Chapter 41 Freedom Corps

Returning to Berlin this time, Hersmann did not see Hindenburg and Ludendorff immediately. These two big men are now very busy. Things about Russia, the Baltic Republic, and the "Gray Plan" that helped Germany recover after the war have all been placed in a relatively secondary position. Stabilizing the collapsing front line and seeking peace are the first priority, and these two things are contradictory - if democracy is implemented in Germany according to the enemy's will, it seems to be conducive to peace, but the German army will collapse as a result. On the contrary, strengthening the dictatorship can make the military determined, but it will make it more difficult to seek peace.

This is almost a multiple choice question with no correct answer!

Fortunately, the person doing the question now is not Lieutenant Colonel Ludwig von Hersmann. Just when Wilhelm II, Hindenburg and Ludendorff were having headaches, Hessmann handed the report of the Moscow trip to his superior, Colonel Val T. Nicholas.

"Ludwig, the situation is getting worse and worse. Your predictions are coming true! I have to say that you are the most amazing crow's mouth in the General Staff!"

Looking at the report sent by Hessman, Colonel Nicholas felt sincerely.

Hersman frowned and asked, "Colonel, may I interpret your words as a compliment?"

"Yes, it's a compliment! Although most of your reports and plans are overly pessimistic, I have to admit that your pessimism is very prophetic. This allows us to make some preparations in advance for the most difficult moments. This is your "

Should I be promoted if I have merit? It is impossible to be promoted to colonel, but the position can still be promoted.

Colonel Nicholas's subsequent words confirmed Hersman's conjecture. He said: "Major General Haushofer has retired, and you will take over as the director of his Eastern Division. From now on, I will no longer act in this position. You are now the youngest director among the departments under the General Staff. "You are a commander, and you have the rank of lieutenant colonel. I think you know what this means?"

It is not easy to win the promotion competition in the elite German Army. Most of the young officers with similar qualifications to Hessmann are still captains and lieutenants, while he is already a lieutenant colonel and serves as a division chief. After that, Maybe even become a colonel in a few years. This means that he is at least three levels ahead of his peers. In peacetime, when promotions are carried out step by step according to the system, it often takes fifteen to twenty years to go from captain to colonel!

This means that Hessman has enough time to advance to the general level! Moreover, the Eastern Division and the Stasi he leads will also give him enough opportunities to make meritorious deeds.

This also meant that Hindenburg and Ludendorff had regarded Hersmann as a possible future leader of the German army. They must pave the way for Hessman before they lose power!

"The director of the Eastern Division of the Military Intelligence Agency means responsibility, a huge responsibility!" Hersman replied solemnly.

"It's good that you understand this," Colonel Nikolay nodded, speaking calmly, "Then from now on, you will not mention supporting the Hungarian Bolshevik Party or other Bolshevik parties in your reports. The civilian government that is about to come to power is made up of people who are very timid.”

This is for Hersman to take responsibility himself! Being an official cannot just rely on good taste, you must also dare to be responsible, especially if you don't have a particularly good father.

"I understand!" Hessman replied, "I will take responsibility."

"In addition, some companies responsible for sensitive projects should be established outside the Russian-German Economic Promotion Corporation... They should not be the property of the German government, but should be sacrosanct private property."

"Okay, I will find someone to provide the money. Colonel, do you want to invest a little? Those companies will definitely make a lot of money..."

"Well, let's talk about this later." Colonel Nikolai did not refuse, but continued, "I have another piece of news to inform you. It is top secret... The 600 tons of gold secretly compensated by the Soviet Union will be converted into 20 100 million gold marks, deposited in the Reichsbank in the name of the Hohenzollern Foundation.”

Needless to say, the controllers of the Hohenzollern Foundation are naturally Wilhelm II and his successors. Through this huge deposit, Wilhelm II could ensure that he would continue to exert influence over the German military and intelligence services even if Germany became a republic.

Obviously, William II is already leaving a way out for himself.

