The German Century

[Joriz Castillo]

No God, No Gun​

Bremen, March 6, 1901

It was a normal day like any other. The streets were lively with people as they went about their daily routine; the shops were open with the things they sell and horse-drawn carriages mill about everywhere. One of those carriages was a very special one, a very royal carriage. As it moved through a street, Kaiser Wilhelm II sat inside reading a newspaper about the current events of both home and abroad.

On the other side of the street, stood a young man. He had been standing there for god knows how long. Waiting for someone. Inside his coat, rests his old, rusty-ass revolver. The young man had been radicalized a few years back to the sweet, juicy music of Anarchism.

As the carriage approached, the young man made his move. He hurriedly walked towards the side of the carriage and pulled out his gun. The fancy-mustached Emperor looks up from the paper only to be sent hurtling back towards his seat as shots rang out and his vision instantly blackened.

As the young man was tackled to the ground, an unassuming policeman looked into the carriage only to be greeted by his worst nightmare. In front of his eyes, he sees a man laid back against the seat, drooling blood from his mouth whilst bleeding from bullet holes across his torso. His eyes and mouth were wide but he was unresponsive.

The Kaiser was dead.

Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany (1888-1901)
(1859-1901)​

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Dragged into Reality​

As news spread of the assassination, all of Germany, including the world, dropped its collective jaw. Many Germans couldn't fathom the idea of their monarch becoming a victim of someone's political ideology. The nation went into deep mourning as everyone laid wreaths of flowers outside the imperial palaces.

In the international scene, all the kings, prime ministers, and presidents of the world sent telegrams of condolences that were delivered by their respective ambassadors. All the royals who were related to Wilhelm were devastated, especially his cousins, the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, and Britain's King Edward VII.

Meanwhile in Berlin

​

At the Royal Palace, the entire Hohenzollern family had come together to mourn the loss of their family patriarch. The late Kaiser's son, the 19-year-old Crown Prince Wilhelm, felt numb and had sunken into depression. His father is gone and now he has huge shoes to fill along with the entire country seemingly at his shoulders. He could only imagine the amount of stress he would endure having to rule a country along with 56 million subjects.

Fortunately, he had a team of advisers at his side, which included Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow, along with the guidance of his uncle, Prince Henry of Prussia, who would help Wilhelm navigate the world of war and diplomacy like Bismarck.

5 days later, Wilhelm attended his father's state funeral. Dignitaries from all across Europe, both Royals and Ministers, came to pay their respects to the man that many believed would've brought the continent into a destructive war. Among those present wasn't a European but an American, Vice President Teddy Roosevelt.

Having known what it meant to lose a loved one (in his case, 2 loved ones), Teddy got to have a chat with the young German Emperor.

TR: Good day, your Majesty. My name is Theodore Roosevelt and I'm the Vice President of America. I've come here to offer my condolences for the death of your father.
Wilhelm 3: Nice to meet you, Herr Roosevelt. It's nice of you to come here anyway.
TR: Would you be kind to let me offer you some advice? In life, there will be ups and downs for all of us. You will experience good moments and bad moments, so be ready to could take on the world and just don't be taken down by it.

- An eyewitness account of the conversation between Teddy Roosevelt and Wilhelm III.

Funeral Service for Wilhelm II in Berlin

Wilhelm's coffin being delivered to Hohenzollern Castle

Wilhelm III, Emperor of Germany
(1901-)​

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Fresh Meat​

The structure of the German government at the dawn of the 20th century was a mixture of parliamentary democracy and absolute monarchy. Unlike a constitutional monarchy, where the role of a monarch is largely ceremonial, the German Emperor had enough executive powers that could be compared to that of a US President. He had the power to declare war and make peace, appoint(and fire) a Chancellor, propose laws, convene and dissolve the Reichstag, and was the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy.

While Wilhelm I was content to leave Bismarck with running the country throughout his reign, his ambitious (and reckless) grandson took an active role in governance by hiring and sacking ministers that were or weren't compliant with his ways. He made many foreign policy blunders that nearly destroyed He had Bismarck resign in 1890 and ran the country like a Tsar. But all that ended with his assassination by an Anarchist.

With the young Wilhelm now on the throne, it was time to start cleaning the house. He let Bethmann Hollweg run the country instead of himself, while Wilhelm, with the advice of his uncle, tried to repair relations with Britain.

In September, Britain began looking into a potential alliance with Germany for the 3rd time. With a new Kaiser, there were prospects that such a thing could happen. Eventually, the two nations began to negotiate in order to formulate an alliance in opposition against both France and Russia. Britain had a long-lasting rivalry with France in the world of Imperialism while Germany was also wary of her since they had vowed revenge for the loss of Alsace-Lorraine back in 1871. Russia was seen as a threat to its Indian empire and fought a Cold War-Esque struggle in Central Asia while Germany saw it as a potential enemy in case of a two-front war.

The man that had strived for this was none other than Joseph Chamberlain. Head of the Foreign Office, he tried his chance for an alliance for the third time after two previous failures. But a gaffe would nip it in the bud.

Britain was fighting a war against the Boers in South Africa. In order to crush the guerrilla fighters, they resorted to tactics such as a Scorched Earth policy and putting women and children into concentration camps which earned them considerable criticism on the European press. One day, Chamberlain made a speech defending the conduct of the Empire's troops whilst remarking that theirs was better than that of the Germans in the Franco-Prussian War

Unsurprisingly, the Germans were outraged. They demanded an apology but Chamberlain refused out of pride. And with that, the 3rd attempt at an Anglo-German alliance ended in failure. With the chance lost, Britain settled for an alliance with France. Germany had gained nothing.

Disheartened, the Germans continued to build up their navy thanks to the advice of Grand Admiral Tirpitz. The harbors of Hamburg and other coastal cities churned out battleships, cruisers, destroyers and even the newest technology possible: U-boats.

Joseph Chamberlain, the man that shot himself in the foot (metaphorically)

Alfred von Tirpitz, Grand Admiral of the Kaiserliche Marine​

 

[Joriz Castillo]

The All-American Badass​

The beginning of Teddy Roosevelt's presidency was not a rosy one. Having been a running mate alongside McKinley during the election and the VP during his presidency until his out-of-nowhere assassination, Teddy had to contend with mourning his partner's death but he could now breath a sigh of relief as he nows had the chance to implement his agenda for future of America. The bosses in the GOP may hate him, but he was a man of the people who thrill-fully supported the man. This was the man that led the charge up San Juan Hill with the Rough Riders, transformed the NYPD into a professional institution, and went up against Tammany Hall.

