Deutschland Aufstieg 1915

Tusky

Banned
Deutschland Aufstieg 1915

Introduction:

This time-line is told from the German point of view. It uses the situation of late 1915 as the Point of Departure. At that time, the trench warfare on the western front was beginning to settle in to the meat-grinder phase. The naval war was at a standstill: the high seas fleet stayed in port and Germany was reduced to the gambit of unrestricted submarine warfare. The sub fleet was inadequate in any case, and though improvements were available their numbers and availability for sea duty made them a weak alternative. With some way to attack British logistics, it would end up a war of attrition, and that was a war Germany could not win.

A note on Kaiser Wilhelm. He was erratic and could not be trusted to watch his mouth in public. But he had episodes of brilliance. In this time line he is truly chastised with his responsibility for Jutland, as the shame of the “fleet in being” sinks in. He is largely saved by one man: Theobald Bethmann-Holweg, the Chancellor.

In this time line, B-H is able to effectively counsel with KW, and together hey find a way out of the logistics trap. In so doing, B-H is able to accomplish a dream he has nurture for 20 years. And KW, strong nationalist that he is, finds his way to his true place in the sun.

It is important to note Kaiser Wilhelm’s title: Allerhochstest. In English, “All-highest.” Though military affairs were run by the military in World War One Germany, Wilhelm wielded power roughly equivalent to a feudal king. You can be sure that Ludendorff, Hindenburg, Tirpitz – all those guys – will be outraged when KW gets in the saddle and rides hard in a direction not of their choice.

I am not a professional historian, and I have used the events of WW One as a stage to play out my piece of alternate history fiction. I mean it to be a possible glimpse of what might have been if fairly rational players (still very nationalist, of course) had the opportunity to play things out. To be sure, they are creatures of their time and not modern personalities. I am sure many of you will have strong commentary. Let’s hear it!

Tusky

Part One: Backgrounder:

The Karl Schmidt familie leaves North Germany (Lubeck, up near the Baltic) in 1888 and emigrates to Cleveland, Ohio where he gets a job in the railroad loco shop as a repairman. He and wife Helene have five sons, Gerd (b. 1888), August (’89), Peter (’90), Karl (92), and Albert (’95) . Karl works very hard and rises to second in charge of the locomotive shed in Cleveland, always laments not receiving university training, and is very motivated to know about the latest technology. Karl always receives the very latest books and magazines on relevant technology.

In 1900 Karl takes his family back to Germany for a two-month visit. It makes a huge impression on Gerd and August and Peter, less so on Karl and Albert. But on the older boys it makes them want to be Germans…all the more important because of the way things are done at their house in Cleveland and they way they speak German in the home, also in the fairly numerous German community.

In 1903 Karl Schmidt changes his name to Charles Smith, Helga is very unwilling but changes her name to Helen Smith. The children are forced to change names: Gerd becomes Jerry, August become Arthur, Peter remains Peter, Karl II becomes Charles II, and Albert becomes Alan. The kids are very much under the rule of their father and they follow orders. In secret night-time conversations they call each other by their real names, and vow when they leave the house to change back.

In the 1903 family revolution, Karl/Charles prohibits speaking German in the family, prohibits non-technical German reading materials. The kids rebel at this as well, and speak German among themselves and to their mother when Charles is not home. Helga is not good at English, and suffers.

The railroad is not so much interested in the newest technology, in fact they are rather stuffy about it. They want new markets, not new and improved machinery. Karl often fights to get his improved machinery, is often ridiculed for his heavy accent and his far-seeing technical attitude. He keeps a very nice house, best maintained in the neighborhood, with a flower garden along the front sidewalk. His wife is a fine woman , very much in the Kinder, Kuchen, and Kirche mode, and provides an important home for the family. The sons are under tight control, and study hard in school.

The Schmidt/Smith's have a big shop in the back yard. Karl Schmidt and his boys make steam engines, wind rotors and coils to make generators, and fabricate all manner of machines. Karl organizes their life, insisting on straight A grades and strong self-discipline. In many ways it works well on these boys, they are academically advanced far beyond most of their peers.

When Karl changed to English culture in 1903, however, he did not calculate the contrary message provided by the 1900 visit to Europe. The boys are filled with resentment and make secret pact among themselves to cherish their provenance. They put the pact into action outside the view of their father, though Helga cautiously approves. As years pass the pact gradually changes to a commitment to stay German. It can never succeed entirely in America, but it is nevertheless a strong force in their lives. .

Pact or no pact, Schmidts are a strong family and the boys all study hard, do well. The boys, of course, are interested in women. True to the pact between them, they date only women from a German background, and prefer those who speak the Muttersprache. In the Cleveland of this time it was still possible to find these girls.

Another key part of the pact between the boys held that when each left the house and began to make his own way in the world, each would begin the process of changing his name back to his birth name. Karl/Charles caught wind of this and there was a huge argument, but the boys stood firm. Their mother would not go against them, a passive support that enraged Charles.

When Karl changed to English culture in 1903, however, he did not calculate the contrary message provided by the 1900 visit to Europe. The boys are filled with resentment and make secret pact among themselves to cherish their provenance. They put the pact into action outside the view of their father, though Helga cautiously approves. As years pass the pact gradually changes to a commitment to stay German. It can never succeed entirely in America, but it is nevertheless a strong force in their lives. .

Pact or no pact, Schmidts are a strong family and the boys all study hard, do well. The boys, of course, are interested in women. True to the pact between them, they date only women from a German background, and prefer those who speak the Muttersprache. In the Cleveland of this time it was still possible to find these girls.

Another key part of the pact between the boys held that when each left the house and began to make his own way in the world, each would begin the process of changing his name back to his birth name. Karl/Charles caught wind of this and there was a huge argument, but the boys stood firm. Their mother would not go against them, a passive support that enraged Charles.
 
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Tusky

Banned
Deutschland Aufstieg Part 1a

Part 1a.

