I think I agree with @Specialist290 - the threats to the Kaiserreich are from within, rather than from without.
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Main difference will be: much larger Vaterland, truly nightmarish changes in Britain and moar Realpolitik.
Field Marshal, most importantly, won't let any anarchist rabble to take over France, that he totally did swear it, when he saw the contours of City of Lights once again.
But the best commander of occupation forces would Rupprecht of Bavaria, as devout Catholic soldier and charismatic man of reason.
Kaiser now demands only surrender of British Empire and George V. must sign it while looking to his face, smirking in triumph. No peace with honor. Not only it will be Diktat - it will be only worse in time, terms changed at German will, anytime, in years to come.
Crushing defeat and utter humiliation is just not enough. Italians, as treacherous snakes, will enjoy same treatment, of course.
Chancellor Helfferich, as fusion of technocrat and monarchist in one person, now creates new balance of power here: countries which hates Germany, must be countered by countries very relying on Germany - being the difference between economic growth and total downfall or being the only shield strong enough against Reds...
Shouldn't the Kaiser have a different job for Rupprecht? The man has the Jacobite claim to the English and Scottish thrones after all. Nudge nudge, wink wink?
Wouldn't that be too Kaiserreichy? There are still better options with Saxe-Coburg and Gothas
Wouldn't that be too Kaiserreichy? There are still better options with Saxe-Coburg and Gothas
House Wittelsbach will gain one more Kingdom already (to stop some silly people calling Rupprecht's father Ludwig an overly loyal Prussian dog). House Hohenzollern will gain only one more as well. Small House Leiningen will gain Elsass-Lothringen as compromise (no longer imperial territory under Prussian control).
In any case, George V.'s reign ended. His son may, perhaps, rule one day - if he won't make troubles - then Germany will allow him to take throne. Maybe.
Tee hee
Such bold claims. How will you enforce those, without an army standing in the British isles? Or is there going to be one?
16 L20s!!?
At the same time!
While still building transports,destroyers and Subs?
The German Shipyards must be the busiest place in the world right now.
At the same time!
While still building transports,destroyers and Subs?
The German Shipyards must be the busiest place in the world right now.
From "The Regenerated Ottoman Empire". 1908. Mundji Bey.
There are students of history and political science in Europe, as well as in America, who are inclined to think that a great reform movement, like the one now inaugurated in the Ottoman Empire, cannot be accomplished without bloodshed. Sooner or later, their opinion is, the world will witness the rise of reactionary elements who will induce Sultan Abdul Hamid II. to resume, once more, his detested role of autocracy.
The Middle East, in view of military campaigns in Russia, France or Italy, was rather ignored in the press from start of the war - due to static trench war against mainly the British forces. Now, with war in the Europe virtually over, the attention of the world turned back to Ottoman Empire - winning now even without German help.
They may have reasons for their deduction, but thousands of free-minded and liberal Ottomans, knowing well the internal situation in Turkey, are assured that it is impossible for either the Sultan or his camarilla to suppress the new Constitution, and retrograde to the old reign of despotism.
In order to understand the development of the present situation in the Ottoman Empire, we must go back to the reign of Abdulmejid, the father of our present monarch. The readers will perhaps recollect that, when Sultan Abdulmejid granted the famous charter of 1853, the Ottoman Empire was in a state of utter decay and the independence of the State was in jeopardy.
The so called 'Lawrence of Arabia' tried to instigate a major Arab rebellion against Ottomans, but Turkish forces were able to stop the British in Mesopotamia and Palestine for two years, during which everything was decided - now, it was too late to make a difference. Unable to finally take Jerusalem, the arrival of German divisions sealed the fate of British army in the Middle East. And Germans had no intention to let British simply return to Suez - the Cairo and Alexandria had to fall.
This saved Turkey from dismemberment and partition, and renewed our friendly relations with Great Britain and Prance. The integrity of the Empire was saved, and it remained on the political map of the world unmolested.
But soon, the Empire's vital forces — her army, her navy and her financial credit abroad — were in a critical condition. The rumblings of revolutionary movements were being heard from all corners of the Empire. The political testament of Sultan Abdulmejid was doomed to become a dead letter. The European Powers, hopeless of the Ottoman independence and regeneration, were eagerly looking forward to the approaching day of our disintegration.
T. E. Lawrence's main adversary, the Czech adventurer, Catholic priest and Austrian officer, Alois Musil. In 1917, he traveled in Mesopotamia and Arabia accompanied by Archduke Hubert Salvator, Prince of Tuscany, to make a secret, thorough record about state of Ottoman Empire - to evaluate it's actual sustainability and worth as a postwar ally. As also a personal confessor of the Empress Zita, his influence in Vienna was considerable. Later in the year, he convinced the Emperor Charles to release many Czech political prisoners and to grant pardon to Czech soldiers in Russia, who joined the Legions and couldn't return home now. This move, of course, enraged the Austrian Germans and combined with actually none gratitude showed from Czech politicians, only worsened the political situation of Dual Monarchy. Austria itself was slowly turning against Habsburgs.
Although our navy was decidedly strong, and the army equally so, the two forces did not prevent Turkey from losing a large part of her territory in 1877, in the war with Russia.
During the reign of next Sultan Abdulaziz, the situation appeared to be encouraging. The press was free, public education was making headway, and our commerce and agriculture progressing. But, unfortunately, the microbe of decay proved more powerful than our statesmen's efforts toward regeneration.
Another interesting part of Turkish campaigns, was the presence of many experimental types of planes and vehicles, used by Germans and Austrians. Trench war there, unlike the fast pace of Eastern or Western Fronts led by the cavalry and armored cars, was ideal to test anything new, without many risks - if the heavily guarded Berlin-Baghdad Railway was used or just as same safe convoys, tightly protected by Austrian cruisers and dreadnoughts.
In consequence of this state of affairs, internal disturbances and revolution in the European provinces, together with a financial crisis, became so menacing that the Cabinet decided to put an end to the rule of Sultan Abdulaziz. He was dethroned in 1876, to the great satisfaction of the Ottoman nation, as well as of Europeans.
Sultan Murad V succeeded his uncle. He was liberal, progressive and generous, but the opportunity was denied him of putting into effect his reform schemes. His opponents proclaimed him insane, and entrusted the throne to his brother, Abdul Hamid, who hastened the country toward final ruin and downfall.
The British, now desperate in their lost struggle against Central Powers, planned retreat to Egypt, worsened by the fact of the Mediterranean under control of Austrians and Ottomans.
The independence of a State means the freedom of the nation. A progressive, liberal and constitutional government, beyond any doubt, is stronger and better than an absolute monarchy, where the will of one man can rule and ruin a country.
The war with Eussia was declared in 1877, and Sultan Abdul Hamid seized the opportunity to abolish the Parliament and do away with all patriots. Some of them were murdered, some imprisoned, and others exiled. They were men of enlightenment and ability, and the Ottoman nation will always mourn the loss of its best sons, the fathers of our liberty.
The marvelous abilities of the British to gather intelligence, to plan false flag operations and instigate revolts in enemy territory, finally produced inevitable outcome: the new German military intelligence, the Abwehr, was created in 1917. The start wasn't easy, as the many officers (mainly Prussians), saw spying dishonourable and outside of military service - therefore, many civilians and police officers were recruited, including former private investigators - these were used with great efficiency in counterspionage section, while Army officers took care of reconnaissance missions and decrypting work.
The war was disastrous for us. Much territory in Europe and in Asia Minor was lost. The pride and dignity of the nation were lowered. But this caused no regret to Abdul Hamid. He felt no shame to see the throne of Osman, so dear to Ottoman hearts, exposed to the scorn of the world. The hostility, antagonism and detestation of his subjects did not disturb his peace; he was satisfied that they feared him.
The terrible war, its consequences, the despotic rule, tyranny and persecution, exhausted the natural resources, strength and energy of the nation, and initiated a period of struggle and revolution. Turkey grew weaker and weaker day after day, left an open door for foreign intervention and put the control of the country's independence into alien hands.
German field medics in Palestine, 1917. The terrain and weather was difficult to overcome, but both the sea and railway allowed steady flow of men and supplies right from Germany and Austria-Hungary.
During the last thirty two years, our navy has lost its importance, while the army became stronger and well organized; it was led, however, not against our enemies, but on the contrary against the nation, against the peaceful inhabitants. Brother was led against brother, and public officers sought their promotion by spying upon each other.
The corruption reached such a degree that even Sultan Abdul Hamid himself came to hate his own rule. The result was the decay, the ruin and destruction of the Empire. During this period, we lost all our national fortune, our commerce went into foreign hands; it had been previously in the hands of our fellow countrymen — Armenians and loyal Greeks.
Germans were not the only ones testing their new weapons: the so called 'tank', a heavy armored vehicle of British design, was built to break a stalemate against Ottomans - in fact, the unrealiable machines failed. The weather only worsened the armored vehicle's many imperfections, be it weapons, armor, engine or tracks.