During this time, in 1903, he lent a helping hand in Panama's liberation from Colombia by deploying the US Navy. In return for America's assistance, the new country would allow Roosevelt the right to building a canal across the isthmus. Once the Panama Canal was under US control, Teddy did a favor to soothe feelings over. As an act of goodwill, he let the future revenue from the canal be split between Panama and the USA. He conserved a lot of areas in the country that were turned into nature reserves, deeply inspired by his time out west. He broke up a lot of monopolies and trusts that were strangling the economy, earning the moniker 'Trust-buster'.

One other important thing that happened in his first term was the state visit of Wilhelm III of Germany in 1902. Since the chances of an alliance with Britain were dashed, the young emperor looked to the west. He traveled aboard the SMS Hohenzollern and landed at New York Harbour to be greeted by a huge crowd and lots of press. During this time, he met officials, dignitaries, folks from the German American community, notable people like Thomas Edison, Rockefeller and many others. Along the way, Wilhelm stopped by Washington DC to go meet the President. Both of them had a cordial meeting, which included a splendid dinner, where they talked a lot about friendly bonding, the cultures between the two nations, and more importantly, diplomacy.

In those talks, Wilhelm, along with his diplomatic entourage, negotiated with Roosevelt regarding Germany's interest in the Caribbean. For one, the German Navy needed a coal refueling station to secure their ship's journey to the Pacific but Roosevelt was, following the Monroe Doctrine, opposed to any European annexation into the western hemisphere. The talks continued until, one night, both men had struck a deal: Germany would abandon any interest in the Caribbean. In return, the US would let German ships refuel in their harbors, particularly in places like Florida and Puerto Rico.

The Coal Deal, as it was called, was a masterstroke in diplomacy as it ensured mutual respect for both the Monroe Doctrine and Germany's naval goals. Soon after this, public opinion began to be more positive regarding Germany and its young and smart king.

A few months later, the Venezuelan Crisis would erupt when the Venezuelan president, Cipriano Castro, refused to pay the country's foreign debts and damages by Europeans in its recent civil wars. As a consequence, Britain, France, and Italy sent ships to blockade the country and shelled its forts and harbors in an attempt to force the government to honor its debt repayments. Teddy resolved this crisis by sending his fleet into a standoff and warned the British, Italians and French to back off as America threatened war if they try to land troops on the coast. One notable absence from this blockade was the Germans.

Eventually, the crisis was settled in 1903 at The Hague as the blockading powers were awarded preferential treatment. Roosevelt wasn't satisfied with the ruling as it could encourage future intervention. As a result, the Roosevelt Corollary was added to the Monroe Doctrine.

A year later, Teddy Roosevelt won the 1904 election in a landslide victory against the Democrats very own Alton B. Parker, who only won the entire South. During his victory speech, he made one announcement that would surprise everyone: he would run again as president in 1908.

The Bull Moose would continue marching on.

Theodore Roosevelt, US President (1901-)
(1859-)​

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Samurai Underdogs​

Ever since the country abolished the shogunate, Japan had been on the path towards modernization and reform. The old samurai class lost its privileges, factories and railways were built, the army was modernized, cities were transformed. Japanese society had been transformed from an isolated, agricultural group of islands to an industrial powerhouse. With a new constitution, the Emperor became a figurehead while a Diet headed by a prime minister ruled the country.

To become a great power in its own right, they had to take baby steps. The first step was Korea for it was right next to Japan and therefore it's very backyard. First, they forced the hermit country to open its ports to trade. Then they sponsored Pro-Japanese officials to help pull Korea into its sphere of influence. When the Queen of Korea, Empress Myeongseong, opposed their efforts they had her assassinated. This made things worse for the Koreans as they were on the road to Asian servitude.

In 1895, Japan went to war against China. They overran the Korean peninsula, which used to be a Chinese vassal, and marched into the fringes of Manchuria. Along the way, they destroyed the relatively modern Beiyang fleet in a one-sided battle and landed on the shores of Taiwan. Seeing the disaster, the Qing emperor requested peace and soon the war was over.

While it was a victory, to the Japanese it was a hollow one as they didn't get their desired goal of having Port Arthur which they were stopped by the western powers. With this, Japan continued building its navy which was having state of the art ships in its arsenal. In that same year, Korea came completely under the influence of Japan.

In 1905, Japan and Russia went to war. Everybody predicted that Japan would lose as Russia was superior, the only factor being that they were white and Japan was yellow. Whilst the Russian army mobilized thousands of men, Japan sent fewer men but managed to score victory after victory. Soon the fighting shifted to Southern Manchuria. While the Japanese army was smaller, it was effective in tactics and strategy. The greatest example of this was in the sea.

The Russian Baltic fleet had arrived just in time after crossing the Suez Canal. They were sent to help fight the Japanese Navy while Port Arthur was being blockaded [1]. To break the blockade, they were tasked to clear out the Japanese ships at the Yellow Sea. Unfortunately, the Japanese had predicted this scenario and were ready to strike. The two fleets met at Tsushima straits and clashed in an epic struggle. By the end of the day, the mighty Baltic fleet was underwater and the rising sun was waving in the wind.

When the war was over a year later, the world was shocked. Japan had defeated a great power and became recognized as one. It was a wake-up call that shattered the myth of European armies as invincible to the rest of Asia. In the treaty of Portsmouth, Japan's control of Korea, including Port Arthur, was recognized while Russia's influence in Manchuria was recognized as well. They also gained the southern half of Sakhalin along with the Kuril Islands.

For Russia, this was pure humiliation. After fighting and dying for a Tsar that crushed popular movements and didn't improve their lives, the people demanded change. When a crowd of workers led by a priest marched towards the Winter Palace with a list of demands, the soldiers fired on them. As a result, the workers rose up with weapons in their hands and fought numerous gun battles with the police and later the army. For a while, there was a chance the autocracy would be overthrown but they were soon crushed by force of arms as Tsar Nicholas considered it his mission to stamp out any revolution in Holy Russia. Although the revolution was crushed, reforms were made to satisfy the people's demands. A constituent assembly, the Duma, was established along with a constitution in 1906.

As for Germany, these events were considered far away and distant. It was a huge surprise that Japan won against a white nation and was soon becoming anxious about their Imperial ambitions as Germany had colonies in the Pacific such as Micronesia and New Guinea.

What they didn't realize was that trouble was brewing far, far closer to home.

Out with the old, In with the new

Empress Myeongseong, assassinated by the Japanese
1851-1895​

Japanese troops on the lookout for Russians (1904)

Japanese illustration of the Battle of Tsushima (May 1905)

Treaty of Portsmouth, hosted by Teddy Roosevelt (1905)

Soldiers fire at a crowd outside the Winter Palace, Bloody Sunday 1905​

***
1. There's no Dogger Bank Incident so the Russians were able to use the Suez Canal to reach faster than OTL.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

This part will be divided into three parts since it's quite long.

