Chapter 91 The Twenties Arrive
The 1920s were coming, and it was definitely not an easy decade for Germany, which was beginning to taste the oppression of unequal treaties. In March 1920, when the twenties had just arrived, a shocking military coup took place in Germany - the Kapp-Lütwitz coup. The coup was jointly launched by Congressman Kapp and the Berlin garrison commander General Lütwitz. It was caused by Noske, the Minister of Defense of the Weimar Republic, who began to reduce the army in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles. Disarmament came to the head of the Earhart Brigade controlled by Lütwitz. As a result, the general ordered his troops to march into Berlin, drove away President Albert and Prime Minister Bauer, and appointed Congressman Dr. Kapp to organize the National People's Congress. government.
What is even more shocking than this coup is the process of crushing it. The Chief of the General Staff of the German Defense Forces, General Hans von Seeckt, actually told the Defense Minister Noske before the coup broke out (when the Earhart Brigade entered Berlin but did not drive away the President and Prime Minister): The German army will not fight. German army!
In other words, the General Staff will not obey the orders of the Ministry of National Service and mobilize troops to suppress the Earhart Brigade. But the coup failed in the end, not because the German army changed its doctrine, but because the Social Democrats launched a general strike in Berlin! The German army was afraid that the Berlin general strike would turn into a nationwide uprising and ultimately benefit the Bolsheviks, so they had no choice but to give in. Armies across the country expressed support for the Weimar Republic government. Kapp and Lütwitz only lasted four days before disbanding. Kapp and Lütwitz both fled to the Baltic...
"Count, you are right again... I really didn't expect that after the bloodshed in January, the workers in Berlin would still support the Social Democratic Party."
In the office of the Chief of General Staff, Admiral Seekert sounded a little frustrated when he mentioned the failure of Kapp's coup. He obviously supported the coup. General Seeckt was a staunch royalist, almost the same party as General Lutwitz. After the coup failed, he also ordered Hersmann to arrange for Kapp and Lütwitz to escape to Baltica. Hersmann personally escorted the two to Riga and has just returned to Berlin.
"Your Excellency, General, the workers have been bought off by short-term interests, and the right-wing workers' party is still very weak and cannot compete with the Social Democratic Party."
If the Kapp-Lüttwitz coup had broken out in June 1919, it would have been very likely to be a temporary success—until the Allies intervened! But this coup took place in March 1920, and this was the main reason for its failure.
After the Allies lifted the blockade of Germany, the Social Democratic Party began to hand out red envelopes regardless of its financial capacity. When German industrial production was only 61% of what it was in 1913 and a large amount of war reparations had to be paid, the money printing press was turned on to support welfare expenditures.
Hirschmann said in a tone like a doctor talking about how long terminally ill patients can survive: "Currently industrial production is still declining, tax revenue only accounts for 37% of expenditures, and domestic gold and silver are rapidly losing. So the policies of the Social Democratic Party It cannot succeed in the long term, and by then the power of the extreme right and the left will expand again.”
Today's Germany is a bit like a later "European pig country", with its economy shrinking and industrial production declining. At the same time, welfare expenditures remain high, and the fiscal deficit and current account deficit (due to the payment of reparations) have reached alarming levels.
"Oh, so where's the way out?" Sektor asked.
"The army and the J-right workers' party will unite to rule, restore national socialism, expand armaments and prepare for war, tear up the Treaty of Versailles, and then launch a world war." Hessman paused, then added, "Or the J-left workers' party will come to power and implement proletarian Class ****, united with Soviet Russia, expanded arms and prepared for war, tore up the Treaty of Versailles, and launched world revolution..."
Regardless of left or right, the Treaty of Versailles must be torn up because it was impossible for Germany to pay the reparations. Tens of thousands of tons of gold do not exist - the Allies imposed an impossible task on Germany! This is the era of the gold standard, and the era of free trade is far from coming, so it is impossible for Germany to export large amounts to the Allies in exchange for hard currency.
There is only one possible choice - World War II! Either it was started by the Nazis, or it was started by the Bolsheviks!
"The right-wing workers' party tore up the Treaty of Versailles and wanted a world war..." General Seeckt shook his head gloomily, "Ludwig, you know what the consequences will be when a party like this comes to power. ”
Germany was not ready to fight a new world war, and if the Treaty of Versailles were to be torn up now, the consequences would be disastrous.
"Not now, General." Hersman said. "The several J-right workers' parties are currently very weak, but they will grow rapidly in the future economic crisis."
"Future economic crisis? When will it happen?"
"After May 1, 1921," Hessmann said, "Intelligence shows that the final amount of compensation will definitely exceed 200 billion gold marks!"
"200 billion?" Hessman snorted, "I can give them all the gold in the world and it won't be enough!"
"Actually, they don't want gold at all. What the French want is to occupy the Rhineland forever!" Hersman said, "But they will not succeed."
"Yes, Britain will not agree!" von Seeckt said.
Relations between Britain and Germany were thawing as the French were becoming too assertive on the continent due to the Great Polish Commonwealth and the Hungarian War.
Hersmann saved a Russian empress, which resulted in the Russian Bolsheviks being extremely disadvantaged in the war in the first half of 1919. The White Army had a common leader, and the Red Army deployed a large number of troops in Petrograd, which led to Denikin's White Army winning the battles in the lower reaches of the Don River and the left bank of Ukraine - but now the situation has reversed, because the Bolsheviks ceded the right bank of Ukraine in exchange for reconciliation with Poland, allowing them to concentrate their forces. So in September and October 1919, the Red Army severely damaged Denikin's army near Moscow, and then defeated Yudenich near Petrograd.
And the beneficiaries of this series of events were undoubtedly the Poles. A Greater Polish Federation covering Poland, Galicia, the right bank of Ukraine, Lithuania, and Western Belarus came into being in 1919. And Poland was France's most loyal ally.
At the same time, Hesmann and Lenin's collusion to support the Hungarian Revolution also strengthened France on the surface. Although the French army has not yet eliminated the Hungarian Bolsheviks, it has entered Romania and the Kingdom of Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia. It has also formed a "Balkan Alliance" and is preparing to attack Hungary together.
A Greater Poland and a Balkan Alliance. From the map, the French are almost dominating Europe. Of course, the British troublemaker will give Germany a little help. Not only do they favor Germany in the Allied Arms Control Committee and Reparations Committee, they are also ready to recognize the Baltic Republic, which is actually controlled by the Germans.
"And the Soviet Union can also be relied on!" Hersman said, "Admiral, this time I met with Lenin's representative Mrs. Kollontai in Riga. He invited me to visit Russia in the name of the German army representative when it is convenient."
"What are you discussing?"
"Discuss the Polish war and military-industrial cooperation issues."
"Oh, they must think they will win in the right-bank Ukraine?" When Seckt talked about Poland, his tone and expression were very cold. "The recent war situation seems to be more favorable to the Russians, but it may not be easy to win in the end."
"Yes, so they want to buy some of our advanced weapons."
The war between the Soviet Union and Poland resumed in April 1920, but unlike the historical situation, this war was mainly carried out in the territory of Right Bank Ukraine.
Because in the previous Soviet-Polish peace talks, Right Bank Ukraine was ceded to Poland. So Poland has ruled Right Bank Ukraine for more than half a year, which is enough for the Poles to support the Ukrainian Autonomous Government headed by Petliura. And establish a more solid rule, and also form a Ukrainian Defense Force.
However, the battles from April to now seem to be more favorable to the Red Army.
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The second update is here, and I am begging for more recommendation votes