-----------------------------
If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
-------------------------------
Pov of Paul von Hindenburg
1917-December-23
''We have the reserves filled, Hindenburg. Rifle ammunition, submachine-gun ammunition, entire warehouses full and ready for the next offensive, so we should not worry too much about shortages during several months of combat. The idea is to begin in March with the infantry advance and, by then, we will have ammunition almost until the end of the year if we continue at this pace'' Ludendorff said, reviewing one of the reports we had requested on ammunition levels and the expected production for the beginning of the great spring offensive.
''Yes, that was to be expected, considering that ammunition production has accelerated quite a bit since the application of our mobilization law, although I am somewhat worried that our factories may be left empty when they finish being raised. It is becoming increasingly difficult to fill the jobs'' I said, moving the pencil while pointing out that the last factories that had been completed still had not managed to meet their target of filling all positions.
''The Habsburg we have as king in Ukraine continues sending workers who know German to the factories, so we can simply increase the required visas and try to fill those positions with Ukrainian labor. I do not think they will cause much trouble, since, from what we know, all the eastern countries are fighting the unemployment crisis they have, although some handle it better than others'' Ludendorff said, moving some documents so one of the generals present could review them.
''Speaking of that, how are we on food? I know that is reviewed in April with the budget, but how was this year's harvest? Was there any shortfall regarding the goals we requested?'' I asked, interested.
''It was met. What was requested from all the countries was delivered and all of them met their production goals, so we have no food deficiencies. We can be calm, since that will keep the workers calm. We may even manage to control the food market with all the Ukrainian grain replacing the barley the rabble eats. The entire army is being fed, for the moment, with shipments from the east, so Germany is mostly supplying itself'' said one of our aides, who had been reading all the reports arriving to the civil government.
''Well… that is good news'' I said, focusing on my documents.
''The governor we have in Poland has already confirmed that almost ninety percent of the deserters from the Polish army have been executed as they should have been. Only a few more reports remain before they consider the matter of each one of those who deserted finished'' Ludendorff said.
''Yes, I already know. Those Polish traitors should be happy that we removed the Russians from above them, but those men expected that, in addition to being liberated, we would give them all the fruit of our conquests as if it were nothing, simply because they imagined it. What about the Polish troops at the front? Are they still deserting?'' I said, somewhat annoyed at the memory of that news.
''They continue, but now in smaller numbers. With the latest executions carried out against those who were caught trying to cut the wire to run toward the French trench, at least their desertion levels have been reduced somewhat. They are no longer the same as when they arrived'' said another of our aides, who assisted us by reviewing other documents.
''We have the numbers and the moment is perfect. When the front is overflowing with inexperienced American troops, our offensive should break their lines and allow us to exploit that lack of American experience, although we will have to act with great speed'' I said while observing the map we had for the spring offensive.
''Yes. Army Group Kronprinz will take care of enveloping the French troops in the south and will try to seize all the French ports in the area, denying them supplies. Much of the south is defended by Frenchmen who continue to suffer frequent mutinies due to the deplorable conditions they are enduring, so the attack should be effective'' Ludendorff said, leaning over the map and marking out the plan.
''Meanwhile, the other army groups will take care of the northern offensive and will try to take Paris and all the northern French ports possible. With that, our expectation would be that France can no longer continue fighting and we can knock her out of the war. Then we will be able to negotiate what I have proposed, so France will never again rise as a country capable of endangering the hegemony of the German Empire'' I said, observing the plan to surround Paris and take all nearby positions.
''We have ample reserves. Stopping the offensives allowed us to accumulate newly recruited forces, gather troops from other fronts that were no longer so active and give them the necessary rest. But we also have to take into account that, as much as the latest reports indicate that industrial production does not stop growing, we have the dilemma that there are more and more strikes. It is only a matter of time before those strikes and protests grow in size, while many politicians ask for a negotiated peace'' Ludendorff said while moving the pencil in his hand, making it turn between his fingers.
''Bah. Those socialists do not understand that we are at war'' I said, annoyed, ignoring everything related to the strikes.
''It is not only them. There are members of the Kaiser's cabinet asking for the war to be negotiated. We are in a position of strength. We may not get everything we want, but it is still feasible to put a peace on the table that benefits us greatly without having to lose millions on the battlefield to secure total victory. The British were expelled from Mesopotamia, the Arabs have rebelled against them and are against them, disturbances are emerging among the Egyptians and they still cannot recover the Suez. If we give a little with France, perhaps the United Kingdom will accept peace and, with that, force France to negotiate'' Ludendorff insisted.
''We are one attack of a few months away from ending this and bringing France to her knees. With Russia broken, sunk in a civil war, and the United Kingdom facing great logistical problems, in addition to the fact that we are financing the Persians to take the British oil wells, they cannot concentrate everything in Europe. In March, we will take Paris and southern France. With that, the French will to fight will break and they will be forced to surrender. It does not matter how many American troops arrive. We will stand firm'' I said, looking at Ludendorff with confidence.
