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I love the feeling that pervades this AAR:"Germany over all, but Hitler,...we might have made a mistake with that one." very RL, I think.
 
I love the feeling that pervades this AAR:"Germany over all, but Hitler,...we might have made a mistake with that one." very RL, I think.

Very true. I also suspect you can put in numerous nation/leader pairs in there and have the same sentiment!
 
Very true. I also suspect you can put in numerous nation/leader pairs in there and have the same sentiment!

I love the feeling that pervades this AAR:"Germany over all, but Hitler,...we might have made a mistake with that one." very RL, I think.

Both very true comments and much appreicated. I'm trying to portary Hitler a little bit more..."crazy" in the sense of seeing stuff that isn't there. Somewhat similiar to how Stalin intially reacted to news that Hitler had betrayed him. However, I doubt that Hitler would have ever overcome such a betrayal. Thus he's seeing divisions that aren't really there. Hitler has also been marginalized in the sense that, his standfast orders did not save Germany, but rather the generals intervened and ordered retreats. This is even more evident with the appointment of Guderian and Ringel.
 
I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving weekend (if in the US), if outside of the US, hope you had a great past few days. The continuation of the story shall commence within the next few days.
 
What is the relative balance of power on each front?
 
Just caught up and I have to say I really like your narrative. :)
 
Ditto. I'm subscribing
 
Ditto. I'm subscribing

Just caught up and I have to say I really like your narrative. :)

Thanks guys. I've read a few books that adopted this style of writing for the narrative and I'm adapting it to writing about Tristan. The books I read are "War" (Sebastian Junger), "Storm of Steel" (Ernest Junger), "The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell" (John Crawford) and "The Forever War" (Dexter Filkins).

Congratulations, Teckor! you're the new WritAAR of the Week

Thanks!
 
Have you played the game much further forward? It seems to be quite fast paced
 
Have you played the game much further forward? It seems to be quite fast paced

I have played a bit further [not going to say when really], but I am going to be "slowing" down the action a bit.
 
Alptraum (Nightmare)
An Alternative History Affair
By TekcoR

The Spark


“Heil Hitler!” I exclaimed with great vigor to my fellow general, the unforgettable Oberst-Gruppenführer (Colonel General) Paul Hausser, who would be my host during the train ride from Berlin to the Western Front. While in Berlin, I had sought to meet with forces heading to France to deal with the Allied invasion, most notably within the Spanish subsection. I knew the 1. SS Panzerarmee was a fierce fighting formation, but I wanted to get to know the men. I expect these men to treat me just like another general, but with more disrespect. To them I am a desk jockey within the enormous bureaucracy of the Third Reich. I am not Waffen SS, I am Wehrmacht, which might earn more disrespect amongst the men. We had competed. Or that’s what I was told. Himmler often berated our office with our indifference between we displayed about reinforcing divisions. Himmler is an idiot, a nobody. Without Hitler there is no Himmler.

Luckily, the self-server Himmler is no longer of my concern. I am no longer the Chief of Staff for the Reserve Army. With my appointment to Major General, I have found myself assigned a new task. There was no reluctance in accepting this new task, well except for the fact that I would gain additional access to the self-loathing and miserable Hitler. I dislike Hitler. There was a time I did not. There was a time Hitler was what we thought was great for Germany, but that time has passed. Germany is passing. We are only delaying the inevitable. I knew it, Guderian knew it. Ringel knew it. We all fucking know it yet we fight. I do not fight because I fear the ‘friendly’ oppressor, but I fear the color red. This view is dominant within a circle I have been a part of.

The common soldier knows this. This game has become all or nothing. Those like myself who witnessed the First World War, do not want to see our beloved land fall to revolution. Thus we will fight to the end. Hitler berates the generals constantly about this, or so I am told by Guderian. However I do not doubt Heinz. Hitler has lost touch with what the front is like. When was the last time he witnessed the devastating effect of artillery? When was the last time the great leader not getting enough to satisfy his hunger? I can answer those questions. It has been since at least the First World War. Fuck the Fuhrer.