The family was shocked by the assassination to Grand Duke Ferdinand on 29 June 1914

The quick failure of diplomacy, the domino effect leading the world war, the mobilization and German invasion of the low countries shocked all the Schmidts.

The Great Powers’ propaganda machine got rolling, and anti-German sentiment grew wildly in the US. German-language newspapers were shocked and torn...they didn't quite know which way to turn! The boys were greatly tempted to support Germany.

The three oldest boys have all gone to technical school or Ohio State University, Gerd (26 at the time) and August (25 at the time) are both employed in the design and development department of Lincoln Electric Company (Cleveland, OH) , Gerd/Jerry in the electric motor division and August/Alan in the welding department. Peter is 24, was fascinated by chemistry and metallurgy as a teen, and went to engineering school at OU and Rensallear. He is now employed at Bethlehem Steel, in the research division at Bethlehem, Maryland. All are both at the forefront of technology and have responsible jobs. Albert (b. January 1895) is now 19 and enrolled at Ohio State University, a mechanical engineering student.

Public opinion is being whipped up against German people, and the Schmidt’s/Smith’s are disgusted. The boys feel it, and they throw it in their father's face. Even changing his name to Smith has not insulated him from the propaganda.

The two oldest boys quit their jobs, sell everything, and take their families to NYC, a more cosmopolitan surrounding. They rent a small place for six weeks, arranging passage on a ship for Norway (a neutral) from which they will go to Lubeck where they have relatives. There they will see what they can do to aid Germany. They visit Peter in Maryland , but he will not go to Germany, at least, not at this time. Their parents and brothers are in America, and they are American citizens so they want to avoid direct combat.

Peter, especially is torn. One problem is that Bethlehem Steel will make war products to attack Germany, and this puts him in a very distressing position. Albert stays home and stays in school. He will not go with the brothers.

Karl Schmidt is appalled, comes to visit his sons in NYC. He is advised that the world is against Germany, even he is against his own fatherland. The sons will only speak with their father in the German language and he responds in English, a sad sort of dialogue for all of them. They are faithful sons of the fatherland, and sadly, faithful sons of their own father whom they love and admire. But they will not follow his lead in this matter.

Two weeks later they hear again from Peter. There have been riots and intemperate newspaper articles in Bethlehem, also demonstrations on the main square in town. He has been demoted in his department because of his German background and language ability. He walked away from his job with a brief letter of resignation, withdrew his savings from the bank, sold his furniture, and is on his way to NYC with his young wife. She is an ethnic German, actually born in Munich, and is very angry about the state of the country. She supports Peter 110%; indeed, is the strongest German woman of the three wives.

When the brothers get together again in NYC, Peter shares his latest brainstorm. He has a serious interest in electro chemistry, and is very familiar with the work of the German scientist, Friedrich Ostwald, who is working with the first generation of fuel cells. Peter himself has made a couple of experimental fuel cells and is impressed with the potential. He believes the concept can be made practical, and can provide platinum-nickel based alkaline fuel cells for submarines. Peter proposes to use ceramic as the electron membrane. This fuel cell would be a major breakthrough for underwater endurance and speed and silence.

Gerd immediately remarks that Lincoln Electric’s latest hydrolysis equipment (for making oxygen welding gas) would be easy to use on sub, and that they could store the high pressure gas in tanks outside the pressure hull.

The brothers are together for several weeks, their ship departing New York harbor on September 16, 1914. They spend nearly all their time talking over weapons and manufacturing. They are convinced that it is madness for Germany to take on America, that the population and productive capacity is overwhelming…plus they have experienced the terrific British propaganda for America to enter the war. These young men are far more traveled and experienced than the average German. They believe that America will come in against Germany if there is provocation, and that it would be best to keep America on the sidelines. However, if America does come in then the way to win is to use naval power to take the Med, close the Suez, and work to isolate Britain. They think subs are a good way to do this because they are quicker and easier to build than big ships. They also think the Med is the key as it will cut off England from India and Egypt and Persia -- manpower and oil are keys here.

The boys brainstorm endlessly about submarines. They have the very latest knowledge in welding and electric motors and mass manufacturing technique. Their biggest brainstorm is to suggest the three-piece 40 meter sub, factory built and rail-transported to the Adriatic or even the Black Sea for final assembly. Welding will help enormously on assembly, so will redesign for quick and uniform manufacture and the extensive use of assembly fixtures to promote quick and accurate assembly. They have it all drawn out by the time they get to Lubeck.

They all like Peter’s fuel cell idea, and brainstorm it for days on end. More ideas are incubated as they talk. The electrolytic production of oxygen is well advanced in the US welding industry, it’s the way they make welding gas in 1915, and Schmidt’s bring the latest developments. They want to use compressed oxygen reacted with kerosene to power torpedoes; combustion to run a simple turbine. This should give perhaps six kilometers of range and very good speed. Combined with wire guidance, their innovations should greatly enhance the effectiveness. The oxy can be made and compressed aboard the boat, charging the torps only just before firing thus keeping good safety.

When they finally land in Hamburg, the list of ideas included the snorkel , improved batteries (including some gel work) , battery charging schemes, fuel cells (Peter's pet project), advanced hydrolysis of sea water to produce H and O, advanced electric motors, electric welding, and advanced manufacturing technique.

Their Uncle on Karl Schmidt’s side is Fritz Friesen-Schmidt, a Captain in the Hochseeflotte. He is in Lubeck and they go directly to him and provide an organized presentation lasting an entire day so that he thoroughly understands what they bring the Germany. After a few hours, Fritz begins to see the expertise and thought process, and he takes them very seriously. He doesn’t know much about electric welding, but the brothers assure him they know the very latest stuff, and that welding can be very quick, an easy way to do piping and to join hull sections. Rivets are so nineteenth century!

Over all, Fritz Friesen-Schmidt is impressed. He is downright fascinated about the fuel cell coupled with on board H and O production.

