Ludwig. Feng. Heinsberg. Count Hersmann is now on his way to the Presidential Palace in a Mercedes-Benz W07 limousine, a newest 1931 car. He received a promotion in February 1930 and is now a major general.

In the Defence Army, which has only 230,000 men, the major general is almost at the top. Standing above this group of major generals is probably the Chief of the General Staff Kurt. Feng. Lieutenant General Hamstein-Eckert and Lieutenant General Schleicher, Director of the Department of Defence, were among a few others. And the most powerful of them, Lieutenant General Schleicher, now dressed in a new tweed uniform, wearing a ribbon and a medal, sat beside Hersmann, smoking a short pipe while watching the crowd of demonstrators outside the car window.

"Kurt, what are you thinking?" Hersman asked.

"I think of 1918!" Schleicher pointed with his pipe to the crowd outside the window, a group of Bolshevik supporters, holding red flags and singing "The Internationale" - not to rebel, but to build momentum for the upcoming general election.

Naturally, Germany's economy has long been plunged into the Great Depression. As in history, it was the first country to fall into the Great Depression! From the second half of 1928 onwards, Germany was caught in a terrible vicious circle:

Capital flight -- deflation -- high interest rates -- sharp collapse in the prices of various assets -- serious suppression of demand for consumption and investment -- serious overproduction -- industrial difficulties and the start of layoffs and wage cuts -- layoffs and wage cuts -- at the same time, huge government deficits forced to implement fiscal austerity, and the issuance of additional government bonds to meet the necessary expenditures, thus further pushing up market interest rates -- leading to a further decline in investment and demand......

In the face of this terrible predicament, the ruling coalition government can be said to be at a loss. Wanting to stimulate the economy - for Germany, which has always followed the Luggage route. It was only natural for the government to intervene in the midst of a severe economic downturn – but it was shy, the treasury was struggling to make ends meet, and the printing press was tightly regulated.

And if you want to get the printing press back, you have to solve the problem of huge reparations in the Treaty of Versailles! At the end of 1928, Germany owed a huge reparations of £4.55 billion (under the Keynes Plan, Germany did not have to pay interest on the huge £4.9 billion reparations). Then the big compensation hangs there. If the mark is decoupled from the pound, most of what will be brushed out will be waste paper.

And what made the then ruling Chancellor Stresemann even more troublesome was that Britain and France announced at the end of June 1929 that they would stop receiving all German reparations except coal from 1930, and at the same time demanded that Germany pay the remainder in cash, otherwise the Entente Reparations Commission would directly deduct it from Germany's sterling reserves deposited in the Bank of England!

Probably dismayed by this news, Gustav Gustav, who had led the coalition government since 1924. Stresemann actually had a heart attack on October 3, 29 and died.

And lost Gustav. The German political arena of Stresemann, a statesman, began to fall into turmoil. From October 3, 1929 to the beginning of 1931, Germany held two general elections. Marx, Herman. Müller and Heinrich. Brüning served as prime minister (both very unstable coalition governments). But in the face of a worsening situation -- just in Gustav. The month of Stresemann's death, the Wall Street stock market suddenly crashed, and a worldwide economic depression ensued – no matter who came to power, it didn't help.

By January 1931, Heinrich. Brüning's inability to address the growing problems of unemployment and recession was met with a no-confidence motion by a coalition of Nazis, the Bolsheviks and the SPD. Having failed to pass the vote on the no-confidence motion, Brüning had to ask President Hindenburg to order the dissolution of parliament and the holding of general elections.

"Kurt, there won't be 1918." Hersman laughed. He's actually in a good mood, because the German economy is doing badly at the moment. But I don't know how much stronger than the historical 1931. By the end of 1930, the number of unemployed had not exceeded 2.5 million. The value of industrial production is supported by orders from the Soviet Union, Japan, and Italy. It is only about 22% lower than the most prosperous period of 1928. Moreover, the original base is much higher than it was historically.

However, among the capitalist countries of Europe, there are countries that have fared better than Germany.

Hersmann smiled: "The German people now have a better choice, Italy is a good example, our Baltic Republic is also very good, even Poland is okay." ”

The three countries he spoke of were all so-called "fascist states". The Baltic Republic since the date of its formation. The Baltic German National Party, which pursued National Socialism, was ruled by one party, and thanks to Soviet-German cooperation, the country's economy continued to grow. Even in the face of the Great Depression, it was able to sustain a sluggish growth rate by relying on government investment and acting as a trade window for the Soviet Union.

