Once the DAR is properly established, it'd be too tricky to supply by sea anyway.
"Our Struggle": What If Hitler Had Been a Communist?
- Thread starter The Red
- Start date
Once the DAR is properly established, it'd be too tricky to supply by sea anyway.
Chapter LXXXVI
'Someone must be the bloodhound. I won't shirk the responsibility.'
~ Gustav Noske
Ernst Mehr tapped impatiently trying to avoid the faces of the assembled group of high profile figures from within the United Front.~ Gustav Noske
They sat amidst an uncomfortable silence in one of the meeting rooms of the Hotel Furst Bismarck waiting for the visitor. The hotel that made up the United Front headquarters had survived most of the damage from the fires but many of the windows had been blown out, leaving the boiler struggling to cope. Then again if it had been any warmer the ripe smell amongst people who hadn’t washed properly in weeks likely would have been more apparent. At any rate, the plan wasn’t to give their visitor a warm reception.
After months of conflict, the Third Reich which had been unleashed upon them was now coming cap in hand with an offer of peace. What they had heard from the delegation seemed off, for one thing it contained Reichswehr personnel but no Blackshirts, nor did they refer to themselves as the Third Reich according to those People’s Guard units who had received them under a white flag. Most bizarrely they were being led by Gustav Noske, the former Social Democrat President of the State of Hanover who had disappeared in the early days of Von Schleiccher’s coup, the man Ernst had served under when Noske had been defence minister and Ernst had merely been an aide in the early days of the republic.
What was even more incredible was Noske claiming to be Chancellor of a new transitional authority. It had been suspected he had thrown in his lot with Von Schleicher since his disappearance, his fanatical anti-communism had never been tempered, but this was something else entirely. If it hadn’t been for the profile of the delegation’s leader, or the sheer curiosity of it, they might not have been given a hearing at all. Not everyone in the room wanted peace.
Those among him were ostensibly his allies but Ernst would have considered himself closer to Noske before the civil war had broken out. The man was a committed social democrat but he was not romantic about it and he had had no time for permitting the sort of Bolshevik terror that had broken out in Russia if such elements could not be reasoned with. Now here Ernst was making common cause with Hitler and Munzenburg and Noske was calling as the official representative of the Third Reich, or what was left of it . The chancellor no less.
Of the others within the room Ernst could imagine Otto Braun, the Minister-President of Prussia until he had been forced to flee to Hamburg and Otto Wels, the Chairman of the Social Democrats, were both feeling similar discomfort. The same could probably be said for Hans Bockler who had had his own struggles against Communists within the Trade Union movement before the KPD under Brandler had switched to a more conciliatory approach.
On the other hand Bockler’s fellow trade unionist was even more radical than Hitler, he was no friend of Noske, neither were the other two Social Democrats who had done well out of the United Front. Erich Zeigner had been arrested for trying to establish a government with Communists during the years of hyperinflation, an act Noske had supported. Paul Levi had seen the direct results of Noske’s ire during the Spartacist Revolt. These men now shared equal weight with the established leadership of the SPD. It was funny how circumstances could cause power to shift, then again Ernst could have been forced to admit he was likely here only as a moderating force rather than due to his seniority.
All now sat looking equally uncomfortable with Ernst trying to read the room to see how this would play out. Not just in terms of what Noske would have to say but how those assembled would individually react to it.
When Noske finally entered he did so alone, having been wise enough to leave his Reichswehr companions outside. With the United Front sitting together around the large table in the middle of the meeting room Noske standing at the door made it look like he might be here for an interview. Granted he was doing so in a way, there wasn’t much chance of him becoming Chancellor if those around the table decided not to recognise him as such.
Even with that in mind he hadn’t come cap in hand. Despite the man’s greying hair and aged face since the time he had declared himself willing to be the bloodhound against the Spartacists he still struck an imposing figure. Despite his tailored suit and trimmed moustache he looked like he could not only handle himself in a street brawl but was ready for one.
And so, it seemed, was Hitler.
“Ah, so the prodigal son returns! Ready to join the workers at last Noske?” The Communist leader’s sardonic greeting did nothing to reduce the tension in the room.
“I’ve been fighting for the German worker since you were painting keepsakes for Viennese tourists, Herr Hitler. Life might send us down strange paths but I’ll ask you to remember that.” Noske replied wearily, as if being accosted by a small but angry dog.
“You murdered Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, Eugene Levine and countless other revolutionary heroes. Now you think you can lecture me about your service to the working class?”
Noske merely sighed.
“Perhaps those who are unwilling to talk peace should be excused?” He proposed.
“No Noske, we won’t be doing that,” Paul Levi interjected, “this is the United Front, and here we discuss the issues openly. You are here with something to say and we are all listening,” he looked to Hitler who sat there glaring but silent. The Communist General Secretary muttered about traps and betrayal under his breath, more pungent than usual. But other than that he complied.
”, so I suggest you start talking.”
“Excellent.” Noske looked somewhat relieved as he went on.
“I am here in my role of Chancellor in the new transitional government currently based in Stettin. In this regard I am working with General Hans Von Seeckt who was rallied patriotic elements of the Reichswehr to the new authority in the hopes of restoring sanity after so many were deceived by General Kurt Von Schleicher and Crown Prince Wilhelhm of the House of Hohenzollern. Von Schleicher has resigned in his role as Chancellor and has handed over power to myself. He is now in our custody. Von Seeckt is currently headed to Berlin to deal with the Crown Prince. The Third Reich is coming to an end and now so too must this war.”
