"Even the final decision of a whole war is not always to be regarded as absolute. The conquered state often sees in it only a passing evil, which may be repaired in after times by means of political combinations. How much this also must modify the degree of tension and the vigour of the efforts made is evident in itself."
--- Karl von Clausewitz, On War
Discussion between Adolf Hitler and principal members of the German Government
December 3rd, 1935
Berchtesgaden, Bavaria
Adolf Hitler:
Gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice. I do not wish to keep you from your families for too long. I know the days ahead will provide you with a change for deep introspection and I wish to discuss some ideas that have been swirling around in my head for some time.
The first thing I would like to discuss with you today is the Treaty of Versailles. Now I am of the opinion that it is an abomination. This treaty places limitations on the ability of Germany to assert her will in the world. In my opinion, it is our natural right to reject its provisions.
Werner von Fritsch:
I could not agree more, Führer. Unfortunately, I do not see a way to restore the treaty without the intervention of the British and French, not to mention the Soviet Union and the United States. How can the treaty be destroyed without provoking a response?
Adolf Hitler:
That is an excellent question, Fritsch. It is one which I have contemplated for some time. I believe that neither the British, French, nor the Soviets wish a war in Europe to occur. The Americans are quite frankly too busy amusing themselves across the Atlantic to be of any concern. I doubt they would even intervene to protect their own mother, Britain. However, that is not to say that they cannot be roused into action. If they percieve that war is inevitable, they will choose to fight it upon terms favorable to them. However, if our plans can be concealed through a slow procession of minor acts, I believe we can shrug off these chains of bondage.
Werner von Blomberg:
Is the rejection of the treaty truly necessary? The lands currently under our control contain vast resources and industry. More than enough to pull Germany out of the shadows and into the sunlight again. If we act aggressively, we will cast doubts on our ability to be responsible members of the international community.
Adolf Hitler:
Nonsense! You have been listening to your Danish friend far too much, Blomberg. You need to wake up to the reality of the world. What is this international community nonsense? You believe the Anglo-French lies? Unbelievable!
The British maintain dominion over half of Africa, half of the Caribbean, the whole of India, and various other scattered possessions around the world. They gleefully boast the Empire where the sun never sets. The French possess similar possessions, only slightly smaller. Are we going to allow these rogues to define the justice of war? Did the people of India come crying to the British to take them into their arms? No! They were subjugated by force. For these ridiculous impostors to declare war an immoral act is ludicrous!
Werner von Blomberg:
Führer, I did not mean to suggest that their concerns were valid. I merely was noting that the rejection of Versailles will not exactly earn us friends around the globe.
Adolf Hitler:
I do not seek "friends around the globe", Werner. Do you not know the old Prussian saying, "A country which cannot defend itself does not deserve to exist!" Enough of your nonsense, Werner. I want your resignation in my hands by sunset. Get out of my sight.
Werner von Blomberg:
Führer, I didn't.....
*Blomberg's arm is grabbed by a soldier. He immediately turns and storms out*
Adolf Hitler:
Ludwig?
Ludwig Beck:
Yes, Führer
Adolf Hitler:
Send a letter via courier to Hjalmar Schacht in Cologne. Tell him that his presence is requested in Berchtesgaden immediately. I want him here by Sunday. Tell him that I wish to make him my new Armaments Minister.
Ludwig Beck:
Yes, Führer
(Werner von Blomberg replaced by Hjalmar Schacht as Armaments Minister)
Adolf Hitler:
Now, let us keep our discussion moving now that Blomberg is gone. What would be the best way to begin the slow destruction of Versailles?
Wilhelm Canaris
Führer, I have an idea. Versailles prohibits us from placing troops in the Rhineland. However, the French have no capability to move against us were we to re-occupy it. It contains a plethora of valuable metals and industry vital to our nation. It is important that it be defended.
I believe my agents can arrange for an incident to occur in Luxembourg in early January. We can use this incident to justify not only the occupation of the Rhineland but the annexation of Luxembourg into the Reich. The city is a prize of sizeable proportions.