The Second Swedish-Norwegian War
aka
The Norwegian War of Independence

Part 1: Ja, Vi Elsker Dette (Jævla) Landet

​

Scandinavia had often been known as the peaceful region of Europe where no war had been fought on its soil since 1814. The nations weren't great powers in any way and had no colonies as well. Thus explains the surprise everyone felt when a conflict broke out over the fate of the Union between Sweden and Norway. To understand what happened that led to the events in Scandinavia, one must look back to the root causes that go back almost a century from then.

***​

When Norway declared independence from Denmark in 1814, Europe was in the final days of the Napoleonic Wars. A Regency Council which consisted of nobles and commoners alike elected a king from the Danish royal house, Christian Frederik. To survive, they made diplomatic missions to the major nations of Europe.

But Sweden, having recently lost Finland to Russia, demanded and was given compensation in the form of the land west of the country, Norway. The new king, Charles XIII Bernadotte, made it his mission to subdue Norway and bring it into Sweden's fold. Unsurprisingly, the Norwegians didn't like this and took up arms to defend their independence. The Swedish army marched west but lost a few battles at places like Lier, Langnes and Matrand but started winning at places like Hvaler, Fredrikstad, and Kjolberg Bridge. Seeing the inevitability of a Swedish victory that was assisted by a British blockade, the Norwegians requested a cease-fire. Norway had capitulated while not being conquered and was given a very light treatment.

Instead of being integrated as mere Swedish provinces, the country was allowed to retain its constitution, laws, legislature, judiciary, administration, army, and currency. However, both nations had a common monarch and foreign policy was to be conducted through the Swedish ministry of foreign affairs. The two nations were joined in a personal union, creating what is called the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway or Sweden-Norway for short. Throughout the century, disputes regarding the powers of the Swedish King and the Norwegian parliament sprung up from time to time.

Public opinion was divided at best, with Norwegians having a mixed view of the Union in contrast to the positive views of the Swedes. Whilst Norway had considered itself pacifist and more democratic, Sweden had a militaristic and conservative nature. This was the reason why Alfred Nobel decided to host the Nobel Peace Prize in Christiania rather than Stockholm.

In the late 19th century, both countries had several disagreements regarding each government's policy. The issues ranged from demands for separate consuls and foreign services to trade policies. While the two countries were part of one union, they were worlds apart according to their interests. As a result, cracks began to form. In 1905, as talks between the two governments regarding the foreign ministry dragged on due to disagreements, the King broke off negotiations that he initiated but still hoped for a settlement.

While Crown Prince Gustaf appealed to both cabinets to return to the negotiating table, the Norwegians finally had enough. They realized that a fair solution to the conflict was impossible and there was only one way: The Union had to be dissolved.

On May 23, the Storting passed the government's proposal for the establishment of separate Norwegian consuls. Immediately, the king vetoed the bill but, in anticipation of such a move, the Norwegian ministry tendered their resignations. In a tit for tat move, the king refused to accept their resignations but the ministers disobeyed his order and left for Christiania.

On June 7, the Storting voted to dissolve the Union. Reactions were strong in Stockholm as the King called a session of the Riksdag to consider what measures should be taken for Norway's "revolt". The conservative Riksdag declared it would not negotiate the dissolution of the Union, even if the Norwegians possibly hold a referendum. It also voted 100 million kronor to be set in case of war.

In shock with such a declaration, the Norwegians borrowed 40 million kroner from France and gauged the readiness of its troops. Meanwhile, they also announced a referendum on dissolution which would be held on August 13 but the Swedish supreme court declared it illegal. The plebiscite went ahead anyway with 100% of the population voting yes and Norway (unofficially) declared its independence.

As the situation got tenser, the Swedish and Norwegian armies were mobilized towards their respective border and a standoff ensued. Both sides had support from foreign nations as well. While the Norwegians were supported by the British and (unofficially) the Danes, Sweden had the support of Germany which promised to back their side in case of foreign intervention by the other side. Feeling confident with this support, the Swedes sent an ultimatum to the Storting demanding they revoke their declaration of independence before September or they will march towards Christiania and dissolve the government. When August came and went without a reply from the Storting, the bugle was sounded the armies started marching. It was time for war.

The Norwegian Storting passes the bill dissolving the Union

Postcard from the Norwegian referendum. The phrase would become the opening words of the Norwegian national anthem.​

Norwegian troops at the border, August 1905​

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Sorry for the long wait, everyone. I had to prepare and finish my exams but after that was done, I hadn't thought of continuing this TL until I got back the strength to write it.

Part 2: The Call of Valhalla​

As soon as the ultimatum came and pass, the Swedish army began marching across the border. Sweden had both the men and the equipment necessary to fight the lesser populated Norway. On the other hand, the Norwegians had the upper hand in tactics. Although they knew they couldn't stop the blonde-haired behemoths coming their way, they could at least slow it down for more time.

After capturing a couple of towns near the border, the swedes advanced on Fredrikstad thinking it was another walk in the park. What they couldn't expect was resistance. As soon as they got near the outskirts of the city, they were met by a hail of bullets coming from the trees and bushes. Several platoons of militia along with members from the shooting clubs had taken up positions around the city.

For 3 days, gunfire was exchanged from street to street until Fredrikstad was finally cleared of the militias and the Swedes were on the move again. With this news, the Norwegian government decided to deploy its regular troops to stall the Swedish advance for time and evacuate to another city somewhere east while its newly created but unrecognized foreign ministry looked for support in Europe or elsewhere.



A group of militiamen poses for the camera before marching out to engage the Swedes. The role of the militias played in the defense of Norway had greatly influenced strategic thinking regarding guerilla warfare for the new century.

As Scandinavians fought Scandinavians, the continent looked on in keen observation. Britain, keen on maintaining its trading interests, covertly backed the Norwegians along with France and Russia. The French sent token support to one-up their German rivals. As a country more aligned to Germany than Britain, Sweden received its support from the Germans which included military advisors. They also received powerful Krupp artillery guns from the Austrians as a token gesture of support.

As the Swedish army got closer and closer to Christiania, the Storting was packing up for a train ride to Bergen to escape arrest. In his diary, Prime Minister Christian Michelsen wrote:

"I don't know how tough this will be. The Swedes are not that far from here and I fear for my safety along with my family. If things don't change, this could be the end for me".

Indeed they did fear for their lives as the Swedes had issued arrest warrants for the capture of Michelsen and members of his cabinet. They had even put a 500,000 kronor bounty on their capture as well.