He brings them into the ministry, and a cadre of technical experts surround them. On December 20, 1914 the brothers give a complex technical presentation, two days. The German experts like their ideas, and consider it a substantial advance on their existing series UB pre-fab subs. The brothers had been unaware of the UB-type, and immediately see that the Hochseeflotte has solved several problems, and that their improvements should greatly increase the effectiveness of these boats. The way-out-there fuel cell and oxygen ideas are quite exciting to all persons attending. Though Ostwald was famous in his academic circle, the practical men of the German Hochseeflotte had no concept of a fuel cell and no idea that a leading thinker on the topic was in Gemany. They foresee putting Peter in an Institute with Ostwald. Furthermore, the brothers idea to attack in the Med is widely shared by the strategic thinkers in the Hochseeflotte. .

An important feature of the Schmidt presentation is the idea of the industrial capacity of America. If she comes in, it will be almost impossible to escape disaster. The strategic corps of the Hochseeflotte were aware of this issue, but the three brothers draw a picture that is staggering, and the German staff gains a deeper understanding of why America must be kept out of the European war.

Fritz Friesen-Schmidt is aware of Karl/Charles’ name change. He is quite disgusted with the father, and asks the young men if they would like to begin the process of becoming German citizens. All quickly agree. Wives are both only fair at speaking German, except Helene (Peter's wife), but they are loyal to their husbands. They are all a little nervous. And socially they are outcast.

Though at first stand-offish, Fritz Friesen-Schmidt sees the predicament of the Schmidt wives, and knows very well that to make the situation more pleasant for the wives will produce better results from the husbands. He asks his wife and her associates to be genuinely friendly and helpful to the wives and children. He presents this as a humanitarian need, and also as important to the success of the Homeland. The women see his point, and reach out to the Schmidt wives and help them as much as possible, beginning in the Christmas season of 1914. The wives and children appreciate this, quickly improve their German language, and integrate into the community.

German authorities understand that Gerd, August, and Peter should not be asked to directly shoot at their former countrymen. Instead, Gerd and August are immediately hired by the firm U-boot Fabrik. Their plans are redone in the approved German format, and a large presentation is made to Kriegsmaring brass.

Fritz Friesen-Schmidt has been doing his own homework. The idea of attacking in the Med is already being pushed in high circles and he adds his voice to the argument, as well as some of the Schmidt brothers’ ideas. He believes the Schmidt plan for a large number of cheap and quickly produced U-boats in the eastern Med could be a key warfighting tool.

Fritz arranges several presentations to technical managers and some of the lower-ranking officers, and the brothers develop a sophisticated presentation. Many U-boot Fabrik engineers like the Schmidt ideas, and have several refinements to add. Support is growing for the Schmidt plan.

With the backing of a large number of mid-level Naval brass, a presentation of the next-generation U-boat plans is set for 16 Jan 1915. KW, his staff, and virtually all of the important Naval men are at the meeting.
 

Tusky

Banned
Deutschland Aufstieg Part Two

Part Two: The Education of Allerhochstest Kaiser Wilhelm.

