Foreword/Disclaimer/Delirium Tremens/Dustbin.
Some comments before going for the kill.
First and foremost, if anyone or anything represented here does have any real (no pun intended) resemblance whatsoever -but for the obvious exceptions mentioned- with any real being or event, past or present (even future ones, what the heck!), blame it to a joke of fate. Coincidence, sheer coincidence.
Next. God Bless Keira Knightley
Don't ask why or the unglamorous answer may kill you. You've been warned...
Chapter 16.
First set - The Failure of a Revolution.
Berlin, 1st January, 2004
After the collapse of the Syndicalist block, emboldened by the liberalized atmosphere of freedom, many political parties appeared in the former Syndicalist countries. Germany was no exception, of course. In the so called
Berlin Spring, which soon spread all over Germany, the process of de-Syndicalization began under the Provisional Government. Among the parties which appeared in those days there were a few ones which claimed for the return of the Kaiser. One of them, the
Independent and Free Conservative Party of Germany (
Unabhängige und Freikonservative Partei Deutschlands or
UFKPD) had, as its first point of his political agenda, the restorarion of the Hohenzollern. However, the Royal family didn't seem to care very much about them.
Since the defeat in the war against teh Syndicalist France and Britain and their abdication, the Hohenzollern had lived in exile, the main branch of the family in Sweden, while some other members moved to Switzerland or Russia. Watching life to develop by their own means, the Hohenzollern seemed to be glad to vanish from history to enjoy a peaceful oblivion. This would change, of course, with the fall of the
Deutsche Syndikalistiche Republik (DSR) in 1990. Ironically, their return would be thanks to one of his most hated enemies, Erich Honecker, former General Secretary of the Central Commitee of the
Syndicalist Unity Party of Germany (Syndikalistiche Einheitspartei Deutschlands, SED).
Honecker, who fled to London after the fall of the DSR, addressed to his former country for the last time of his life -he was to die from liver cancer a few weeks later- on 20 April, 1994 in a speech given by the broadcasting services of the dying Union of Britain - it was to outlive Honecker by just a few days no more-. In that speech, Honecker warned the Germans no to fall into the "
old mistakes of the past", trying to arose the fears that the memories of the wars that took place while the Hohenzollern were in power in Germany. In that, Honecker failed miserably, as the Germans began to became interested in its former past, that had been a forbidden and unespeakeable matter during the Syndicalist age. A twist of fate, you may call it that way.
It would take some years, indeed, but finally, His (Imperial and) Royal Highness Friedrich Wilhelm Ferdinand, Prinz von Preußen (1), returned to Germany, and, despiste the fact that he neither wanted any political role nor he aimed at such -„I
ch habe als Chef des Hauses Hohenzollern keine politische Rolle und strebe dies auch nicht an“, he had declared just prior to his return to Germany-, the chaotic situation of the fatherland changed his mind. Thus, at the head of the
Royal and Imperial Party of Germany (
Königliche und Kaiserliche Partei Deutschlands or
KKPD (2)), Prince Friedrich -the fact he had been in Sweden was forgotten conveniently (3)- joined the race for power. At his side had a young man called Konrad von Stauffenberg (4). Together, Friederich and Konrad will make history.
First set - The Failure of a Revolution.
Berlin, August 20th, 1944
The death room at Plötzensee Prison in Berlin. In the foreground is the guillotine.
Dietrich was looking at his wooden bowl, trying to repress his old habits, that is, to try to guess whether the white bits floating in the clear fluid were rice or maggots. The times had changed since the coup, and he was still trying to get used to be visited by a doctor and not by a would-be executioner or a torturer from the secret service. Dietrich was lifting the spoon, when a knock in the door signalled the arrival of his old friend. He then carefully put the bowl to one side and stood to greet the visitor.
-Otto, you look even worse than last week - Doctor Hans Scheller said, frowning.
-Worse? I thought it couldn't be worse... - Dietrich's voice failed and broke.
The doctor helped Dietrich back to the bench. Times may have changed, good might be better, and the new government may be working hard to change things, but old habits die hard, Dietrich thought. And prisons are quite late at implementing changes. Doctor Schellers' smile was warm, though.
-Did you find out anything about Maria? - Dietrich asked.
-I'm afraid not, Otto.
Dietrich closed his eyes. Maria Dietrich had been arrested because of she was married with him, a traitor.
- I asked to some of my friends. Otto. Several times. They tried hard, but they couldn't locate her. She was arrested soon after you were, and has disappeared somewhere.
Scheller didn't mention that the last piece of rumours pointed about the chance that Maria could have been in a train caught in the bombing of Dresden (5).
Dietrich moved his forehead. He didn't want the doctor to see his tears. Dr. Scheller gripped Dietrich's hand.
-Don't give up hope, Otto - the doctor said - You are still alive. You have survived this long. Don't give up. I've been told that the new government is going to free all those arrested by clumsy reasons on the last stages of the war. Don't give up.
Giving his back to his friend, Dietrich lay back on the cot and turned to the wall. A new government or not, it did not matter very much to him.
(1) A complete made up character, it goes without saying.
(2) The silliest name for a political party, I know, but... BTW, Acronyms are lovely, aren't they?
(3) Well, we don't blame Johan for that little matter, either, do we?
(4) Claus von Stauffenberg had a twin, his own twin brother Konrad Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, who died in Jettingen on 16 November, 1907, being 1 day old. His two elder brother, Berthold and Alexander, were also twins. Interesting, isn't it? But now we are talking about 2003... so... what if...
Just in case, it's another Konrad Maria Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, ok?
(5) Not the one you're thinking, but one bad enough, though.