The Rise of the Third Reich

This time when he returned to Berlin, Hersman did not meet Hindenburg and Ludendorff immediately. These two big men are now in a state of panic. The affairs of Russia, the Baltic Republic, and the "Gray Plan" to help Germany revive after the war have all been placed in a relatively secondary position. Stabilizing the collapsing front and seeking peace are the top priorities, and these two things are contradictory to each other-if democracy is promoted in Germany according to the enemy's will, it seems to be conducive to seeking peace, but the German army will collapse as a result. On the contrary, strengthening the dictatorship can make the army firm in will, but it will make it more difficult to seek peace.

This is almost a multiple-choice question without a correct answer!

Fortunately, the person doing the question now is not Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig von Hersman. Just when William II, Hindenburg and Ludendorff were having a headache, Hersman handed the report on his trip to Moscow to his superior, Colonel Val T. Nicola.

"Ludwig, the situation is getting worse and worse, and your predictions are coming true! I have to say that you are the most amazing crow's mouth in the General Staff!" Colonel Nicholas expressed his sincere emotion when looking at the report submitted by Hersman. Hersman frowned and asked: "Colonel, can I understand your words as a compliment?" "Yes, it is a compliment! Although most of your reports and plans are overly pessimistic, I have to admit that your pessimism is very foresighted. This allows us to make some preparations in advance for the most difficult moments. This is your credit." Should you be promoted for your merits? It is impossible to be promoted to colonel, but the position can still be promoted. Colonel Nicholas' subsequent words confirmed Hersman's conjecture. He said: "Major General Haushofer has retired, and you will take over his position as the director of the Eastern Department. From now on, I will no longer act for this position. You are now the youngest director of the departments under the General Staff, and you are also a lieutenant colonel. I think you know what this means?"

It is not easy to win the promotion race in the elite German Army. Most young officers with similar qualifications as Hersmann are still captains and lieutenants, while he is already a lieutenant colonel and a director. In a few years, he may even become a colonel. This means that he is at least three levels ahead of his peers. In peacetime when promotions are made bit by bit according to the system, it often takes fifteen to twenty years to go from captain to colonel!

This means that Hersmann has enough time to advance to the general level! Moreover, the Eastern Department and the Stasi he leads will also give him enough opportunities to make meritorious contributions.

This also means that Hindenburg and Ludendorff have regarded Hersmann as a possible leader of the German army in the future. They have to pave the way for Hersmann before they lose power!

"The director of the Eastern Department of the Military Intelligence Agency means responsibility, huge responsibility!" Hersmann answered solemnly.

"It's good that you understand this," Colonel Nicholas nodded and lowered his tone, "So from now on, don't mention supporting the Hungarian Bolshevik Party or any other Bolshevik Party in your report... The civilian government that is about to take office is composed of some timid people." This is to ask Hessman to take responsibility himself! Being an official is not enough just by having a good vision, but also by being willing to take responsibility, especially when you don't have a particularly good father. "I understand!" Hersman replied, "I will take responsibility."

"In addition, we need to set up some companies responsible for sensitive projects outside the Russian-German Economic Promotion Company... They cannot be the property of the German government, but should be sacred and inviolable private property."

"Okay, I will find someone to pay for it. Colonel, do you want to invest a little? Those companies will definitely make a lot of money..."

"Well, let's talk about this later." Colonel Nicholas did not refuse, but continued, "There is another piece of news to inform you, it is top secret... The 600 tons of gold secretly compensated by the Soviet Union will be converted into 2 billion gold marks and deposited in the German National Bank in the name of the Hohenzollern Foundation."

Needless to say, the controller of the Hohenzollern Foundation is naturally William II and his successor. Through this huge deposit, William II can ensure that he will continue to exert influence on the German military and intelligence departments when Germany becomes a republic.

Obviously, William II has also left a way out for himself.