1) The time is now January 1915, and the trenches are set for prolonged attrition warfare. This is not the war Germany had expected. Both English and German see the existing situation in the trenches as a stalemate, a war of attrition. The British believe they may have the advantage in resources, especially if they can bring in America. Both English and German know that France could be entirely exhausted in a moving battle, so that France presently favors stalemate. For the Germans, many in the high command believe a war of attrition is unwinnable due to the resource and manpower situation. They also have at least three fronts on which they are fighting, and fear the situation if the enemies should cooperate. Likewise they are aware of the American threat. It is a deadly situation from which Germany has few options. Many people in the high military, especially in the Hochseeflotte, see this clearly.
2) Mid-level naval brass are pushing the Med plan strongly. Speed is of the essence.
3) The Med strategy will change the industrial supply situation for England, and the English will be unable to withstand the trench stalemate. This is fighting their battles efficiently, using men and money more advantageously.
4) The High Seas Fleet is rarely at sea, and is considered by many to be too valuable to risk. Thus it is an expensive asset that cannot be used.
5) Additionally, research has suggested that the advance of the submarine may be the biggest threat to the battleship or dreadnought. Reinhard Scheer, the chief submariner in the Germany navy, points out that Germany can built about 30 subs for the cost of a battleship, so that sinking or checkmating enemy battleships may be more efficiently done with subs.
6) Generally the Army runs the wars, but here is an instance where the Hochseeflotte pushes hard to advance a radical concept.
7) Mid-level Hochseeflotte brass arrange a formal presentation on January 16, 1915 to the highest brass, including all the services and the diplomatic corps. All sign secrecy agreements.
8) Kaiser Wilhelm II and his staff will be there. In a surprise move, KW invites his younger brother, Prince Henry (Heinrich, head of the Baltic Fleet at the time) to the conference. Gerd, August, and Peter Schmidt will be in the back, present but will not speak. However, the presentation is almost exactly the show they have worked up over the last 60 days.
9) The Mediterranean strategy and the strategy of mass production of UB-type boats for the Med and some sea service are gone over in good detail. The idea that capital ships are not a good warfighting investment is reviewed, rather shocking to some who are at the conference. But it is true. After Jutland everyone knows they need to ask the right questions to understand their next move, and the audience is open to new ideas.
10) However, Kaiser Wilhelm is in "one of those moods" and asks many questions. Prince Henry is quietly astonished at KW’s intense questioning, and listens closely. At last, the boys are brought forward as American Germans who have patriotically returned to Germany, very unusual.
11) KW has these boys brought into his private quarters for a talk, he is very curious about America. KW brings Prince Henry in on this discussion, and asks him to present any questions he may have. KW then asks their nominal host, Fritz Friesen-Theissen, to introduce the brothers and let them tell their story.
12) This is very unusual for KW, he is for the most part a very stiff gent. He is surrounded by people smarter than him and hates the inherent manipulation he must endure. But he sees these Schmidt boys have no concept of his situation and how his staff work with him. They are naive, so he is comfortable asking all manner of questions. Also, the war is going badly. The lines have stalled out and the situation appears to be a meat-grinder. Germany is losing many thousands of young men, their finest, and KW fears for his country. He holds himself responsible, and is lately thinking independently. KW is growing quite angry with Germany’s excess dependence on the belligerent military men and intransigent diplomats who seem to have forced him and the country into a potentially disastrous situation. (He conveniently glosses over his own belligerence of the last decade.)
13) KW questions the Schmidts about America, and they have plenty to tell…the British and Zionist propaganda means America could come in the war if there is a triggering event, but likely would not come in absent such an event. The Schmidts think that many Americans would go along with a war, but there are many who want no part of a European war. They are sure, however, that the country would follow its leadership in the event. The Schmidts tell him about influential Americans such as Colonel House and Bernard Baruch, strongly pushing for war. They tell him about the size, population, and productive capacity of America….America will be hard to defeat, just by numbers! They tell him of their own travels through America by train, and urge KWto have men go to America and travel by train, report back what they see. The best information will come from agents on the ground in America for the specific purpose of estimating manufacturing potential.
14) Prince Henry breaks in here. He has been in America twice, has toured across a large swath of Eastern US, and has seen the steel factories of Pennsylvania. He quite agrees: most German thinkers are unaware of America’s gigantic industrial capability.
15) KW says it is unlikely that he could send out people to “cruise” America, that his people would be picked up as spies. The Schmidt boys quickly tell him that he could use Germans from communities in Missouri, also from places like Pennsylvania and Ohio! Or just have men infiltrate from Mexico...the border is porous. The Kaiser thinks about it, and will talk to his advisors after the boys leave.
16) Recruiting in Missouri starts Feb. 1, 1915. First reports are back March 28, 1915. Most ominous is that American newspapers back the British, and many people are willing to fight in Europe. They also report the warmongering propaganda effort is unrelenting.
17) Plus, the Schmidts have their own ideas about what is to be gained. Probably little in Europa…Alsace, and a union of sorts with Austria. The Schmidt boys think that trying to take territory in Europe will just ignite historical wars again, putting nations at war for decades or even a century.
18) But the Schmidt boys suggest there are huge swaths to be gained in Africa, such as the British colonies, which can be done by bogging her down in the trenches of France, cutting off oil supplies from Persia, cutting off supplies and men from India and Egypt and South Afrika…just by fomenting rebellion in those places. South Africa they point out, is worth having. And the German colonies provide starting points and R&R depots.
19) The boys highlight the gold mines of Witwatersrand, only recently coming into prominence but very promising…they could pay for the whole damn war!
20) Unknown to the Schmidt boys, Allerhochstest had heard virtually all of these points made by his military and diplomatic brain trusts in various forms, and to hear it from such young men confirms to him that it is a fairly obvious way to profit.
21) KW is also tired of hearing battle reports where Germany loses 10 000 men in a day. Even though the loss estimates on the other side are always double the German losses, it hardly matters. He cannot throw away the pride of German manhood so casually, and for probably only a tithe of territory. He wants to conserve manpower, end the meat grinder years early , and save the lives of a million young German men. Above all, he must conserve German territory, for right now all Deutschland may be in the balance.
22) He also knows the British have thought the thing through, as well. If it is to be done, it should be done well, and at maximum speed to maintain surprise. And he knows well that the British will react quickly to a new style of war.
23) KW knows that the German troops in the Afrikan colonies are on the run and poorly supplied, but he can see where they might be saved if the submarine war can attack British logistics. There’s a fighting chance. And his mind races forward to think what might happen if the British could be defeated in detail on the continent of Africa! He continues to prompt the Schmidts to discuss their plans.
24) The Schmidt brothers also have in mind that speed is a decisive element, and they hammer at the twin determinants of speed and the concentration of resources being supremely important. The German nation should mobilize, so that all resources are concentrated, thus strong and concentrated blows are struck. It is economical warfare in terms of men and time. It means Total War, the entire resources of the State focused on winning the war.
25) The Schmidts also say that Germany needs to adopt some American manufacturing concepts. Artisan production of warfighting goods is too slow and too expensive. They give the example of one fine chronometer versus ten thousand watches accurate to one minute a day.
26) The Schmidts even say that women should enter the factories, freeing millions of men for the front. It is scandalous, and many Germans are strongly repelled by the ideas. Again, KW has heard this before. He says nothing and once again thinks of the military strategy lectures that have gone over this ground. He thanks the boys for their patriotism, says that he will make sure they are not militarized, but that they will be very important in German industry.
27) KW takes Henry aside for a private conversation. “Is it true that capital ships are a thing of the past?” He has been a strong advocate of the fleet, personally pushing the construction of battlewagons. He asks Henry, a man he knows is honest to the core, and whose answer will be based on reality. And Wilhelm is badly shaken by Prince Henry’s answer.
28) Henry shrugs. “I love those ships, but a schwarm of those little subs like the Schmidts describe would sink the mightiest. We now in the Hochseeflotte are looking at submarine defense, but it is a very difficult task...far, far from perfect at this time!” KW shakes his head and asks,”This would be a major change in our war, would you as a Grand Admiral recommend it?” Prince Henry did not hesitate. “Gladly, and I ask for the assignment!”
29) KW nodded, not making up his mind at the moment. He had been an advocate for a mighty surface navy for twenty years, and spent millions of marks on the giant steel ships. But Henry, the one man he could always trust, now told him that things had changed. KW went to his private chapel and prayed over the matter. After an hour he rose to his feet and squared his shoulders. So! Things have changed!
30) Prince Henry reminded KW to square things with Admiral Tirpitz, just to make sure they did not inadvertently creat internal enemies. Prince Henry also asks to be backed up by Admiral Reinhardt Scheer. “Scheer is our best submariner, and he gets results!” KW agreed and sets the wheels in motion. Henry was in the end promoted to Hochseeflotte Grand Admiral, which included management, the strategic submarine war. After being upgraded from the Baltic fleet, he managed the design and production of the UBB and UBBFC boats. Scheer was his second, a key many in the new submarine war. All in all, Prince Henry has just signed on to a daunting job.
31) In his heart, KW is aghast at the Schmidt brothers. In truth he sees them as rather straightforward American-German men, technically talented but with no especially fine comprehension of the issues in Europe. And that is the point: with no special training in war they have cut to the heart of the matter, and put the finger on the same tipping points his best experts identify. It is a sign to him that he needs to consider the situation in his heart then act in the cold light of day, counting the genuine facts and no others.

