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((Remember, V2 base unit is brigade, not division. You're thinking of HOI3.

@Gen. Marshall, @Sakura_F, some votes on the war would be lovely (also the execution or not of Ferdinand von Hohenzollern.)))
 
((I have no idea what to do with our NF; does it matter which province it is used in?))
 
((I have no idea what to do with our NF; does it matter which province it is used in?))

((NFs are all on the state level. You can give me general guidelines and I'll apply them, if you'd prefer to do that.))
 
I once again reiterate my support for mercy for Ferdinand von Hohenzollern. As well, I support war.
 
I would recommend that the government prioritize the recruitment of soldiers in a suitable region of the Republic.
 
The German republic shall come to the aid of Ethiopia, with a vote of 480 votes to 20 against in the Assembly and 83 votes to 9 against in the Conclave.

Given the exigencies of the war, and the perpetual absence of several jurors, the Supreme Court will postpone the commutation of Herr von Hohenzollern's sentence until 1876. He will remain in prison until that time. If no juror has come forward to vote for or against mercy ((current vote is 6 to 4 against mercy)), the Supreme Court will take the voting as it exists.

The modifications to the Finance, Interior, and War plans are also approved.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

((I will play tonight, finish up 1875, and go from there!))
 
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1876: The fallout from the Socialist rebellion

Special Prosecutor Franz von Bavel-Timmermans was, initially, an ill-regarded choice to prosecute the biggest trial in German history. A son of the most famous family in history was on trial for treason against the state. Ferdinand von Hohenzollern begged and pleaded for mercy, citing the birth of his young son as grounds for leniency. Finding no friends willing to defend him, young Ferdinand instead called himself "nothing more than a soldier killing soldiers", according to one account of his speech. The uproar at that statement, led by Fritz von Hohenzollern, nearly saw a mob rush the courthouse and proceed to carry out justice right there and then.

As nobody truly believed he was innocent, Ferdinand immediately changed his plea to guilty and devoted his time in court to begging for his life or, failing that, execution by firing squad, so that his son would not have to witness the ignominy of seeing his father hung. Ten jurors cast ballots; six voting for his execution, four for life imprisonment. Three jurors, still weighing the evidence, refused to vote when war with Benin began.

The newly appointed Foreign Minister, Fritz von Hohenzollern, wasted little time in seeking intervention on behalf of the only true ally Germany had. An outpouring of support and wealth ensured that the Ethiopian economy continued to function while avoiding an outpouring of German blood. The Ministry of War ordered the construction of 26 new steam transports, all of which were completed by the end of the year, in case Beninese rebels reached German territory in West Africa. Given that these new ships had the capability to carry 78,000 troops, or two full armies, some of the more radical newspapers questioned the actual purpose for these new ships.

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The Governor of the Philippines, an ex-Army Colonel named Reinhard Detweiler, also used the crisis to support a new all-Filipino defense brigade, albeit with German officers. The program was so successful that non-Germans were given the opportunity throughout the Republic to join local garrisons, freeing up trained Germans for active duty.

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In late March, the Ministry of Education completed its thorough report on "The Causes and Roots of Revolution and the Practice of Counterrevolution." While, like most official government publications, the Socialist Uprising was laid at the feet of Ferdinand von Hohenzollern, it nonetheless grudgingly admitted that he could not be held responsible for every uprising before that or every uprising that would come after. The report recommended opening a dialogue with dissatisfied Germans, but more importantly recommended stronger fortifications throughout the Republic. This new "Point Defense System" was the talk of the Ministry of War, and a design contest was announced for new, more secure fortifications.

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An independent Socialist newspaper, on the other hand, lambasted the report. The editorial on the front page called the Special Prosecutor "a class traitor" and the jury "intellectual cowards for not insisting on Ferdinand's immediate release." They accused the government of intentionally triggering a mine collapse in Erfurt to "kill more true Socialist brothers and sisters." The new DSU struggled to distance itself from the outrageous accusations, and the people of Germany blamed the German Socialist Union for the propaganda.

