A Time of Tears: A Different Post-War Germany

Interesting Idea

Pangermanischen Sozial Arbeiters Partei or in korrekt german:
Die Pangermanischen Soziale Arbeiter Partei short as "PanGermanen" because the Akronym PSAP difficult to pronounce as word like NSDAP in Germans language
and PSAP to rime with german "Zapp" what Opposition will use to spoof the Strasser party "Wählt PSAP und es wird zappenduster für Deutschland"
in englisch: "Chooses PSAP and it will become pitch-black for Germany"...
 
Coup de Grace

Berlin, Brandenburg
Wiemar Republic
December 25th, 1931


Gregor Strasser sat on his porch and read his book. He had been reading some book by Walter Bloem, Das verlorene Vaterland. He had read it once, but then it sat collecting dust on his bookshelf for years. Now though Strasser was on the cusp of victory. The KPD had been dealt a serious blow and had lost many important figures. Even though the real target, Ernst Thalmann, had been missed they still got many members of their Central Committee. Now with his only opposition in disarray Strasser was finally confident in his party's ability to take power. All he had to do now was send the letter to von Hindenburg. In it he would call for a emergency election for the Reichstag. Once he had got that his PSAP (he had contemplated changing the name, something like Die Pangermanische, yea he liked that) he would have a hopeful majority. After that he would demand the Chancellorship. If he didn't he had his SA on standby for some fun.

He got up and found a piece of paper, the gears had been started, there was no backing down now.

Dear President Von Hindenburg;

As you probably know the KPD has been declining in influence and I now think that the
Reichstag does not reflect the changing situation. If you would like for a truly democratic society then I feel it necessary to call for another election. I sincerely hope that you will be reasonable and accept my offer. If you have any feedback than please feel free to write back.

Gregor Strasser
Führer of The Pan-German Social Workers Party


After he was done he immediately had it sent off, hoping for his plan to work. So many uncontrollable variables, this would make or break the newly re-branded DSAP. Now all he had to do, or could do for that matter, was wait.

3 Weeks Later...

The last three weeks events have been happening quickly. The election was declared and hurriedly executed by Hindenburg. Using his SA for discreet intimidation and to beat up any Communists still holding out Strasser had secured Northern Germany. The South was a mess, with dozens of parties running. In all 30 parties had declared themselves for seats in the Riechstag. Even though only a small fraction even got one seat it still atomized the vote in the South keeping the DSAP from getting a majority anywhere in the South outside of Munich. There the Communists and Social Democrats were able to rally enough opposition to keep the DSAP from taking more. Since Hindenburg's once majority government was now a small minority the time to demand the Chancellorship was right. He had already sent off the demand a while ago, now he was waiting for a reply.

Twenty minuets after he requested he get his answer Strasser's phone rang. He rushed to it and picked it up before it finished its first ring. On the other end of the line was Hindenburg. His tired voice gave away the old general's distaste for this work.

"Gregor Strasser?" he asked

"Yes, I am assuming I am speaking to Field Marshal von Hindenburg?" Strasser replied.

"Yes, you are. I am calling about your request for the Chancellorship." Hindenburg said

"Have you accepted?" Strasser replied, it was getting hard to hold back the eagerness from his voice.

"I have no choice. My Democratic Coalition is fractured, the country is in an uproar over the election, you begin your new office tomorrow." Hindenburg said sadly.

"You have made a wise choice sir. You will not regret it." Strasser said, happiness beaming from his face.

"I know I will. I just hope you will not destroy all Bismark has built." Hindenburg said. Strasser hung up without another word. He then immediatly called the SA Headquarters. After two rings Ernst came on the phone.

"Yes? Who is this?" he asked.

"It's me Ernst. I have big news." Strasser said.

"Did you get the Chancellorship?" Ersnt asked.

"Yes, I start tomorrow. Prepare your'e men for a massive parade i'm planning. Not just to celebrate my victory, but the victory of the common German." Strasser said.

"Of course. I will get right on it. Congratulations." Ernst said before hanging up.
 
