January 2nd, 1936. 8:00 AM Athens time
Alexandros I of Greece climbed up the steps of the refurbished Topkapi of Constantinople and smiled. He was alone, for a moment, and there was time for him to think his own thoughts, and daydream a dream of his own that did not involve his people or the government. His head still throbbed slightly - he'd had too much wine at the New Year's Day Ball the night before, just like he'd had too much wine at the New Year's Eve Ball the night before that. But no matter - he knew his stewards would have cups of fresh coffee waiting for him and his Cabinet in the Green Room.
The Palace was, like in its ancient Byzantine and Ottoman days, a maze. The Green Room was located near the top of one of the many galleries, its walls painted a soothing evergreen, its carpet and furniture reflecting the decor. Since 1926, it had been the formal meeting place of the Cabinet for the Greek Empire.
Finally Alexandros reached the top of the stairs, and turned left, down a richly carpeted and decorated hallway. Two members of the Imperial Guard raised their swords in salute as he passed, and finally he reached the room itself. Everyone was already present - being late was a luxury only the Emperor was allowed.
Almost all that Alexandros wanted to see were present. Firstly there were two of the three Regents who ruled "Greek Dominions" in his name - Boris, Regent of Bulgaria and Zog, Regent of Albania. Boris was the son of the first and only Tsar of Bulgaria - he'd proven amazingly pliant and willingly to do as the Greeks bid so long as he kept his position as Regent. Zog was a nothing who'd been raised up by Alexandros himself. The two were adventurers in their hearts, and had forged a palatable friendship. The only Regent not present was Inonu, of the Turks. He was in Ankyra, celebrating Ramadan with his people. Alexandros had telegrammed him with good wishes.
Then there was the Greek Cabinet itself. Konstantinos Demertzis, the Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas, Foreign Minister, Nikolaios Plastiras, Minister of Armaments, Georgios Logothetis, Security and Intelligence, as well as the Ministers for the Army, Navy, and the Air Force.
Alexandros strode into the room, and with a forbidding boom the great doors closed behind him. The Emperor took his seat at the head of the ornate conference table, glanced for a second at the papers set before him, and the looked up with a smile.
"I trust everyone had a enjoyable New Years celebration?"
There were nods and murmurs of agreement.
"Good. Now we get back to business, so let's begin. The army is the oldest, so let's have it present first," Alexandros said, still smiling from the party.
General Alexandros Papagos, Minister for the Army was a tall, slim man, quiet in both demeanor and speech. His face perpetually looked worn and haggard, and he had somewhat of a reputation as a worrier. The Emperor did not mind - sorting through the concerns of a man like Papagos often yielded problems that more confident leaders might ignore.
"Majesty," Papagos nodded. Since the 1934 election, no one even bothered addressing the Prime Minister first. "I come to you today gravely concerned about the state of our Imperial Army."
"Not again," the Navy Chief, Sakellariou groaned.
"We stand clearly as the strongest army in the region outside of Italy," Alexandros said, leaning forward. "We also can call on the divisions of the Regencies of Turkey and Bulgaria at any time. What are your concerns that outweigh these?"
"We are the strongest in numbers, true. We ourselves field some 25 infantry divisions, 3 cavalry divisions, 1 light tank division, and 1 divisional scale headquarters for the Imperial Army."
The Regent of Bulgaria then spoke up. "We can add 60,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry to that total."
"And Inonu's Turkey fields 9 infantry divisions, one mountain division and 3 cavalry divisions," Papagos finished. Papagos turned and glared at Zog, whose face reddened slightly.
"Albania can add three divisions to Your Majesty's imperial armies," he said quietly.
"Militia divisions, Majesty," Papagos clarified, and it was apparent why Zog's face turned a shade of scarlet. Zog looked away slightly, while Papagos continued onwards.
"On paper, this means that Your Majesty has at His command some 44 divisions of infantry of various kinds, 8 divisions of cavalry, 1 of tanks, and 1 headquarters. Yet these numbers do not tell the whole truth - for of our divisions, close to half of the Greek divisions, and most of the Turkish and Bulgarian divisions are ill-equipped. Rifles that saw service in the Great War. Armored cars that did the same. Artillery that still has stamps in French noting they are 75mm. In a modern war, I fear these troops may be wholly inadequate."