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The HUN and conservatives fared no better; a group of rebels seized control of the Ethiopian government during the war, raising the important question of where the German subsidies actually went. Franz Meningen, "the Liberator", insisted he had nothing to do with the overthrow of Ethiopia's government, but a curious void on his government passport looked suspiciously like the seal of Ethiopia.

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Another incident for which Meningen had no comment was a French-backed crisis, where they forced the British Empire to acknowledge the existence of a new country, Nizhny Novgorod.

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Overall, however, the German political arena remained very quiet. The Ministry of the Interior shut down a group of so-called "friendly societies" throughout the nation, as the official law of the land was that Socialists could not operate trade unions, but they were judicious in their use of force and legitimate, apolitical trade unions remained open and functioning.

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New fortification plans were awarded to Krupp AG, Germany's largest industrial firm not owned by the Hohenzollerns, in late 1876. However, Fritz still won the lucrative contract to construct new large scale steam turbines, projected to be worth millions of thalers.

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Governor Detweiler sent some curious wildlife he and his men spotted in the Philippines, prompting a traveling exhibition for all Germans to enjoy and marvel at.

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All of this peace and prosperity had come at a price. Just over £100,000 had been spent to pay for the war so far, not to mention the MInistry of War's emergency spending plan. Germany remained very liquid, with plenty of money in the bank, but the war was no closer to completion than it was in January 1876.

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============================================​

We have one item for the ballot -- shall Germany legalize all trade unions, including those operated by Socialists? Other ballot items may be proposed until Saturday at 10 PM (-6 GMT). Any jurors who have yet to vote are encouraged to do so. Jurors may also continue to deliberate and change their minds if their consciences dictate; unless seven votes for execution are found, the defendant's plea for mercy will not be granted.

The court is also waiting to hear from Frederika von Hohenzollern nee Muller. ((DutchGuy, you can speak on her behalf, since she's your character.)) If she agrees that the child loses all titles and claims to the Hohenzollern estates, now and in perpetuity, as well as the title of Stadtholder von Nürnberg, she may retain custody. If she refuses, the child will become a ward of the state.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
 
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Shall Germany legalize socialist trade unions? No, I say!

This past year has seen the Republic's socialists continue to press their attack against the established order. We have seen the much-publicised and much-criticised slanders against the Revolution Report and the Hohenzollern trial (which, as has been noted, our conclave's Socialist party has sought to distance themselves from). We have seen the so-called "Friendly Society" attempting to provide voice, legitimacy and even financial support for the dangerous revolutionaries and militarists. And all this while we are still repairing the damage from the last socialist uprising!

Should we, then, seek to encourage these socialists further? Should we legalise the "Friendly Society", and allow this "cooperative bank" to pool their finances and better afford guns and explosives for the next uprising? No, say I. If these people seek to readdress the political standpoints of the Republic, they should do it through elected government like everyone else.

(( On an unrelated note, by the way - what's the current position on actual Communist parties? Are we waiting for an event to fire before such things are possible, or could a group of AAR-players form a Communist party now if they wanted to? ))
 
Herr Adimari,

I do support your motion that the slander published by various rabble-rousers and radicals who use the social ideology that the German Social Union supports for their own betterment rather than that of the entire society. However, it is imperative that the Stadtholders in the Conclave, both opposite and behind me, and the Assemblymen in the National Assembly vote in favour of this union reform, for it is both undemocratic that people who follow a certain ideology are unable to unify to support their families and colleagues by co-operating with the employers of this nation, while other people, who follow other ideologies, are able to the same with the same goal, of bettering the lives of their families and colleagues. Therefore I strongly support union reforms, firstly, citizens should not be discriminated because of their ideology, secondly, it will strengthen the resolve of labourers across the German Republic to work hard, because they know they can work for their career, for their children, for their future, because the unions will protect them, no matter his ideology.