The nation was subjected to humiliation, poverty and destitution. And the helm of state was in the entire control of a small circle of minions and parasites. In matters concerning the relations with foreign Powers, the Sublime Porte became nothing more than an office of registry.
Our representatives in foreign lands, instead of looking after Ottoman interests, in order to strengthen our economic and friendly relations with foreign countries, became simply police agents and spy lieutenants to watch innocent political refugees, and send the reports of imaginary plots and revolutions.
German artillery positions in Sinai. Even without a way to use it's more famous heavy guns in desert areas, superiority in firepower was overwhelming and it's use against retreating remnants of British forces was devastating, with enemies completely unable to stop advances of Central Powers in any moment.
The Sultan, fearful and suspicious, trusting no one, believing in no one, created the spy system, the most expensive and most complex of all institutions in Turkey. Every move of everybody was watched. Even three persons could not gather around a table. They were spied upon. If there were seven hundred and fifty thousand Mohammedan inhabitants in Constantinople, five hundred thousand of them were spies.
In such a state of affairs it was very natural that the Ottoman financial standing should fall, and credit vanish. It was impossible for the Ottoman treasury to negotiate loans. This brought about the necessity of handing over to the Germans our customs duties, our waterways, railroads and other sources of revenue and production, not only in the capital, but in Asia Minor and at other points of the Empire.
The annual allowance of the Sultan was one million Turkish pounds, but he spent between seven and eight millions a year, most of it wasted in fighting imaginary plots and revolutions. Corrupt palace officials around him found a means of accumulating a fortune just by whispering a few words in the ears of their master. The country's annual expenditure was twenty-five million Turkish pounds, while the revenue never exceeded twelve millions.
Just as same, the German Empire tested multiple vehicles similar to, supposedly, top secret British projects, with much the same results - heavy 'land ships' or their smaller equivalents were still too slow and too dangerous for their own crews, than for the enemies and light vehicles armed with only one machine gun were considered too fragile and just a slightly faster. This and experience from hectic European battlefields, caused preference to fast armored cars and later, heavy panzers, built mainly to support the infantry, able to accompany them - specialized troops, later called Panzergrenadiers.
The people year after year lost their confidence in the Sultan, and discontent increased with speed among Turks, Armenians, Macedonians and Albanians.
We lived for centuries with the Armenians. Through their native industry and intelligence they had been always most useful subjects of the Empire, and no cause was given by them for the cruel persecution. It was only a conspiracy, the scheme of a few palace grafters to make a fortune out of Armenian blood.
The Sultan, mindful only of his personal safety and absolute rule, ignored entirely all consideration of what the future consequences might be. He wanted to rule and rule alone, and his Machiavellian policy made no discrimination as to race or religion. During his thirty years of reign, at least one hundred thousand Turkish families have suffered his cruel persecution. Thousands were exiled, imprisoned, poisoned, sunk in the sea or murdered at midnight.
Conquest of Egypt was the major strategic and propaganda victory for the Central Powers: the Red Sea was no opened to Austrian battleships, able to raid Indian Ocean freely and, amongst other things, cemented the American firm isolationist policy. The British now couldn't use anyone to save them or their pride.
This misrule in Turkey became a byword among the nations and lowered the dignity and pride of the nation. It was not only enlightened Ottomans who became dissatisfied with the situation; but soldiers and officers also, whose salaries were neglected for months and even years.
Having all due respect for the German race, in view of the peculiar situation of our industrial and economic relations with the German Government, I will say that I hope the regenerated Ottoman Empire will peacefully settle all the economic troubles and see the return of the productive enterprises into native hands, where they rightfully belong.
The Middle East, in view of military campaigns in Russia, France or Italy, was rather ignored in the press from start of the war - due to static trench war against mainly the British forces. Now, with war in the Europe virtually over, the attention of the world turned back to Ottoman Empire - winning now even without German help.
They may have reasons for their deduction, but thousands of free-minded and liberal Ottomans, knowing well the internal situation in Turkey, are assured that it is impossible for either the Sultan or his camarilla to suppress the new Constitution, and retrograde to the old reign of despotism.
In order to understand the development of the present situation in the Ottoman Empire, we must go back to the reign of Abdulmejid, the father of our present monarch. The readers will perhaps recollect that, when Sultan Abdulmejid granted the famous charter of 1853, the Ottoman Empire was in a state of utter decay and the independence of the State was in jeopardy.
The so called 'Lawrence of Arabia' tried to instigate a major Arab rebellion against Ottomans, but Turkish forces were able to stop the British in Mesopotamia and Palestine for two years, during which everything was decided - now, it was too late to make a difference. Unable to finally take Jerusalem, the arrival of German divisions sealed the fate of British army in the Middle East. And Germans had no intention to let British simply return to Suez - the Cairo and Alexandria had to fall.
This saved Turkey from dismemberment and partition, and renewed our friendly relations with Great Britain and Prance. The integrity of the Empire was saved, and it remained on the political map of the world unmolested.
But soon, the Empire's vital forces — her army, her navy and her financial credit abroad — were in a critical condition. The rumblings of revolutionary movements were being heard from all corners of the Empire. The political testament of Sultan Abdulmejid was doomed to become a dead letter. The European Powers, hopeless of the Ottoman independence and regeneration, were eagerly looking forward to the approaching day of our disintegration.
T. E. Lawrence's main adversary, the Czech adventurer, Catholic priest and Austrian officer, Alois Musil. In 1917, he traveled in Mesopotamia and Arabia accompanied by Archduke Hubert Salvator, Prince of Tuscany, to make a secret, thorough record about state of Ottoman Empire - to evaluate it's actual sustainability and worth as a postwar ally. As also a personal confessor of the Empress Zita, his influence in Vienna was considerable. Later in the year, he convinced the Emperor Charles to release many Czech political prisoners and to grant pardon to Czech soldiers in Russia, who joined the Legions and couldn't return home now. This move, of course, enraged the Austrian Germans and combined with actually none gratitude showed from Czech politicians, only worsened the political situation of Dual Monarchy. Austria itself was slowly turning against Habsburgs.
Although our navy was decidedly strong, and the army equally so, the two forces did not prevent Turkey from losing a large part of her territory in 1877, in the war with Russia.
During the reign of next Sultan Abdulaziz, the situation appeared to be encouraging. The press was free, public education was making headway, and our commerce and agriculture progressing. But, unfortunately, the microbe of decay proved more powerful than our statesmen's efforts toward regeneration.
Another interesting part of Turkish campaigns, was the presence of many experimental types of planes and vehicles, used by Germans and Austrians. Trench war there, unlike the fast pace of Eastern or Western Fronts led by the cavalry and armored cars, was ideal to test anything new, without many risks - if the heavily guarded Berlin-Baghdad Railway was used or just as same safe convoys, tightly protected by Austrian cruisers and dreadnoughts.
In consequence of this state of affairs, internal disturbances and revolution in the European provinces, together with a financial crisis, became so menacing that the Cabinet decided to put an end to the rule of Sultan Abdulaziz. He was dethroned in 1876, to the great satisfaction of the Ottoman nation, as well as of Europeans.
Sultan Murad V succeeded his uncle. He was liberal, progressive and generous, but the opportunity was denied him of putting into effect his reform schemes. His opponents proclaimed him insane, and entrusted the throne to his brother, Abdul Hamid, who hastened the country toward final ruin and downfall.
The British, now desperate in their lost struggle against Central Powers, planned retreat to Egypt, worsened by the fact of the Mediterranean under control of Austrians and Ottomans.
The independence of a State means the freedom of the nation. A progressive, liberal and constitutional government, beyond any doubt, is stronger and better than an absolute monarchy, where the will of one man can rule and ruin a country.
The war with Eussia was declared in 1877, and Sultan Abdul Hamid seized the opportunity to abolish the Parliament and do away with all patriots. Some of them were murdered, some imprisoned, and others exiled. They were men of enlightenment and ability, and the Ottoman nation will always mourn the loss of its best sons, the fathers of our liberty.
The marvelous abilities of the British to gather intelligence, to plan false flag operations and instigate revolts in enemy territory, finally produced inevitable outcome: the new German military intelligence, the Abwehr, was created in 1917. The start wasn't easy, as the many officers (mainly Prussians), saw spying dishonourable and outside of military service - therefore, many civilians and police officers were recruited, including former private investigators - these were used with great efficiency in counterspionage section, while Army officers took care of reconnaissance missions and decrypting work.
The war was disastrous for us. Much territory in Europe and in Asia Minor was lost. The pride and dignity of the nation were lowered. But this caused no regret to Abdul Hamid. He felt no shame to see the throne of Osman, so dear to Ottoman hearts, exposed to the scorn of the world. The hostility, antagonism and detestation of his subjects did not disturb his peace; he was satisfied that they feared him.
The terrible war, its consequences, the despotic rule, tyranny and persecution, exhausted the natural resources, strength and energy of the nation, and initiated a period of struggle and revolution. Turkey grew weaker and weaker day after day, left an open door for foreign intervention and put the control of the country's independence into alien hands.
