The Rise of the Third Reich

"Of course the German Bolsheviks can't come to power!" Hindenburg stretched out his right hand and touched his white beard. "The upheaval in Petrograd in January has eliminated the last glimmer of possibility, but revolution is still possible! Right?"

Hindenburg's face became serious. He looked at Hersman sitting opposite him and said word by word: "Major, please answer this question truthfully."

"Very likely!" Hersman nodded heavily, "and the revolution will bring unimaginable disasters to our empire... just like the disaster that the February Revolution brought to the Russian Empire!"

Hindenburg remained silent. Colonel Karl Haushofer asked: "Ludwig, do you mean the army will disintegrate?"

"Maybe not that serious," Hersmann sighed, "but it will still make us lose our ability to resist the Allies, so that the enemy can force us to accept the most humiliating peace... just like we treat Russia, or even more harsh!"

Hindenburg suddenly opened the drawer of the desk, took out a handwritten document, and put it in front of Hersmann: "Look at this."

Hersmann took the document, which was written in English, with a total of fourteen lines:

1. Eliminate secret diplomacy and sign open contracts;

2. Ensure absolute freedom of navigation at sea;

3. Abolish all economic barriers and establish equal trade conditions;

4. Reduce armaments;

5 When dealing with colonial issues fairly, we must take into account the interests of the colonial people and the legitimate demands of the colonial government;

6 Foreign troops withdraw from Russia and guarantee that Russia independently determines its political development and national policies, Welcome it to join the society of free countries under the system of its own choice;

7 German troops withdraw from Belgium and restore its sovereignty;

8 German troops withdraw from France, and Alsace and Lorraine are returned to France;

9 Adjust the borders of Italy according to the distribution of ethnic groups;

10 Allow autonomy for ethnic groups within the Austro-Hungarian Empire;

11 The territories of Romania, Serbia and Montenegro are restored;

12 Recognize that the Turkish part of the Ottoman Empire has a stable sovereignty, but other ethnic groups under Turkish rule have the opportunity to develop without interference on the basis of "autonomy", and the Dardanelles will be open as a free channel forever under international guarantees;

13 Rebuild an independent Poland with an outlet to the sea, and guarantee its political, economic independence and territorial integrity with international treaties;

14 Establish an international joint organization based on a special covenant aimed at guaranteeing mutual political independence and territorial integrity among countries regardless of size;

This is President Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points of Peace", which should have been announced on January 8, 1918. At that time, Hersman was still busy writing a report to his country in Russia to explain the ins and outs of the January upheaval, and did not pay much attention to this matter.

"This is political inducement!" Hessman came to the conclusion without thinking, because it has long been a consensus in later generations. "This is an American conspiracy, the purpose is to disintegrate our fighting spirit with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Once they succeed, they will tear off the disguise and impose the most severe treaty on us. Just look at the British, French and American intervention forces now marching into Russia, and you will know that Woodrow Johnson is lying. He is a complete liar!" Hessman did not wrongly accuse the American president. The sixth point of the "Fourteen Points" was violated by the Americans themselves before the ink was dry - when the German army withdrew, the troops of the United States, Britain, France and Japan invaded Russia and began to support the enemies of the Bolsheviks. "Haha, it seems that you know the Americans very well." Marshal Hindenburg glanced at Haushofer. "Your view of the United States is very much to my taste! These cowboys and nouveau riche in the New World are not reliable at all. However, we may have to deal with them in the near future. Major Hessman, do you have any suggestions?"

"The United States is a semicolon of Britain!"

"Ha, ha, ha! You actually look at the problem this way." Marshal Hindenburg laughed, "Why? They all speak English?"

"No," Hessman said seriously, "They are all dominated by capital! This is the biggest difference between Britain and the United States and our German Empire... I'm talking about dominance! Capital in Britain and the United States is like the German army, which has a country. And capital does not have to be attached to a fixed country, while the army has a clear nationality. Therefore, capital can flow freely between two countries dominated by capital, and dominate the world by manipulating these two countries to obtain greater profits. For capitalists who manipulate British and American politics, the two countries are actually one."