Noske did not place any emphasis on the magnitude of this news but the enormity of it sank in all the same. Even Hitler had stopped muttering. It was in fact Willie Munzenburg who was the first to react.
“I’m sure there are some of us at this table, Herr Noske, who can’t help but fear this is an attempt to pool the wool over our eyes in the wake of the success of the People’s Guard. Surely you understand how this could come across as the Third Reich applying a new coat of paint to itself in order to fight another day.”
“You are all intelligent people, I wouldn’t expect you not to have your suspicions of my coming here but that is why I am also willing to offer certain assurances in exchange for your agreement to a truce and the recognition of my new, temporary government..”
Noske waited for a response but it seemed he still commanded the room’s curiosity.
“The first is perhaps the most important. My government will hold State, Reichstag and Presidential elections within eight weeks of your agreement to this proposal. If in such a time the forces loyal to the Crown Prince have not been brought to heel I will resign and designate my successor to be chosen amongst yourselves. Secondly the People’s Guard will not be expected to disarm for the duration of this period. It will remain in control of the territory it currently holds with the exception of opening the frontlines for necessary communications and supplies. The Reichswehr will, however, be disarmed. The moment the Crown Prince has been dealt with.”
Hitler snorted at this.
“You can disband the Reichswehr immediately, we’re more than capable of dealing with the Blackshirts.”
“We are confident Von Seeckt’s Reichswehr can bring the Crown Prince to a peaceful settlement in a way that the People’s Guard would likely not be able to.” Noske replied.
“You’re not offering him a truce as well are you?” The sarcasm had drained from Hitler’s voice. Perhaps, Ernst thought, that meant progress.
No, the Volkisch Bund, German National People’s Party, and affiliate organisations are to be disbanded for treasonous activities. We believe the truce with the United Front will be enough to bring the Crown Prince to his senses and his followers with him. To seek clemency rather than a fight to the bitter end. We feel that would be better coming from a general he served with in the world war rather than a Marxist coalition. Wouldn’t you all agree?”
There was a mumbling assent across the table, barring one.
“That way we hope we can stick to the eight week period and hold elections next February. Thereafter a new government can be formed to go forward in the name of reconstruction and reconciliation.
“Reconciliation!” Hitler scoffed. “Our forces stuck whilst yours bury the hatchet with the Blackshirts and pounce, more like.”
“We are going to propose inviting the League of Nations to inspect both of our forces for the duration of the truce and also to monitor the election.” Nosked added, rather than directly engaging with Hitler’s derision.
“The League of Nations? An invention of international finance if there ever was one!” Hitler went to go on before Munzenburg interrupted him.
“Perhaps we should discuss this amongst ourselves before giving an answer.” Ernst expressed the relief of much of the rest of the group in agreeing to the Communist’s request. Hitler, outnumbered, also nodded quietly.
“Of course,” Noske replied, showing himself out, “although I would emphasise that time is of the essence.”
The United Front was alone with itself in the room again.
“I don’t trust him. I know many of you regard him as a Comrade but he’s been involved in far too much reactionary bloodshed for that to be the case for any Communist.” Munzenburg elaborated confidentially.
“I wouldn’t expect you to trust him,” Otto Wels replied, “but the man has never been duplicitous. Even when that led to bloodshed.”
“I would rely on him to keep Von Seeckt in check.” Otto Bauer added.
“We don’t need anyone to keep the Reichswehr in check for us. We’re winning.” Hitler emphasised, exasperated
“We are winning and we should take this opportunity while we’re ahead. To continue the war now would mean pausing over the winter if I’m not correct, and all the suffering that will cause the German worker entailed. And during that time Von Seeckt could reinvigorate the Reichswehr or get the international community on his side by pointing out that he offered peace. We might end up having a less fortunate agreement imposed on us by the French or the British.
Hiler didn’t respond. Ernst guessed the man would happily go underground again if that’s what it took to ensure final victory but he could read the room and was canny enough to realise that wasn’t the general mood and that it was the United Front that had got them this close to victory. Even if Hitler had helped to mould the alliance breaking it would not help.
“At any rate, his proposal does offer some powerful checks on any duplicity,” Paul Levi commented, before staring at Hitler, “provided we remain united.”
“The league of nations…” Hitler murmured, before being cut off.
“The league of nations is an incoherent mess,” Erich Zeigner seemed to want to reassure Hitler, even by interrupting him. “It can react, that's about it. I think to echo what Comrade Levi said, any conspiracy from them we can be wise to. If we stick together.”
Munzenburg, at least, seemed satisfied with that.
“I certainly can’t trust Noske but I believe we have established a good working relationship amongst ourselves in the face of our common enemy. We have gained this peace by working together and we can maintain it by working together. I say we accept, provisional on Noske and Von Seeckts good behaviour.” His optimism got the assembled members slapping their hands on the table.
Hitler fidgeted uncomfortably before speaking again at last
“Very well, I’ll concede we have proven how strong we are when we are united. In the name of unity we will see how this plays out. On the agreement that we will not shirk from our responsibility to take up arms once more if we are betrayed.”