"And what of our neighbors?" Alexandros turned to the pudgy Georgios Logothetis, Chief of Intelligence, as well as Minister of Security. The man had graduated with distinction from Athens Polytechnical Institute, was highly intelligent and vicious to the core - and above all, wholly dedicated to Alexandros.
Logothetis carefully pushed his glasses up his nose - the altogether academic look unbecoming the ruthless man who had unearthed scandalous information and had files on everyone present save the Emperor himself.
"From my sources, it is apparent that Italy faces similar problems to us, and the Soviet Union is even further behind. My sources indicate the Italians specifically field the following:"
"Only 2 fighter squadrons and 2 bomber squadrons?" Alexandros laid the sheet down. "Somehow I find that a nation as large and belligerent as Italy would only field an air force of four squadrons. It doesn't suitably compensate for Mussolini's inadequate size."
The room broke into laughter, and Alexandros smiled. Cabinet meetings could be tense - it was always good to have a bit of relaxation in their midst to keep everyone's minds fresh. After a short amount of time, Alexandros raised his hand, and the guffaws stopped. "In all seriousness, Georgios, those numbers seem inadequate."
Logothetis smiled. "Of course the reports are incomplete, Majesty, but they can serve to paint a broad picture. Personally, I would add at least ten divisions and an additional six squadrons to those numbers."
Alexandros smiled and nodded. Georgios was good about admitting the limits of his prodigious capabilities, something that was useful in a spymaster.
"Now, as for the Soviets:"
"Once again," Georgios cleared his throat, before pointing at the requisite points on the papers, "I would add about fifteen divisions to the Soviet numbers, and I know for a fact they have another battleship. But nonetheless, in numbers, that is a rough estimate of where we stand relative to them. Indications are that both Italy and the Soviets are fielding troops with roughly the same level of equipment as ours - the Italians having slightly more modern divisions than the Soviets."
"Hmm. Papagos, what would you recommend to solve this problem?"
"Majesty, we need an immediate crash program of modernization," the General said gravely. "With proper support, I could have the army re-equipped within the year, and the soldiers could have trained with their new equipment within six to eight months after that."
"That would require a heavy investment of the economy!" Demertzis moaned. "We are still recovering from the Depression of 1930!"
"It could jump start the economy," offered Nikolaios Plastiras. "Vast new orders for military equipment could prop up the manufacturing industry. I know several armaments makers in Constantinople and Athens that could have huge gains in their production from such orders."
Alexandros thought for a second. "Very well. We'll think on this. Before I commit to anything, I would like to hear from everyone else first. So next I'd like to go to the Navy."
Alexandros nodded to the Navy Chief, Andreas Sakellariou. Sakellariou was a genteel, elderly man who still bore the handle-bar mustache that died in popularity with Alexandros' father some fifteen years before. He still wore his old uniform as an admiral in the Hellenic Navy, despite the fact he'd retired some ten years before.
"Majesty," he coughed, his voice rough and booming, "to be honest I have some concerns with the state of our Imperial Navy."
"Oh?" Alexandros steepled his fingers. He fully expected every armed service to have concerns about the state of their forces. If they weren't concerned, the Emperor would have administered a tongue-lashing on overconfidence.
"We have a powerful surface fleet, Majesty," Sakellariou handed the Emperor several papers detailing the strength and disposition of the force. "We have 7 capital ships, 8 heavy cruisers, 10 light cruisers, and 14 destroyer squadrons..."
"A squadron being?" Alexandros flipped through the documents, eyeing every piece of detail, committing it to memory.
"3 ships, Majesty," Sakellariou clarified. "I am concerned, however, about our relationship to the
Reggia Marina, however. Their battleline has 8 battleships, while ours has only 3 battleships and 4 battlecruisers. Our only saving grace is the Italians must also watch for the French and the British - but I am concerned about what might happen should the French and British decline involvement in a conflict between us."
"Pah!" Alexandros heard the Foreign Minister, Ioannis Metaxas spit. Alexandros kept his eyes on the Navy Chief, a sign he should continue.
"As you know, our total capital tonnage allowed by the Washington Treaty is 225,000 tons," Sakellariou said. "I sincerely think we should look at new capital ship construction. While granted,
Marathon, Platea, and
salamis were too outdated to make much of a difference, their retirement means that we now have one less capital ship, and more importantly, less throw-weight than the Italian Fleet."