32) Allerhochstest KW is quite a religious man. He goes to his private chapel and asks his padre to be with him while he prays. He prays for an hour and sends a messenger to his Chancellor, Theo von Bethmann-Hollweg. Theo comes at once, and realizes this is a critical hour. He immediately goes to his knees and goes to prayer with KW. The men pray half the night, the Padre right next to them both, praying on their knees that God gives Wilhelm the light to guide the German people. KW and Theo von Bethman-Hollweg go out in his horse carriage at three in the morning, clop down the streets of Berlin. They ride to the parks, to the river...all very beautiful in the moonlight, but the men hardly see it. They are talking furiously about the Kaiser’s vision. He feels he has had a blessed insight into the guidance of Germany.
33) Von Bethman-Holweg feels it, and he is deeply pleased. KW is coming around to a viewpoitn B-H has been pushing for several years. KW goes on, Bethmann-Holweg buys in all the way. Theo also knows he has KW’s ear, and that he must guide his King. At about seven in the morning they go back to the Palace. KW bathes, and dresses as for military duty.
34) KW calls for his Kabinett at one in the afternoon. The Schmidt boys have driven him to think very hard on the technical fellows’ comments about this war. If he is to serve Germany, and not prostrate it to the world for a hundred years or more, things must change. He has had a great epiphany.
35) His decision, the whole country will fight: Total War! Now!
36) KW explains that total war means bending of all production and the entire population to war. It will engage not only the entire economy to service the war, they entire will of the Kabinett. Total war is the total commitment of KW personally, his family personally, and the royalty personally. They are to be in public, they are to demonstrate their commitment and work unfailingly toward the goals of the Germany. They are the shining example to which the people of the Germany can compare themselves.
37) Everyone around the table gives him a half-assed smile, to which he grimly replies. “My lawful and God-given title is Allerhochstest (all-highest). Some of you think it old fashioned. Think what you will, the reality is just as I say it today. I now demand your lives, and if you do not give them willingly as I have prescribed, well...everyone has a person behind them that wants that position, even the most favored. And I will open positions as I choose. Just so, I now demand that the entire will and purpose of our beloved country be turned to winning this damnable war. Do not ever doubt me, gentlemen.” He is very grim.
38) From this meeting on, his Kabinett begin to use the title Allerhochstest more often.