Franz von Bavel-Timmermans
 
Herr Victor reproposes the following bill:

Noting the militancy of races and minorities within the German Republic,
Promoting Equality and liberty throughout the Nation,
and, Attempting to create a more democratic and Representative Germany, in the interest of all her citizens,
the following proposal is to be made to the Reichstag:

The Minorities Bill
Section A
1. Any acts of Discrimination on the basis of Race, in which the victim is denied benefits or opportunities given to other citizens, are to be condemned and outlawed by the Federal Government.

2. This Committee will fall under the Ministry of the Interior, and will work in cooperation with the Corps of Gendarmerie to all investigate discriminatory institutions within the Federal System of Government.
3. The Committee will also advise the Government on legislative and executive matters pertaining to race, as well as advise the Ministry with policy pertaining to race relations*.

Section B
1. Bilingualism within certain states will be included in the curricula of the German Republic.
2. German is to be the official language of the Republic.
3. Secondary Languages are to be taught in the following regions:
a. Cornwall-Welsh
b.The Rhine Regions-French
c. Italia-Italian
d. Jutland-Danish
E. West Prussia-Polish
4. The educational districts of those regions are to teach both the primary and the secondary from a young age.

((*The Policy I refer to is a new simple mechanic I thought would make the game more immersive. What it adds is a policy the minister of the interior implements towards races. It comes in 5 stages:
Oppressive: Always take German side, if there's a choice between militancy of a racial pop vs. Consciousness, take militancy.
Biased: Always take German side except if the result is detrimental to the nation. E.g don't pick militancy when a revolt seems likely.
Balanced: Try to balance it. Do whatever best for the nation while keeping minorities in mind.
Diversity: Always go with minorities side except if detrimental.
Positive Discrimination: Always go with minorities side. No matter what.))
 
Lest I be thought undemocratic in my position regarding the proposed union reforms - I believe this issue touches upon one of the fundamental philosophical questions regarding the nature of freedom. Specifically, is it good that one be free to curtail one's own freedoms?

At the present time, the German anti-socialist trade-union legislation states that "societies which aim at the overthrow of the existing political or social order through social-democratic, socialistic, or communistic endeavors are to be prohibited."* Now, it could be argued that such a prohibition stands as an unreasonable restriction against a certain political viewpoint - the viewpoint that the democratic system should be overthrown - and the Republic would be more free without such a restriction.

But I maintain that the freedom to seek to abolish one's own freedom is not one that can be reasonably upheld. I do not see that the sought-after abolition of democracy would be much of a triumph for democratic freedom - it may be a striking example of the extent of one's liberated freedom of action, for one brilliant moment, but that would be cold comfort indeed for the non-free years immediately thereafter.

And so, I belive some legal restriction against those groups which "aim at the overthrow" of our political order is entirely reasonable. The word "socialist" is one that has been used to describe a multitude of different political opinions - ranging from the pro-democratic social reformers to the rabid Colognianist movement. But our Socialist Trade Unions restriction is at the present time sufficiently clearly worded to distinguish the reformer from the revolutionary. I believe - at the present time especially - that it is a useful tool in the preservation of our democratic freedoms, and I would not see it cast aside.

---

(( *cribbed wholesale from Bismarck's "Law Against the Publicly Dangerous Endeavors of Social Democracy", which is the closest OTL equivalent of the "Socialist Trade Unions" distinction that I'm aware of. ))
 
((Can you explain a bit more how the Committee aspect would work, Dr. Livingstone?

Re: Communism, here's the code for the event.