Colonel Nicholas paused, and then said: "Now I will complete the settlement with you, and the East is yours, so do your best!"

…

Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg has become older. His hair and beard are almost all white, the muscles on his face are flabby, and his eyes are bloodshot. He sits feebly in the chair behind his desk, as if he is dying. elder.

The marshal lowered his head, wearing reading glasses, and looked carefully at Lenin's personal letter and written guarantee that Hessman brought back - written guarantees were quite serious in Europe at this time. Historically, British Prime Minister Chamberlain regarded Hitler's written guarantee as "peace for a generation."

I don't know how long it took, but he finally read Lenin's written guarantee and letters to Liebknecht and Luxemburg, and listened to Hersman's oral report on his plan to support the Hungarian Bolsheviks, and then fell silent for a long time.

"Lieutenant Colonel!" Finally, the old marshal raised his head, with a sharp light shining in his eyes, looking at Ludwig von Hersmann, who had already held the rank of lieutenant colonel. "Do you believe in Lenin?"

"I don't believe it." Hersman replied truthfully.

"So, what's the use of this guarantee?" Hindenburg put down Lenin's written guarantee. "Once we are defeated, the Red Army will probably flood into Riga like a tide!"

"It actually depends on Poland."

The Soviet-German friendship depends on Poland! If there was no Great Poland between the Soviet Union and Germany, how could there be more than 20 years of Soviet-German cooperation after World War I?

A similar point of view was also put forward in the "Greater Poland Plan" formulated by Hersman: the strength of the Polish Army should be strengthened. When the Eastern Front troops retreat, most of their weapons can be left to the Polish Army, allowing it to expand to 500,000 troops in a few months.

"A Poland that becomes stronger will definitely covet Russian land." Hessman said, "Especially since Russia is in the middle of a civil war!"

"But when Poland gets stronger, it will also covet German land! East Prussia, West Prussia, Posen, and the United Baltic Duchy are also likely to be lost." Hindenburg said slowly, "Lieutenant Colonel, you said we What should we do?”

Is this an exam?

Hessman knew that the elites of the General Staff must have thought of a way long ago!

After personally participating in the formulation of a series of "surrender plans," Hersman was very convinced:

In the original history, there must have been a surrender plan similar to the "Gray Plan". Otherwise, Poland would not have miraculously risen at all - Hersman had studied Piłsudski's military power. Before he became the Minister of Military Affairs of the Polish Council of State, there were only three brigades, which supported 20,000 people. Although they are all elites with strong combat capabilities, they are not enough to defeat the Red Army that has been baptized by the brutal civil war.

If the Germans had not sent Poland a large amount of weapons and ammunition, how could they have gone to war with Soviet Russia in March 1919? At that time, it was only a few months since Germany surrendered, and the Paris Peace Conference had not even finished yet. Even if the Allies wanted to assist Poland, they would not have much weapons and equipment in place. The only one who could possibly arm the Poles was Germany, which had just been defeated.

The only reason Germany dared to arm Poland was because, in addition to wanting to use Poland to resist the expansion of the Bolsheviks, it must also have sufficient backup options. The "Free Corps Plan" formulated by the Strategic Operations Division of the Grand General Staff should be the back-up force of Hindenburg and the Junkers military aristocrats.

"Your Excellency, Marshal," Hessmann already had the answer at this time, "I think we will retain a strong army after the armistice... If the Allies do not allow the German government to have a large enough army, then we will learn from the Bolsheviks, Organize an armed force that is not under the jurisdiction of the government. They will be composed of hundreds of thousands of veterans, they are the real elite!”

Hindenburg showed a slight smile and nodded noncommittally: "Okay, now I will give you a task. Take Lenin's letter and Grand Duchess Olga to accompany the Social Democratic Party Senator Albert on a trip to the cloth." Tisslaus... I don't think he can convince those two stubborn guys, but I should give it a try. By the way, this Senator Albert is a very important person, so make a good impression on him. Bar."

——

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