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1916-August-1-September-26
''The harvest was good, which shows that the application of new care techniques and precise land measurement has made these results possible… but we must not forget what matters most… the hard work of the Ukrainians. Although this is a shared victory, the ones who carried its weight were the people of Ukraine'' I said, looking at the Ukrainian leaders who were eager to hear what would be done next.
''Then the time has come… we will plan the electoral map so that every part of Ukraine has the right to be represented in the Rada, and we can now move forward with an economic expansion plan unlike anything our people have ever seen'' Wilhelm said, practically radiating joy now that he could make his deepest ambition a reality.
''About that… I recently received this message from Germany… with the approval of Austria-Hungary, the electoral map has already been prepared. I did not intervene personally, and after a brief review I have already noticed the problems… and I believe you will as well'' I said, unfolding the electoral map created by German bureaucrats, making it clear as I displayed the division of the 500 representatives.
''What is this…?'' one of the Ukrainian representatives said, frowning at the map as if disgusted.
''Orders from Germany'' I said, shrugging. ''According to the messenger who brought it, the goal is to ensure that a large portion of the representatives secure German interests, instead of relying on military pressure. At the same time, they must always take the German minority into account before any decision'' I added, pointing out how large portions of the Rada representation were assigned to areas with German majorities, effectively guaranteeing control over nearly forty percent of the seats.
This left the German minority, which did not even reach one million inhabitants, with enormous political power, designed to guarantee its long-term influence.
''This is unacceptable… this literally hands power to the Germans…'' Wilhelm said, staring at the map while shaking his head.
''It is what it is… it is no secret that we are a German satellite state, and they will do everything possible to keep it that way. At least they had the decency not to claim fifty percent of the representatives, which guarantees that you still control your policies… you will just have to negotiate with German representatives for everything now'' I said, observing the map.
''This… I… I cannot believe that the Kaiser of Austria-Hungary approved this'' Wilhelm said, clenching his fist.
''Perhaps he does not want to repeat the mistakes of the dual monarchy… because as far as I know, that thing is a burning mess barely holding itself together'' I said with a grimace, crossing my arms.
''Hey… just because you are right does not mean you should refer to them like that'' the regent said, shaking his head.
''So what does this mean…? That we now have to work with a Rada where only part of its members have real power?'' one of the regent's Ukrainian advisers said angrily.
''Yes… look at it this way. It is the only way to ensure that everything you do does not end with Germany imposing its terms by force… because that will happen… it is literally my job. If you try to pass anything that goes against German interests, or that reduces their control too much, my job is to dissolve the Rada and grant absolute power to the King'' I said, pointing at Wilhelm.
''What do you mean?'' one of the Ukrainian lawyers asked, looking at me in disbelief.
''Where to begin… let us see'' I said, pulling out the list of measures I had to ensure passed in the Rada. ''Education law, mandatory schooling for all Ukrainian youth, with twenty percent of classes conducted in German. Industrial mobilization law. State infrastructure law, allowing expropriation of anyone for logistical needs. Dissident law, which essentially defines treason under Ukrainian code. Latinization of Ukrainian, changing all maps and signage to Latinized Ukrainian. And several taxes on multiple sectors so that Ukraine funds my security ministry'' I said, reading from the list.
''Excellent… just what we needed'' the regent said through clenched teeth.
I could feel the tension in the room rising with everything I had presented. This was my job. I could see that the regent had clear intentions of helping the Ukrainians, but the demands from Germany to secure its control, combined with the regent's desire to hold elections in the middle of a war, left only one option, to rig things from the beginning.
Without saying another word, I left the room. As soon as I stepped outside, I could hear them shouting all sorts of things, making it clear they did not even want to see me there.
So I simply walked away. In a way, nothing would give Wilhelm's government more legitimacy than clean elections, but the risk of socialists or communists taking control of the Rada, and then being forced to dissolve it, would only create even greater chaos. So Germany had decided to set the board from the start.
For my part, I continued focusing on my work. Even though the harvest had ended, I was finishing the last cultivation efforts to secure even more food.
By this time, peace negotiations had begun between the German state and the Russian Provisional Government, which no longer seemed capable of defending itself. With soldiers refusing to fight and German forces slowly approaching major cities, and the risk of being forced into unconditional surrender, negotiations began, establishing a temporary truce while they continued.
I made sure the fields were prepared for the following year, while continuing to expand the greenhouses. Now that the immediate food crisis had been addressed, production could be sold to Germany to generate income and finance further expansion, since every greenhouse I built allowed me to claim more land in Ukraine.
The war continued its course. According to the information I was receiving, Verdun was turning out to be far more favorable to German interests, as the map had changed before I left, leaving the city more encircled, and now the battle seemed winnable, although the real blow had been the Somme.