With that there was more banging on the table and each man affirmed. The United Front would take the peace. And remain united throughout it. The assembled delegates began to leave to spread the good news not only to Noske, but to their individual factions.
Ernst’s relief at said good news soon became heightened anxiety when walking out of the room. Wels was already passing on the news to Noske but the old man looked at him departing and winked.
Ernst dwelled upon his own future at that moment.
If the United Front was to survive the civil war, he would have to find a way of getting out as quickly as possible. He wondered if Noske had any spaces open in this new government of his.
---
The photomontage is Heads of State by Hannah Hoch.
Noske made the infamous 'bloodhound' comment upon becoming defence minister in 1919. It became his nickname thereafter.
and so the Enheitsfront must win the peace, which is definitely going to end up with a free democratic socialist Germany that isn't going to fall under the reign of a certain ex-Austrian painter which will soon lead to the globe being plunged into a world-wide war that would last a generation. No Siree
Ernst is such a rat, dashing between every ship whenever he thinks it might be sinking. I suppose he'd join the Blackshirts in a heartbeat if he thought he could become an undersecretary from it.
On an impersonal note, this looks like it is showing us a possibility for how the United Front turns into the DAR. The Third Reich is defeated by a fragile alliance of everyone except the far right (Blackshirts, Volkische, monarchists); once this very uneasy temporary peace is there, Ernst and others on the right of the Social Democrats desert the United Front to jump ship to Noske, who leads some sellout, right-wing, Ramsay Mac National Labour Party equivalent; but peace doesn't last; war flares back up soon afterwards. Thus the United Front, previously balanced between Social Democrats and Communists, ends up thoroughly dominated by the Communists.
On an impersonal note, this looks like it is showing us a possibility for how the United Front turns into the DAR. The Third Reich is defeated by a fragile alliance of everyone except the far right (Blackshirts, Volkische, monarchists); once this very uneasy temporary peace is there, Ernst and others on the right of the Social Democrats desert the United Front to jump ship to Noske, who leads some sellout, right-wing, Ramsay Mac National Labour Party equivalent; but peace doesn't last; war flares back up soon afterwards. Thus the United Front, previously balanced between Social Democrats and Communists, ends up thoroughly dominated by the Communists.
I get that Noske's job is to butter everyone up but "disband the Reichswehr?" What's going to be the German Army then, the People's Guard? Are they planning some kind of mixed-unit affair because that's extremely dicey even when there's UN peacekeepers involved in the interim. I'm surprised Noske didn't get more questions about what von Seeckt is really willing to commit to.
Ernst could be really pivotal to what happens, because he's one of the few people that knows what really happened in Hamburg. The biggest sacrifice and greatest scar of the civil war, arguably for nothing depending on what exactly happens in the coming months. The Front can still defend itself saying that the Noske/Seeckt group weren't doing anything for democracy back then, so if Hamburg was taken that would mean the end of the Fascists' only enemy... which would be very bad for democracy, of course! But it's definitely the kind of thing that can swing an election such as the one that is happening in eight weeks, the people of the city could feel betrayed about the Front lying to them and wonder what else they might lie about. Meanwhile Noske/Seeckt turn up the propaganda on their own "enlightened centrists/saviors of Germany from left and right" narrative and come off looking like the less shady party purely because they've done so little and promise so much that it's hard to make a solid criticism of them
In any case I think this fails because the SPD leadership ends up out of touch with the SPD rank and file who actually fought in the People's Guard. Rather than an organized SPD betrayal I think we're up for the embarassing show of a few office-dwellers dramatically walking out while the people they need to be a relevant political force decide that their war-buddies need them more
Gerda's definitely gonna kill his ass huh
Ernst could be really pivotal to what happens, because he's one of the few people that knows what really happened in Hamburg. The biggest sacrifice and greatest scar of the civil war, arguably for nothing depending on what exactly happens in the coming months. The Front can still defend itself saying that the Noske/Seeckt group weren't doing anything for democracy back then, so if Hamburg was taken that would mean the end of the Fascists' only enemy... which would be very bad for democracy, of course! But it's definitely the kind of thing that can swing an election such as the one that is happening in eight weeks, the people of the city could feel betrayed about the Front lying to them and wonder what else they might lie about. Meanwhile Noske/Seeckt turn up the propaganda on their own "enlightened centrists/saviors of Germany from left and right" narrative and come off looking like the less shady party purely because they've done so little and promise so much that it's hard to make a solid criticism of them
In any case I think this fails because the SPD leadership ends up out of touch with the SPD rank and file who actually fought in the People's Guard. Rather than an organized SPD betrayal I think we're up for the embarassing show of a few office-dwellers dramatically walking out while the people they need to be a relevant political force decide that their war-buddies need them more
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It kinda makes sense in terms of Ernst's politics, he regarded an alliance between the KPD and SPD to be unpalatable before it became absolutely necessary and now that that necessity is diminished he isn't happy with sticking around when Noske might be offering an alternative which is closer to his actual beliefs even if said movement is a bit overly keen on letting byones be bygones. Granted given his personal circumstances the idea of letting bygones be bygones might actually be rather attractive.
I'm sure she is as well.
Disarm rather than disband. A better term would probably be "confine to barracks" but as noted Noske is overstating things a bit.