"Treaty stipulations state we can only have 225,000 tons
for a reason, Andreas!" Eleftherios Venizelos, ex-Prime Minister and now Minister of the Air Force, coughed and snarled. "We are already technically above the Treaty limit by some 8,000 tons. What will the other Great Powers think if we abrogate the Treaty and begin new capital ship construction?"
"The moratorium expired four years ago, Eleftherios," Metaxas coolly replied.
"The army needs these resources Majesty!" Papagos shouted! "Look at your reports! We have divisions that have not had new equipment in a decade!"
"The
Italians have already begun looking at new battleship designs, as have the Soviets!" Sakellariou complained. "Eleftherios wants all resources to go to his pretty little air force! And how will an Italian army reach Greek soil? Its the fleet that keeps the Hellenes free!"
The verbal sparring came to an abrupt halt when Alexandros cleared his throat.
"Well," the Emperor muttered, "it seems we have a slight problem here." He looked at the numbers and figures again, before making up his mind. "It appears that we
do need some new capital ships, yet as Eleftherios pointed out, a Treaty is still in effect. Yet nothing says that we cannot examine new designs - Andreas, have your people draw up some plans, so if -if- we need to engage in a crash program we can."
Andreas smiled happily and leaned back in his seat, glaring at Venizelos in victory. Papagos leaned back as well, satisfied that, for the moment, precious industry would not be taken from his modernization scheme.
"Though Eleftherios, I want to hear from you on how the air force is coming along."
By far the newest of the Imperial armed services and the most untested, the Imperial Hellenic Airforce was the personal pet project of Venizelos during his days as Prime Minister in the 1920s, and even now he remained deeply committed to its existence. Like old, Venizelos rumbled slightly before he spoke, then an eruption of words came tumbling from his mouth.
"Majesty, it is a
travesty that the air arm has suffered such neglect!" His moustache quivered. "Our P.1 interceptor designs date from my days as Prime Minister, and our bomber and naval attack aircraft are only slightly newer! If Sakellariou wants an effective Navy, he should want more money to go to the Naval Air arm, instead of sinking money in battleships!" Venizelos' finger was up and pointing towards the Navy Chief. "A battleship can fire its cannons 40 km, one of my bombers can put a bomb the same weight as that shell on a target
500 km away!"
"A battleship is far better armored and more accurate than your piddling little plane!" Sakellariou shot back.
"Hack!" Metaxas offered his own opinion of Venizelos.
Alexandros resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Venizelos still acted imperiously many times, as if he were still Prime Minister, and it was clear the other members of the Cabinet resented it.
"At the very least, Majesty, we should look into the potential of aircraft carrying vessels?" Venizelos offered. "Some of the things the Japanese have done with their fleet have been quite impressive, Majesty. Carriers are cheaper and more powerful than battleships..."
"Hogwash!" Sakellariou snapped. Before the words could become too sharp, Alexandros intervened again.
"Eleftherios," Alexandros sighed, "we do not have all the resources in the world. It is true, a fleet of one thousand planes could likely decimate targets, but we would have no resources left for an army at that point, and a navy worth its weight in paper. However, I will request that Sakellariou and the Navy Staff
consider the idea of an aircraft carrying vessel. I am not so sure of their scout value in the confined waters of the Aegean, Adriatic and Ionian Seas, but perhaps some use could come of it. Also, I'm going to instruct several of our more eminent theorists and researchers to come up with some more designs to replace the aged aircraft." Alexandros raised an eyebrow, and Venizelos relaxed slightly.
"Now that the military is done, Konstantinos, we can look at the economy itself. How are we doing?"
The Prime Minister, for the first time in the whole meeting, took the floor. "We are recovering well, Majesty. In terms of raw resource production, we have recovered from the economic crash far more quickly than some other European countries such as France. The Epirus Mining Conglomerate, as well as mining concerns in Trebizond and Adana that opened mines at Your Majesty's urging and with grants from This Government are paying large dividends. Our largest shortfall remains in the field of oil production, and I am confident that with some special trading arrangements, we can overcome this as well."
"My largest concern, however, is with the economic focus that will be needed to accomplish these military goals Your Majesty has under consideration," Demertzis continued. "Bringing all of our land divisions to strength and upgrading their equipment will detract a significant portion of our economic output for the next year at least. It might be possible to reduce consumer goods through grants and outright coercion to a degree to compensate, but I fear a great deal of our productive capacity will be tied up in these upgrades. No doubt the average Hellene will not like losing some of their luxury goods, even if they understand it is for the national benefit."