Colonel Nicholas paused and said, "Now I will settle the transaction with you. The Eastern Office is yours. Do your best!"

Marshal Paul von Hindenburg has become older. His hair and beard are almost completely white. His facial muscles are loose and his eyes are bloodshot. He sits listlessly in a chair behind his desk, like an old man who is about to die.

The marshal lowered his head, wearing reading glasses, and carefully read Lenin's handwritten letter and written guarantee brought back by Hirschmann. Written guarantees are still taken seriously in Europe at this time. In history, British Prime Minister Chamberlain regarded Hitler's written guarantee as "peace for a generation."

After an unknown period of time, he finally finished reading Lenin's written guarantee and the letters to Liebknecht and Luxemburg, and listened to Hirschmann's oral report on the plan to support the Hungarian Bolsheviks. Then he was silent for a long time.

"Lieutenant Colonel!" Finally, the old marshal raised his head, with a sharp light flashing in his eyes, looking at Ludwig von Hirschmann, who had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. "Do you believe in Lenin?"

"No," Hessman answered truthfully.

"So, what's the use of this guarantee?" Hindenburg put down Lenin's written guarantee. "Once we are defeated, the Red Army will probably flood into Riga like a tide!"

"It actually depends on Poland."

The Soviet-German friendship depends on Poland! If there was no Great Poland between the Soviet Union and Germany, how could there be more than 20 years of Soviet-German cooperation after World War I?

A similar point of view was also put forward in the "Greater Poland Plan" formulated by Hersman: the strength of the Polish Army should be strengthened. When the Eastern Front troops retreat, most of their weapons can be left to the Polish Army, allowing it to expand to 500,000 troops in a few months.

"A stronger Poland will definitely covet Russian land," Hersman said, "especially since Russia is in the middle of a civil war!"

"But when Poland gets stronger, it will also covet German land! East Prussia, West Prussia, Posen, and the United Baltic Principalities are also likely to be lost." Hindenburg said slowly, "Lieutenant Colonel, you said we What should we do?”

Is this an exam?

Hessman knew that the elites of the General Staff must have thought of a way long ago!

After personally participating in the formulation of a series of "surrender plans," Hersman was very convinced:

In the original history, there must have been a surrender plan similar to the "Gray Plan". Otherwise, Poland would not have miraculously risen at all - Hersman had studied Piłsudski's military power. Before he became the Minister of Military Affairs of the Polish Council of State, there were only three brigades, which supported 20,000 people. Although they are all elites with strong combat capabilities, they are not enough to defeat the Red Army that has been baptized by the brutal civil war.

If the Germans had not sent Poland a large amount of weapons and ammunition, how could they have gone to war with Soviet Russia in March 1919? At that time, it was only a few months since Germany surrendered, and the Paris Peace Conference had not even finished yet. Even if the Allies wanted to assist Poland, they would not have much weapons and equipment in place. The only one who could possibly arm the Poles was Germany, which had just been defeated.

The only reason Germany dared to arm Poland was because, in addition to wanting to use Poland to resist the expansion of the Bolsheviks, it must also have sufficient backup options. The "Free Corps Plan" formulated by the Strategic Operations Division of the Grand General Staff should be the back-up force of Hindenburg and the Junkers military aristocrats.

"Your Excellency, Marshal," Hessmann already had the answer at this time, "I think we will retain a strong army after the armistice... If the Allies do not allow the German government to have a large enough army, then we will learn from the Bolsheviks, Organize an armed force that is not under the jurisdiction of the government. They will be composed of hundreds of thousands of veterans, they are the real elite!”

Hindenburg showed a slight smile and nodded noncommittally: "Okay, now I will give you a task. Take Lenin's letter and Grand Duchess Olga to accompany the Social Democratic Party Senator Albert on a trip to the cloth." Tisslaus... I don't think he can convince those two stubborn guys, but I should give it a try. By the way, this Senator Albert is a very important person, so make a good impression on him. Bar."

——

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