Basically that's why such stringent checks where offered in the first place. The transistional authority and United Front don't trust each other but the former is willing to give to let the latter see it's well intentioned or not actively duplicitous because otherwise the United Front can just pick up where they left off with the chip on their shoulder that they were open to peace but Von Seeckt scored their good intentions. Granted in reality such neogtiations would have taken much longer and they will do subsequently but I didn't want to get bogged down in minutiae I can cover at a later date so I thought depticting the agreement to the general principle of the truce might suffice to give an idea of whats at stake and what's on offer.
It's certainly going to be a fun campaign to write about.
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To be fair, you could be free and democratic and still start a world war.
Germany isn't even supposed to have an army
That's just the OTL SPD in general, really. The same guys who thought putting Hindenburg in office was smart and would totally prevent the slide to the far right.
Well, I have to say, when the civil war started breaking out I assumed we were going to get a long protracted conflict à la the Spanish Civil War, with Hitler slowly crushing first his rivals on the republican side and then his actual enemies. Both relieved and intrigued to see things evolve in a more convoluted fashion...
Fast and good updates. Ah, such happiness!
Even in alternate timelines, it can be difficult to sympathize with communists, Hitler, or communist Hitler... And yet Our Struggle manages to do just that, beautifully.
Sooo if for some reason the Hohenzollern Kaiser-Wannabe doesn't surrender and isn't defeated in the next two months, Hitler could be chosen directly as the next Chancellor?
Rather, those of totally-not-the-Third-Reich-anymore would go back on their word. The Stinky One would then say smugly to his comrades: "See? I told you so."
Even in alternate timelines, it can be difficult to sympathize with communists, Hitler, or communist Hitler... And yet Our Struggle manages to do just that, beautifully.
Sooo if for some reason the Hohenzollern Kaiser-Wannabe doesn't surrender and isn't defeated in the next two months, Hitler could be chosen directly as the next Chancellor?
Rather, those of totally-not-the-Third-Reich-anymore would go back on their word. The Stinky One would then say smugly to his comrades: "See? I told you so."
Chapter LXXXVII
It is surprising that, with such views, these Lefts do not emphatically condemn Bolshevism! After all, the German Lefts cannot but know that the entire history of Bolshevism, both before and after the October Revolution, is full of instances of changes of tack, conciliatory tactics and compromises with other parties, including bourgeois parties!
~ Vladimir Lenin, “Left-wing” Communism: an Infantile Disorder
~ Vladimir Lenin, “Left-wing” Communism: an Infantile Disorder
The news of the truce mixed with rumour whilst it spread out from the Hotel Furst Bismarck throughout Hamburg. Meanwhile, the Communist party staff within the hotel waited to hear the news from the horse’s mouth.
Gerda Muller tried to keep herself busy. There was much to be done given the more pressing demands of United Front business over the last few months but in reality she was there so she would be best placed to hear the results of the negotiations with the Third Reich. She had no doubt that was why the office was far busier than normal. In spite of the optimism of some of her colleagues she had little doubt the Third Reich’s proposals would be rejected out of hand. However the nature of the enemy making such a move and the content of their proposal might provide a better window into their desperation and how to best achieve a final victory.
She thought back to the beaten Reichsmarine sailor making the radio broadcast allegedly of his own volition and of the many former Reichswehr personnel being made to labour in the reconstruction of Hamburg. The news that the leaders of the Third Reich had begun to fight amongst themselves had already helped to demoralise them, to make them more pliable. If they were to hear their former masters were offering peace in a desperate attempt to save their own skins, the results could be electric.
There were potential recruits in those ranks, potential Communists, she was sure of it. If she could just be given some time to work on it…
She was taken away from such thoughts with the appearance of Adolf Hitler and Willi Munzenburg within the offices. Both looked worn out but seemed to acknowledge the need to explain what had happened as the party staff instinctively gathered around them in anticipation of such. Hitler stepped forward to speak, clearing his throat he began the to address them somewhat hesitantly:
“Comrades and friends, Comrade Munzenburg and myself have just been involved in a historic undertaking, one full of significance for the German worker. For it is the result of their achievements. Your achievements.
Four months have passed since the beginning of that great insurrection against fascism which in the meantime has been giving a new aspect to German life. This is the period of four months in which we asked the German worker to fight alongside us and our allies in the United Front. Hence at the present moment nothing could be more opportune than for me to render you an account of the guarantees we have attained.
These guarantees have assured the quickest end to the fascist tyranny by the surrender of the defeated Reichswehr. They will abandon their futile coup attempt and make way for a democratic outcome.
This is an agreement that will ensure the progress that has been made during these four months will continue, for the welfare of the German worker. But within the limits of our alliance I have to make it clear that it would never have been entirely possible to achieve all of our aims within a time centered primarily on the antifascist struggle. And as such we must focus on what was possible and what has been achieved.
During a time which may be looked upon as the most astounding epoch in the life of our party we have achieved much. And we shall build on that in the peace we have agreed. That task belongs to us now to prepare to maintain the revolutionary momentum into the next period. Moreover, during the course of the next year there will be elections across Germany, in which we shall maintain the United Front organized for the purpose of a comprehensive and detailed plan for the immediate recovery of Germany and the German worker.
Many of you may feel disappointed or perhaps even misled in only a partial victory from this great sacrifice but the results that have been obtained and the projects on which work will soon begin, are cause for much excitement and pride. All of which can be explained better within the coming days than I could do it within the limits of a brief explanation.”