The seas weren't quiet either. When the ultimatum expired, the Swedish navy immediately sailed for Christiania. While doing so, they sent smaller fleets to the other coastal cities such as Kristiansand and Stavanger to land troops and outflank the Norwegians. Both landings were successful as resistance in the cities was minimal due to most of the Norwegian troops withdrawing deep into the countryside. Things seemed to be getting worse and worse.

On September 15, the Swedish army had reached the outskirts of the Norwegian capital. Wanting to capture the city unscathed, they sent an envoy inside to negotiate its surrender but the defenders ultimately refused the offer. Having no choice, the Swedish commander, Knut Bildt, ordered his forces to assault the city in one grand assault. Defending the city were a hodgepodge of militiamen, local volunteers, and some regular army units.

Like the Caroleans of a bygone era, the Swedes descended upon the city coming straight up from Lambertseter. They advanced under heavy fire among the suburbs as they inched closer and closer towards the heart of Christiania. One by one, the various city landmarks fell to the attackers as the Norwegians were in retreat across the city. The sounds of rifle and machine-gun fire along with the occasional artillery bombardment echoed across the capital at a constant occurrence. The fighting was so bad that one German officer present during the battle remarked: "It was like Peking all over again; the whole damn city was devastated".

Amidst the chaos, a company of soldiers and militiamen had entrenched themselves inside Akershus fortress. Knowing the city was about to fall, they nevertheless sat tight and waited for the Swedes to come. Once they came, they unleashed hell upon the attackers like there was no tomorrow. For days, the Swedes besieged the fortress, having it cut off from the outside world. Every assault the Swedes launched on Akershus were repelled, giving them no choice but to shell the fortress into ruins.

Despite the shelling, the defenders had sought shelter inside the castle's tunnels for cover and were their stockpiled ammunition was stored. Some of them had even brought machine guns and grenades. Throughout the siege, the Norwegians lived off whatever food they brought with them and it wasn't long before they started to starve.

After 4 days of countless shelling and attacks, the swedes launched their biggest assault on the fortress and had finally captured it along with the few survivors of what was left of the company. In a spectacle designed for the cameras and press, the swedes raised two flags: The flag of Sweden and the Union mark. After that, the Swedish commander brought the Norwegian command tasked with defending the city for a surrender ceremony. Salutes were exchanged, papers were signed and the order was given out to those troops that hadn't left the city by now to lay down their arms and surrender. One American journalist would call the Siege of Akershus, the 'Nordic Alamo'.

The Akershus fortress sustained heavy damage during the fighting that took place. After the war, the historic landmark was restored to its former glory but would become the site for Norway's commemoration of its fight for independence. The siege would become romanticized in various books and movies as a heroic last stand alongside the likes of Thermopylae, Alamo and Little Big Horn.

While confidence at home about crushing the secession was high among the Swedish elite, including the middle class, it was less so for the workers and farmers. The working class, having been seduced by the sweet sounds of socialism, weren't so enthusiastic about going to fight against a nation that voted for independence, voter fraud or not. With the outbreak of war, many on the left such as the Social Democrats began protesting against the war although they were a minority at first. To the king and the Riksdag, snuffing out the illegal secession of Norway was their utmost priority. They would find soon find out there was going to get more complicated.

Across Europe, the carnage unfolding in Norway was reported widely. The average citizen was glued to their papers reading every story about the war while the diplomats were busy at work finding a way to use the conflict for furthering their nation's interest. Their plans would soon be tested later on.

While the main focus of the campaign was the advance on Christiania, other areas of the country were also active. Despite having the numbers and equipment needed to conquer the country, the Swedes were having a hard time advancing in the countryside. A Swedish advance on the port city of Trondheim was stopped halfway there due to guerrilla attacks and the strong defenses constructed by the Norwegians. Not to mention, a raid on Narvik was also repulsed by the Norwegians as they knew the terrain like the back of their hand. The only way the Swedes could advance would be to traverse the various mountain passes and fjords that make up the country's distinct geography.

Norwegian army troops of the Jäger corps take up defensive positions on the road leading to Trondheim.

The Swedish chief of staff was living on borrowed time as the longer they took, the increasing chances of a great power involvement seemed more and more likely. Not to mention if the war went on for much longer, public opinion would slowly turn against it. They planned to advance along the coast, linking up with the landing troops in Kristiansand and Stavanger. The Storting, having moved to Bergen, was sending out requests for international support and even volunteers from other countries. Soon hundreds would arrive places like Iceland, Netherlands, Britain and more importantly Denmark. Enough Danes had volunteered to form a brigade and would become a renowned unit for its fighting prowess.

***

London

It was a quiet night. The streets were usually filled with those going home for the evening and enjoying the time with their families. Westminster was asleep and all of its MPs were either back in their constituencies or enjoying the night in their posh London homes. The Royal Family was soundly asleep in Buckingham Palace except the various guards posted around the palace. The beating heart of the most powerful nation on earth was sleeping, except for one man.

In 10 Downing street, Prime Minister Arthur Balfour was still awake in his office pondering about the events unfolding in Scandinavia. His greatest fear was a nation becoming fully aligned to German interests that would've joined the Central Powers. If that would happen, the gateway to the Baltic Sea would be closed and trade with Russia would be cut off. As a result, the British decided to place their support behind Norway.

After pondering for what seemed like forever, Balfour had come up with a plan to 'maintain the balance of power and protect British interests'. Before going to sleep, he drafted his plan for an upcoming meeting with his cabinet and eventually for Parliament. Always reminded of his wife nagging him to come to bed, he prepared notes for the day tomorrow and finally went to bed. In his head, he only had two words to say to those that would block Britain from gaining an advantage anywhere in Europe.

"Not today".

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Not Today​

Bergen, Norway
November 1905

Smoke rises from the city. The sounds of artillery shells landing somewhere in Bergen annoyed its citizens. An orchestra of guns surrounding it faced the coast. The Swedes who were besieging Bergen were preparing for the order to attack in a few minutes. To them, this was to be their final triumph over the Norwegians. Or so they thought.

While he was planning for the attack, Knut Bildt was startled by the sounds of one of his staff officers. When he arrived, he was panting heavily and sweat was trickling down his head. The young man looked as if he had just run an Olympic race.

"Sir, there are several ships out near the coast but they are neither ours nor are they Norwegian!" the young officer reported. Knut froze for a moment before asking "Could they be German?". The young officer replied no. At this point, the commander decided to walk out of his tent and check for himself what all the commotion was. To his shock, he encountered several cruisers sailing near Bergen.

And they were all flying the Union Jack.