German field medics in Palestine, 1917. The terrain and weather was difficult to overcome, but both the sea and railway allowed steady flow of men and supplies right from Germany and Austria-Hungary.
During the last thirty two years, our navy has lost its importance, while the army became stronger and well organized; it was led, however, not against our enemies, but on the contrary against the nation, against the peaceful inhabitants. Brother was led against brother, and public officers sought their promotion by spying upon each other.
The corruption reached such a degree that even Sultan Abdul Hamid himself came to hate his own rule. The result was the decay, the ruin and destruction of the Empire. During this period, we lost all our national fortune, our commerce went into foreign hands; it had been previously in the hands of our fellow countrymen — Armenians and loyal Greeks.
Germans were not the only ones testing their new weapons: the so called 'tank', a heavy armored vehicle of British design, was built to break a stalemate against Ottomans - in fact, the unrealiable machines failed. The weather only worsened the armored vehicle's many imperfections, be it weapons, armor, engine or tracks.
The nation was subjected to humiliation, poverty and destitution. And the helm of state was in the entire control of a small circle of minions and parasites. In matters concerning the relations with foreign Powers, the Sublime Porte became nothing more than an office of registry.
Our representatives in foreign lands, instead of looking after Ottoman interests, in order to strengthen our economic and friendly relations with foreign countries, became simply police agents and spy lieutenants to watch innocent political refugees, and send the reports of imaginary plots and revolutions.
German artillery positions in Sinai. Even without a way to use it's more famous heavy guns in desert areas, superiority in firepower was overwhelming and it's use against retreating remnants of British forces was devastating, with enemies completely unable to stop advances of Central Powers in any moment.
The Sultan, fearful and suspicious, trusting no one, believing in no one, created the spy system, the most expensive and most complex of all institutions in Turkey. Every move of everybody was watched. Even three persons could not gather around a table. They were spied upon. If there were seven hundred and fifty thousand Mohammedan inhabitants in Constantinople, five hundred thousand of them were spies.
In such a state of affairs it was very natural that the Ottoman financial standing should fall, and credit vanish. It was impossible for the Ottoman treasury to negotiate loans. This brought about the necessity of handing over to the Germans our customs duties, our waterways, railroads and other sources of revenue and production, not only in the capital, but in Asia Minor and at other points of the Empire.
The annual allowance of the Sultan was one million Turkish pounds, but he spent between seven and eight millions a year, most of it wasted in fighting imaginary plots and revolutions. Corrupt palace officials around him found a means of accumulating a fortune just by whispering a few words in the ears of their master. The country's annual expenditure was twenty-five million Turkish pounds, while the revenue never exceeded twelve millions.
Just as same, the German Empire tested multiple vehicles similar to, supposedly, top secret British projects, with much the same results - heavy 'land ships' or their smaller equivalents were still too slow and too dangerous for their own crews, than for the enemies and light vehicles armed with only one machine gun were considered too fragile and just a slightly faster. This and experience from hectic European battlefields, caused preference to fast armored cars and later, heavy panzers, built mainly to support the infantry, able to accompany them - specialized troops, later called Panzergrenadiers.
The people year after year lost their confidence in the Sultan, and discontent increased with speed among Turks, Armenians, Macedonians and Albanians.
We lived for centuries with the Armenians. Through their native industry and intelligence they had been always most useful subjects of the Empire, and no cause was given by them for the cruel persecution. It was only a conspiracy, the scheme of a few palace grafters to make a fortune out of Armenian blood.
The Sultan, mindful only of his personal safety and absolute rule, ignored entirely all consideration of what the future consequences might be. He wanted to rule and rule alone, and his Machiavellian policy made no discrimination as to race or religion. During his thirty years of reign, at least one hundred thousand Turkish families have suffered his cruel persecution. Thousands were exiled, imprisoned, poisoned, sunk in the sea or murdered at midnight.
Conquest of Egypt was the major strategic and propaganda victory for the Central Powers: the Red Sea was no opened to Austrian battleships, able to raid Indian Ocean freely and, amongst other things, cemented the American firm isolationist policy. The British now couldn't use anyone to save them or their pride.
This misrule in Turkey became a byword among the nations and lowered the dignity and pride of the nation. It was not only enlightened Ottomans who became dissatisfied with the situation; but soldiers and officers also, whose salaries were neglected for months and even years.
Having all due respect for the German race, in view of the peculiar situation of our industrial and economic relations with the German Government, I will say that I hope the regenerated Ottoman Empire will peacefully settle all the economic troubles and see the return of the productive enterprises into native hands, where they rightfully belong.
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Oen can easily see how the Ottomans are a drain on Germany. And that Germany would want its cut.
From "The Mackensen's March Into London". 1918. The German Fatherland Party.
England might, perhaps, have admitted a strong military Power as having equal rights, but never again a seafaring people as serious competitors! For so venturesome a country, looking forward to the future, as young Germany, his deliberate building of a fleet might finally only form the stepping-stone for the development of strength which opened up limitless possibilities!
Kaiser Wilhelm II. disagreed at the start of the war with bold use of smaller High Seas Fleet against the Grand Fleet, but repeated successes, especially an Spee's epic naval expedition, convinced him, that German Navy is able to achieve decisive victory and open the hated island for one final battle to end everything on purely German terms. By that time, Grand Admiral Tirpitz was completely sidelined from decision making and Kaiser's brother, Grand Admiral Heinrich of Prussia, who showed him in years nothing but loyalty and respect - the things Kaiser demanded only more, with immense popularity of Hindenburg and the Crown Prince.
Even without an equal fleet, young Germany had one for commerce, and ran undaunted around the whole globe, in order to look for customers for its industry; even without a strong fleet its merchant navy was in all the corners of the world and earned money, much more than it ought to. What if it created a fleet of the same rank as the English and placed it at the service of its trade and industry?
The suspicious doings in Kiel and Stettin and Wilhelmshaven gave Old England many sleepless nights. Envy and fear taught the English to hate young Germany, but they did not at first quite know how to give vent to this hate. With pen and sword steps must be taken to compel this people, these tillers of the soil, to return once more to the existence for which it was fitted in the poverty of 1815 or, still better, 1648!
In incendiary speeches in Hyde Park they reasoned thus: "Men of England! That Germany has become so provokingly prosperous and is not yet content with its wealth, that it takes our customers away and reduces the receipts of the British Empire, is well known, but that is not its most dangerous activity. The claws of the German phantom clutch deeper! The unbroken, primeval strength of young Germany, the whole of that red-cheeked existence, this strenuousness that, men of England, is the lasting threat to the world's peace! Is it not conceivable that this coarse-natured fellow would knock out both Russians and French at once? But what would then become of the balance of power, my men? Would England then be the man at the helm? Nothing less than European equilibrium is in danger, and therefore the hour is one of bitter earnestness!"
By the Autumn 1917, when the continent and Middle East fell competely to the armies of the Central Powers, the morale of British was as low as expected - propaganda at home fed them only with more despair, that they must fight the Huns at any cost, sacrifice themselves for the nation and the King. U-Boats sunk so many ships, that starvation was felt in England now in same levels like Austria-Hungary experienced - then it was worse, when Germans wiped out the rest. Merchants from neutral countries refused to ship anything, at any price. The world written off the British.
After such speeches even the public-house politicians felt that their devilish plans were ennobled. The war-seekers of the streets had got wind into their sails. Balance of power that was the word! Translated into German: English predominance and vindication of threatened school-masterly dignity!
Old England wanted to sit comfortably and in unrestricted enjoyment at the well-covered table, and suddenly a stressful new-comer, full of ideas, appeared. Against these far-reaching plans one had to be on one's guard every moment! Well-to-do England was really not called upon to put up with discomfort for any length of time, and possibly to allow its authority as mistress of the world to be under-mined.
Germany must be thrown back into that poverty so essential to English well-being and which was the reason of its docility in past centuries, and thus in all secrecy they egged on war. A deciding war between the sleepy culture of England and the alert youthfulness of Germany.
The devilish plan for the destruction ot Germany was settled in London, had been considered for years carefully in all its details, and if signs and wonders had not happened, it must, in human judgment, have led to complete success. The great day had come. On the English tree of poison the fruit was ripe. The torch flamed up in Russia first. It was, in truth, ignited two years too soon; but otherwise everything went as laid down in the programme: the powder of half the world caught fire on these great August days.
With technical superiority and air reconnaissance by planes and Zeppelins - with dozens built during world and used almost entirely for naval support - German admirals very often knew where exactly enemy is - or can be, as Germans were not afraid to surprise the enemy from short range, using just bad weather, night and personal guess. In times before the development of radar, it was deadly effective . Extensive used of planes on board also led to first torpedo and incendiary air strikes against ships, which eventually led to development of aircraft carriers.
So pious and gentlemanlike a nation as the British waged war, of course, for very high ideals namely, for freedom and lofty human rights. It was a war of civilisation against the uncivilised habits of barbarians, and for that reason England has set itself the great and noble task in the war, in beautiful association with Kaffirs and Cossacks, of starving German women and children!