My agents assure me that the French are far from able to act inside of a year should we move against them. That will give us time to establish order in the region and in Luxembourg. We can also then dramatically curtail military buildup and diplomatically assure the French of our peaceful intentions towards our neighbors.
Adolf Hitler
I like your thinking, Wilhelm. But I worry that such an act would be viewed as too aggressive for the French and British to endure.
Wilhelm Canaris
Yes, but you said yourself not moments ago that you were assured of their cowardice. I share that vision, my Führer. I dont believe they will act.
Werner von Fritsch:
That is all well and good, but we will need to immediately divert our industry to increasing our military capabilities. While I would like to believe Wilhelm's assurances, I prefer to build my security based on cold steel, not the beliefs of some agent in Paris.
Adolf Hitler
I agree, Fritsch. What do you suggest?
Werner von Fritsch:
Well, currently our energies are directed at the construction of sea-going vessels. While I certainly understand the need for a battle fleet, I believe the army is a more pressing need. We have only three armored divisions. That is far from adequate. And we need more infantry. We are currently behind the Soviets and the French in terms of infantry divisions. This must change soon if we are going to be able to feel confident with continuing to violate Versailles.
Erich Raeder:
I must protest, Führer. It is of vital importance that we continue the reconstruction of our seagoing fleet. We are critically short on battleships, heavy cruisers, and submarines. Many of the ships that we do have are obsolete. We must divert more, not less resources to building a powerful fleet to combat the British!
Adolf Hitler
I disagree, Erich. Have you read the recent book by Alfred Saalwächter? He argues powerfully that the future of naval warfare lies with the aircraft carrier. Since you came into your office, you have done nothing to increase our naval aviation capacity. Saalwächter criticizes the philosophy of imitation that we have adopted. We cannot build a British style fleet to defeat the British. We must build a new fleet, with aircraft carriers as the centerpiece, to destroy the British Navy through innovation, rather than outproduction.
Erich Raeder:
I must disagree with Mr. Saalwächter. He lacks the naval experience to make such judgements.
Adolf Hitler
I regret your decision, Erich. Please place your resignation in my hand alongside Blombergs by the end of the evening.
*Raeder stands up slowly and deliberately. He firmly places his admiral's cap on his head and stands tall as he solemnly leaves the room*
Adolf Hitler:
Ludwig?
Ludwig Beck:
Yes, Führer
Adolf Hitler:
Send a letter via courier to Alfred Saalwächter in Stuttgart. Tell him that his presence is requested in Berchtesgaden immediately. I want him here by Sunday to be sworn in with Hjalmar Schacht. Tell him that I am going to make him my new Chief of the Navy. He will be authorized to scrap all of our obsolete and useless vessels and rebuild the navy as he sees fit.
Ludwig Beck:
Yes, Führer
(Erich Raeder replaced by Alfred Saalwächter as Chief of the Navy)
(1 CL2, All Battlecruisers, All Submarines, All Destroyers: Disbanded)
(Destroyer and Submarine Under Construction: Cancelled)
(Alfred Saalwächter given command over remaining fleet: 2 CA4s, 1 CL4 , 4 CL3s)
(Kriegsmarinewerft begins research on Early Air Carrier)
Adolf Hitler:
Where were we?
Ludwig Beck:
We were discussing reorganizing the Army. Currently, we are using a Brigade system to allocate specialized weapons to our various infantry divisions. Each brigade results in the slowing of the division significantly. It prevents rapid maneuver and could hinder us in offensive operations.
Werner von Fritsch:
What is the alternative? Our troops fighting unequipped for potential adversaries?
Ludwig Beck:
Of course not! Dont be preposterous. We can remove all these brigades and disband them. Invest our industry and supplies on providing alternatives. If we need our divisions to pack a more powerful punch, lets invest our resources in providing more tank divisions. If we create more solid tank corps, we can use these mobile forces to provide strength where it is needed at a rapid pace. If we need air defenses, build AA guns. If we need mobile air defenses, build interceptors!
Adolf Hitler:
I agree, Ludwig. That is a brilliant plan!