To this there was some ironic laughter which Hitler seemed to encourage, continuing to justify his actions.
“Therefore we shall utilise the opportunity afforded to us by this historic alliance of the Marxist parties to call attention to some of the new knowledge that we have gained, some of the experiences which we have been through, and the consequences that have resulted therefrom. It is important that we should understand them clearly, not only for our own sake but also for that of the generations to come.
For the German Ideology we will apply in building this new society will allow for victories that shall outlast us all.”
Hitler seemed to be trying to achieve a definitive conclusion to his vague speech. There was some applause but it was muted and the mix of confusion and shock regarding the news of a seemingly negotiated peace made it hard to determine how it was going to be received in the long run. The members of the Red Front present began to clap loudly and holler, perhaps upon recognising it would not happen spontaneously but Gerda could only feel a building sense of betrayal.
Even as Hitler raised his fist in salute and the others in the crowd joined she stepped back from the scene, unable to look at the man.
There were certain threads forming in her mind.
Hitler’s first act as General Secretary had been to quell calls for an immediate revolutionary attempt in the wake of his success in the Ruhr. Back then, with the republic collapsing in the face of hyperinflation and with Communist popularity at its peak he had stated it was too soon and slowly purged those who had felt otherwise. Ruth Fischer and Akrkadi Maslow sent packing due to too much revolutionary vigour on their part and in their place, Paul Levi.
Hitler had been eager to ally with the Social Democrats even as the global market crash prophesied by the Communists made the conditions for revolution ripe once more. He had convinced the party, and her, to break with Moscow and with Ernst Thalmann in the name of conducting the German revolution in a German manner at the time of greatest opportunity. He had warned them that to do otherwise would make the party mere puppets of Stalin. He had said they needed a chance. Now the fascists were on the brink of defeat, fighting amongst themselves, and the time for revolution was put on hold again. She felt like she had been dangling from strings for some time but was only now realising it.
Was this how it felt to be stabbed in the back?
Away from the gathering she went to return her focus to the busy work she had been conducting. Previously it had been her excuse to get access to the news she had wanted, now it was an attempt to escape from it.
She heard someone approaching her from behind and felt read to turn and snap at them about how busy she was, she didn’t care if it was Hitler. When she did turn she realised that it was Willi Munzenberg, smiling bashfully. His look of innocence with his untidy hair and crumpled suit made it hard for her to figure him as part of a revisionist conspiracy but the anger ticked over in her nonetheless. Perhaps he had also been misled but still hadn’t realised it?
“I know it’s hard. We haven’t got everything we wanted but we’ve got an end to the Third Reich. We can build on this, if we stick together.”
“This just feels wrong,” she stated softly, “we know this sort of reactionary takeover attempt has been put down before only for it to resurface. And to believe the Social Democrats are anything other than allies of convenience…”
“We can’t allow ourselves to believe that,” Munzenberg remarked candidly, “but we do need them for the moment. We’ll see how this plays out and do our utmost with the chances it does provide for us in the meantime. And believe me, such chances will become apparent.”
“I’m sure they will.” She replied absentmindedly, looking away from Munzenberg towards the early afternoon sunset of December. She felt very tired.
“I can understand if you want to go,” Munzenberg commented perceptively, “and that’s understandable. This is big news, it’s going to affect different individuals in different ways. But it would be good to know you’re still onboard.” It wasn’t necessarily a question that demanded an answer but Gerda nodded all the same.
“I’ve come too far to give up now,”
Munzenberg smiled at that and she smiled back. It was a struggle to not make it look too forced. Excusing herself she made her way out of the hotel into the outside world. Snow had fallen earlier, bringing great delight to the children of the derelict city. Those still focused on the rebuilding kept to themselves but it was clear their luck was about to change as well.
She felt as if she were about to be sick and hurried back to her flat, hoping to fall into a deep sleep and forget about the betrayal that was unfolding.
The church bells began to ring once again throughout Hamburg, not in terror-inducing warnings of impending attack this time but in celebration at the deliverance of peace. She aimed to put a pillow over her ears to block it out when she got home. She would scream to remove that sound if needed. For Gerda the bells tolled for betrayal, a jangle of mockery for the sacrifices of those martyrs who had died for the cause over the years. Her daughter was likely one of them now, and that was her fault as well.
That was just another burden she was keen to sleep away. Mercifully she finally arrived at the small flat she had been allocated in the city centre. She wondered how long she would keep it now that peace was in the air. No doubt the old landlord would be assisted in taking it back. She twisted the key but the door didn’t move. Gerda punched it angrily before realising she had turned the handle the wrong way and rested her head on the door. Trying to get a grip.
“I think that maybe I got the wrong idea.” Gerda jerked her head back and saw a broad shouldered man neatly dressed in a cheap suit and heavy overcoat. In his hand was a less-cheap bottle of schnapps. His hair was combed back as well causing her not to notice Dieter, the docker she had been alongside when they had both taken part in the destruction of the Reichsmarine flotilla . The few times she had seen him since that day he had carried the same bravado he had had whilst staring into death but now he could only grimace awkwardly.
Gerda remembered they had agreed to meet this afternoon, something she had forgotten about amidst the flurry of news around the peace negotiations. She wanted to reconnect her head with the door but decided it would be best to try to explain.