One fine day, however, the editor of the Times made a painful mistake. He had inserted the consoling article which was then due with regard to Russia's enormous reserves and new working plans of the steam roller, and in another column of the same number he had to record the very latest news, the world-wide event fraught with such consequences the conclusion of a separate peace between Germany and Russia. The sorrow round about was great.
After almost three years of naval engagements, the breaking point was reached - the one decisive battle over Cornwall. Everything what was left of High Seas Fleet, de la Periére's submarine fleet and assembled invasion force attacked the peninsula. For the three weeks, the British tried to push Germans back. Enemy fleet was completely obliterated and their army then made the final mistake - recalled too many troops to face the invaders on peninsula, not counting on greater German reserves. Second invasion force unexpectedly left French ports, after their commander received new orders personally from Hindenburg. But Cornwall wasn't the target anymore.
The advance in the West will now be impetuous. The anticipation of crowning the proud German work by decisive deeds burns like tropical fire in their stout hearts. The will to decide the fate of the world fills them all to the last man; they all feel mighty and holy.
The enthusiasm with which the grey-clad soldiers are greeted on their passage even exceeds the jubilation of the August days of 1914. For now joyous confidence is accompanied by the satisfaction of success. Enthusiastic and joyously expectant men of storm and stress at that time marched out in the dark uncertainty of a world-wide war, but now an army of men tried in the storm assembles for the last deed. Waves of jubilation roll alongside the trains through the country.
An old mother has bought a dainty morsel out of her meagre resources, and hands the modest gift of love to a soldier with the words : "Take it, do ; it is a long way to London!" In the German journey to England she also intimately participates, for in France and Russia her sons have fallen. Many a small but precious thing is also stowed away in the knapsack many an old man in the Landsturm is now having the time of his life.
Field Marshal August von Mackensen, whose forces immediately took control of Cardiff and continued to Bristol and Birmingham, opening ways to take London.
Many would prefer not to be acclaimed, not even to be addressed on this journey. For they are now once more in process of discovering their German fatherland; like children who travel by railway for the first time, they feast their eyes on the landscape. For months they have marched through an enemy country and have seen nothing but want and care, devastated meadows and torn-up fields, with bloody shreds of clothing and scattered household goods.
Around uninjured villages extends the kindly solemnity of the German forests; hamlets set in poplars peep out of the cradles of the valleys; proud country mansions greet them from undevastated meadow. German soil and above it the radiant German sky take off thy shoes, for the ground is holy!
Can it be really true that this country has stood in combat with a world of enemies? As far as the eye can reach there is pastoral happiness and undisturbed arable soil. Was it this thrice-blessed land which England desired to put to hunger? Curls of smoke above the houses speak eloquently of a goodly evening meal...
Kaiser Wilhelm holds the greatest review of troops of all times. The conquerors of the Tsar's army march once more before their Kaiser before going on to the last decisive battles at the front. How much moral force must lie in the Kaiser if the political pedlars and intrigue weavers of Albion feel themselves so severely endangered in their business success by the nature and action of the Kaiser that they rage against him and call to their aid common lies and slander!
England finally had her Sedan. She was now to experience her Paris!
German forces occupying France, under command of Rupprecht of Bavaria, were the only thing keeping the fallen republic in one piece - military triumvirate of Louis Franchet d'Espèrey, Philippe Pétain and Hubert Lyautey kept the legitimacy of French state and all the necessary institutions didn't stop to function - French franc was stabilized and rationing no more severe than the one in Germany, already loosened. But the radical left and general support for republican regime didn't dissapear. Much of French military had to be rebuilt from scratch and the Three Marshals needed time and resources only Germans now could provide.
It is night. Off Cherbourg, Dunkirk, and Brest one ship after another lies moored. There is a bustle and business in the harbours, as though the entire continent had packed up its bundles in order to emigrate to another world? To be at the throat of a cold devil who for hundreds of years has carried on politics from office chairs, and, cold to the heart, has sought with skill and success to determine the fates of nations according to the entries of his business books.
"Fellow citizens! The hordes of German Huns have raised their coarse barbarian fists against us! The deadly enemies of all progress of civilisation, the tramplers on all human rights, graze their horses on the holy fields of Britain! The Moloch of Prussian militarism opens wide its evil-smelling jaws and threatens to grasp us between its teeth! Gentlemen of Britain! We ask you, will you suffer these Germans who, owing to their notorious want of education, could only find a footing in London, the City of Culture, as waiters and barbers will you suffer them to be in your native land for one hour longer? Ladies of Britain! We ask you, will you allow the fat sons of the sauerkraut 'Hausfraus' to pass through the streets of your home? If you will not suffer this, then 'To Arms.' Your King appeals to you in a difficult hour. See that each parish, each house, becomes a trap from which not a single German rat shall escape alive."
Member of German military police in streets of Brest, 1918. Many attempts for uprisings had to be put down by the force - martial law ruled the streets and no demonstrations or gatherings, no matter if peaceful, were allowed to happen. As a part of foreign policy of German Empire, still called 'Weltpolitik', no hostile country could border the Germany. Later dissolutions of Belgium and Italy showed the firm determination for such harsh preventive measures.
The caravans of prisoners there resting are really strange medley of peoples. Indian horsemen with false precious stones in their turbans lie alongside North Indian Sikhs; Senegalese, Basutos from the Cape, Gurkhas, Indians, Black South Sea Islanders, and City of London Reservists are encamped side by side. England has shrunk from no expense in the service of humanity: pioneers of civilisation from the darkest corners of the world were to show the vile German Huns what education and manners are.
Some prisoners look serious and meditative, but the coloured ones have not yet realised that on the British Islands they were employed as wretched serfs, and that only by chance have they escaped their higher destination of terminating their life as miserable food for cannon in England.
The parks and meadows bear harrowing testimony to the recent combats. Perforated helmets lie here, wheel spokes smashed, horse trappings. Steel fragments of shells glitter in the sun like iron-pointed clubs of the Middle Ages, in the hands of the torturers. For hours by road the shells came here to help build a cemetery of many miles in extent.
Methodical approach of experienced, motivated and much better equipped German soldiers, with their advantages in numbers of men and artillery, meant that every attempt to hold ground by soldiers or local militias were doomed to fail - for instance, heavy armed Sturmtruppen (assault troops) alone proved to be more than starving conscripts could handle.
What an outcry as the first troops get into a captured motor-bus on which there still stands in big letters : "Come with us! Kitchener wants you! This car is at the disposal, free of charge, of all who wish to enter." Hurrah for Kitchener! We accept the kindly offer with thanks! We are coming!
The enemy also brings up reinforcements - East Yorkshire Volunteers, Highlanders, London Scottish. Has a trace of humanity been moved in British hearts? No, it is only saving its Blacks, as it still has ammunition of its own and of American manufacture. The Africans and Indians will, however, certainly be used up to the last man before a treaty of peace is signed.
In Scotland, the King George V. and the royal family faced the uneasy options: accept or fight the inevitable with absolutely no chances. Remnants of Royal Navy were broken by mutinies, the supporters of the Left ruled the streets of many cities and British soldiers were throwing their weapons and surrendering only faster.
On English soil the armies get no more sleep. The nights are filled with noise and haste like the days. On the roads behind the front all night long the measured tread of battalions is heard, and the rapid clatter of hoofs. These nights on English soil are not black, nor yet silvery with moonlight. These nights are fiery red. As if from sacrificial altars, gigantic red flickering flames leap up to the sky, and speak to the gods of the plight of the world.
Kaiser Wilhelm II. disagreed at the start of the war with bold use of smaller High Seas Fleet against the Grand Fleet, but repeated successes, especially an Spee's epic naval expedition, convinced him, that German Navy is able to achieve decisive victory and open the hated island for one final battle to end everything on purely German terms. By that time, Grand Admiral Tirpitz was completely sidelined from decision making and Kaiser's brother, Grand Admiral Heinrich of Prussia, who showed him in years nothing but loyalty and respect - the things Kaiser demanded only more, with immense popularity of Hindenburg and the Crown Prince.
Even without an equal fleet, young Germany had one for commerce, and ran undaunted around the whole globe, in order to look for customers for its industry; even without a strong fleet its merchant navy was in all the corners of the world and earned money, much more than it ought to. What if it created a fleet of the same rank as the English and placed it at the service of its trade and industry?
The suspicious doings in Kiel and Stettin and Wilhelmshaven gave Old England many sleepless nights. Envy and fear taught the English to hate young Germany, but they did not at first quite know how to give vent to this hate. With pen and sword steps must be taken to compel this people, these tillers of the soil, to return once more to the existence for which it was fitted in the poverty of 1815 or, still better, 1648!
In incendiary speeches in Hyde Park they reasoned thus: "Men of England! That Germany has become so provokingly prosperous and is not yet content with its wealth, that it takes our customers away and reduces the receipts of the British Empire, is well known, but that is not its most dangerous activity. The claws of the German phantom clutch deeper! The unbroken, primeval strength of young Germany, the whole of that red-cheeked existence, this strenuousness that, men of England, is the lasting threat to the world's peace! Is it not conceivable that this coarse-natured fellow would knock out both Russians and French at once? But what would then become of the balance of power, my men? Would England then be the man at the helm? Nothing less than European equilibrium is in danger, and therefore the hour is one of bitter earnestness!"