In May 1926, there was also a "fascist coup" in Poland, and Pilsudski, the father of the Polish nation who had been in the field for three years, came to power and established a not very dictatorial dictatorship. Saved Poland from economic chaos, hyperinflation, and social unrest. Even during the Great Depression. Poland's economy can also barely survive, much better than the economic powers of Britain, the United States, France and Germany.

"Yes, we should have a Mussolini or Pilsudski," Schleicher said with some emotion and some helplessness. "Then Germany wouldn't be as sluggish as it is now...... Ludwig, do you really think it is necessary to hand over power after the election results? ”

Hersman smiled bitterly: "Kurt, you know this better than me...... Germany is not Russia, we have democratic and socialist traditions, and the people are more difficult to serve. If we Germans had the same capacity as the Russians, the disaster of 1918 would not have happened at all! ”

"Yes, we have nearly 70 million excellent people, they are rigorous, hardworking, brave, and very intelligent, they just can't suffer like animals."

"So when we've done what we need to do, we should get out in time," Hersmann said, "and there is a need for a peace-loving chancellor to lead Germany internationally, and it's not appropriate for us generals to stay on the table all the time...... At least not yet! ”

"Peace-loving?" Kurt. Feng. Schleicher sneered a few times, "Hitler? He was hell-bent on starting a world war...... That's not what the book "Mein Kampf" says? ”

"But the British, the Americans and the French won't believe it, because their politicians talk the same nonsense when they campaign." As Hersman spoke, his Mercedes sedan had stopped steadily in the imposing garden of the presidential palace.

The two lieutenants of President Hindenburg, Colonel Schulenburg and Oskar. Feng. Colonel Hindenburg stood in the doorway of the main building of the residence. Seeing Hersmann and Schleicher, he hurriedly stepped forward and gave a military salute first. Then Colonel Hindenburg (the president's son) said: "Kurt, Ludwig, my father and Colonel Ludendorff are waiting for you...... However, they were still a little hesitant, after all, the appointment was not appropriate. ”

"What's wrong?" Hersman smiled, "Admiral Seckert is a member of Congress, not an active military man, and it is completely constitutional for him to be the caretaker prime minister." ”

"But there are also too many officers in the cabinet," said Colonel Hindenburg, as he walked toward the president's office, as he said the reason for the president's hesitation. "In addition to Admiral Seckert, there were Admiral Huttier, Admiral Granau, Admiral Hipper, Rear Admiral Forbeck, Colonel Hersmann (Hesmann's father) and Lieutenant General Schleicher......"

It turned out that Hersmann, Schleicher and others conspired to create a cabinet of generals. The Prime Minister was the former Chief of the General Staff, von Von. Admiral Seckert, the ministers are either retired generals or retired colonels.

Although it was only a temporary caretaker cabinet, the members of the honorary officer corps were still a little dazzling to look at.

Colonel Hindenburg looked at Schleicher again, "Kurt, you're an active soldier." ”

"There's nothing wrong with an active-duty soldier being secretary of defense," Hersman said at once, "Oscar, we have to tell the outside world that this is a cabinet ready for war...... Only then will we be able to revert to compulsory military service. ”

According to the plan negotiated by high-ranking figures of the Wehrmacht, Schleicher and Hamstein-Eckert, the plan to launch a decisive expansion plan is prepared to take advantage of the fact that France is controlled by weak left-Pai politicians (the current prime minister is Reival) and is in the midst of an economic crisis. The German Wehrmacht was reorganized into the Wehrmacht, the number of the army was increased from the current 230,000 to 800,000, and the Wehrmacht Air Force was to be formed.

And this expansion plan also means that a large number of officers and non-commissioned officers who have been stuck in the middle and lower ranks for many years can be promoted. The size of the officer corps will also be expanded from 8,000 to 24,000 in one fell swoop. That's a triple increase! In addition, many new high-ranking positions such as army commanders, division commanders, and brigade commanders will be added. This is a rare opportunity to buy people's hearts and promote cronies.

Whoever presides over this expansion will be able to establish a force with itself as the core, so Hirschman will not give this opportunity to Adolf under any circumstances. Hitler, the demon king!

And not only did he not give the gun to Hitler, but he also intended to package Hitler as a dove of peace that everyone loved...... In fact, Hitler is very good at pretending and should be able to play this role well. (To be continued.) )