***
​

The intervention of the British in the Scandinavian war sent shockwaves in Stockholm and Berlin as both nations scrambled on how to deal with it. With the very real threat of British ships opening fire on the Swedes, Berlin urged Stockholm to cancel their planned attack out of fear. Soon after the arrival of the ship, Lord Balfour sent a telegram. He demanded that the swedes declare an armistice and start negotiations with the Norwegians otherwise the British would declare war. Fearing such an event and with the advice of the Germans, the Swedes had no choice but to seek a ceasefire with the Norwegians and start negotiating.

Both sides decided to host the negotiations in the neutral Netherlands. In January 1906, delegates arrived in Amsterdam to present their proposals and hammer out a peace agreement that would be satisfying to both Great Powers. Although the Swedes demanded that Norway be reintegrated into the union, the British and the French flat out refused such a thing. After weeks of bitter negotiations and backroom deals, the Treaty of Amsterdam was signed by all nations.

Provisions of the Treaty of Amsterdam:
1. Sweden shall withdraw all its troops from Norway.
2. The independence of Norway shall be recognized.
3. In return for the recognition of Norway, Sweden will be financially compensated for its loss.
4. In return for independence, Norway shall remain neutral but would be assisted in case of invasion by either side.

With the agreement of all sides, Swedish troops started withdrawing from all over Norway, especially Christiania in March 1906. A month later, Norway would officially declare independence and invite a Danish prince to become their king, Haakon VII.

War monument in Oslo, erected on the city square on the 25th anniversary of the country's fight for independence.​

Meanwhile, the Swedish people were bitter. They had just fought an insurrection that was going their way until they were forced to stop by the Great Powers, making it all for nothing. The Socialists gained more popularity among the working class alongside the Social Democrats, and the Liberals gained more support among the middle class.

In the 1906 general elections, the Free Minded National Association swept into power with the Social Democrats coming in 2nd place. Karl Staaff became Prime Minister with the support of both his party and the Social Democrats. After forming a government, Karl sent a request to the Germans asking for negotiations in joining the Triple Alliance. After losing a war against Norway, the country no longer regarded itself as a neutral country. Therefore, it was important that Sweden looked for an alliance to join and there was already one waiting in the distance.

Karl Staaff (1860-1915)
Prime Minister of Sweden (1906-1914)​

In Berlin, von Bulow was excited as it meant adding a new member into the Alliance in case of a potential war. Both sides soon held talks regarding Sweden's accession and treaty compatibilities. In June, Kaiser Wilhelm III went on a state visit to Sweden and toured the country from Malmö to Stockholm. During his trip, he talked with both the King and Staaff regarding the Alliance's obligations and his view on Sweden's membership. In his words, the emperor said he was okay with such a thing and was rather open to it.

With the Kaiser's approval, the talks picked up steam until it was all set and agreed that Sweden would join the Triple Alliance. In case of war between Germany and Russia, Sweden would join in the fight. But in case of war with France or, God forbid, Britain it would be neutral. With both Staaf and von Bulow content, the agreement was signed in Stockholm and Sweden fully became a member of the Triple Alliance.

This caused concern in Britain. So much so that Edward VII went to visit Wilhelm to discuss the growing tensions between the two nations. One point especially was the issue of the navies. While Britain's Royal Navy had always dominated the world's oceans, Germany always wanted to have its place in the sun like the other Great Powers. To achieve this, the Germans heavily funded the expansion of the Imperial Navy, the Kaiserliche Marine.

While Edward tried to convince Wilhelm to limit his navy's expansion, Wilhelm refused as it would be seen as a weak move. For Germany to be respected, he argued, they need a powerful navy to show the world that it was on par with the other nations. Soon, the two kings butted heads and talks went nowhere. Feeling disappointed, Edward left and the young Kaiser was left contemplating what this would all mean. He would, later on, find out what this all meant to come to.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Interlude 1 - A Family Tragedy​

Linz, Austria
December 21, 1907

The sun was shining. Usually, the days were dark in the winters so today was a rarity. The town of Linz was still lively for Christmas. The children were playing in the snow and the streets were filled with joy. It was supposed to be a good day for everybody But for one family, today wasn't a good day at all.

In a house that morning, Klara Hitler was lying on her bed. She had battled with breast cancer ever since the past year with all her vigor, but it was all in vain. The family doctor, Eduard Bloch, had tried healing her using chemotherapy, but it was all in vain. Her son, Adolf, had come home from school to see his mother. She was adamant that Adolf must complete his education if he wanted to pursue his passion for Art. While he hated her for this decision at the time, he would soon come to agree with her wisdom.

During his stay, he bonded with his sister Paula. While the two of them always clashed with each other, they still respected each other as siblings united in their suffering. Adolf also went to have a conversation with his mother about his future. In that conversation, she advised the young man to complete his education and take care of the family. Adolf would remember those words for the rest of his life.

Later that day, Klara Hitler finally passed away. Unsurprisingly, Adolf and Paula were both devastated. The news had hit them like a tsunami. With both of their parents gone, the Hitlers were now on their own. It seemed the world was cruel for them.

To soften their grief, Dr. Bloch handed them a letter from their mother before her death. He said that their mother had wanted to tell them something when the time cames for her to pass away. They opened the letter to discover what words their dearest mother had written for them:

My dearest Adolf and Paula,
By the time you're reading this letter, I've died and gone to heaven. Both of you must be feeling very lonely and afraid in this world. But fear not, for your wellbeing will be safe under God's watchful eye. I've entrusted my sisters to take care of both of you since you are all still young, especially you Paula. They will help you in your upbringing since your father Alois had no siblings.

Please don't give up hope in this world. The darkness you are experiencing right now is temporary, for there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Always believe in God for he has great plans for both of you.

Your dearest,
Mother

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Delicate Chaos​

With a new member of the now-called 'Quadruple Alliance', Russia started getting anxious. It feared to have to face not just German and Austro Hungarian armies, but now the Swedish ones in the event of a major war. To remedy this, the Russian government invested heavily in defensive fortifications across Poland, the Baltics and more importantly Finland. They built numerous outposts and fortifications to stave off any attack or at the very least, slow down the enemy's advance. They also reviewed their tactics and developed defense strategies that rely on sheer numbers to hold a position.

When they received the reports of the Russian activities from their spies in St. Petersburg, the Germans too went into reviewing their doctrine and tactics. They decided to experiment with new weapons such as better rifles, hand grenades, and steel helmets. Along with those were some top-secret experiments that nobody else knew about. It included various research regarding technological advances such as the use of chemical weapons, zeppelins, and airplanes. All of this was part of the competition to gain a potential edge in a potential war.