March 29
 

Tusky

Banned
Deutschland Aufstieg Part Three

Part Three: The New Strategy

1) Allerhochstest now begins to listen to a new type of advisor, the technical man. He lines up lectures for two weeks, three a day. He listens much more closely to academic military advisors. His personal staff attend and take notes madly. Chancellor Bethmann-Holweg attends as he is able, otherwise sends staff and receives a briefing. KW and B-H conference on these matters every other day.
2) Gradually KW understands that they all have the same message.
a) This modern war will be won in the factories and not by knights on horseback.
b) Germany must be more cautious with the lives of her men.
3) Allerhochstest KW makes his basic decision. Germany must change tactics.
a) KW knows that even though Germany inflicts double its own losses on its opponents, it is fighting a three front war and cannot continue these losses. Not only that, he refuses to inflict such losses on the country. There must be decisive action.
b) KW understands the strength of German weapons and materials, but it is time for update.
i) Increase the production of howitzers, mortars (minenwerfer), machine guns, increase the output of ammunition.
ii) Evolutionary improvement of some weapons.
iii) Germany is behind in airplanes, this is critical.
c) They must also rejigger the utilization of industry, and concentrate their strengths.
4) Kaiser Wilhelm makes his announcement to the Kabinett for the New Strategy & Total War on 7 February 1915.
5) KW explains the major change in their approach. He has in mind to stalemate on the Western Front for the next 16-20 months, configuring for defense in depth in the west and on the Russian front. They will attrit the Allies until they bleed white! This time will be used as a holding time for consolidating and engaging of human resources, engineering and manufacturing work, and preparation for the big push in the West which will win the war.
6) KW has heard again and again that in the back and forth of the war in France, that artillery does the killing and infantry does the dying. Shells, not bullets, are the principal wounding agents. He wants to use this knowledge
7) He wishes to have a strong and flexible western defense. It shall be agile, capable of absorbing attacks and flanking them out, with roads and rails in the rear that can move forces and supplies both in the forward direction and laterally very, very fast. He orders the military to figure out the best defensive posture, a defense in depth. He will provide more artillery, if needed, up to the 150 mm guns. Then, the last attacks on France to end the war will be through this corridor. Until then the existing tactic of slow defence and deadly re-attack shall be the norm.
8) Russia is probably almost done with the war. German strategy is to attrit them and be economical with troops. Many slavs have been recruited to form independent brigades n the German Army, gaining about 150 000 soldiers, a very useful increment. Germany will work secretly to befriend Baltic, Belo-Russia and Ukrainian entities, preparing them for revolt later. (This is largely what the Brest-Litovsk treaty would have done.)
9) The long-term idea is that these territories shall shield Germany from Russia. KW knows the German people are often suspicious of Slavs; he will work to take the raw edge off that characteristic by making Slav troop military training a sort of indoctrination that they will take back to their lands when the war is over. He will personally and actively demonstrate friendliness with Slavs.
10) KW also makes changes in the surface Hochseeflotte.
a) The first goal is purely practical, we will attack shipping. Britain is receiving huge amounts of war materials from America, and if it is in a British hull, then it shall be sunk.
b) German shall avoid giving America a reason to come into the war. To this end, American shipping is protected from unrestricted submarine warfare.
c) Second aim is to deny the eastern Med to the British. This will interrupt supplies and men coming through the Suez. It will cut off supplies to Italy and the British Army in Italy, greatly helping the Austria-Hungarians finish off their war.
d) The composition of the navy will change:
i) Germany will stop 60% of surface ship production, finish only the cruisers under construction, and stop work on any heavier ships. This signals a radical change in KW’s thinking, and much of it comes from Chancellor von Bethmann-Hollweg, some from his brother Prince Henry. Many in the Hochseeflotte are unhappy at losing their big ships. KW fires a couple of old-fashioned admirals and promotes staff. Tirpitz hangs on.
ii) The German Hochseeflotte will concentrate on subs, fast coastal boats, and destroyer-type ships. The proliferation of types is reduced, engineering will concentrate more on high production rates
iii) Prince Henry (Albert Wilhelm HeinrichHohenzollern) of Prussia is nominated to head the Unterseeboot Service, and is principally responsible for the development of the UBB. Many would see this as a demotion, but Henry understands it is a key position, with room for decisive command. He will take this duty very seriously. It leads to even higher position in about two years.
iv) KW specifically wants to see large numbers of the UBB series, especially in fairly small waters like the Mediterranean. He likes the factory sub-assembly idea for the UBB series.
11) KW approves a high-priority program for the second generation UB submarine, called UBB. They will be factory-fabricated in three sections, rail transported to ports, and field-assembled. These are small boats, 39 meters overall with a crew of about 16 men. They are specifically designed for easy and quick manufacture. He wants these boats in quantity, and they should be sliding off ways at Tekirdag, a small city on the Sea of Marmara ,by February 1916. He has already had his diplomats talking to the Turks about this proposed assembly point.
12) His technical advisors recommend an assembly point to follow at Bremerhaven. The Blohm & Voss yards are just too obvious.
13) The emphasis on submarine warfare here is due in large part (but many others made the same points) to the Schmidt brothers presentation. Schmidts will have much to do in the engineering of the UBB.
14) KW mentions the Schmidts by name, and gives his personal authorization that the Schmidt brothers be afforded every opportunity to put their technical ideas into action, and afforded every courtesy in their communities. And he moves on the strategic suggestions.
15) Gerd and August and Peter will continue to work on submarines the rest of the war, and only see Allerhochstest four years later when he congratulates them on their work and presents medals and large rewards in the form of Witwatersrand Gold. In the meantime they will have an excellent effect on submarine design and constructions.
16) The Schmidt men have had their effect. Fritz Friesen-Schmidt from time to time brings them a message from Allerhochstests Kaiser Wilhelm, and they also receive official Christmas greetings, a nice recognition. Prince Henry treats them well, has them report to him at four times a year, and never fails to spend time with them on his tours to factories and assembly points.
17) The European war will be decided 16 - 20 months hence. They are expected to go to the attack mode, where they are more easily got at. There may be strategic retreats, which ground will be sold at an awful cost to the attacker. The Army expects the Entente armies to be relatively exhausted just when Germany is ready to go again. .
18) The lightning attack that will end the war is tentatively scheduled for March 1917. One prong will drive through to Amiens and Dieppe, trapping the remains of the British BEF on the coast where they can be either captured or taken off. The second prong will advance on Paris.
19) The UBB campaign will essentially be a logistical attack, designed to greatly reduce Entente warfighting capability. If they cannot be successful in the logistics attack the Entente forces will have totally rested troops, huge stockpiles of new materials, and improved trucks and tanks. No offensive will be possible in this case. Thus, they are staking everything on the new submarine war strategy.
20) A key feature of the New Strategy & Total War is to avoid drawing America into this war. The Schmidt brothers lecture alerted him once more to considering the productive capacity of America, and he orders his German specialists to likewise study and report on the matter. The Embassy personnel in Washington DC are consulted and the report is available in 18 days. He’s heard it all before, and if anything the report is more compelling than the Schmidt brothers’ comments. KW comes to the decision that they should at all costs keep America out of the European war.
21) delete
22) American merchant ships can be stopped and cargo inspected. They may be sunk if there is war-fighting material aboard. But there is no unrestricted submarine warfare on American merchant shipping.
23) Von Tirpitz and staff rebel against the new guidance, and KW responds by issuing a specific order that they will indeed commit to the new submarine warfare policy.
24) Germany will now commence the new Colonial Revolution policy. Some of this came from the fertile mind of Theo Bethmann-Holweg, and some had been underway (though with small staffing and resources). The plan specifically is the subversion of India, Persia, Egypt, and South Afrika focusing on rebellion in 8 - 12 months, with overt events beginning about November 1915. KW insists that this project shall be well funded, well managed, and that a superior group of staff shall conduct the work. Even if this is not fully successful, it will occupy thousand of British troops, eat up shiploads of supplies, and deny use of colonial troops. Cheap at the cost.
25) He orders the Foreign Ministry to put more emphasis on the secret direct-action “America” project, and assign some of the best men he can find for this work. Gottlieb von Jagow, the Foreign Minister, has control of this project, and runs it very tightly, with very few people aware of its existence. The “America” project is top secret, made known only to those with need to know. It is the Silent But Deadly attack on American Warmongers such as Colonel House and Bernard Baruch.
26) KW has been dissatisfied with his intelligence bureau, and now asks the Foreign Ministry to upgrade this service. KW is alert to the value of code-breaking and asks for more emphasis in this area. More money is made available, and the FM is asked to staff up and select first rate minds for this work. Von Jagow takes him at his word and this will be of great importance.
a) There is cooperation between Army, Navy, and FM at top levels, and men are detached from service into the Coding Service, with appropriate information and policy fed back to the services.
b) Von Jagow assigns an “enemy group” to attack all new codes in an attempt to understand how the Entente code breakers might attack Germany communications.
27) KW is mindful of all the various lectures he had endured with Bismarck, Hindenburg and the rest about taking small bits of Europe. He is mindful that Germany has been very successful in their warfare, but he notes there is never the discussion of the years following a victory. His personal feeling is that conquering large swaths of Europe is largely temporary, that it means war for a hundred years and no telling the outcome. Indeed, the downside is disastrous, and he feels he may be looking into that pit at the present time.
28) KW feels that the true downside of this modern war is the loss of fine men, and not only will they be missed in the years to follow, but also their children will be missed. A Professor of Human Anthropology, Heinrich Leibe, gives a small lecture about the demographic effect in Germany of of losing a million first-class young men. It is a disaster! The Professor also discusses what happens in Germany if these same million young men survive. Germany will be crowded in that case, and some of her finest gentlemen will leave for greener pastures!