Last edited:
The Finishing Touch

Corbis-AU001064.jpg

Chancellor Strasser addressing the Republic​

Munich, Bavaria
The Wiemar Republic
January 3rd, 1932

Strasser sat idly by as the SA paraded in front of him. He was holding this on the behalf of Ernst who wanted to show the SA off to the public. Like he already didn't during the Winter Offensive. Strasser thought to himself. However it was to late to call it off, and in hindsight it appears to be a good thing. The show was transfixing the populace of one of Germany's major cities. Even though he won the city in the emergency election it still was a hot bed of activity, especially by the Freikorps. While the Army was sworn to protect Strasser their paramilitary was not, it was only to further their goals. Since Strasser was not a super aggressive man, not ready to be subservient to the military machine he was on more than one hit list. Strasser turned to left and right seeing the KW (Kanzelerwache) guard on both sides. It was a new subdivision of the SA with its soul goal being the protection of him, and Hindenburg by extension but that man never left his house. He turned behind him and saw his SS unit. While the SS had been largely integrated into the SA following the March on Munich, Strasser kept their 1st SS-Standarte as his own personal bodyguard under the KW. It was only for mass meetings however, a show unit rather than a practical one.

Ernst, standing at the edge of the platform giving the raised fist salute (a modification of the one by the NSDAP) and it was returned by the men in front. Even the crowd got in on it, a nice picture. Strasser turned to his personal photographer "Snap a photo of the crowd Karl, then send it to my office". he said. Karl nodded and snapped the picture, give it a few days and he would have a new poster to plaster across every space between Kiel and the Austrian border, hell maybe even into Austria...and Danzig...maybe even the Low Countries. Strasser smiled as he fantasized about that, not only all ethnic Germans, but cultural Germans under one banner. He however was not able to fantasize for long as Ernst turned to him and motioned for him to come stand by him. Strasser did so, albeit reluctantly, and gave the salute. Bands played, men marched, and all was well.

In a building 2,000 meters away a man sat at a window overlooking the parade. He had been let in using contacts high up the chain of command. He was a officer in the Freikorps and he had one mission. He was out to kill the Communist Strasser.* He lined up his shot, right through the skull, and prepared to fire. Just as he pulled the trigger a sudden and loud knock at the door made him jump, kicking the rifle down just a fraction of an inch. That fraction probably saved Strasser's life. The bullet instead went and impacted the shoulder of a man in the march, throwing him to the ground. As panic broke out and Strasser scurried away the man got up to leave. When he left the SA guarding the door grabbed him and whisked him away, images of medals and praise in their minds. The gig was up.

From Evil Genius: The Life of Gregor Strasser by Fredric Wallenstein, copyright 1995

The trial was a speedy one, with the jury meeting for a full twenty minuets before handing down the verdict. The man was guilty and everyone knew it, even the judge (who was suspected of being sympathetic). The man was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in jail. Meanwhile Strasser used this to his advantage. Just hours after the attempt he made a nationwide address over the radio. In it he called for the Reichstag to vote for a new proposition allowing his government sweeping powers to combat the remaining paramilitaries. He also called for a day of mourning of the man who was shot, a private named Julius Casper "who died a martyr for not only Germany, but her people". The Freikorps Act as it is now known as, passed after just an hour of voting with no dissent. Anybody who did could be arrested.

That night a massive attack was carried out by the SA on the Freikorps and their supporters. Many died and many more were arrested. Strasser also used this as a way to clear Germany of his enemies, mainly former SS Sepp Dietrich. This paved the way for [...]

*While Strasser never expressed that he was a Communist/Socialist many people viewed him as one, or at the very least sympathetic to the Communist cause.
 
The Rhineland Pact

Paris, Isle de France
The French Republic
September 4th, 1937


Strasser sat at the conference table along with his Cabinet, taking up most of this side of the table. President of France Albert Lebrun sat at the other side with is Cabinet, or ministers or whatever. They had been negotiating the proposition of German troops moving back into the Rhineland. However talks had been...slow and have been going on since October last year. Lebrun was stiff in his belief that no German troops should enter the Rhineland. Strasser refused to leave until he budged. The British, which had taken a distinctly more reconcile-y view as of late were with him, not in practice but spirit. Now all Strasser needed to do is apply pressure and he would break.

"How about a token force of one thousand troops? How about that?" Strasser asked. His Minister of War looked nervous but nodded "We could manage that." he said.

"There will be no German troops on France's border! I have said this repeatedly!" Lebrun declared.

"There has to be some way to get this deal through." Strasser asked.

Suddenly his Foreign Minister, von Ribbentrop, piped in "Do you think you could if you had French troops overseeing ours? How about for a period of...10, 15 years?" he asked, looking at the War Minister. He shrugged in approval. Lebrun sat at the other end of the table deep in thought. After what seemed like hours, hell probably was, he responded.

"I will agree on one condition." he said.

