Chapter 86 I Will Be Back
Hersmann was ordered to come to the General Staff Headquarters in König Square, and he felt a sense of relaxation. From the second half of 1918 to now, Hersmann has never felt a bit relaxed here.
He met Lieutenant Colonel Schulenburg in the hall, who waved at him and took him to Hindenburg's office - Hersmann came to say goodbye to Hindenburg, and today was the day the marshal retired from active service. The Chief of the General Staff will be replaced by Admiral Groener, and Hindenburg will go to Hanover to live in seclusion for a while.
Hersmann knew that the marshal would not withdraw from people's sight. In a few years, he will participate in the presidential election and be elected as the president of the German Empire! Germany's violation of the Treaty of Versailles and preparations for rearmament also began after Hindenburg was elected president.
In the spacious and imposing office, Hersmann saw Hindenburg standing by the window, one hand on his hip, looking down at the telegram copy spread on the desk - that should be the final version of the Treaty of Versailles sent by the Paris peace delegation. He looked up at Hessmann who was walking quickly, and then smiled: "Before the Hungarian Bolsheviks are finished, we can have a maximum of 200,000 army, and we can also retain the General Staff... But other aspects are still quite demanding!"
Hessmann certainly knew the content of the latest version of the Treaty of Versailles, and his "cooperation informant" was in the German delegation. The content of the treaty is not much different from the previous draft of the Treaty of Versailles, only two aspects have been greatly revised.
One is to allow the Germans to retain the General Staff and 200,000 army before the collapse of the Hungarian Bolshevik Party, but the Germans must guarantee that they will no longer provide ammunition, food, coal and military advisers to the Hungarian Bolshevik Party. And the Allies will send a military observation group to supervise-this is actually a very favorable change! Not for Germany, but for the Junker military group.
At first glance, an additional 100,000 army may not seem like a big deal, and these people cannot threaten Britain and France. But that is 100,000 iron rice bowls, and those who can stay in the army after the war are the best, the best officers and non-commissioned officers. Their stay in the army can increase the power of the Junker Group and weaken the power of extremist parties.
Because the army can support 100,000 more soldiers, it means that the SA, SS, Red Guards and so on of extremist parties like the Nazis will have 100,000 fewer backbones! If the Stasi and the Kurland Defense Force add strength to the Junker Group. In the future, when the Junkers bargain with the Nazis, they will have several times more bargaining chips!
In the future, when the Nazi Party comes to power - Hersman has already felt that this is inevitable, because the Junker elites are not "their own people" of the middle and lower classes of German people, and they are at a disadvantage when voting - the Junker officer group can exist as a collaborator rather than a tool of the Nazis.
The second is to order Germany to hand over all merchant ships to make up for the losses suffered by the British in "Operation Rainbow", and also to take away almost all cruisers, destroyers and other auxiliary ships of the German Navy, allowing Germany to retain only 6 old cruisers, 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats. The loss of merchant ships will make Germany's future economy worse and will be more conducive to the development of extremism. The loss of most of the navy would allow the British to rest assured and no longer worry about the spread of extremism in Germany...
In addition, the Treaty of Versailles did not mention the Courland Autonomous State from beginning to end. It seems that the Allies did not intend to treat the Courland Autonomous State as part of Germany. The strategy of using Olga as a shield was basically successful.
"Marshal," Hessmann saluted Marshal Hindenburg, "harsh treaties will only awaken the German people. And we still retain some strength, and the Courland Autonomous State seems to be able to be preserved."
"Before the French defeat the Hungarians, we should be able to take a breath." Hindenburg said and sighed again, "But what about after that? If the French really go all out, the Hungarians can't support it for too long."
Germany's current President Ebert and Prime Minister Scheidemann are not people like Hindenburg. They will abide by the treaty in accordance with the rules. Moreover, the German Social Democratic Party is now more afraid of the Bolshevik Party than militarists like Hindenburg and Hessmann!
"Marshal, I think even if we recall all the advisers, the Hungarians can still hold out for several years. They have learned the essence of guerrilla warfare." Hersman was more confident than Hindenburg. "And it is a landlocked country with inconvenient transportation. The railway has been destroyed and the water transportation of the Danube has been blocked by mines. Once the Bolsheviks' rule is consolidated, it will not be easy to conquer them with their organizational and mobilization capabilities."
"What about a few years later?" Hindenburg frowned again, "Then we still have to lay off those 100,000 brothers..."
In a few years, you will be the president of Germany. You are much braver than Ebert, Scheidemann and others! Hersman thought so in his heart, but he said: "By then we should have come out of the trough, and the French will become more disgusted with war."
"I hope so!" Hindenburg paused, "But for now we still have to be patient, you know? As far as I know, President Ebert and Chancellor Scheidemann don't like you very much... You are too close to the Bolsheviks!"
"Marshal, I know too much!" Hersman smiled indifferently.
Before the outbreak of the November Revolution last year, Hersmann was ordered to take over the Military Intelligence Bureau, and also transferred a large number of spies from the Stasi agency to establish the Berlin Intelligence Station and began to investigate the Social Democratic Party, the Independent Social Democratic Party and the Spartacists.
Now, the Military Intelligence Bureau has set up a political group to investigate German political parties and politicians. Including Ebert and Scheidemann, many German Social Democratic politicians have been secretly investigated, and a lot of black materials have fallen into Hersmann's hands.
So Hersmann is not afraid of unarmed politicians like Ebert and Scheidemann. What really worries him is a party like the Nazi Party.
However, after Hindenburg stepped down, before the Social Democratic Party's cabinet fell - even without the memory of later generations, Hersmann knew that the Social Democratic Party's cabinet would not last long - Hersmann decided to keep a low profile.
"I know how to get along with them, Marshal, you can rest assured." Hersmann finally said something to reassure Hindenburg.
Hindenburg smiled and said, "Lieutenant Colonel, you are still young and have a bright future... Be patient for now, at most one year, there will be changes!"
One year? Hersman thought about it, could it be the Kapp coup? Although the coup was crushed, it made President Albert lose face.
"Nothing big will happen this year," Hindenburg said to Hersman in the tone of an elder talking to a younger person, "Ludwig, you should hurry up and get married to the countess... This is a good marriage. It will allow you to become one of the famous families in the west and the south."
"I plan to marry Chloe within the year."
Hindenburg nodded, "Okay, if it is not convenient for me to go, I will let Oscar (Hindenburg's son) attend the wedding... In addition, while I am not in Berlin, you can keep in touch with me through Lieutenant Colonel Schulenburg. Don't worry, I will not give up my responsibilities, I will come back!"
He will come back to be president! Hessman thought: Marshal Hindenburg was already planning to take the German presidency when he retired in 1919.
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I vomited blood and updated the article in the early morning. Can Luo Luo be considered as working hard? Shouldn't you vote for encouragement?