***
​

In the Balkans, a series of events would cause friction for two empires. On July 6, a group of military officers in the Ottoman Empire had pulled off a coup in the name of the Young Turks Movement. Since the early 19th century, the Ottoman Empire had been in a state of decline. It lost huge amounts of territory and didn't catch up with the rest of Europe in terms of technological and social progress. The Tanzimat reforms had tried to alleviate this by transforming the empire into a modern state with a modern military. It also created a constitution in 1876 that turned the absolute rule of the Sultan into a constitutional monarchy, with a parliament to pass and convene laws.

A new hope for the Sick Man of Europe
​

But despite all this, there was always resistance from the conservative elites and the religious masses. A year after creating the first Ottoman parliament, the Sultan abolished it and returned to autocratic rule. Despite the setbacks, the reformers never gave up their dream for a more modern state for the empire. With the government now under their control, the Young Turks began their mission. They restored the old 1876 constitution which guaranteed basic freedoms such as freedom of the press and religion. The old parliament was restored with the Committee of Unity and Progress as the majority in government.

In the midst of it all, there was one 'principality' taking advantage of the chaos in Constantinople.

***
​

On October 5, Bulgaria declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire. It was secretly guaranteed by both Austria-Hungary and Russia in return for annexing Bosnia and taking control of the Turkish Straits respectively. Once it was proclaimed, Bosnia was annexed 2 days later and Crete rose up in revolt.

Feeling threatened by such an action and wanting to unite the Bosnian Serbs into one nation, Serbia threatened war with Austria. A secret society had also sprung up inside Serbia, vowing to organize resistance against Austrian rule, by violence if necessary. Even ordinary Russians were angry, as they stood alongside their Orthodox brothers against their Catholic rulers. Pan-Slavists especially. As a result, Russian cooperation with Austria ceased. They instead supported the Serbs.

Concerned with the rising tensions, Kaiser Wilhelm III issued a statement saying Germany would stand with Austria in case of war. He believed that a firm message was needed as Austria was an important ally. It was this message that convinced the other nations to back down. But despite the resolution, it damaged relations between Austria and Russia, Serbia, Italy, and a few others. Russia, particularly, vowed to never back down again in the Balkans.

***
​

After 4 years of Teddy Roosevelt as their president, America went to the polls. The Democratic candidate was William Jennings Bryan due to his ability to appeal to Republican voters and was considered the party's best shot at regaining the white house. The two sides campaigned like madmen across the country, especially Teddy as he brandished his successes from his first term along using his 'Rough Rider' style of behavior. In the end, the public decided to give four more years to Teddy as he was more popular than the 3rd time candidate Bryan. The Bull Moose continued marching on.

Teddy Roosevelt and his VP, William Howard Taft​

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Trouble in Shangri-La​

When the new century began, China was the same old place as it was for decades. Despite reaching territorial heights unlike the previous dynasties before them, the Qing empire was still the old, bumbling giant that everyone knew it was. The country was forced to sign unequal treaties that opened up her markets to the outside world, set up spheres of influences across various areas of the country, ceded port cities to foreign powers, and generally kept the nation at a disadvantage.

Various reforms were made to fix these problems, but they were all cut short by the conservative Qing court. They had opposed any reforms out of fear of losing all their privileges. Even western technology such as railroads were disfavored by some out of Confucian values and a sense of exceptionalism. For not modernizing, the Chinese paid the price.

On November 14-15 1908, Empress Dowager Cixi and her son, the Guangxu Emperor, passed away. Rumors circulated that she had him poisoned while she laid on her deathbed. As a result, a small little child now sat on the throne. A Regent was appointed to rule in his stead, Prince Chun.

But in the middle of it all, there was one man who saw that now was his chance. He had a formidable army behind his back as it was the only entirely western trained force in the Qing military. He paid lip service to the emperor, not out of loyalty but self-interest. It was his dream to be the ruler of all China. His name was Yuan Shikai.

Yuan Shikai, Dictator of China​

In one early morning on April 1, 1909, while everyone was asleep, Yuan marched his Beiyang Army into the capital, Peking. His men took over the post office, all government buildings in the vicinity before marching on the Forbidden City. As he walked in the grand halls, he could feel the weight of history bearing down on him. Today was going to be his greatest day.

As he arrived at the throne room, he saw the regent sitting on it, and alongside him, the child emperor Puyi. From the look on their faces, Yuan could see the prince was pissed. In a half-assed attempt at explaining, Yuan said that there were fears of an imminent coup that could topple the monarchy and that he was taking direct control of the government to help deal with the problem, which was ironic since he was the coup. The prince, who instantly saw through Yuan's bullshit, shot back at the general with insults and curses, along with a vow, that he learned from the Americans no less, that would stick with him forever:

"May your corpse be eaten by a herd of pigs, you fat son of a bitch"

Yuan ordered the two put under house arrests as he began consolidating his power by appointing his loyal officers into government positions while sending telegrams all across China to all the regional governors to notify them of his new authority. Amongst themselves, the governors were divided. While some of them were friends of Yuan Shikai and pledged their loyalty to him, others were either vehemently opposed to his usurpation or indifferent to the whole situation.

Unsurprisingly, Shikai's coup ignited a civil war between Qing loyalists and those loyal to Yuan, including his powerful Beiyang Army. All the governors mobilized their armies to go fight each other like the Taiping Rebellion 60 years ago. In Peking, all the legations from Europe and America were confused about how to respond to the situation, as their respective governments were still deciding on who to put their money on.

Outside of China, the diaspora reacted to the sudden news of the coup with shock. Many began wondering what this would mean for their country. Among them, a group of intellectuals that had been forced into exile debated among themselves whether if now was the time to strike. They had at first advocated reform but over time they began to advocating the removal of the Qing and soon they were calling for a republic. One of those men was Sun Yat-Sen.

Sun had always dreamt of a China which was a democratic republic with all the liberties similar to that of the US. He hoped for the five races of China to unite together and create a better nation. With the outbreak of civil war in his country, Sun saw that now was his only chance to make his dream come true.

In Guangdong province, a group of revolutionaries had sparked a revolt in the city of Guangzhou. They had overthrown the local Qing government and proclaim the beginning of a 'Chinese Republic' which was unheard of in the country. Soon the word spread as revolutionaries staged uprisings all across the country, in places like Shanghai and Nanking. While most of these would be crushed by either pro-Yuan or Qing forces, a few holdouts had survived and begun consolidating their control for the next objective: conquering the countryside and cities.