Note to readers: Comments?
 
Last edited:

BlondieBC

Banned
Better formatting and spacing helps. The last two posts are a wall of text. Go look up Calbear TL for better formatting ideas. The wall of text hurts the eyes.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
21) To this end, KW puts additional restrictions on actions against American shipping. Attacks on American warships are forbidden unless in self-defense, and even then running away is preferred to fighting. This includes actions against American warships protecting British convoys...though such actions will be recorded and strong diplomatic protests made. Unrestricted submarine warfare, at least in Atlantic Waters, is impossible.
22) American merchant ships can be stopped and cargo inspected. They may be sunk if there is war-fighting material aboard. But there is no unrestricted submarine warfare on American merchant shipping.
23) Von Tirpitz and staff rebel against the new guidance, and KW responds by issuing a specific order that they will indeed commit to the new submarine warfare policy.
24) Germany will now commence the new Colonial Revolution policy. Some of this came from the fertile mind of Theo Bethmann-Holweg, and some had been underway (though with small staffing and resources). The plan specifically is the subversion of India, Persia, Egypt, and South Afrika focusing on rebellion in 8 - 12 months, with overt events beginning about November 1915. KW insists that this project shall be well funded, well managed, and that a superior group of staff shall conduct the work. Even if this is not fully successful, it will occupy thousand of British troops, eat up shiploads of supplies, and deny use of colonial troops. Cheap at the cost.
25) He orders the Foreign Ministry to put more emphasis on the secret direct-action “America” project, and assign some of the best men he can find for this work. Gottlieb von Jagow, the Foreign Minister, has control of this project, and runs it very tightly, with very few people aware of its existence. The “America” project is top secret, made known only to those with need to know. It is the Silent But Deadly attack on American Warmongers such as Colonel House and Bernard Baruch.
26) KW has been dissatisfied with his intelligence bureau, and now asks the Foreign Ministry to upgrade this service. KW is alert to the value of code-breaking and asks for more emphasis in this area. More money is made available, and the FM is asked to staff up and select first rate minds for this work. Von Jagow takes him at his word and this will be of great importance.
a) There is cooperation between Army, Navy, and FM at top levels, and men are detached from service into the Coding Service, with appropriate information and policy fed back to the services.
b) Von Jagow assigns an “enemy group” to attack all new codes in an attempt to understand how the Entente code breakers might attack Germany communications.
27) KW is mindful of all the various lectures he had endured with Bismarck, Hindenburg and the rest about taking small bits of Europe. He is mindful that Germany has been very successful in their warfare, but he notes there is never the discussion of the years following a victory. His personal feeling is that conquering large swaths of Europe is largely temporary, that it means war for a hundred years and no telling the outcome. Indeed, the downside is disastrous, and he feels he may be looking into that pit at the present time.
28) KW feels that the true downside of this modern war is the loss of fine men, and not only will they be missed in the years to follow, but also their children will be missed. A Professor of Human Anthropology, Heinrich Leibe, gives a small lecture about the demographic effect in Germany of of losing a million first-class young men. It is a disaster! The Professor also discusses what happens in Germany if these same million young men survive. Germany will be crowded in that case, and some of her finest gentlemen will leave for greener pastures!

28) This was well known in OTL. The were article in the NY times talking about how great the German population loss was during the war. Falkenhayn understood this, in fact, it was an important part of his strategy.

27) Don't see this attitude change, too big.

26) Germans had great success breaking the codes of the Russian Army. Also excellent signal analysis intelligence. At times, they even were figuring out the bits of the British Merchant codes. One story is this is how the Emden knew the 4 funnel disguise worked so well. At this, the British were just better, the Germans did try. Not sure it does what you want.

21) I think you are confusing WW1 and WW2. USA did not escort Entente shipping until in the war. Once in the war, it does not matter if one attacks USA shipping.

I could do more comments, but basically, I don't think your TL logically flows. The POD does not match the changes to the German strategy.
 

Tusky

Banned
28) This was well known in OTL. The were article in the NY times talking about how great the German population loss was during the war. Falkenhayn understood this, in fact, it was an important part of his strategy.

27) Don't see this attitude change, too big.

26) Germans had great success breaking the codes of the Russian Army. Also excellent signal analysis intelligence. At times, they even were figuring out the bits of the British Merchant codes. One story is this is how the Emden knew the 4 funnel disguise worked so well. At this, the British were just better, the Germans did try. Not sure it does what you want.

21) I think you are confusing WW1 and WW2. USA did not escort Entente shipping until in the war. Once in the war, it does not matter if one attacks USA shipping.

I could do more comments, but basically, I don't think your TL logically flows. The POD does not match the changes to the German strategy.

Hi!

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Very much appreciated.

I removed 21.

The POD is the essence of paragraph 27. It is the Great Epiphany. KW genuinely is the All Highest, and he has just grabbed the reins. He will either have some success or he will be whisked off the stage by some unfortunate event. He sees truly grave problems ahead. I think at this time many General Staff could see grave problems ahead.

I hope you will read on a bit, and perhaps change your perception of my story. I hope to avoid a deadly lack of veracity. And I will tell you now that the further we are from the POD, the more fictional the story becomes -- actually leaning towards the science fictional. I just want to stay in the "yes, that's possible" realm.