Hermann Göring:
I disagree. Any assets devoted to our aircraft divisions should be invested in bombers. If we can destroy the enemy from the air, the army can march through the remains unscathed. This is the future of war. Not this nonsense Ludwig is proposing!
Ludwig Beck:
You couldnt be more wrong, Hermann. That is precisely the thinking of our enemies. We must think better than them! Bombers are inaccurate and cumbersome. They are vulnerable to attack from the land and air. They deliver insignificant and ofter uneffective blows. They are severely hampered by weather. Bombers are a weapon of the coward!
Hermann Göring:
Do not call me a coward again, Ludwig! Or you will not live to regret it!
Adolf Hitler:
Hermann, sit down. I agree with Ludwig. If we are going to build aircraft, we must build interceptors and fighters. If the enemy can operate his bombers, we can shoot them from the sky. If neither of us can fly due to weather, we will be safe anyway. The arm of decision will be the armored division, supported by mobile infantry on the ground.
Hermann Göring:
Enough of this. I will not be a part of this foolhardy plan. You will have my resignation by the end of the day. No doubt you were planning to force this fate upon me anyway!
*Göring stands up and storms out furiously*
Adolf Hitler:
Ludwig, send a letter via courier to your friend Carl Friedrich von Siemens in Dusseldorf. Tell him that his presence is requested in Berchtesgaden immediately. I want him here by Sunday to be sworn in with Saalwächter and Schacht. Tell him that I am going to make him my new Chief of the Airforce. He will be authorized to scrap all of our bombers and build a comprehensive air defense corps.
Ludwig Beck:
Yes, Führer
(Hermann Göring replaced by Carl Friedrich von Siemens as Chief of the Air Force)
(All Bombers: Disbanded)
(3 remaining interceptors rebased and regrouped in Kassel under Lt. Gen Milch)
(Focke-Wulf begins research on Basic Interceptor)
(All non-Engineer brigades removed and disbanded)
(6 12-unit runs of 1936 infantry placed under construction)
(6 divisions move to each province along Maginot Line)
(6 divisions move to Cologne to attack Luxembourg)
(3 divisions move to Kiel to guard)
(3 divisions move to Elbing to guard)
(All remaining divisions amass in Berlin)
Adolf Hitler:
What remains to be discussed, gentlemen?
Wilhelm Frick:
Führer, we must discuss the domestic situation. The people do not fear us as much as they used to. It undermines our support amongst the middle class. I fear we have been too lenient lately. We must vigorously restore order and strengthen our power.
Adolf Hitler:
The problem is that they cant find enough food to feed their family, Frick. You have been too focused on law and order that you forgot the fundamental measure of the strength of a government is its ability to provide for its people. While I respect your opinion, I want you to resign as Minister of Security and take on an enforcement role in the party apparatus. Your skills will be much more useful there. Perhaps after we have acquired some non-German territory, you can return to prominence to bring the rebellious populations to heel.
Wilhelm Frick:
Understood, my Führer. I appreciate your willingness to part ways amicably.
Adolf Hitler:
I am not unreasonable, Frick. Ludwig, contact Franz Gürtner in Magdeburg. He has stood in Frick's shadow for far too long. He is an excellent administrator. He helped bring the party security forces up to speed. Tell him I want him to take over as Minister of Security so Frick can pursue other activities for the Reich.
Ludwig Beck:
Yes, Führer
(Wilhelm Frick replaced by Franz Gürtner as Minister of Security)
Adolf Hitler:
Gentlemen, before we part ways there is the matter of general industry to discuss. I would like to pursue three seperate paths to three different vital necessities. First, we must develop a stronger industrial base through improved machine tools. Second, we must increase crop production through chemical enhancement. Third, we must develop computational machines to solve complex problems. Alongside our military efforts, these paths will create a strong industrial base to fuel our future.
Return to your offices and carry out that which we have discussed today. We shall meet again in early January to discuss our progress and prepare for the invasion of Luxembourg.
(IG Farben begins research on Basic Machine Tools)
(MAN begins research on Agrichemistry)
(Konrad Zuse begins research on Basic Computing Machine)
(Hawk +1)