Alexandros nodded. "I understand that. However, I want you to make some economic miracles happen for me. Cut back consumer production a bit, but not so much as to incur dissent, and focus our economy, for now, on rebuilding the army and air force. I fear war might be coming far sooner than we'd like."
Ioannis Metaxas, Foreign Minister and a general in the army, cleared his throat and nodded. He was a short, almost rotund man, that outside of his uniform looked positively grandfatherly. Those disarming looks however hid a cold and calculating mind, someone capable of coming to ruthlessly simple decisions when necessary. As a Foreign Minister, he was average at best - his bluntness tended to turn away the more effete of Europe's diplomatic corps, but it kept him occupied. He, above any other man in Greece, was one that Alexandros feared might marshal support to disturb the current arrangement of power.
"Diplomatic relations with Italy have reached a new all-time low. Only last week in his New Years Address Mussolini delivered a speech declaring Your Majesty a 'usurper of the Roman throne,' despite assurances of all kinds that we make no claim to the Roman mantle and are happy with our current arrangements. He also continues to press claims to Albania, as I am sure Regent Zog can attest."
Zog nodded emphatically. "The man is a short angry freak."
"Nonetheless, he controls Italy," Alexandros prodded Metaxas to continue.
"Yes, sadly he does. The Italians clearly view
us as their primary enemy in any upcoming war, and there's little my office has been able to do about that. The Soviets, our other big concern, seem more worried about Germany than a monarchical Greece on their border. And I'm perfectly fine with that arrangement."
"Were there any more signs of a possible rapproachment between Italy and Germany?" Demertzis asked. Both nations ascribed to fascist principles, and for many it seemed only a matter of time before they fell into each others bosoms.
"Not yet," Metaxas replied. "Mussolini views himself as the founder of fascism in Europe, and still occassionally refers to Hitler as a protege, something the German Fuhrer detests. That issue alone will take some time to iron out."
"What about the West?" Alexandros asked. Greece had always planned in the event of a war with Italy that she would appeal to Great Britain and France for help. Greece had been a strong ally of the two during the Great War, and there'd been a plaintive hope that this would be reciprocated if the time came.
"Great Britain and France are too occupied with their own problems to care much for us," Metaxas said dourly. "They wish us well, but I sincerely doubt they would come to our aid should war break out. So we will be left much to our own devices."
A slight murmur arose around the room, yet Metaxas gave a rather fierce smile. "Nonetheless, Majesty, I have a possible solution to this dilemma. Two in fact - Yugoslavia and Romania!"
"How will they help?"
"Yugoslavia is still very pleased with our gift of the
Marathon and the
Yavuz some ten years ago," Metaxas named the dreadnought and former Turkish battlecruiser that Greece had sold to Yugoslavia to stay under the stipulations of the Washington Treaty. "King Peter and his government are also fearful of Mussolini - the man does not know when to shut up, and he's lodged claims on the Adriatic coast as well - and Romania as always is wary of the Soviets. They do not have our intelligence capacity, and there's a fear the Soviets could lumber over the border any day."
"So we bring them into our fold?" Alexandros asked, a smile coming to his own lips. It was a rather simple solution - binding the entirety of the Balkans into one great alliance. At once it accomplished the Great Power goal of putting an end to the possibility of Balkan wars, and it would give Greece several strong allies - together Yugoslavia and Romania had another 30+ divisions.
"Yes. Yugoslavia will be easy," Metaxas said, "as they know we share their fear of Italy. Romania will prove to be a little more difficult, but I am confident, Majesty, I can bring them into our fold given time and resources."
"Ah. Well, to be sure, I want you to take Eleftherios into any of your plans with Romania," Alexandros said, much to Metaxas' chagrin. "He has extensive connections inside the Romanian government, and he will help you, right Eleftherios?"
Venizelos looked like he'd swallowed something unpleasant, but nodded.
"Ioannis, I like your idea. I
want it to happen. Make it so," Alexandros said simply. He looked around the table. "Is there any more business?"
Silence.
"If not, Boris, Zog, I need you to stay for a moment, and update me on how things are progressing in the Regencies. Boris, I can tell you right now I
can make the state visit to Sofia as planned, and yes Zog, I will make a trip to Tirana this year..."
And thus the first Cabinet meeting of the New Year ended.