Revolutionaries in Guangzhou​

With news of the uprising spreading fast, a few nations had placed their support one or two sides already. Japan placed their support behind the Qing loyalists, offering guns and money in exchange for control of the railroads in Manchuria. Hearing of this deal, the Russians placed their support behind Yuan Shikai and his allies in the newly-named "Beiyang Government". They too offered guns and money in return for gaining control of the railroads in Manchuria. Other nations, such as the British and French, decided to sit back and watch the chaos unfold in the hope of dealing with whoever's left in charge of China.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

The Playboy Emperor​

Ever since receiving the throne upon his father's assassination, Wilhelm III was, surprisingly, not a busy man. Since he was the head of state at just 18 years old, a group of advisors led by his uncle, Prince Henry, had done most of the day to day work for him. Besides, he desired to finish his education before taking the full role as the Kaiser. After completing his education at the Prinzenschule in Plön, he enrolled at the University of Bonn and graduated in 1903 with a degree in administrative law.

Content with leaving most decisions in the hands of his Chancellor, 'Young Willie' spent most of his time doing what he did best, living the high life. He began having affairs with various women, from opera singer Geraldine Farrar to socialite Gladys Marie Deacon and even the exotic oriental dancer, Mata Hari. It was unsurprising since he always seemed to attract the ladies. He would indulge himself in alcohol during parties, sometimes becoming completely drunk to the point that he was escorted to the toilet by his friends before he could vomit anywhere. The affairs became numerous and were barely hushed up by the court to the point the press would simply call him 'The Playboy Emperor'. He was also an avid horse rider and would compete in many equestrian competitions.

Wilhelm III as a showjumper during a tournament, 1904​

But life wasn't all fun and games for the young man. Taking lessons from his father's death, Wilhelm doubled the security for all state officials and royals. A new agency was created by royal decree to carry out this task called the Kaiserlicher Sicherheitsdienst. His carriage was redesigned to be both bombproof and bulletproof. To top it all off, 'Young Willie' took up shooting practice and learned how to use a gun. Once he learned how to handle one, he would always keep a pocket pistol inside himself in case the next assassin comes and tries his luck.

During this time, he also took an interest in sports and technology. In particular, he enjoyed playing football and driving cars. He was always photographed playing a game of football that he soon had a club named in his honor, driving the automobile which helped promote the use of cars to those that could afford it, and flew in a zeppelin just for the thrill of seeing the skies.

To the rest of his family, especially Prince Henry, it seemed the hedonistic and promiscuous Kaiser was going to be worse than his father. They feared the monarchy being humiliated in the press because of his actions. But all of that would change one night.

It was June 7, 1904. While visiting the Mecklenburg-Schwerin royal family in Schwerin for the wedding festivities of Frederick Francis IV along with his uncle, Wilhelm's eyes were distracted by the grace and beauty of Cecilie. When she introduced herself, 'Young Willie' couldn't help but feel starstruck by her elegance and charm. The pair soon got to know each other more and more. Both of them loved each other very much, writing letters to each other and visiting when they have the time. Eventually, their love blossomed until they got engaged. It was a huge turnaround for the young emperor who always seemed to be a frat boy in royal clothing.

Kaiser Wilhelm III with Princess Cecilie​

On June 6, 1905, Kaiser Wilhelm III and Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin got married. The wedding took place at the Berlin Royal Palace and the Berlin Cathedral. Among the guests were various members of different European royal houses including Archduke Franz Ferdinand. As a gift, the young Wilhelm gifted Cecilia with the Order of Louise. To the Hohenzollerns, it was hoped that this event would be the beginning of Wilhelm acting as a proper and dignified monarch.

In reality, 'Young Willie' was still in his womanizing ways. It was just less frequent and more private from then on. While the marriage seemed stable and happy on the surface, it was dysfunctional in private. Cecilie would always get into shouting matches with her husband regarding his promiscuity. Every time, Wilhelm would just shrug off the complaints and kept doing what he did best.

The marriage wasn't always dysfunctional, either. While she and her husband were busy going across the country attending military parades, gala state banquets, official ceremonies and other courtly expectations including state visits to foreign courts, she invested her time in philanthropy doing various charities and donating to various causes. The most important cause for her was the education of women, which had her being named in several schools and roads. Cecilie was also very fashion conscious, had a weakness for hats and became a role model for thousands of women and girls across Germany.

To curry favor with the US and Teddy Roosevelt personally, Wilhelm persuaded Cecilie to organize a charity drive after an earthquake struck San Francisco in 1906. They donated food, clothing, and medical supplies to the hapless residents of the city. It paid off as the American people began to see the young Kaiser as a helpful man that aided in their time of need. President Roosevelt would later write a letter of gratitude to the couple for assisting in the relief effort.

The couple as of 1909 had three children: Wilhelm, Louis Ferdinand, and Hubertus. The kaiser's brothers continued with their education and careers. They had either served in the navy or the army except for Victoria Louise. As the only daughter of Wilhelm II, she was educated at home, studied religion and music, and developed a love of athletic pursuits.

Princess Victoria Louise riding in a carriage alongside her mother, Augusta Victoria
​

Despite the tragic death of their father, the Hohenzollern family continues to maintain their image of a stable dynasty on the European stage. The only difference is the young Kaiser isn't as controlling as his father was. He continues to portray himself as a young and quick-witted monarch who would mostly wear suits and tuxedos in everyday life than military uniforms. But all of that would soon be put to the test.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

City of Dreams and Failures​

Vienna, Austria
Academy of Fine Arts
1909

"Well, we've examined your test drawings. I hate to say this, but they're quite mediocre."

The young man was stunned. He had been passionate about painting since he was a kid and this was the first time someone had criticized his work.

"Even though your drawings on buildings and structures are quite good, you're poor when it comes to drawing humans and animals. In all your paintings, they all appear very much like statuesque. Lifeless."

He had endured incredible hardship. An abusive drunkard of a father, the loss of his mother, the struggle of being an orphan. All of this took a toll on him and now another one was in the process of metaphorically slapping him in the face.

"You pay more attention to the landscape and the buildings rather than the people around them. Some of your designs seem grand and unrealistic."

The young man could sense the blood boiling in his veins. He could just feel it inside himself.

"You merely recreate what is in front of you. You hardly show expressions, you don't give life to your portraits, you don't even convey a message in your paintings."

He could hardly endure the criticism. If the man continues blabbering, he might start throwing a chair.

"However, don't take this as complete rejection. I see your talent leaning on architecture, rather than art. As I said, you draw buildings better than people. With that said, how would you like being enrolled in the architectural department?"

Now the young man is feeling confused. He trained for art, received criticism for his talent but was now being advised to take architecture? He would need time to contemplate whether to accept the offer or not.

"Can I have a day to think this through?" Said the young man. "Sure you can, the offer is still open" replied a member of the admission board. And with that, the young man got up leaving.

"Think long and hard about this, herr…. He glances into the paper to check the name. "Adolf Hitler, isn't it?".

"Yes, yes it is". "Well then, come back tomorrow and tell us your decision".