Tusky
 

Tusky

Banned
Deutschland Aufstieg Part Four

Part Four: KW is not sure of himself but he must act! Beginnings of the Afrika policy.

1) KW is a nervous wreck at this time. The might of the German army is undoubted, but the times are clearly changing, and the past no longer is the true predictor of the future. He’s very aware of this, and is very mindful that he has abandoned small steps and is taking a moderately blind leap into the future.

2) He prays daily for guidance, but more than just indulging in prayer, he studies intensely. He invites various experts in for one-and-two hour lectures, of which his aides take notes and go over them with KW. He deepens his relationship with Theo Bethmann-Holweg. KW admits to Theo that he sometimes loses the thread when the technical fellows go deeply into their subject. Theo thanks him for his humility, and admits that he likewise has this trouble. Bethmann-Holweg reminds him of the lessons on leadership he’s learned all these years, and that the most important lessons are those that allow him to assess his advisor’s character. Do his peers give credence to his work? Is he an honest man? Is he committed to the German Nation. Would he be brave under fire or break down to a coward? KW nods....these are indeed the basics.

3) KW also remembers the intense conversations he has had with Wilhelm Solf, the secretary for colonies. Solf believes Afrika is the place for expansion. When he began his career with the diplomatic corps, Solf was a typical liberal German. He wanted to improve the subject people; essentially, make good Germans out of them. Solf has been hugely disappointed in his results, and has been rethinking especially what Germany will do in her African empire. What is the point, after all?

4) KW is not a liberal German by any means, and as a result of his conversations with Solf and Professor Leibe he identifies an undoubted need for Lebensram. KWs advisors say taking and holding the British, Belgian, and French colonies in Africa can be done, especially if the submarine effort can make the eastern Mediterranean a “German lake.”

5) Solf asks what is to be done about the African blacks, and KW points to the actions of America with her Indians. KW is a fierce Darwinist, and he tells Solf that if Germany strongly supports her colonists and pushes hard to literally move millions to the colonies, why, matters will take care of themselves.

6) KW confidently tells Solf that once taken by war, the deeds to the colonies can be ratified at a treaty session after the war. After that, the German army can hold them against any comers because land wars in Africa are a matter of logistics, and that they can control. Such strategy will divert continental wars off the European continent, keeping the central cultural centers intact. And he has certain reports of mineral deposits and raw materials (just in German East and West Africa!) that boggle the mind. So the African Germany strategy can win a prize of the highest value, available now and perhaps never again to the bold.

7) This is far from the liberal vision Solf had once held for his legacy as colonial secretary. Nevertheless, he sees KWs idea as the chance to engrave his name in the Hall of Heroes and he signs on as Afrika Minister.

8) However, Solf does have a highly educated and experienced insight into Africa. He and KW and Bethmann-Holweg spend a full day in the map room as Solf explains how they potentially could take the French and most British colonies right across the belly of Afrika from about 7 degrees north latitude southward. Bethmann-Hollweg has pushed this concept for years, calling the new land “Mittel Afrika.” The colonies north of 7 north latitude he thinks a bad bargain, and perhaps the French should stay there as a kind of safety valve.

9) Theo B-H welcomes Solf’s support for the Mittel Afrika concept.

10) Solf thinks South Africa has its own character and cannot be made a colony. However, he knows the Boers. If Germany would help them make South Africa their own nation by tossing out the British, Germany would have no better ally in the world. Plus, it will be difficult to get troops down into Afrika for the first part of the program, and the Boers clearly make fine soldiers. KW strokes his chin, this is a good point. Bethmann-Holweg quite agrees. Solf now assembles a task force to study the strategy and brainstorm its implementation.

11) Solf traces out the length of Britain’s occupation of Egypt at this time, contiguous all the way down to East Africa, just north of their key colony of German East Africa. “If we can get the Egyptians to take arms on their own behalf, we will have a straight shot to our brothers in GEA, and together with the Boers, the work will go quickly.” He looks rueful for a moment. “Can’t see wasting resources on Kamerun and SW Africa, they’ll fall and we will get them back later.”

12) “That’s right,” said KW. “So let’s support those Egyptians!”

13) KW begins his travels to the front. He visits his generals and colonels equally, and asks them to nominate a few combat units with which he may have a meal in the trench. He travels within reach of British artillery, eats with the men, and trades out stories. This is an action that clearly indicates The Great Epiphany. Very unlikely in previous times. He even has to take cover in the trenches a time or two. If the Brits knew they would blast heaven apart to get him, and the men know it.

14) In the war years to come, KW travels about half the time. His wife and her group likewise travel and visit. They write in the newspapers and give speeches. All the royals make themselves more visible. A few do not; they are shunned until the war is finished, and end up in Switzerland or France thereafter. KWs constant appearance around the country and near the war fronts are a powerful patriotic incentive.
 
i think the "only" really important change ITTL is the invention of "better" subs armed with what is essentially a German version of the WWII Japanese Long-lance Torpedo.

This alone would "starve" the British islands and change the course of the war.

Going "defensive" in the west would also doing a lot for preserving the GErman armies. (Austria staying defensive in Italy for the most part of the war shows that a defensive small army can hold off an stronger army (read the timeline of the Isonzo battles)

THE "African Strategy" is merely a nice add on IMHO.

BTW I don't think that focussing on the MEd will do the trick. its the seas around Britain where the new U-Boot-Waffe has to be concentrated.

Germany could always give the U-plans to the Austrians which had some capacity to build their own boats to take the war into the Med...
 

Tusky

Banned
Reply to Richter

Richter:


Thank you for your comments. I believe you will see some of the issues you brought up discussed in more detail. Stay tuned.

Using the subs to squeeze the supplies coming through eastern Med waters is a logistical stroke.

The UBB is a refinement of the UB design, a OTL pre-fab boat. Rationalization, mfg mass production techniques, and a couple of technical innovations are the key to large numbers.

Tusky
 
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