"What is it?" Strasser asked skeptically

"They come in disarmed. They then stay that way for five years, followed by five more of no heavy weapons." he declared.

"You want us to move disarmed troops into the Rhineland? That would be...bad to say the least. The Germans demand an armed garrison." Strasser refuted.

"Well last time you damned Germans put men on our border it led to the Great War, you must understand my demand." Lebrun said, he was getting angry.

"Just because I understand does not mean I like it." Strasser said between gritted teeth.

von Ribbentrop spoke up again "How about an alliance? France and Germany would pledge 15 years of peace and in return the we could return a token 1,000 men to there and a kind of...test run so to speak. Just so the French could know our true intentions. If all goes well then more could garrison. With the 10 year ban on heavy weapons." he declared. The very mention silenced the room. The Germans and French were historical enemies, dating back to the Roman times. An alliance between the two was...unthinkable...undoable. Despite this however Lebrun nodded in approval.

"it seems reasonable, we both could claim a victory to our people." he said.

"Your right....lets do it." Strasser responded, deep in thought. The two men rose and walked to each other, shaking hands at the middle of the table. Strasser would fly out with most of his Cabinet the next day save for von Ribbentrop; he would stay in Paris and work out the details while also announcing it in a weeks time.

One Week Later

Enemies now Allies! blared the New York Times. France and Germany, Allies! declared the BBC. Strasser however was disinterested in what the Americans and Brits thought of his diplomatic masterstroke. He scanned the German papers and saw them not focusing on the Alliance, but instead trumpeting the German troops marching into the Rhineland. They also neglected to say that only one thousand troops were in the Rhine, but hey, to each his own. Strasser was not to particularly worried, he instead began to prepare for his next move, Union with Austria.
 
How Benny and Italy is seeing the event in the North? Mussolini not liked Hitler at first and i doubt that Strasser will fare better, hell it more probable that he will be disliked even more; and in general how's the world outside.

Italy war in Abyssinia was influenced by the Anglo-French desire to keep the Stresa front united...for this reason they gave at the italian the 'permission' to invade and at the moment and how is the support for the Nationalist in Spain?
 
How Benny and Italy is seeing the event in the North? Mussolini not liked Hitler at first and i doubt that Strasser will fare better, hell it more probable that he will be disliked even more; and in general how's the world outside.

Italy war in Abyssinia was influenced by the Anglo-French desire to keep the Stresa front united...for this reason they gave at the italian the 'permission' to invade and at the moment and how is the support for the Nationalist in Spain?
My next update will focus on the major world players text book style, all questions will be answered.
 
The World So Far

soviet_flag.gif


The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics


The Soviet Union was ever expanding. Established among the ruins of the collapse of old Tsarists Russia it immediately became a international pariah. The first Communist nation, it was a path setter for any that would come after. However the self-labeled workers paradise was anything but. Its founder became bedridden and died soon after, sparking a power struggle between the outward looking Leon Trotsky and the inward looking Josef Stalin. After what can only be described as a mini-civil war within the walls of the Kremlin. After some sly moves though it became clear that Stalin emerged on top. Trotsky fled to Europe to flee the NKVD, Stalin's secret police, and was eventually forced to flee to Mexico where he would survive three assassination attempts before dying of a stroke in 1968 at the age of 80. However, while his opponents were running for their lives, Stalin began a series of massive industrialization programs collectively known as the "Five Year Plan's". While its result is up for debate one thing is known, it put the Soviet industrial capacity near the top in the world.

However all was not well at home or abroad. In an attempt to keep his hold on absolute power Stalin began construction on a series of camps in Siberia named Gulags. There he sent anybody who disagreed with him along with their families. After a purge of the government and the Military Stalin was in a solid position, abet a weak one since he shipped most of his talent to die in Siberia. Abroad the situation was more immediately unstable. Stalin was not one to support the exporting of the Revolution across the globe. Because of this he did not support international communism, and if he did is was for the most part nominal (with the exception of the Spanish but I will get with that later). One of the more unique cases was the German KPD, one of the most popular Communist parties in Germany. In the beginning however Stalin paid little attention to them and only diverted minimal amounts of funding, however all that changed the day Hitler died. When Hitler and his NSDAP bit the dust Stalin initially breathed a sigh of relief, Hitler was avidly against both Communism and the Slav people and having him knocked off kept a rising star down. When Strasser took his place however, he turned his attention West. While Strasser was not explicitly anti-Communist, he was not Communist and that was enough for Stalin. He watched his moves with vague interest and became more and more unnerved as Strasser continued his meteoric rise to power.