The Fuhrer was the problem, there is no doubt within our minds, but the problem is removing him. We have tried to draw up solutions, but none of us seem to have the nerve to pull the trigger so to speak. How do we get rid of Hitler? A trial has been suggested, but the reality is that will never work. We debate this topic endlessly every time we gather, but it is hopeless in my opinion. We have been granted a blessing though. An ambitious man had risen to my attention, who willingly sought to destroy Hitler. A man who felt as compassionate but with more resolve than the rest of us to have Hitler removed.

Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg would become new Chief of Staff of the Reserve Army to General Fromm. I have confidence in the Colonel, but I also am afraid at the same time. He insists that a bomb within the bunker of the Fuhrer is the best solution, as most of the loyal generals of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht will be at Hitler’s side. I oppose this plan on one ground. I may be at the very meeting that Stauffenberg sneaks explosives in. I am willing to give my life to Germany, but not in this way.

I cannot begin imagine a world without Hitler, it seems it has been that long. I can’t let my thoughts reveal me at this time. This train ride will be dangerous. I am surrounded by SS men. I am a Wehrmacht man. I am looking to commit treason against the Third Reich. They are looking to defend her at all costs. What have I gotten myself into?

“Herr Schnack,” a deep voice said that startled me from my thought. I looked up, distraught by the fact that I thought my ruse was up.

I collected myself for a moment. “Yes, Oberst…”


 
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Stauffenberg comes in. Excellent.
 
I like!
 
Stauffenberg comes in. Excellent.

This alternative Stauffenberg is the same as the real life one; the major difference is he was not wounded in North Africa. He never went to North Africa because of the situation in April 1942. He will be fun to play with =)
 
Without N. Africa his feeling of being needed, to be the one called by Providence to get rid of Hitler, may take a bit of time to surface. It was already there, but the near-death experience speeded the process.
 
I think this reality got plenty of occasion of near death experience too :p
 
I can't wait for the next update! by far the best narrative in a very long time!
 
I can't wait for the next update! by far the best narrative in a very long time!

Thanks. I aim to please and am glad that people are happy with the narrative. It very much is a narrative and is adapting more so every time I continue to write about it. I mentioned earlier that I took inspiration from a series of books and continue to do so. As we indulge deeper into the story, there will be more intense moments. As some can see expletives have been included and will continue to do so. I do apologize if people are offended, but to misquote Sherman: "War is hell." War brings out the best in people and the worst in people - expletives will be included.

Without N. Africa his feeling of being needed, to be the one called by Providence to get rid of Hitler, may take a bit of time to surface. It was already there, but the near-death experience speeded the process.

I think this reality got plenty of occasion of near death experience too :p

I agree Kurt, however I think General_Hoth hit the nail here. There have been plenty of occasion for near death experiences, most of them have been through the eyes of Tristan so far. However, I will try to make a mental note to include more background of the conspiracy for Hitler. I have some ideas for the conspiracy and it will be different than your typical bomb plot - though a bomb may be used (I'm not ruling out out) it will not be the primary means of assassination.
 
Alptraum (Nightmare)
An Alternative History Affair
By TekcoR

The Wheels are in Motion


“Yes, Oberst-Gruppenführer Hausser,” I said as I turned my head and looked into a man who’s eyes had seen death. He had dealt death. He was a loyalist to both Hitler and Himmler. I highly believe he would be opposition, but for now I must learn from him. I must learn the methods of the Waffen SS if we are to liberate Germany.

With his notorious eye patch giving me the creeps, “Papa” as he was affectionately known began to speak. “Herr Schnack,” he politely said, which somewhat eased my nerves. “Your name precedes you, your grandfather, father and brothers have served the Reich well. It is only customary then for you to be able to assist Germany in one of her greatest times.”