“Look, I’m sorry-”
“It’s not a problem,” Dieter interjected, “you don’t seem like you’re having a good day so I won’t keep you.” He raised the bottle towards her.
“Hopefully this’ll help.”
She took the bottle from him before grabbing his coat with her other hand, pulling him towards her.
“I think this will work.” She whispered before guiding him into the door. The handle worked this time.
Afterwards Dieter lay dozing on the bed but Gerda felt more awake than she had all day. It was as if the fire had been rekindled inside of her and new possibilities did indeed open up in her mind. She went to the mirror in the bathroom and leant on the sink underneath. She twisted the nozzle on the tap unthinkingly. To her surprise there was an affirming gurgle and water began to pour, red with rust at first but then clear and clean.
In recognising the small miracle she turned to her own face in the mirror. It was dirty and coarse, not properly washed in weeks. Suddenly she felt the motivation to cover it and grabbed for a dusty tub of cold cream. She had meant to take one dollop in her hands and even it out but instead she began to lather it on her face, so that it wouldn’t be hers. Instead the face looking back at her was lumpy, and chalk white. This was in contrast to her dirty blonde hair, grey with dust she had never been able to properly get out since the fires. She picked up the coal scuttle lying empty by the fireplace and rubbed her hands around it, before running them through her hair, complimenting the ash. She had spent all this time trying to get the dust out of her hair and now she felt like embracing it. She wouldn’t be weary or coarse any longer. She could change.
She saw a different face staring back at her. One hideously deformed by cream and charcoal but one that could be refined. She knew she was still herself but could those who knew her have recognised? Would they recognise such an aesthetic change in the Communist party?
State power. She thought to herself, increasing the strength of the tap and putting her head underneath it.
This could work.
---
The painting is Theatre box logic by Dodo
Nice chapter! It's always interesting, to see how the "minions" react to what their leaders decide.
I like that, even if Hitler is usually good at reading the room, here he isn't able to muster true enthusiasm for a plan he doesn't really believe in. Although there are some nice quotes in his speech, OTL "Reich of a thousand years" style.
(So maybe those victories won't really outlast them...)
There's some kind of ironic echo, when Gerda thinks about "being stabbed in the back" precisely because of something Hitler said.
And there is something tense, quietly unnerving in the way she goes crazy with the makeup at the end of the chapter. Perhaps what she sees in the mirror is the face of the future New Germany.
I like that, even if Hitler is usually good at reading the room, here he isn't able to muster true enthusiasm for a plan he doesn't really believe in. Although there are some nice quotes in his speech, OTL "Reich of a thousand years" style.
(So maybe those victories won't really outlast them...)
There's some kind of ironic echo, when Gerda thinks about "being stabbed in the back" precisely because of something Hitler said.
And there is something tense, quietly unnerving in the way she goes crazy with the makeup at the end of the chapter. Perhaps what she sees in the mirror is the face of the future New Germany.
Reforming the rightists, aesthetic changes, and state power.
Gerda seems to be working out why she thinks the compromise is flawed. There's no such thing as an unreformable rightist; but conversely, what makes reform possible has to be identified. Gerda has identified it as the feeling of defeat-- to be outclassed by your opponent and betrayed by your supporters and superiors. After a rightist has been broken down by the weight of their circumstances, they can begin to "work on it" and be "worked on".
So long as the Communists are winning, the resolve of the enemy is broken down. If the Communists are able to win completely, to the point where even their enemies accept that they are made inevitable by history... in such a situation the Communists will have no (or very few) enemies at all, because anyone who might have opposed them now has nothing and no one to cling onto, in ideological and practical terms.
But compromise, even if it might be a way for groups to wrestle with each other, does nothing to affect the individuals who make up the groups. The rightist group (and for Gerda this seems to include anyone left of the leftmost SPD member) has been humiliated by events, but the rightist individuals retain cohesion and faith in their beliefs. And so the "rational" communists wring their hands and go "we can't overpower them yet; now is the time for compromise." As they are removed from the field of battle, yesterday's firebreathers (Hitler) are gradually turned into today's hand-shakers. The feeling of "we don't have state power yet" makes it so you never will have it, you keep making decisions that keep you from it.
The aesthetic change seems to be a willingness to accept dirt, because it can be washed away. It's time to stop being ashamed about wanting state power. I mean, just look at Dieter-- he knows better than anyone what happened at Hamburg. And he'd probably do it again if needed.
So basically Gerda is Sorelian gang now, and we may be seeing a faction of like-minded people emerge as one of many DAR subgroups
Gerda seems to be working out why she thinks the compromise is flawed. There's no such thing as an unreformable rightist; but conversely, what makes reform possible has to be identified. Gerda has identified it as the feeling of defeat-- to be outclassed by your opponent and betrayed by your supporters and superiors. After a rightist has been broken down by the weight of their circumstances, they can begin to "work on it" and be "worked on".
So long as the Communists are winning, the resolve of the enemy is broken down. If the Communists are able to win completely, to the point where even their enemies accept that they are made inevitable by history... in such a situation the Communists will have no (or very few) enemies at all, because anyone who might have opposed them now has nothing and no one to cling onto, in ideological and practical terms.