''Then something must be done about the protests, because they keep growing in size. We could always call von Posen to deal with the troublemakers'' Ludendorff said.
''Why do you want to bring him? It was a pleasant surprise when I learned they gave him that post in the Baltic Duchy. Those lands should have been an eternal administrative headache and should have kept him busy for several years before he could do anything. I mean, ignoring the part of why the Kaiser decided to suddenly give such an important post to a simple Junker. That was supposed to keep him out of the focus of public opinion, but for the moment it has been the complete opposite. The newspapers reported how he crushed the noble conspiracies against the Empire, in addition to the near civil war of the Ruthenians'' I said, pressing my lips together.
''You said it yourself. He is an incredible administrator. We cannot deny him that. So far, all the harvests have arrived properly and he even has reserves without having to exploit the locals too much. Besides, he is the best of all the officers we can gather who have experience fighting subversive leaders. He also has a good relationship with Abteilung IIIb. He is the best candidate for that'' Ludendorff said, looking at me while placing the pencil on the table without breaking eye contact.
''It smells wrong to me that they gave him that noble post. Something must have happened. There must have been something the Kaiser asked that troublemaker to do in order to give him that position. I am almost certain, but I do not know what it was. I do not believe that, merely for doing what was expected of him, the Kaiser decided to give the post that nearly half the German nobility was fighting to control to a nobody. Something happened, but I do not know what, so I want to keep him far away if this is some kind of plan'' I said, sitting in my chair and observing everything.
''But he is already at the front. He is now with Army Group Kronprinz and is moving through the area after leaving everything pacified. It is the ideal moment for him to deal with the peace strikes'' Ludendorff said.
''And what of it? I cannot simply refuse when someone delivers seven thousand well-trained men to an army, especially because he linked it with that new medicine that supposedly prevents bacteria from infecting arms. The plan is for him to try to show the effectiveness of that penici… penicili… penicillium, and nothing more, in addition to some missions that will save us some casualties we normally suffer'' I said, placing my fist against my cheek while sitting in the chair and looking at Ludendorff.
''I do not know if you have heard, but he is fighting'' Ludendorff said, raising an eyebrow while passing a cloth over his forehead.
''What a novelty. Doing something he supposedly would not do'' I said, pressing my lips together.
''Rather by orders of the Crown Prince, since he sent him to prevent the French from having such an easy time firing artillery at the positions of that Army Group's forces. For the last few weeks, Karl has been in Dijon, although according to the source of one of the generals of one of the armies, he has not personally participated in any offensive, but has instead dedicated himself to learning the planning of large offensives while deploying his men in Dijon'' Ludendorff said, nodding while raising his eyebrow and making a somewhat puzzled grimace.
''Did I hear correctly, or is that damned cheat and rule-jumper doing what he should have done long ago? That surprises me quite a bit. Let us hope he is finally not a disgrace to our promotion system and that he has earned the rank, although I doubt that doing things properly in the end will clean away the damage he has done by rising so high while so young and without any kind of experience'' I said, shaking my head.
''Well, at least he tried the last time he was on the Western Front. The situation simply never allowed him to. And well, how have those offensives he carried out been? I suppose he has done something interesting, since from what I know, the training regime of the Baltic troops is quite intense'' Ludendorff said, taking the pencil again and looking at one of the assistants, who read the minor reports from the southern front.
''We are supposed to save ammunition, not spend it on offensives that make no sense without the support of the whole army'' I said, clicking my tongue.
''Eh… well, according to the latest report sent by the prince… this is not right'' the assistant said, taking out some documents and showing a very strange expression as he looked at something.
''Let me see, give me that'' Ludendorff said, immediately beginning to read the report and opening his eyes wider and wider as he read with attention.
''What happened? Was the offensive that bad?'' I said, bringing my hand to my face.
''More than two thousand French dead, more than one thousand prisoners, around five hundred American dead and one hundred prisoners. They gave them a beating. The Baltic troops barely had sixty casualties, and most were from the artillery bombardment that fell after the defeat they suffered'' Ludendorff said.
''Four thousand Entente casualties for sixty Germans'' I said, licking my lips.
''Yes. Oberst Karl is testing a lot of new equipment in battle. New weapons, semi-automatic rifles, armored cars with machine guns and other weapons under trial, but it seems they have been effective. I think I should go inspect that new weaponry. The submachine guns von Posen sells us are among the best that can be obtained for the next offensive'' Ludendorff said.
My eye twitched and, after sighing, I looked at my companion.
''Go. Just do not pay too much. Prevent the press from learning about that offensive. I do not… we do not want them to know about these new weapons'' I said, pressing my lips together.
-----------------------------
If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.
Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
-------------------------------