By the Autumn 1917, when the continent and Middle East fell competely to the armies of the Central Powers, the morale of British was as low as expected - propaganda at home fed them only with more despair, that they must fight the Huns at any cost, sacrifice themselves for the nation and the King. U-Boats sunk so many ships, that starvation was felt in England now in same levels like Austria-Hungary experienced - then it was worse, when Germans wiped out the rest. Merchants from neutral countries refused to ship anything, at any price. The world written off the British.
After such speeches even the public-house politicians felt that their devilish plans were ennobled. The war-seekers of the streets had got wind into their sails. Balance of power that was the word! Translated into German: English predominance and vindication of threatened school-masterly dignity!
Old England wanted to sit comfortably and in unrestricted enjoyment at the well-covered table, and suddenly a stressful new-comer, full of ideas, appeared. Against these far-reaching plans one had to be on one's guard every moment! Well-to-do England was really not called upon to put up with discomfort for any length of time, and possibly to allow its authority as mistress of the world to be under-mined.
Germany must be thrown back into that poverty so essential to English well-being and which was the reason of its docility in past centuries, and thus in all secrecy they egged on war. A deciding war between the sleepy culture of England and the alert youthfulness of Germany.
The devilish plan for the destruction ot Germany was settled in London, had been considered for years carefully in all its details, and if signs and wonders had not happened, it must, in human judgment, have led to complete success. The great day had come. On the English tree of poison the fruit was ripe. The torch flamed up in Russia first. It was, in truth, ignited two years too soon; but otherwise everything went as laid down in the programme: the powder of half the world caught fire on these great August days.
With technical superiority and air reconnaissance by planes and Zeppelins - with dozens built during world and used almost entirely for naval support - German admirals very often knew where exactly enemy is - or can be, as Germans were not afraid to surprise the enemy from short range, using just bad weather, night and personal guess. In times before the development of radar, it was deadly effective . Extensive used of planes on board also led to first torpedo and incendiary air strikes against ships, which eventually led to development of aircraft carriers.
So pious and gentlemanlike a nation as the British waged war, of course, for very high ideals namely, for freedom and lofty human rights. It was a war of civilisation against the uncivilised habits of barbarians, and for that reason England has set itself the great and noble task in the war, in beautiful association with Kaffirs and Cossacks, of starving German women and children!
One fine day, however, the editor of the Times made a painful mistake. He had inserted the consoling article which was then due with regard to Russia's enormous reserves and new working plans of the steam roller, and in another column of the same number he had to record the very latest news, the world-wide event fraught with such consequences the conclusion of a separate peace between Germany and Russia. The sorrow round about was great.
After almost three years of naval engagements, the breaking point was reached - the one decisive battle over Cornwall. Everything what was left of High Seas Fleet, de la Periére's submarine fleet and assembled invasion force attacked the peninsula. For the three weeks, the British tried to push Germans back. Enemy fleet was completely obliterated and their army then made the final mistake - recalled too many troops to face the invaders on peninsula, not counting on greater German reserves. Second invasion force unexpectedly left French ports, after their commander received new orders personally from Hindenburg. But Cornwall wasn't the target anymore.
The advance in the West will now be impetuous. The anticipation of crowning the proud German work by decisive deeds burns like tropical fire in their stout hearts. The will to decide the fate of the world fills them all to the last man; they all feel mighty and holy.
The enthusiasm with which the grey-clad soldiers are greeted on their passage even exceeds the jubilation of the August days of 1914. For now joyous confidence is accompanied by the satisfaction of success. Enthusiastic and joyously expectant men of storm and stress at that time marched out in the dark uncertainty of a world-wide war, but now an army of men tried in the storm assembles for the last deed. Waves of jubilation roll alongside the trains through the country.
An old mother has bought a dainty morsel out of her meagre resources, and hands the modest gift of love to a soldier with the words : "Take it, do ; it is a long way to London!" In the German journey to England she also intimately participates, for in France and Russia her sons have fallen. Many a small but precious thing is also stowed away in the knapsack many an old man in the Landsturm is now having the time of his life.
Field Marshal August von Mackensen, whose forces immediately took control of Cardiff and continued to Bristol and Birmingham, opening ways to take London.
Many would prefer not to be acclaimed, not even to be addressed on this journey. For they are now once more in process of discovering their German fatherland; like children who travel by railway for the first time, they feast their eyes on the landscape. For months they have marched through an enemy country and have seen nothing but want and care, devastated meadows and torn-up fields, with bloody shreds of clothing and scattered household goods.
Around uninjured villages extends the kindly solemnity of the German forests; hamlets set in poplars peep out of the cradles of the valleys; proud country mansions greet them from undevastated meadow. German soil and above it the radiant German sky take off thy shoes, for the ground is holy!
Can it be really true that this country has stood in combat with a world of enemies? As far as the eye can reach there is pastoral happiness and undisturbed arable soil. Was it this thrice-blessed land which England desired to put to hunger? Curls of smoke above the houses speak eloquently of a goodly evening meal...
Kaiser Wilhelm holds the greatest review of troops of all times. The conquerors of the Tsar's army march once more before their Kaiser before going on to the last decisive battles at the front. How much moral force must lie in the Kaiser if the political pedlars and intrigue weavers of Albion feel themselves so severely endangered in their business success by the nature and action of the Kaiser that they rage against him and call to their aid common lies and slander!
England finally had her Sedan. She was now to experience her Paris!
German forces occupying France, under command of Rupprecht of Bavaria, were the only thing keeping the fallen republic in one piece - military triumvirate of Louis Franchet d'Espèrey, Philippe Pétain and Hubert Lyautey kept the legitimacy of French state and all the necessary institutions didn't stop to function - French franc was stabilized and rationing no more severe than the one in Germany, already loosened. But the radical left and general support for republican regime didn't dissapear. Much of French military had to be rebuilt from scratch and the Three Marshals needed time and resources only Germans now could provide.
It is night. Off Cherbourg, Dunkirk, and Brest one ship after another lies moored. There is a bustle and business in the harbours, as though the entire continent had packed up its bundles in order to emigrate to another world? To be at the throat of a cold devil who for hundreds of years has carried on politics from office chairs, and, cold to the heart, has sought with skill and success to determine the fates of nations according to the entries of his business books.
"Fellow citizens! The hordes of German Huns have raised their coarse barbarian fists against us! The deadly enemies of all progress of civilisation, the tramplers on all human rights, graze their horses on the holy fields of Britain! The Moloch of Prussian militarism opens wide its evil-smelling jaws and threatens to grasp us between its teeth! Gentlemen of Britain! We ask you, will you suffer these Germans who, owing to their notorious want of education, could only find a footing in London, the City of Culture, as waiters and barbers will you suffer them to be in your native land for one hour longer? Ladies of Britain! We ask you, will you allow the fat sons of the sauerkraut 'Hausfraus' to pass through the streets of your home? If you will not suffer this, then 'To Arms.' Your King appeals to you in a difficult hour. See that each parish, each house, becomes a trap from which not a single German rat shall escape alive."
Member of German military police in streets of Brest, 1918. Many attempts for uprisings had to be put down by the force - martial law ruled the streets and no demonstrations or gatherings, no matter if peaceful, were allowed to happen. As a part of foreign policy of German Empire, still called 'Weltpolitik', no hostile country could border the Germany. Later dissolutions of Belgium and Italy showed the firm determination for such harsh preventive measures.
The caravans of prisoners there resting are really strange medley of peoples. Indian horsemen with false precious stones in their turbans lie alongside North Indian Sikhs; Senegalese, Basutos from the Cape, Gurkhas, Indians, Black South Sea Islanders, and City of London Reservists are encamped side by side. England has shrunk from no expense in the service of humanity: pioneers of civilisation from the darkest corners of the world were to show the vile German Huns what education and manners are.
Some prisoners look serious and meditative, but the coloured ones have not yet realised that on the British Islands they were employed as wretched serfs, and that only by chance have they escaped their higher destination of terminating their life as miserable food for cannon in England.
The parks and meadows bear harrowing testimony to the recent combats. Perforated helmets lie here, wheel spokes smashed, horse trappings. Steel fragments of shells glitter in the sun like iron-pointed clubs of the Middle Ages, in the hands of the torturers. For hours by road the shells came here to help build a cemetery of many miles in extent.
Methodical approach of experienced, motivated and much better equipped German soldiers, with their advantages in numbers of men and artillery, meant that every attempt to hold ground by soldiers or local militias were doomed to fail - for instance, heavy armed Sturmtruppen (assault troops) alone proved to be more than starving conscripts could handle.
What an outcry as the first troops get into a captured motor-bus on which there still stands in big letters : "Come with us! Kitchener wants you! This car is at the disposal, free of charge, of all who wish to enter." Hurrah for Kitchener! We accept the kindly offer with thanks! We are coming!