"Is this Lenin's point of view?" Colonel Karl Haushofer interrupted and asked. "No, the Bolsheviks are confused about this issue. In their view, there is no difference between Germany and Britain and the United States. We are all controlled by monopoly consortiums. Mr. Krupp, Mr. Benz and other rich people can make the Marshal step down with a few phone calls." Historically, the Bolsheviks also believed that a few phone calls from German capitalists could make Hitler step down... "This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard." Hindenburg laughed. He was an old man who liked to laugh. He would only put on a stern face and look solemn and dignified in more formal occasions. "But the American democratic election is indeed a money game to a large extent. Capital can really dominate the country there." "But there are still contradictions between Britain and the United States!" Colonel Karl Haushofer reminded, "Sometimes they are very big!"

“Isn’t it good to have some conflicts when it benefits the capitalists and does not prevent them from ruling the world?” Hessman laughed. “Arms races and proxy wars will bring huge profits... Isn’t that great? ?”

"Well, it seems to make sense." Marshal Hindenburg thought for a moment, "If our empire also becomes a country dominated by capital, does that mean there will be lasting peace?"

Hessmann was surprised. He did not expect Hindenburg to ask such a question. He guessed that Marshal Hindenburg must have sensed that something was wrong.

He stood up suddenly and said loudly: "Being controlled means being transformed...transformed according to the needs of capital! If capital needs Germany to become a strong country, then she will be strong. If capital wants Germany to fall apart, then She will disintegrate. If capital wants Germany to become a colony, it will no longer be able to control its own destiny! We will become the slaves of others!

Hindenburg and Colonel Karl Haushofer exchanged glances. Colonel Haushofer said: "If...I mean if Germany really becomes a country dominated by capital in the near future, What should we do?"

What he refers to as "being dominated by capital" is actually becoming a defeated country!

"Fight!" Hessmann shouted, "We must fight to the end! As long as we have a breath, we German soldiers must not forget the mission we shoulder! We must fight to the end, fight to the end, even after defeat. We must not hesitate At all costs and by all means, the German motherland can be revived in the future!"

This is a statement to Hindenburg...

"Oh, that's very good." Hindenburg said and took out another document from the drawer. "But I believe that Germany will never be dominated by the enemy! Such a thing cannot be allowed to happen, and we also know what should be prevented at this stage," he patted the documents on the table. "This is an order to reorganize the Thor Group into the Eastern Division of the Military Intelligence Agency!"

The Military Intelligence Service is an intelligence agency under the Grand General Staff, run by Colonel Val T. Nikolay, and has approximately 150 intelligence officers. They are mainly engaged in military espionage and have achieved great achievements in the past few years, but they are not the same as Hessmann's achievements in Russia (the Kaiser, Hindenburg and Ludendorff all credited Hessmann with Lenin's rise to power). ), it is really not worth mentioning.

In less than a year, he not only "promoted" the Russian Revolution, but also sent back a large number of reports, telling the top leaders of the German Empire how the Russians were sliding into the abyss step by step. It seems that after these reports, the senior leaders of the German Empire naturally had to take some preventive measures when the domestic situation was unstable and they were also facing the threat of revolution.

Hindenburg said: "The Eastern Division of the Military Intelligence Agency has only three priorities: 1. Continue to cooperate with the Russian Bolsheviks, support them in winning the civil war, and obtain enough food and coal from Russia; 2. Prevent revolution from happening in Germany ;3. Develop response plans for the empire’s most difficult moments.”

He pointed to Haushofer beside him. "Colonel Haushofer will serve as the director of the Eastern Division, and Lieutenant Colonel Schleicher will serve as the deputy director." Then he looked at Hersman again, "You will serve as the leader of the Russian group. As for the Russian-German Company, It will be transferred to the direct jurisdiction of the Eastern Division.”

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At the end of the article, Luo Luo asks for collection and recommendation as usual.