When the DSAP began to become a serious contender for control of the Reichstag, Europe's most industrialized nation was in danger from slipping from his grasp. So in an act of desperation he began to fund the KPD in a planned attack on the DSAP aimed at nipping them just before they bloomed. However it backfired, horrendously. In the end the infamous Winter Offensive left the KDP a broken party barely worth anybody's time and paved the way for Strasser taking power just days later, Stalin fumed.

His attention was again grabbed by events in Spain. Seeing Italy's intervention Stalin sent tanks and planes to the Republican forces. He began to further plot an invasion of Poland. The Soviet Union would have to move forward.


union-jack.jpg


The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK)


The United Kingdom was a complicated creation with and equally complicated history, however we will only focus on it from 1918 onward. In the aftermath of the Great War the UK left the nominal victor. While it did come out on the right side, it went through a meat grinder to get there. 826,746 to 1,012,075 people died across the Empire. It suffered dearly and was shell shocked because of it. In the first years the UK once again retreated to its island fortress and swore it was not involved in matters on the Continent. However, events in Germany changed that. With the events of the Great War still fresh in their minds the UK and France both stood firm against the German Republic's pleas to re-negotiate the Versailles Peace. However as the years wore on the English slowly drifted into the growing re-negotiation camp. They gave many reasons for this; the plight of the average German, the foreseeable failure of British industry in Germany, among other things. However one overreaching concept pushed the British into their German camp, the fear of Communism in general and the Soviet Union in particular. Communism threatened everything a free society stood for, and the abysmal conditions in Germany was a perfect breeding ground for it. Not wanting a industrial powerhouse in the central Europe to fall into the Soviet sphere; the Brits called for latency. The Germans benefited immensely with British voices at their back. However, as things got worse Britain felt more and more compelled to support the Republic. However once Strasser seized power they began to re-evaluate their relationship with Germany.

While Strasser had some distinctly Communist principles, he was more like Mussolini in the sense of his style of governing. As the Brits pondered the question of his intentions, German troops marched into the Rhineland. Although the Brits vocally supported the move, still many more decried it and compared it with the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, their society was split and the was paralyzed with indecision.

Since I mention Ethiopia let me back up a stretch, before German troops paralyzed the UK and almost brought it into the hands of Mosley. Back to the first major Post-War Crisis, the Italian Invasion of Ethiopia. It was short, and it was the first stumbling block in a long line of them the UK tripped over in its Post war History. In the beginning, it was a local border dispute between Italy and Ethiopia over an Oasis called Walwal. However, as the situation tumbled deeper into the crevasse Britain almost went with it. Just before the Italians planned their invasion, the Royal Navy announced a block aid would be imposed in Italy in all major war making materials. Il Duce fumed, war games were played and war seemed to be inevitable, however it was avoided with a last minute flurry of backdoor discussions. In the ensuing Mussolini-Eden Treaty the UK agreed to lift the restrictions if Italy agreed not to go to war. The Treaty held for three months before the Italian troops invaded Ethiopia, overrunning it within three months. The Brits lodged protests and moved a Mediterranean Squadron into the area, but other than that did nothing.


French-flagweb.jpg


The Third French Republic (France)


Foreign policy was of central interest to France during the post war. The horrible devastation of the war, including 1.5 million dead French soldiers, the devastation of much of the steel and coal regions, and the long-term costs for veterans, were always kept in view. France demanded that Germany repay all of these costs through annual reparation payments. France enthusiastically joined the League of Nations in 1919, but felt betrayed by President Woodrow Wilson, when his promises that the United States would sign a defense treaty with France and join the League were rejected by Congress. The main goal of French foreign policy was to preserve French power, and neutralize the threat posed by Germany. When Germany fell behind in reparations payments, France seized the industrialized Ruhr region. The British Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, who viewed reparations as impossible to pay successfully pressured the French Premier Édouard Herriot into a whole series of concessions to Germany. Alsace Lorraine was returned to France, and France gained several African colonies.

France also began to look to contain Germany, but all plans were slowed by troubles at home. Disunity about what do do on the home front splintered parties left and right, a attempted popular front of parties by the Left (encouraged by Stalin) fell apart and for a while it seemed France would collapse. However, with the announcement of the Franco-German Alliance in '37 President Lebrun only exacerbated the problem as the Left was in an uproar, organizing strikes, while the Right broke them up and supported Lebrun. France was on the tipping point. So much so that the French Army was all but neglected, allowed to grow more obsolete as the years dragged on.