In the early days of that battle, the usual preliminary bombardment had begun to soften German defenses, something that normally would have completely destroyed the heavy machine guns in defensive positions.
That did not happen.
The armies fighting there had been supplied by the Duke of Württemberg, so many units had replaced their weapons with my machine guns. This led to hundreds of thousands of British and French soldiers leaving their trenches only to find German defenders with their machine guns ready and perfectly positioned.
It resulted in one of the greatest massacres imaginable… apparently, the casualties on the first day were even higher than in history, and the following days were worse.
That was what I knew from the bits of information the Abteilung IIIb intelligence officer shared with me from time to time. It seemed we were winning, but time would give the real answer.
I did not know the exact date, but I knew that the first tanks had been used at the Somme, so I began designing something simple that should be more than enough to render those tanks useless.
I could have presented it earlier to German command, but with Paul von Hindenburg in the region, I preferred to offer it as a direct response when it became necessary. It would carry more weight when the high command was desperately searching for a way to stop British tanks.
The solution was nothing more than a truck fitted with an anti-tank gun I had developed myself. I had used such guns more than once in the army, and the most tedious part had always been maintenance, so I understood the basic concept of how they worked.
So, creating something simpler, not like the more advanced piece I had been developing with tungsten imported from Sweden through certain trade arrangements, I produced a first anti-tank gun. The idea of building an entire tank, with its electrical systems, optics, and cannon, was far too complex with the resources I had.
Designing something more powerful and complex would take too long, so I chose the simplest option.
While I focused on maintaining security, preparations for the elections in Ukraine continued.
The day the British used tanks arrived, and I immediately offered my solution to the Western Front command, stating that I had an experimental weapon capable of piercing those tanks like butter. I deployed five trucks equipped with these guns, patented both the weapon and its ammunition in Berlin through my father, and sent a small group of troops to train others in their use.
The very next day, after my arsenal received confirmation, I began receiving orders from all Western armies, at least five units each.
One crew had destroyed five British tanks on its own.
This time, I made sure to inflate the price and threw patriotism aside. I had debts to pay and things to acquire.
So I simply sold fifty trucks with anti-tank guns at 35,000 marks each, and the guns separately at 25,000 marks.
I earned a couple of million marks selling both guns and ammunition, using Ukrainian industry to support the war effort, as we had activated several ammunition factories with the Donbass under our control.
''Greetings, Major'' said the Abteilung officer, carrying a message in his hands.
''What is it…? Is it important'' I asked while trying to organize the security map for the election day at the end of September.
''Yes, very important… I have some purchase orders from the army for you to produce weapons, but I bring something more important than all that'' the intelligence officer said.
''What is it'' I asked, interested.
The officer looked around, even though the room was well isolated and nothing could be heard through the walls. ''It is a mission from the Kaiser… he asked that you meet him inside Germany. He will be visiting Posen. You are to travel there, meet your father, coordinate machine gun production, and there you will receive the rest of the mission'' he said, handing me the letter.
As I read it, I immediately realized it was something important. I quickly prepared everything and informed some subordinates of my possible absence and what they should do if my trip extended into election day.
I took the first train to Posen, stopping to visit my father, who was working harder than ever. He had expanded his factories to process everything my greenhouses were producing, so he was doing well, as were my brothers, who seemed to still be alive. One had survived the Battle of Jutland.
I inspected my factories and began organizing production orders to supply the German army, which needed our components for the many defensive and offensive operations underway.
After that, I had to meet the Kaiser, who was visiting the city to inspect industrial production, as German harvests had been poor due to lack of resources, and he was trying to raise morale with his presence.
When I entered the room where the Kaiser was with his personal guard, I found him visibly nervous upon seeing me.
''Oh, finally… Karl… Major Karl… I need you to consider a plan of mine… I need you to organize a force to rescue Nicky…'' the Kaiser said, biting his lip.
''Nicky'' I said, raising an eyebrow.
''My dear cousin… he…'' the Kaiser began.
''Ah… damn… the Tsar'' I said, interrupting him.
''Yes… the Tsar… Abteilung IIIb has informed me that the situation in Russia is extreme… that the provisional government could collapse soon, and many are calling for his death… I cannot allow him to seek refuge here… the Reichstag and the people would not accept it. Much of our suffering is blamed on Russia… if we do nothing, they may kill him'' the Kaiser said, breathing nervously.
''Kaiser… no… what you are asking is suicide… entering Saint Petersburg, even in secret… going in to find the Tsar, the most protected man in Russia, whether to save him or not… there is no guarantee I would even make it out alive'' I said, laughing nervously.
''Name your price… say it… even if I have to listen to Paul von Hindenburg on many matters of government, I still control my empire…'' the Kaiser said, clenching his fist, even revealing the arm he never showed.
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