The enemy also brings up reinforcements - East Yorkshire Volunteers, Highlanders, London Scottish. Has a trace of humanity been moved in British hearts? No, it is only saving its Blacks, as it still has ammunition of its own and of American manufacture. The Africans and Indians will, however, certainly be used up to the last man before a treaty of peace is signed.
In Scotland, the King George V. and the royal family faced the uneasy options: accept or fight the inevitable with absolutely no chances. Remnants of Royal Navy were broken by mutinies, the supporters of the Left ruled the streets of many cities and British soldiers were throwing their weapons and surrendering only faster.
On English soil the armies get no more sleep. The nights are filled with noise and haste like the days. On the roads behind the front all night long the measured tread of battalions is heard, and the rapid clatter of hoofs. These nights on English soil are not black, nor yet silvery with moonlight. These nights are fiery red. As if from sacrificial altars, gigantic red flickering flames leap up to the sky, and speak to the gods of the plight of the world.
- 1
Here it comes at last -- the final act of the Great War, to be decided on English soil. The great bogeyman of Victorian "invasion literature" has proven to be all too real.
Very soon the Reich will find out that it's not sick man any longer, but more like undead rotting corpse to get rid of.
Für Kaiser, Gott und Vaterland!
Yeah, be careful what you wish. Americans are also obsessed with similar stories - they should experience such visit too.
It is finally happening ... the fall of the civilised world
If just British recognized Germans as their natural allies, they could rule the world together. But no, half of the world is just not enough. Rather bleed dry and ruin economy to stop rise of fellow imperialist nation...very effective to save yourself
Also called Mackensen's Offensive
which could end in disaster if Royal Navy had guts to throw everything against it. Cowards without honor.
And Perfidious Albion is finally facing its reckoning for its treachery and hubris! The empire is on its last legs!
From "Through the Bolshevik Russia". 1919. Phillip Snowden
I paid a six weeks' visit to Russia as a member of the delegation chosen by the Executive Committee of the Labour party and of the Trades Union Congress, in fullfilment of a resolution passed by a special Trade Union Congress held in December, 1918, which demanded of the British Government "the right to an independent and impartial enquiry into the industrial, economic and political conditions of Russia".
Lenin, the leader of Bolsheviks, and his closest allies, was greeted by masses of workers and revolutionaries at the many train stations, when he arrived in 1916: by that time, both Petrograd and Moscow fell under control of German Empire, the very heartland of Russia was occupied and various nations negotiated with the Kaiser, Hindenburg and Ludendorff to support their independence. Only then the Kerensky's provisional government was prepared to sign the peace at any price.
So much about Russia that was contradictory had appeared in the newspaper press, with the balance of statement on the side of evil report, that it was increasingly felt by the organised workers of Great Britain the truth must at all costs be discovered, if that were possible, by investigators selected by themselves.
In addition, it was thought right and wise to discover if there existed anything in the behaviour of the Russian Government and people so menacing to ourselves as to warrant the attacks upon Russia of foreign Governments, including our own. We have returned unanimously convinced that Russian internal affairs are her own business and not ours.
The Russian Republic, for almost two years struggled for recognition at home and abroad, but the heavy reparations in industrial machines, food supplies, gold and raw materials ruined what was left of old Empire's economy. German 'armistice commissions' made sure to remove everything of value to the economy or to the direct war effort, but also valuable pieces for museums and palaces over the Kaiserreich, unilaterally determining prices during each occasion - that went also with famous 'Amber Room', returned after 200 years back to Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin. Imperial Crown Jewels, captured in Kremlin Armoury, were also transported to Germany, but for claimed safekeeping, which "will only last to the return of monarchy and therefore only acceptable kind of order in Russia" as expressed by the Kaiser. All things considered, Kerensky's Republic, as this period is called now, lasted much longer than all sides anticipated.
Wherever we went we discovered the greatest interest in our mission. We came in contact with representatives of the Socialist and Labour movement in all the towns through which we passed. In Denmark, we found that the Labour had so far expressed its approval of the doings in Moscow as to have applied for membership of the Third International, that great symbol of Communism, and the international organ through which the Communists propose to work for world revolution.
In Stockholm the half of the Labour movement is against Bolshevism, other half approves it. We behaved with strict impartiality to both kinds, and received and gave hospitality indiscriminately. The same story was surprisingly repeated at German-controlled Reval. And in common fairness to the Bolsheviks it must be admitted that they have a grievance against the Moderates of Reval as great as any grievance the Moderates may have against them. They appear to attack each other with equal ferocity.
When German forces left the Russian rump state, with the Crown Prince and his 5th Army among the last ones, there was nothing left keeping enraged workers and peasants at bay and led by agitators, radical forces all around the country rose up against the Provisional Government - which struggled for another year, fighting not only Lenin's Bolsheviks, but also Anarchists, nationalists, religious zealots and many other more obscure, but destructive groups. November Revolution of 1917 was a final coup de grace to Kerensky, who managed to keep beating the odds as long as he was able to provide supplies to the Army and, logically, control the railroads - when both were taken away from him and main cities were in open rebellion led by Bolsheviks at the same time, the exile was the only viable option left.
A friend said to me in discussing the question that there was an explosive quality in the word Bolshevism which caused it to be popular with those who wished to destroy some hated thing. Such a word as aneurism could not be employed with one-tenth of the effect; but Bolshevism! The word is a veritable bomb when exploded in the ears of the timid and conventional.
What is being said and done in Russia is neither perfectly good nor wholly bad. The same with the men and women themselves. They are creatures very much like ourselves, who are called upon to deal with a situation which is extremely difficult, and who are dealing with it in the way which to them seems best. They have made mistakes, some of
these very big mistakes. But Lenin and some of the others have had the courage to admit this.
The emerging Kingdom of Finland was the first victim of Bolshevik attempt to undermine the Treaty of Alexander Palace: many Russians supported Bolsheviks because of their opposition to German-imposed harshed terms, which left Russia stripped of most valuable lands and possessions, without realizing, that German Empire would impose the exact terms to whoever was at the helm. When first border incidents started to occur, however, Lenin-controlled Council of People's Commissars (Sovnarkom) hastily confirmed it's adherence to the Treaty, but refused to acknowledge any direct role in 'local uprisings' - as the one endangering Finnish independence.
There is abundant hope for a country whose rulers know when they are mistaken and are willing to adapt themselves and to try again. If this sensible type of governor has less power than the other at the moment, it will not always be so. Much depends upon the conduct of the outer world.
If Russia be speedily restored to the family of nations and real intercourse with her be again established, the result will be, in all human probability, a surprising approximation of Russian methods to those of the rest of Europe. Let us hope it may also mean a quicker stride of European democracies outside Russia in the path of social progress and economic salvation along which Russia has attempted to advance.
As the only way to obtain funds, political and material support, the Bolsheviks appealed to leading left-wing parties and organisations of the world to forge 'internationalist front against imperialism' - decisive victory of the Central Powers made these appeals all too compelling and in time, weapons and supplies started to pour from North America, volunteers from defeated Britain and exiles from French military dictatorship, all of them found themselves in horrific realities of Soviet Russia.
For myself, the result of our investigations is simmied up in this: I am not hostile to the Russian Revolution which the tyrannous regime of the Czars made necessary and inevitable.
All this discussion of the attempt of a handful of sincere and brilliant men and women to build upon the ruins of war, famine and pestilence a new and better social system in one gigantic effort is inevitable. In common fairness it must be said that the experiment in Russia might have been of the greatest possible value to the rest of the world had its purity not been sullied by reactionaries and unpardonable foreign aggression.
The number of Russian people is variously estimated at one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and eighty millions. In a country where the fortunes of war add twenty millions of inhabitants to the country's population in one lucky day or take fifty millions away as the result of a disastrous encounter with the enemy, this statistical looseness has a reasonable explanation.
These developments naturally created strong reaction in victorious German Empire: the military control over the establishment was tightened, even the new oath was demanded from the soldiers: "I swear unconditional loyalty to the Kaiser as leader and protector of the Reich and it's Constitution and pledge, that I as a courageous soldier always want to protect the Fatherland and its legal institutions, be obedient to the commander-in-chief and to my superiors."
Accusations of disloyalty, even treason, were thrown every day against moderates of the Centre Party and social democrats in the SPD, which later escalated into outbursts of violence and political assassinations - with nationalists and monarchists usually pardoned.
But to take the lower number, one hundred and twenty-five millions. Leaving out of account the army, which is very well fed, and the majority of the children, who undoubtedly receive special care and attention, most of the people are either terribly ill-clad or hungry, probably both.
Most of them are suffering from dirt and disease; many of them are actually ill or dying. Millions have already died. Many millions more are foredoomed to death from cold this coming winter unless help of the right kind and in sufficient quantities comes speedily.