Fascist%20Italy%20State%20Flag.gif


The Kingdom of Italy (Fascist Italy)


Even though Italy came out of the First World War a victor it gained little in comparison to its casualties. Even more infuriating for the Italians was them not getting the Flume Region. Nationalist sentiments in Italy rose and birthed a new political system, unseen before the time, Fascism. Benito Mussolini, a down and out socialist began to adopt more nationalist views as he grew and was thrown out of the Socialist Party after he began to advocate open revolution with no mention of class struggle. He enlisted in the Army and served in the World War, getting wounded once. Once it reached its inevitable conclusion Mussolini created the Fascist Party, a rabidly nationalist and anti-democratic party. He could not have come at a better time.

Italy’s party system was splintered after the war and the government became ineffectual. As the growing Socialist movement became a bigger and bigger perceived threat to the nation, the Italian Prime Minister turned to a radical solution. He allowed Fascist’s to run on the national ballot. While they did not gain many seats in the government, neither did the Prime Minister's coalition. To break the deadlock he offered Fascists places in the national government. They refused and began to plot violent revolution. Not long after Mussolini, followed by legions of his black shirts, entered Rome and demanded that Mussolini be appointed Prime Minister. Not wanting to tear Italy apart the King relented. Almost immediately Mussolini seeked to improve Italy's international position. He invaded and annexed Ethiopia and dealt both Britain and France a serious blow to their international prestige. He then began to ship troops, tanks and planes to help the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War despite international protests, further undermining Britain and France.

When Strasser moved into power in Germany Mussolini looked upon him as a puppet. He watched Strasser and his goons closely as they revived the German economy (no thanks to a worldwide economic upturn), declared repeated intentions to unite the German peoples, and launched not so secret purges of opposing viewpoints. Just as Mussolini’s interest in Germany began to fade German troops marched into the DMZ. Britain and France, unable to challenge him, protested loudly. This was followed by increased DSAP clone party OSAP activity in Austria. Mussolini then went into defensive mode. He began to lend the Austrian government troops to suppress the OSAP and money to launch political propaganda offensives. Strasser realized this and sent the same to the OSAP. The two nations began to move towards confrontation.
 
Sorry for the long absence but I now have a school computer and am working on an update, however I do not plan on making any more after that. I might as a sort of epilogue, but dont expect one.
 
High Stakes

Berlin, Brandenburg
Germany
November 7th, 1937​

Strasser sat in his office and read the news from Spain. His Condor Legion was wreaking havoc on the Republicans as the Nationalists continued to close the Argonian Pocket. He was pleased with the nation he was helping create, Fascist Spain. They would be a valuable ally if, no when war broke out. Strasser knew war was inevitable if the German people were to achieve their full potential. However, he knew that his nation was not ready, his people were not ready. Just two months ago they were celebrating a great moment in peace. However like time Strasser was moving forever forward as the World's gaze continued to be fixated on the Spanish Civil War.

Austria was his next target, blood brothers of the Germans they were ripe for annexation. That was specifically banned in the Peace at Versailles but so was German troops in the Rhineland. The Western Allies were weakened by the war to such an extent that could not possibly raise a fuss about Austria...right? There was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Strasser said absentmindedly. Ernst Rohm opened the door and entered the office with a frown on his face. He put a small stack of papers on Strassers desk and pulled up a chair.

"What is this?" Strasser asked as he put down the newspaper and turned to the stack.

"Its the results of the regional elections in Austria and they are not good. The OSAP is down 3 more points. Any more and they will be a non-entity in Austrian politics. We need to act!" Rohm insisted.

"And risk provoking the Italians? No way." Strasser said as he sifted through the papers looking for something interesting. He got to the bottom and sighed in defeat, nothing. He was out of ideas. After some more silence he snapped his fingers and turned to Rohm. Rohm stopped playing with the pen he was holding and looked up.

"What? What happened?" he asked as he looked around.

"I just got an idea." Strasser said with a big grin. "We stir up trouble again, only this time against ethnic Germans. Then we move in to protect our German kin and the Italians cant say a thing. If they do we can easily pin them for being against the Germans. It would work wonders here at home, boost patriotism and nationalism." Strasser said.

"Its my job to stir up some incidents right?" Rohm asked.

"Exactly." Strasser responded simply. "We can get you into Austria as soon tonight." he said as he sat back in his chair.

"I will get my stuff." Rohm said.
 
Top