The Rise of the Third Reich

Hersmann is now sitting in a quite spacious and clean office in Breslau Prison. He is not alone, but also Albert and Olga. They came all the way from Berlin in order to persuade the leader of the Spartacist League, Karl Liebknecht, to adopt a cooperative attitude in Germany's most difficult moment.

"Lieutenant Colonel, do you think it's possible for us to have a decent peace?"

Liebknecht and Luxemburg had not yet arrived, and the warden of the prison went to pick them up in person. Albert and Herschman talked about "a decent peace."

"Mr. Congressman," Hessman glanced at Albert, "What do you think is a decent peace?"

Albert chuckled and did not answer, but asked: "What about you? What does decent peace look like in your mind?"

"It is possible to withdraw from Belgium, but keep Alsace and Lorraine. Germany must merge Austria, the Czech Republic and Western Galicia after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In addition, there must be a Germanized Baltic United Principality."

The "decent peace" in Hersmann's mind is roughly the Greater Germany's territory in Hitler's mind - it is also the ideal of the territory of the motherland in the minds of most Germans.

"It's very ideal, but it's impossible." Albert shook his head repeatedly.

"This is possible!" Hessman paused, and then said in a very regretful tone, "Germany's main problem is not on the battlefield, but internally... The people in the rear can no longer endure the consequences of the war. Pain, start fantasizing about pain-free peace! In fact, you and I both know that this kind of peace is impossible to achieve. If we can show one third of Lenin's determination and cruelty, then Germany will be able to persist. Compatriots in Upper Austria, the Czech Republic and Western Galicia, we have a population of over 80 million. Even if we suffer another 3 million casualties, it will not be fatal to the entire nation. If we can consolidate the rear, we can take decisive measures on the western front. In the current war situation, the side holding the position has a huge advantage. If we pay another 3 million people, then the United Kingdom, the United States and France will have to pay at least 5 million people!"

Albert nodded, looked at Hessmann again, and smiled noncommittally. He looked like a kind uncle, but seemed a little slow to react. The appearance of Kerensky was exactly the opposite of what Hershman had seen in Petrograd. But Hessman knew that if the two people who came in later thought that Albert was a harmless uncle, they would definitely die miserably!

At this time, a sound of leather boots hitting the floor came from outside, and then I saw a major in his forties or fifties, and a man who looked about the same age as Albert, with a more pleasing appearance, wearing small round glasses, which made him look The gentle man walked in side by side. Behind them was a woman, an aunt with small eyes and a hooked nose, wearing a gray dress that didn't quite fit.

They must be Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg! Hessmann thought to himself: If they were willing to cooperate a little more, Germany might still be able to have a more decent peace...

The German major gave Albert a military salute, then turned around and left, closing the door. Now, there are five people in the office of the University of Nottingham, including Albert, Hessmann, Ogalie, Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.

Albert stood up and went to greet the two German revolutionary leaders. They hugged each other and greeted each other like friends who had not seen each other for many years. The future German president then introduced Hersmann to Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.

"This young lieutenant colonel is Ludwig von Hersmann, Lenin's old friend and aide-de-camp to the Chief of General Staff, Field Marshal Hindenburg. I think you two have heard of his name!"

Both German revolutionaries glanced at Hessmann - Lenin had already written to them through secret channels, solemnly recommending Hessmann, believing that if he could get his support, the German revolutionary cause would definitely be successful. Get twice the result with half the effort. But if this person is on the opposite side of the revolution, you must be careful... because he is actually one of the main leaders of the Russian August Revolution! He knew all the tricks of the Bolsheviks!

But looking at his rank of lieutenant colonel, the Blue Max Medal, and his status as adjutant to Field Marshal Hindenburg... this is obviously the most proud German Junker officer. The chances of him siding with the revolution seemed almost nil.

Albert looked back at Hersman: "Lieutenant Colonel, it's your turn."

Hessmann nodded politely to Albert, then stood up, pointed at Olga and said to the two revolutionaries: "She is the Grand Duchess Olga Nikolayevna, the former Tsar Nicholas Daughter of the Second World. I think you know how she arrived in Germany?"

The newspaper said he was captured by the Germans...but that's definitely not true!

At this time, Hessmann took out another photo - it was a photo of the Tsar and Olga, and handed it to Liebknecht, "Mr. Liebknecht, this is the photo taken by His Majesty the Tsar when he was under house arrest in the Alexandria Palace. The photo taken...Tsar, you should recognize it, right?"

Liebknecht looked at the Tsar and the Grand Duchess in the photo, then looked at the Oli family in front of him, nodded, and gave the photo to Rosa Luxemburg. Then asked Olga: "Did Lenin let you go?"

Olga shook her head, "I only know that our family was put on a train and transported all the way from Yekaterinburg to near Petrograd. Then we got off the train and were handed over to Lieutenant Colonel Hersman."

"They are a guarantee!" added Hersmann, "a guarantee that the Bolsheviks will faithfully fulfill the secret agreement and will not support the revolution in Germany!"

"Secret agreement?" Liebknecht stared at Hersmann with bright eyes. Lenin did not mention this in his letter!

Hessman said word by word: "600 tons of gold were handed over at one time, and there were also a large amount of coal and agricultural products. We were able to launch several major offensives on the Western Front just because we obtained Russian materials... This is the Russian Revolution The price of success!”

Albert added in a very solemn tone: "And we have to add Poland, Finland, Courland, Livland, Livonia, Estonia and Lithuania... and of course, there is a brutal civil war!"

He took Lenin's autographed letter from Chloe and gave it to Liebknecht, "This is Comrade Lenin's letter. He hopes that you will not contribute to the collapse of the German Empire, because once Germany surrenders, the Allies will Go all out to strangle the Russian Revolution!"

"Surrender?" Karl Liebknecht said in a mocking tone, "You call an immediate armistice surrender?"

"No," Albert said, "It is not as easy to achieve an immediate armistice as you think, otherwise we would have ceased the war long ago... The Allies have raised the price and asked us to surrender unconditionally!"

"Would you agree?" Karl Liebknecht asked.

"Yes!" Albert nodded seriously, "If you are unwilling to cooperate with us and face the difficulties before us, then we can only surrender...unconditionally! Then we will accept the harsh conditions proposed by the enemy. Cede Alsace and Lorraine and pay tens of billions of gold marks."

"This is traitorous!" Karl Liebknecht shouted loudly. "The German working class will not agree!"

Albert shrugged, "I originally thought so, but what happened in Russia made me understand something." He looked at Karl Liebknecht and said seriously, "If you are allowed to go on stage, you will be the same We must accept any conditions from the enemy, and then launch a civil war that will eliminate us, the German army, the nobility, and the bourgeoisie, and kill us all! In this case, why don’t we, the Social Democrats, betray our country ourselves?”

Rather than you betraying the country, it is better for me to betray the country!

"Albert looks stupid, but he is a smart man... No! He is saying these things in front of me!" Hessman followed Lenin and saw the storms, and he became more thoughtful. Albert said these words in front of him, which shows that... the Social Democratic Party has reached a consensus with the Grand General Staff on the issue of betrayal and suppression of the revolution!

It seems that the Second German Reich is finished!