But compromise, even if it might be a way for groups to wrestle with each other, does nothing to affect the individuals who make up the groups. The rightist group (and for Gerda this seems to include anyone left of the leftmost SPD member) has been humiliated by events, but the rightist individuals retain cohesion and faith in their beliefs. And so the "rational" communists wring their hands and go "we can't overpower them yet; now is the time for compromise." As they are removed from the field of battle, yesterday's firebreathers (Hitler) are gradually turned into today's hand-shakers. The feeling of "we don't have state power yet" makes it so you never will have it, you keep making decisions that keep you from it.
The aesthetic change seems to be a willingness to accept dirt, because it can be washed away. It's time to stop being ashamed about wanting state power. I mean, just look at Dieter-- he knows better than anyone what happened at Hamburg. And he'd probably do it again if needed.
So basically Gerda is Sorelian gang now, and we may be seeing a faction of like-minded people emerge as one of many DAR subgroups
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The way this is written kinda reminds me of the writtings of chinese communists, is the term "rightist" normally used in the english language when discussing politics?
"Conservative" and "fascist" aren't wide enough to cover all the groups Gerda considers untrustworthy, neither applies to the SPD for example. But now that you mention it, I guess leftist does occur more often than rightist in English.
Chapter LXXXVIII
You have lost above all monsieur, the sense of dignity.
~ Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
~ Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
The rattling noise from outside of the Reichstag broke out again once more in the government quarter.
The Crown Prince closed his eyes upon hearing the sound and tried to focus on his breathing. Every time he heard it seemed to be a deliberate reminder of his failure. Even as he sat in the office which had once belonged to the Chancellor of Germany, it provided him with no satisfaction.
The dreams over a decade of work had been built upon were disintegrating before him.
The Reichswehr forces which had not left Berlin before his supposedly triumphal coronation began had fought despite being outnumbered, defending their Chancellor even as the man fled. His Blackshirts and their Stahlhelm allies now controlled most of the city but there would not be much time to finish the job and build any sort of royal court after all. A Reichswehr force numbering in the thousands was reportedly approaching the outskirts of the city and his own forces had already depleted their ammunition in trying to wrestle full control of the city from the Reichswehr holdouts within the city.
The Crown Prince had to hand it to Hitler for spending so much time crafting and moulding his Red Front in the lessons the man had learned in the Ruhr. The Blackshirts were well drilled but they were mainly meant for parades, they could rely on their history as street brawlers from Ludendorff’s time but like the old Field Marshal the Crown Prince’s own military experience was at the strategic level. Had he had more experience on the ground with his men back in the last war, or spent more time on them rather than on Von Schleicher’s political games. Well, hypotheticals weren’t going to get him anywhere in his present situation.
It was clear that his assumption of power had failed to gain the popular following outside of the city he believed he could muster. The Reichswehr force approaching to retake the city was perhaps the best example of that but the news of his distant cousin disowning him and all of Germany in doing so hurt particularly hard. Perhaps he had trusted Von Schleicher in how monarchist the Reichswehr was, it certainly hadn’t been the case with him and perhaps he had mistrusted Hugenberg’s ability to spread his message as well. Why had the man’s party done so badly in the elections earlier that year if he was such an effective propagandist? It would be easy to indulge in such vindictiveness but he realised it was only a partial answer to his problems.
His own ambition and his royal background which bred it, sustained it, had been the source of his strength and yet he had tarnished it all the same. The promises he had made to himself and his family over the wrongs done to his father had merely been in pursuit of what he ultimately just wanted for himself. He had been brought up to believe the crown was his by right and thus he hadn’t challenged men to thought likewise or at least purported to. And now here he was, a wildcard without a deck.
His would-be defence minister, Generalmajor Otto Waegner, approached. No doubt with more bad news. The short bursts of gunfire that cracked from outside would no doubt soon be exacerbated a thousandfold by the enemy coming to depose him.
Perhaps he could go forward with the coronation ceremony, a quick one, just to say he had had it done before it all ended.
He put such thoughts out of his mind as Waegner bowed and announced his news.
“The Reichswehr commander has requested an audience with yourself, Excellency.”
The Crown Prince tutted.
“No doubt they want to convince us to surrender without a fight. Well I can assure you that won’t be happening Waegner. We won’t be sent to Von Schleicher in chains to explain ourselves eh? We’ll show those traitors what should have been done in November 1918. We’ll fight to the last.”
“That might be difficult. Excellency. Spirits are low amongst our troops due to the tenacity of the Reichswehr defence and lack of help from outside. And the appearance of this relief force. Desertions are being reported.”
More betrayals. The Crown Prince couldn’t dwell on the thought. It was only another reason to fall into despair.
“Who is this Reicshwehr commander, anyone I would know?”
“I think so. Excellency. General Hans Von Seeckt.”
“Von Seeckt! Why didn’t you say so before? Why, the man’s a monarchist. He even insisted on me wearing my uniform from the last war in his company.”
The Crown Prince paused, hadn’t Von Seeckt gotten into some trouble for that?
“Bring him here, he deserves a hearing at the very least.”
The Crown Prince’s mind started to race but he tried to keep the most enthusiastic thoughts out of his head. Of course Von Seeckt wasn’t coming here with these troops to aid him but could he be convinced otherwise? His appointment certainly seemed off, the man hadn't been directly involved in the Reichswehr for years and he hadn’t heard of him being re-appointed himself. Perhaps Von Schleicher didn’t have him fully under his wing but appointed him anyway for propaganda purposes or, prayer of prayers, perhaps Von Shchleicher had not appointed him at all.
