1874: A return to normalcy?
The city of Nürnberg trembled in anticipation of what might come next. They did not know what the Reichstag had already decided, in the temporary capital of Berlin. They would fight the socialists who threatened the peace and stability of Germany. The Chancellor of Germany, Konrad von Schwaben, presided over the Reichstag as it passed a new law, mandating health care for every German, as well as funding a government expedition to Egypt.
Franz Meningen, the Commander of the Corps of Gendarmerie, wasted no time in racing back to Nürnberg. He appointed Horst Steeb as his deputy as the most brilliant offensive mind in Germany, and gave him command of every available unit with a single directive: restore the capital and find the ringleaders. Some of the advanced units had some of the new "machine guns" that had recently come out of government laboratories. The Minister of Education, Franz von Bavel-Timmermans, began a massive project (with government funds) to study the economic and human cost of the Anglo-Prussian War and the Great Rebellion. This emphasis on military statistics should improve commanders' ability to organize their troops. [1] As January 1874 drew to a close, Horst Steeb and Commander Meningen sent a joint telegram to Konrad von Schwaben and the rest of the Reichstag.
Minister of War Hals Gutfreund, the only member of the government to remain in Nürnberg during the siege, celebrated with a glass of brandy. With the lines of communication open, Gutfreund telegraphed the port commanders of Amsterdam, Oldenburg, Flensburg, Kolberg, giving them orders to expand their bases in preparation for the next wave of construction orders. [2] By 12 February, the last pockets of resistance in the capital had been wiped out, and the armies turned loose to chase down the scattered rebel armies across Germany. Gutfreund ordered increased production of machine guns based on field testing, and by April, every platoon had at least one.
As members of the Reichstag slowly trickled into Nürnberg, Konrad von Schwaben and Minister of the Interior Karl Adimari worked hard to try to bring everything under control. A pair of sympathy strikes, one on Bayreuth and one in Middelburg, were quietly broken up by the Gendarmerie and any mention removed from local papers.
In the city of Aachen, a group of socialists founded an illegal trade union. As it spread throughout the city, the Stadtholder of Aachen wasted no time in telegraphing to the capital. Within a matter of days, the union and all of its members was gone.
The completion of the "Official History of the Anglo-German War" forced a re-evaluation of German tactics and immediately became standard reading at the newly renamed Michael von Hohenzollern College of Military Studies. A similar study was planned for the navy as well, with the same level of government interest and funding.
As August and the 1875 elections approached, Algerians cheered their entry into the German sphere of influence. The Chancellor used this opportunity to strengthen the education system in formerly French provinces, demanding all schoolign take place in German. Over the next few months, this policy would convince more and more Frenchmen (and other minorities) to embrace the German nation, at the cost of a slight hiccup in educational endeavors.
25 August 1874 saw the final rebel stronghold succumb to German forces. Chancellor von Schwaben proclaimed the day a national holiday, one set aside for both celebration and remembrance.
While the symptoms had been treated, however, the fundamental disease -- the radicalization of German politics -- had not been cured. At polling places throughout Germany, every party used intimidation and violence to try to sway the electorate in their favor.
At a conference at the Chancellor's estates in Freiburg, the Minister of the Interior was given new orders. It was vital to German security that the repressive measures be set aside. Conservatives and Liberals alike needed to join together to prevent the Socialists gaining a victory. Adimari grimly nodded. When another labor union appeared in Görlitz, the Gendarmerie stayed clear.
Frederick Carile did his part to quell the mob; when new taxes were needed to pay for the new health care provisions and improved military training, he raised taxes on the rich, but only the rich, by 5%. Both the DDA and the SP, on the other hand, did their best to enrage it. Adelbert af Ambroose and Heinrich Simon Winter von Adlersflügel both gave impassioned speeches about the injustices of the Chancellor's policies, to use force instead of diplomacy to settle the issues of the day. Effigies of Schwaben, Meiningen, and Adimari burned throughout Germany, especially in the more radical cities or those cities where minorities ruled.
The Chancellor needed a big win to preserve some semblance of power. He denounced the forced labor policies in Italy, particularly Milan, that were the order of the day for convicted criminals.
Ferdinand von Hohenzollern's upcoming trial for treason was handled with tact. The young scion of Germany's most beloved family was under 24 hour guard, both to protect him from the crowd and protect him from himself. [3] Yet the biggest victory game when Karl Marx, the Jacobin revolutionary mastermind, turned himself in and openly endorsed the Republic of Germany and denounced revolution. [4] His speech on the steps of the capitol building moved many a citizen to tears.
Karl Marx said:
Konrad von Schwaben's decision to give Karl Marx amnesty and the wave of liberal sympathy paid off, big time, when the election results were announced: the NLPD came away with almost an absolute majority in the Assembly.
Between them, the UAI and NLPD controlled 45% of the Conclave as well. The liberals had been given a golden opportunity to shape the course of Germany for four years, at least, and perhaps name its first ever President.
[1] TJDS's original plan had "Military Logistics." However, we weren't able to study that because we didn't have the prerequisite, so we went with military statistics instead.
[2] Jack LEagle wanted two on the North Sea and two on the Baltic, but there was only one level two base in the Baltic, so I built three in the North Sea.
[3] Don't even think about it, DutchGuy.
[4] I did this partially to resolve the Marx storyline, partially to explain why Jacobins had largely disappeared, but mostly to help justify the huge gains the NLPD got from the elections.
First order of business, before we do anything else: we need to elect a President. Your candidates are:
Heinrich von Gogh -- SP ((DutchGuy))
Gerrit Aldo Servatius van Kloetinge -- DDA ((DensleyBlair))
Karl Adimari -- NS ((PTSnoop))
Ludwig Fredrik Anderson -- UAI ((Gen.Marshall))
Friedrich von Hohenstaufen -- HUN ((LatinKaiser))
Frederick Carile -- NLPD ((alxeu))
Franz Meningen -- HUN ((Andre Massena))
Franz von Bavel-Timmermans -- SP ((TJDS))
You can use simply the last name to indicate your vote. If you have not already done so, you must indicate your oath of loyalty during this vote or you forfeit your vote. Round 1 will proceed for 48 hours. If a second round is needed, it will follow immediately after that 48 hour period has expired. Do not introduce any amendments at this time. We will do that after the President is elected.
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