes and extended the back of his hand.
"As the Chancellor-designate is currently absent, I shall receive your oath. Dietrich Schacht, will you accept the position of Vice-Chancellor and, facing the crisis that confronts our fatherland, dedicate everything to its service?"
Since I wouldn't marry into the imperial family, he makes my father the Chancellor and me the Vice-Chancellor instead.
His obsession with that damn chancellorship is absurd, but he sure is a crafty one.
In any case, there's nowhere left to retreat, and with the situation having hit rock bottom, there's no time to worry about procedures or whatnot.
To create this mess and then push a favor I have no choice but to accept… what a detestable man to the very end, but—
I kissed the back of his hand.
"I accept with pleasure, Your Majesty.