Code:
country_event = {
    id = 1001
    title = "EVTNAME1001"
    desc = "EVTDESC1001"
    news = yes
    news_desc_long = "EVTDESC1001_NEWS_LONG"
    news_desc_medium = "EVTDESC1001_NEWS_MEDIUM"
    news_desc_short = "EVTDESC1001_NEWS_SHORT"
    picture = "Socialism"
   
    trigger = {
        NOT = {
            is_ideology_enabled = communist 
        }
        year = 1870
        civilized = yes
        literacy = 0.5
        OR = {
            planned_economy = 10
            pro_atheism = 10
            pro_military = 15
            unemployment = 0.2
            AND = {
                NOT = {
                    poor_strata_life_needs = 0.9
                    }
                average_militancy = 3
            }
        }
    }
   
    major = yes
    fire_only_once = yes

    mean_time_to_happen = {
        months = 300
       
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.5
            invention = karl_marx
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.8
            invention = friedrich_engels
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.5
            poor_strata_life_needs = 0.95
        }
    }

    option = {
        name = "EVTOPTA1001"
        enable_ideology = communist
    }
}

It should have fired in 1870, but I think the problem right now is that the global economy is mostly quite strong, so there's no real "market" [heh heh heh] for Communism in-game. If it hasn't fired by 1880, we'll hold a meta-vote to introduce it, if necessary.

Also, if you're reading this AAR and haven't voted in the ACAs, check my signature and get your butts over there! Vote for any AAR you like, not necessarily this one, but vote!))
 
((Can you explain a bit more how the Committee aspect would work, Dr. Livingstone?

((It's quite simple. 'Committee member' is a mere title gameplay wise, with no authority unless the state grants it. At most, it would give a slight boost in influence for the coup system. In IC terms, the committee would be required to submit a report advising the National Government on race relations every election cycle or so. More specifically, they would advise the interior minister on a policy to take regarding the races.))
 
((How many members do you imagine this committee will have? Or are you intending it to be something that exists outside the iAAR, so that in reality the Ministry of the Interior is actually controlling this policy?))
 
((How many members do you imagine this committee will have? Or are you intending it to be something that exists outside the iAAR, so that in reality the Ministry of the Interior is actually controlling this policy?))
((The ministry has absolute control of the policy, unless the Reichstag or Ministry decide to delegate powers. The Committee merely advises at this point. As to members, I was thinking around three initial members, with the title being semi-permanent (e.g. until death, resigning from office, impeachment, or fired). Committee members would still have the roles they had before, such as 'Member of the Conclave', but have the added prestige of being a member of the Committee. The appointment of members to this Committee would be made in thread by the Ministry of the Interior.))
 
Herren,

I must also oppose socialist trade unions. Why would we legitimize those who sought violent overthrow of our republic?

Also, I must announce that after this legislative session, I will be retiring from politics to focusing on administrating the family businesses. It has been a great honor to work among you all for these thirty-one years. Thank you.

And if I could make a last request, I would ask the minister of education to continue pursuits that would enable German businesses to grow:

I hear that some firms have begun using assembly lines. These firms should have their methods studied and applied in general, as this looks to massively increase our industry's efficiency.
Advanced metallurgy is within our grasp. The benefits to development of these techniques would be without measure.
I hear some chemists have begun research into organic chemistry. If what half of their promises are true, this could open up entirely new areas of production.
Business banks would have many beneficial effects on business, making it easier for private investors to start new businesses, and would additionally allow us to raise more taxes.
Specifying particular banks that can print bills (( private bank money bill printing )) would improve the flow of money, improving our ability to tax, and allowing us to better pay our bureaucrats, giving us more efficient administration.
Our understanding of economic theory is improving, but still limited. This is adversely affecting the efficiency of our businesses. Studying how economics has worked throughout history ((the historical theory)) will help.
Improved business regulations would greatly improve the ability of our business men to innovate, and also for us to tax them appropriately.
The scientific management of our factories is already yielding benefits to our efficiency. Research into time saving measures could improve the output of our factories even more.


FM

((Announcing Friedrick Stefan Thiessen
Party: UAI
House: Assembly
Age: 29 (born September 9, 1846)
Birthplace: Munich, Germany

Herr Thiessen is already known as a skilled clockmaker at his young age. He was surprised and pleased to be elected to the Assembly, where he hopes to empower workers and to support individual liberty. ))

(( Also, I have a set of notes containing details of what kinds of factory 'chains' would be productive in which states, if anyone wants them. ))
 
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