Hausser graced himself past my legs and sat to my right. We had begun our departure from Berlin say about five minutes ago. I had fears of being on a train loaded with troops and high priority targets like our panzers. Yes, I had braved being shot at before while being driven around by my nephew Rhiley. We had survived several close encounters – never being fired at but witnessed on several occasions’ Allied fighters looking for possible targets. “Do you have any children?”

I smiled. This conversation I think could have gone two ways, either negative or positive. I’m glad it went positive. “Yes, I do. I have a three of them in fact. My eldest son, Philipp currently garrisons the city of Copenhagen. My youngest son has also been spared the wrath of the Allies and currently assists with the defense Berlin. Lastly, I have a very precious daughter has I have last heard is pregnant. I am to be a grandfather. I can only hope that I survive the war to at least see my grandchild at least once.” I had struck a tear to Papa’s eyes. I had never known a Waffen SS man to cry. I had only heard rumors that even the elite of the elite cry out for their mother after being severely wounded.

This conversation is really intriguing. It brings hope to me. I truly do miss my family. It lifts my spirits knowing that deep down there is still a man out there besides me that truly cares about the German family. My eyes catch the attention as we leave the last district in Berlin. Berlin is a city that has been destroyed. Only a few rooftops of the city have been spared from complete damage. We have been subjected to at least a dozen “one thousand bomber” raids by both the Americans during the day and British at night within the last month. I had spent two nights within the Fuhrer bunker and I could hear the dreaded humming of their engines and whistling as the bombs descended onto the city. I have awoken several times to nightmares of air planes. If I were to choose between being death by artillery or aerial bombardment, I would choose artillery.


One of the many streets of Berlin left in ruin from Allied bombing.​

I hesitated a moment before thinking through the question I was about to ask. “General,” I began politely.

“Call me Paul or Papa,” he said with a beautiful smile. “Not many are allowed to call me this to my face, but I like you Tristan.”

Amazing to say the least, in fact I felt a bit overwhelmed. “Yes, Pa…, Paul,” I said deciding to go with his first name only because he had called me by my first. He could have called me by mine, but I don’t think I really have one that anybody has told me about. I guess you could call me Tristan “the Traitor” Schnack, but, that wasn’t a nickname most would want to get out. “Do you have nightmares at night?”

He reached an arm out to my nearest shoulder. “Tristan, we all have nightmares. I am worried about men. I am worried about the future of the Fatherland. I am worried about my family. Only after those worries are satisfied do I tend to look after myself. It is my mission to protect Germany, regardless of leader. I have served three masters, I am a soldier, I will follow orders.”

His emphasis on leader, being a soldier and following orders intrigued me. Was Herr General, the father of the Waffen SS, perhaps willing to follow orders if Hitler and the National Socialist regime overthrown? I highly doubt it. I am half tempted to just ask Hausser what he would do. How would he react? If it’s a negative reaction, I know I am dead. I am on a train of Waffen SS. If the reaction is positive, we are still on a train of Waffen SS men, what if the men do not support their general’s decisions?

Papa had noted my silence but did not speak up for a good thirty seconds. “Tristan, what are your nightmares?”

Thank god. “I too fear for my family, for Germany. I also fear that Hitler may not live through the war – either through his own actions or the actions of men around him. I have heard of rumors of conspiracies against our Fuhrer, but I do not believe them. Who would want to depose of the man that has brought Germany back from the brink? Yes, our situation is not the best at this moment. But I have confidence that the Fuhrer can deliver us again.” I hoped that was with enough confidence. I know most of it was a lie. I have been accustomed to lying. If I am going to suffer eternal damnation for it, I hope that my Creator realizes that my lies were for the betterment of Germany.

Hausser looked at me with his remaining eye. I always thought somebody staring at you with both eyes was just frightful. I was wrong. Just one functioning eye is more of a nightmare than two! “Go on,” he said. I knew I had Papa reeled in.

I smiled, wishing to further explore how much deeper the situation could evolve into. “What if I told you I knew of a plot to assassinate the Fuhrer?”



 
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