Increased violence and threat of the more revolutions in Europe, despite (or because of) the war's end, were deemed as inevitable - before his sudden death in Paris, Field Marshal Ludendorff devised the strategic plan with predictions of revolution in Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy or Britain to prevent revolutionary wave, like the one in 1848-1849. Therefore, Erich von Ludendorff's legacy very much lived on - when any left-wing revolution in France was suppressed, when domestic troublemakers were silenced or when Italy was dismembered forever. Russian problems, however, were no German concern - for now.
The people of Russia want peace and bread, peace that will last and bread that they can eat. I am convinced without the shadow of a doubt, that they are everywhere sick to the very soul of bloodshed. They dislike even the talk about war and revolutions. They sing "The International" whenever the orchestra strikes up, but it is with the mechanical tones of a musical box. They long for rest and quiet. They want to marry and have children and be able to feed and house them properly.
The peasants want to till their farms undisturbed, and in the quiet evenings to sing their quaint and mournful songs to one another or in happy chorus in the village club. The town workers want to do their day's work in the factory or the shop and to spend glad, talkative hours as in those days before the misery of war came upon them.
Lucky to Bolsheviks in 1917, Chancellor Helfferich and his banker and industrialist allies mainly focused on post-war bussiness: to maintain the monstrous growth of industry, it was necessary to keep steady flow of potential customers, interested in buying German products, from small arms to dreadnoughts - for which the military manoeuvres were used, which was followed by requests for German military advisors along with new weapons.
Be it good and loyal Swedes or surprisingly, Brazilians - which suddenly needed to find newmajor trading partner, keeping the growth of industry.
Petrograd has all the appearance of a dying city. Before the war it was reputed to have a population of two and a half millions; now it numbers between eight and nine hundred thousand souls. Where have all these people gone? I asked a Communist the question.
A relatively tiny number of the rich are in exile. Many have died in the war. Some have fled to the country, where living is more abundant. But hundreds of thousands have died of hunger and disease. Besides the lack of food there is an almost entire lack of medicines, anaesthetics, bandages, disinfectants and soap. These things have been kept out by the blockade.
General Leonard Wood, an outspoken critic of President Wilson and former Chief of Staff, became a Republican candidate in 1920, after Theodor Roosevelt's death previous year. His nomination was the answer for many citizens, disheartened by the passivity during the war, which was now causing damages to U.S. economy and society: the left, most notably the emerging powerful unions, were radicalized same as American Socialists - and sudden Fall of British Empire was only the start of German Empire's push for sole domination on world's markets, be it weaponry, shipping or industrial machines in 1920s.
Those who have never seen the hunger look in human eyes cannot even faintly imagine the pain of walking about the streets of a Russian town. I had experienced it first in Vienna, that once supremely happy and still very beautiful city. The knowledge of what the privations of the unhappy Austrians were (and still are) first came to me in a cheap restaurant, where I had gone to dine simply because the expensive meals at the hotel were so disgusting in their extravagance.
I raised my eyes from my plate for a second. At least a dozen pairs of eyes were glued hungrily to the simple food I was eatings and as hastily withdrawn when detected in the act. I found it almost impossible to eat in public after that, except when some hungry Austrian would consent to share the meal.
But the opposition in Germany itself was not toothless - many soldiers returned home with grim prospects, crippled physically or psychically and though tens of thousand used the option to settle in Baltic territories or German Africa with their families, there were still many hopeless cases, widely published by the left-wing organisations.
I have seen in Vienna old and young officers in uniform creep into hotels after dusk in the hope of getting scraps of food for their hungry children. I have seen a woman of refinement, with three small children clinging to her skirts, drop the red roses she was trying to sell as she reeled with fatigue against a wall. I have tasted the coloured water and imitation coffee in the cafes of the Ringstrasse.
I have seen the skeleton babes and consumptive wives of the Austrian workmen and soldiers in their own homes. And because I had seen these things in Vienna I knew, without asking any questions in Petrograd, that the two cities share with most of the cities of Eastern and Central Europe the bonds of a common suffering.
Rationing in Germany was abandoned in Summer 1918, with the demobilization and uninterrupted flow of goods from across the Atlantic, paid in good old Goldmarks. Whilst British population was left now starving, with ports under control of High Seas Fleet, German citizens could now eat Argentinian beef or drink Brazilian coffee at cheap prices.
This much must be said for the Communist Government: It is doing its best to secure an equal distribution amongst all sections of the working community of the very limited supplies of everything. The passport to food and clothing is work. If the workers go short it is probably because the food is not to be had. Either it is not procurable, because non-existent; or transport difficulties prevent it reaching the people.
Most of the British delegates wore their oldest clothes, garments which had been cast off and suddenly restored to use in contemplation of the trip to Russia. But those dear Russian people thought we were attired like princes. They turned us round to admire us. They patted and stroked our dresses and overcoats. They turned longing eyes upon our boots, and took great pleasure in handling the soft leather.
"Peace with Russia can only be maintained by fear of us. They are only frightened of a man and they only respect him if he hits them hard! See Japan! So it will be with us, too! Our preponderance in the German area is necessary to keep Russia away from our eastern frontier once and for all; no peace with Russia, however favourable, will give us that!"
Lenin, the leader of Bolsheviks, and his closest allies, was greeted by masses of workers and revolutionaries at the many train stations, when he arrived in 1916: by that time, both Petrograd and Moscow fell under control of German Empire, the very heartland of Russia was occupied and various nations negotiated with the Kaiser, Hindenburg and Ludendorff to support their independence. Only then the Kerensky's provisional government was prepared to sign the peace at any price.
So much about Russia that was contradictory had appeared in the newspaper press, with the balance of statement on the side of evil report, that it was increasingly felt by the organised workers of Great Britain the truth must at all costs be discovered, if that were possible, by investigators selected by themselves.
In addition, it was thought right and wise to discover if there existed anything in the behaviour of the Russian Government and people so menacing to ourselves as to warrant the attacks upon Russia of foreign Governments, including our own. We have returned unanimously convinced that Russian internal affairs are her own business and not ours.
The Russian Republic, for almost two years struggled for recognition at home and abroad, but the heavy reparations in industrial machines, food supplies, gold and raw materials ruined what was left of old Empire's economy. German 'armistice commissions' made sure to remove everything of value to the economy or to the direct war effort, but also valuable pieces for museums and palaces over the Kaiserreich, unilaterally determining prices during each occasion - that went also with famous 'Amber Room', returned after 200 years back to Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin. Imperial Crown Jewels, captured in Kremlin Armoury, were also transported to Germany, but for claimed safekeeping, which "will only last to the return of monarchy and therefore only acceptable kind of order in Russia" as expressed by the Kaiser. All things considered, Kerensky's Republic, as this period is called now, lasted much longer than all sides anticipated.
Wherever we went we discovered the greatest interest in our mission. We came in contact with representatives of the Socialist and Labour movement in all the towns through which we passed. In Denmark, we found that the Labour had so far expressed its approval of the doings in Moscow as to have applied for membership of the Third International, that great symbol of Communism, and the international organ through which the Communists propose to work for world revolution.
In Stockholm the half of the Labour movement is against Bolshevism, other half approves it. We behaved with strict impartiality to both kinds, and received and gave hospitality indiscriminately. The same story was surprisingly repeated at German-controlled Reval. And in common fairness to the Bolsheviks it must be admitted that they have a grievance against the Moderates of Reval as great as any grievance the Moderates may have against them. They appear to attack each other with equal ferocity.
When German forces left the Russian rump state, with the Crown Prince and his 5th Army among the last ones, there was nothing left keeping enraged workers and peasants at bay and led by agitators, radical forces all around the country rose up against the Provisional Government - which struggled for another year, fighting not only Lenin's Bolsheviks, but also Anarchists, nationalists, religious zealots and many other more obscure, but destructive groups. November Revolution of 1917 was a final coup de grace to Kerensky, who managed to keep beating the odds as long as he was able to provide supplies to the Army and, logically, control the railroads - when both were taken away from him and main cities were in open rebellion led by Bolsheviks at the same time, the exile was the only viable option left.
A friend said to me in discussing the question that there was an explosive quality in the word Bolshevism which caused it to be popular with those who wished to destroy some hated thing. Such a word as aneurism could not be employed with one-tenth of the effect; but Bolshevism! The word is a veritable bomb when exploded in the ears of the timid and conventional.
What is being said and done in Russia is neither perfectly good nor wholly bad. The same with the men and women themselves. They are creatures very much like ourselves, who are called upon to deal with a situation which is extremely difficult, and who are dealing with it in the way which to them seems best. They have made mistakes, some of
these very big mistakes. But Lenin and some of the others have had the courage to admit this.
The emerging Kingdom of Finland was the first victim of Bolshevik attempt to undermine the Treaty of Alexander Palace: many Russians supported Bolsheviks because of their opposition to German-imposed harshed terms, which left Russia stripped of most valuable lands and possessions, without realizing, that German Empire would impose the exact terms to whoever was at the helm. When first border incidents started to occur, however, Lenin-controlled Council of People's Commissars (Sovnarkom) hastily confirmed it's adherence to the Treaty, but refused to acknowledge any direct role in 'local uprisings' - as the one endangering Finnish independence.