The Crown Prince was wary of this new optimism, he had just seen a decade of dreams snatched from him after all. But it was, at least, something to grasp at.
It took a while for the car carrying Von Seeckt to appear inside the government quarter. He hoped the scars of the battle from his forces taking it didn’t dwell on the General’s mind, nor the thought of the General’s contemporaries who died defending the Bendlerblock. Waiting for the man had made the Crown Prince’s anticipation grow
Von Seeckt appeared within the office without being announced. The Chancellor’s old aide, who had spent the last few weeks seemingly in perpetual terror didn’t even try to announce him before he strutted in, calm, blank faced, monocled, his posture like that of a sphinx. Prussian.
Here, surely, was a man he could do business with.
“General, it is good to see you again after so many years. I trust you did not have trouble in getting here?” The question was absurd, but where was he without his formalities. What was he, even.
“Not at all your excellency, thank you for being so accommodating.”
“Of course, of course. I couldn't turn down the offer of a meeting with a great patriot such as yourself. And of course when we fought together I hope you realised I would never do so.”
“The thought would never cross my mind, Excellency.”
“Now, I’m sure you’ve been told many things to the contrary about my character by General Von Schleicher but I’m sure you might also be interested to hear a few tales about that particular individual's character. Or lack thereof.”
“If it pleases your Excellency I have already heard enough in regards to the so-called character of said individual. That, I must admit, is the matter at hand.”
The Crown Prince’s eyes lightened up.
“Von Schleicher was a very capable political operator but he thought only about himself. It became apparent that any patriotism he espoused was narcissism which, as I’m sure you’ll agree, also went for his monarchism.”
The Crown Prince nodded gently, this was music to his ears but it was clear there was something salient coming out of it
“My monarchism, Excellency, is genuine and it’s for that reason I believe it is the best course of action for you to now leave Germany.”
The Crown Prince smirked at that.
“I must say I have had just about enough of advisors General and you should clearly understand why that is. My position is desperate, yes, but it is one I have had to take due to being manipulated. Will I snuff out any final chances of Germany returning to me by choosing to die in Berlin? Maybe, but my house and name will gain a new resonance to it. I will have successors.”
“If you cause more needless slaughter, further destruction to the capital, purely for the sake of our own vanity, your cause will truly be doomed forever. Your successors will be dispossessed and robbed of their chance to be politically or even socially notable by an outraged nation. You will be dead but your glory will only persist in washed up exiles in foreign lands, exiled and irrelevant.”
“That was the fate of the Romanovs, as it was of the Bourbons and the Stuarts. Royals who flee the battlefield are consigned to irrelevance, royals who fight are never truly extinguished in the memories of their people.”
“Those exiles never had supporters left behind.” Von Seeckt replied bluntly. “At least not those who could truly influence the future of our nation like I have the capacity to now.”
“And pray tell, General, what would you do?”
“Well to begin with, if I had been Schleicher I wouldn’t have targeted the Social Democrats at the beginning of all of this. I realise there is a tendency, perhaps even an attraction, in casting the United Front as a monolithic Bolshevik rabble but that is simply not the case. I can work with the Social Democrats. I have worked well with them in the past and there are elements of that party both outside and even within the United Front I suspect can be trusted.”
The Crown Prince raised his eyebrow at this.
“There was evidence of collusion. It was found in the Bolshevik headquarters...”
“Perhaps that was misinterpreted.” Von Seeckt interjected. “Levi and other former Bolsheviks, they were clearly open to working with Hitler, but the idea of the whole Social Democratic Party plotting to overthrow the republic they created. It doesn’t make sense.”
The Crown Prince shrugged at that, it was too late to speculate either way.
“In either case I would work with those moderate elements and get them in turn to bring the true Bolsheviks into a peace on the basis of new elections.. Elections the latter will lose or at the very least, not win. Then if they react to that result violently it would enable the Reichswehr with the support of the moderates to crush the Bolsheviks. Such a struggle might take longer than it did in 1919 but the outcome would be just as definitive.
Either that or the Bolsheviks will settle with a return to opposition, that Hitler of theirs has shown a cool head in the past, but either way it would give me time to rebuild the Reichswehr and promote your cause anew.”
“With myself having no control over my own fate,” The Crown Prince sniffed.
“No direct control from your Excellency fends off criticism from our adversaries and in the meantime I, alongside like minded patriots, can work on rebuilding your image. You can be the Prince across the water Or, more literally the Prince across the Alps.”
The Crown Prince sat back, trying to process the scheme.
“There is a plane ready to take you to Italy. You could be there in hours. This could be over in hours” Von Seeckt stressed..
“Nonetheless, I would require some assurance that this isn’t merely a ploy.”
“I’m afraid there isn’t any Excellency, other than my own word which I hope would go for something with yourself. We cannot always control history but I have at least developed a knack for recovering from its blows.”
“And wouldn’t history consider the notion that this war would be ended with a conversation all too flippant an outcome?”
Von Seeckt finally smiled at that.
“I am afraid I don’t have any control over that, your Excellency.”
At this the Crown Prince smiled too.
Perhaps there were still true believers left after all.
---
The painting is Bonnie Prince Charlie Entering the Ballroom at Holyroodhouse by John Pettie