There is abundant hope for a country whose rulers know when they are mistaken and are willing to adapt themselves and to try again. If this sensible type of governor has less power than the other at the moment, it will not always be so. Much depends upon the conduct of the outer world.
If Russia be speedily restored to the family of nations and real intercourse with her be again established, the result will be, in all human probability, a surprising approximation of Russian methods to those of the rest of Europe. Let us hope it may also mean a quicker stride of European democracies outside Russia in the path of social progress and economic salvation along which Russia has attempted to advance.
As the only way to obtain funds, political and material support, the Bolsheviks appealed to leading left-wing parties and organisations of the world to forge 'internationalist front against imperialism' - decisive victory of the Central Powers made these appeals all too compelling and in time, weapons and supplies started to pour from North America, volunteers from defeated Britain and exiles from French military dictatorship, all of them found themselves in horrific realities of Soviet Russia.
For myself, the result of our investigations is simmied up in this: I am not hostile to the Russian Revolution which the tyrannous regime of the Czars made necessary and inevitable.
All this discussion of the attempt of a handful of sincere and brilliant men and women to build upon the ruins of war, famine and pestilence a new and better social system in one gigantic effort is inevitable. In common fairness it must be said that the experiment in Russia might have been of the greatest possible value to the rest of the world had its purity not been sullied by reactionaries and unpardonable foreign aggression.
The number of Russian people is variously estimated at one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and eighty millions. In a country where the fortunes of war add twenty millions of inhabitants to the country's population in one lucky day or take fifty millions away as the result of a disastrous encounter with the enemy, this statistical looseness has a reasonable explanation.
These developments naturally created strong reaction in victorious German Empire: the military control over the establishment was tightened, even the new oath was demanded from the soldiers: "I swear unconditional loyalty to the Kaiser as leader and protector of the Reich and it's Constitution and pledge, that I as a courageous soldier always want to protect the Fatherland and its legal institutions, be obedient to the commander-in-chief and to my superiors."
Accusations of disloyalty, even treason, were thrown every day against moderates of the Centre Party and social democrats in the SPD, which later escalated into outbursts of violence and political assassinations - with nationalists and monarchists usually pardoned.
But to take the lower number, one hundred and twenty-five millions. Leaving out of account the army, which is very well fed, and the majority of the children, who undoubtedly receive special care and attention, most of the people are either terribly ill-clad or hungry, probably both.
Most of them are suffering from dirt and disease; many of them are actually ill or dying. Millions have already died. Many millions more are foredoomed to death from cold this coming winter unless help of the right kind and in sufficient quantities comes speedily.
Increased violence and threat of the more revolutions in Europe, despite (or because of) the war's end, were deemed as inevitable - before his sudden death in Paris, Field Marshal Ludendorff devised the strategic plan with predictions of revolution in Russia, Austria-Hungary, France, Italy or Britain to prevent revolutionary wave, like the one in 1848-1849. Therefore, Erich von Ludendorff's legacy very much lived on - when any left-wing revolution in France was suppressed, when domestic troublemakers were silenced or when Italy was dismembered forever. Russian problems, however, were no German concern - for now.
The people of Russia want peace and bread, peace that will last and bread that they can eat. I am convinced without the shadow of a doubt, that they are everywhere sick to the very soul of bloodshed. They dislike even the talk about war and revolutions. They sing "The International" whenever the orchestra strikes up, but it is with the mechanical tones of a musical box. They long for rest and quiet. They want to marry and have children and be able to feed and house them properly.
The peasants want to till their farms undisturbed, and in the quiet evenings to sing their quaint and mournful songs to one another or in happy chorus in the village club. The town workers want to do their day's work in the factory or the shop and to spend glad, talkative hours as in those days before the misery of war came upon them.
Lucky to Bolsheviks in 1917, Chancellor Helfferich and his banker and industrialist allies mainly focused on post-war bussiness: to maintain the monstrous growth of industry, it was necessary to keep steady flow of potential customers, interested in buying German products, from small arms to dreadnoughts - for which the military manoeuvres were used, which was followed by requests for German military advisors along with new weapons.
Be it good and loyal Swedes or surprisingly, Brazilians - which suddenly needed to find newmajor trading partner, keeping the growth of industry.
Petrograd has all the appearance of a dying city. Before the war it was reputed to have a population of two and a half millions; now it numbers between eight and nine hundred thousand souls. Where have all these people gone? I asked a Communist the question.
A relatively tiny number of the rich are in exile. Many have died in the war. Some have fled to the country, where living is more abundant. But hundreds of thousands have died of hunger and disease. Besides the lack of food there is an almost entire lack of medicines, anaesthetics, bandages, disinfectants and soap. These things have been kept out by the blockade.
General Leonard Wood, an outspoken critic of President Wilson and former Chief of Staff, became a Republican candidate in 1920, after Theodor Roosevelt's death previous year. His nomination was the answer for many citizens, disheartened by the passivity during the war, which was now causing damages to U.S. economy and society: the left, most notably the emerging powerful unions, were radicalized same as American Socialists - and sudden Fall of British Empire was only the start of German Empire's push for sole domination on world's markets, be it weaponry, shipping or industrial machines in 1920s.
Those who have never seen the hunger look in human eyes cannot even faintly imagine the pain of walking about the streets of a Russian town. I had experienced it first in Vienna, that once supremely happy and still very beautiful city. The knowledge of what the privations of the unhappy Austrians were (and still are) first came to me in a cheap restaurant, where I had gone to dine simply because the expensive meals at the hotel were so disgusting in their extravagance.
I raised my eyes from my plate for a second. At least a dozen pairs of eyes were glued hungrily to the simple food I was eatings and as hastily withdrawn when detected in the act. I found it almost impossible to eat in public after that, except when some hungry Austrian would consent to share the meal.
But the opposition in Germany itself was not toothless - many soldiers returned home with grim prospects, crippled physically or psychically and though tens of thousand used the option to settle in Baltic territories or German Africa with their families, there were still many hopeless cases, widely published by the left-wing organisations.
I have seen in Vienna old and young officers in uniform creep into hotels after dusk in the hope of getting scraps of food for their hungry children. I have seen a woman of refinement, with three small children clinging to her skirts, drop the red roses she was trying to sell as she reeled with fatigue against a wall. I have tasted the coloured water and imitation coffee in the cafes of the Ringstrasse.
I have seen the skeleton babes and consumptive wives of the Austrian workmen and soldiers in their own homes. And because I had seen these things in Vienna I knew, without asking any questions in Petrograd, that the two cities share with most of the cities of Eastern and Central Europe the bonds of a common suffering.
Rationing in Germany was abandoned in Summer 1918, with the demobilization and uninterrupted flow of goods from across the Atlantic, paid in good old Goldmarks. Whilst British population was left now starving, with ports under control of High Seas Fleet, German citizens could now eat Argentinian beef or drink Brazilian coffee at cheap prices.
This much must be said for the Communist Government: It is doing its best to secure an equal distribution amongst all sections of the working community of the very limited supplies of everything. The passport to food and clothing is work. If the workers go short it is probably because the food is not to be had. Either it is not procurable, because non-existent; or transport difficulties prevent it reaching the people.
Most of the British delegates wore their oldest clothes, garments which had been cast off and suddenly restored to use in contemplation of the trip to Russia. But those dear Russian people thought we were attired like princes. They turned us round to admire us. They patted and stroked our dresses and overcoats. They turned longing eyes upon our boots, and took great pleasure in handling the soft leather.
"Peace with Russia can only be maintained by fear of us. They are only frightened of a man and they only respect him if he hits them hard! See Japan! So it will be with us, too! Our preponderance in the German area is necessary to keep Russia away from our eastern frontier once and for all; no peace with Russia, however favourable, will give us that!"
- Wilhelm II.'s note to Treaty of Alexander Palace, 1916.
We knew we were going to a land radically different from all the European countries we had hitherto visited. We knew that serious and amazing things were alleged to have taken place there. Whilst we discounted most of the atrocity stories of the sensation loving newspapers, we realised that, since war was not merely a game nor revolution a picnic, frightful things must have happened.
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Snowden does speak eloquently of Russia. An interesting perspective on that failed state
Damned Bolsheviks!
Surely His Majesty's government won't allow this poison to go unchecked?
Surely His Majesty's government won't allow this poison to go unchecked?
Yes, this is the end, more or less.
Interwar years will be more focused on developments in each country, nation or colony, to describe how much the Weltkrieg shattered the each piece of world.
Snowden does speak eloquently of Russia. An interesting perspective on that failed state
Yes, poor Russia, especially since everyone knows the Englishmen started the war and ruined everything for everyone. Now only the Kaiser and Reich could return justice and security to Europe. Sole British responsibility for the war is unquestionable - they wanted the seven seas and half of the world just for themselves - now, they will have nothing. And then less.
Right now, no aristocrat, banker or industrialist in German Empire expects Bolshevik victory. They expect Warlord Era in Russia or White military dictatorship and Russia not being a threat for a decades to come.