***​

Adolf Hitler, now a young man, had moved to Vienna after graduating from the Gymnasium. He, along with his hometown friend August Kubizek, had goals in Art and Music respectively. Both of them had moved in as roommates in a shabby flat. While Kubizek got accepted into a musical academy, Hitler was left with a dilemma.

As he traveled back to the flat, Hitler could see numerous students of the prestigious academy roaming around with smiles on their faces. He wondered if he would ever be as content as they are. He saw many of Vienna's beautiful landmarks. To Hitler, they felt like testaments to the power of Germanic greatness. He sees the streets full of life. The hustle and bustle of one of Europe's grandest cities must've filled the young man with awe, who was used to living in a small city like Linz.

Heading back to Stumpergrasse 31, he sulked into the couch. His paintings were in his bedroom, gathering dust. The thought of abandoning his dream for a lesser one conflicted with the young man. Needing advice, he turned to his friend.

When he told Kubizek of the news, he advised him to take the chance. "Why don't you take architecture class, while taking art classes on the side?" he suggested. "I know a place where they offer art classes. A Jewish family runs the place.". Adolf, upon hearing this, became hesitant. He was a bit suspicious of Jews since coming to Vienna. Anti Semitism had been a normal part of discourse due to various newspapers, politicians and political parties all singing the same tune.

Kubizek still pressed his friend to join the art class. "This is your only chance to do what you wanted to do" he pressed. "Wouldnt you want to try?".

The Next Day

Adolf was back in the Academy. He sat down in the chair adjacent to a table filled with members of the admission board. He had come to a decision.

"Well? What do you say?"

He takes a deep breath. He hopes this decision was the right one.

"I accept your offer".

 

[Joriz Castillo]

A Brush with Death​

Lisbon, Portugal
1 February 1908

It was a sunny day. The streets were of Lisbon filled with people all mulling on with their lives. The skies were clear and the birds flew everywhere in all directions. A carriage rides across the Terreiro do Paco. It was protected by guards on horseback. Inside the open-air carriage was the family of the House of Braganza.

They were coming back after a month-long retreat at the Vila Vicosa in Alentejo. The king, Carlos I, was wearing his service uniform and the two princes were wearing civilian clothes. They were trying to present an air of normalcy. But what was about to happen was to be the opposite of normalcy.

As soon as the carriage passed, a bearded man brought out his Winchester rifle and aimed at the carriage. A shot soon rang out across the square. The King went down instantly, having been shot through the neck. Another shot grazes his shoulder. The princes and the mother were all horrified to see this. The crowd began running in all directions. The crown prince, Luis Filipe pulls out his revolver alongside his younger brother.

Seeing this, another assassin runs towards the carriage pulling out his gun. Manuel, the younger brother, saw the man running towards them and yelled to his brother. Luis saw aimed his revolver at the man, the assassin doing the same. Both fired their shots at the same time. The assassin went down with a bullet to the abdomen while Luis was struck in the chest and face. In agony, the shooter screamed “Caralho!”.

The bearded man, seeing his partner go down, aimed his sights on the Queen in revenge. He yelled “Filho da puta!” and fired a shot. The Queen, who was standing, nearly was shot in the arm. Before he could fire again, a cavalry policeman drew his saber and slashed the man on the back. He went down in agony and passed out.

The royal family was hastily sent to the hospital to treat their wounds. Out of the three that were struck, only one survived. King Carlos I and his son, Luis Filipe, were dead. The younger son, Infante Manuel, was now Manuel II of Portugal.

The Lisbon Assassinations, 1908

Manuel II of Portugal

***​

The assassination of Carlos I and his son sent shockwaves across Europe. Many royals and monarchs were horrified that another one had bitten the dust. The young king was inexperienced was therefore advised by his uncle, Infante Afonso. Manuel had kept a revolver with him thanks to Wilhelm III when he heard of his idea of carrying a pocket gun with him at all times.

The assassins were members of the Carbonaria, a republican revolutionary group that had been involved in numerous anti-monarchist plots. There had been a growing wave of opposition against the government of Joao Franco and the monarchy ever since 1890 when the British sent an ultimatum to Portugal to disregard their Pink-Map dreams. Under pressure, the government acquiesced to the demands which prompted outrage across the whole country, especially nationalists.

After surviving the assassination, King Manuel II ordered Joao Franco to crack down on those responsible for revenge. Political agitators were arrested and an investigation was conducted. It listed various people and groups that had a hand in plotting the assassination. With that list, the groups were all shut down and the people arrested as well. Despite this, some managed to escape to countries such as Brazil and France.

Many people began to sympathize with the young king as they saw him as a son who lost his father and brother. But some held no sympathy whatsoever, they were dead set on overthrowing the monarchy. When their actions failed, they simply bide their time and planned another. This time much bigger than the last.

***​

3-5 October 1910

Expecting an imminent coup d'etat by the revolutionaries, the government ordered all the garrison troops of Lisbon to be on guard. The King, after giving a toast to the Brazilian president, retreated to the royal palace. The republican leaders assembled in a meeting that evening, making sure things were ready for their plan to go into effect. Some of them didn’t show up due to the strong military presence, but Admiral Candido dos Reis insisted they take part.

One naval officer, Machado Santos, didn’t attend the meeting and had gone into action. He went to the military quarters of the 16th infantry Regiment and took control thanks to a revolutionary corporal. He then went with 100 men and took over the 1st Artillery Regiment. Those that weren’t joining the coup were arrested and even those that tried to control it were killed. When that was done, he and several others gathered more army units sympathetic to the cause. All of the units, numbering 400 men, marched on towards Rotunda Square which they soon fortified.

Meanwhile, another armed force took over the naval barracks at Alcantara and sought the support of several warships off the coast. Ultimately, 3 ships were taken over: NRP Adamastor, Sao Rafael, and D. Carlos I. They also manage to control most of Lisbon’s artillery munitions.

That was the last unit assembled by the republicans. But there more units that although were sympathetic to the republicans, hadn’t joined the action. They waited for the sound of 3 cannon shots - which was the signal for them to advance – but it never came. Admiral Candido dos Reis fired one shot, expecting to take command of the warships. When he was informed that everything had failed, he retired to his sister’s house and committed suicide. Back at the Rotunda, the city was calm which had a demoralizing effect on the rebels. The officers, seeing all this, preferred to give up. They all changed into civilian clothing and left for their houses, except Machado Santos.

Rebels on Rotunda Square​

Due to the preparedness of the government, strategic points across Lisbon were heavily guarded such as the Royal Palace, Rossio Railway Station, the gas factory, the Portuguese mint, the postal building, the Carmo barracks, the ammunition depot in Beirolas and the residence of the President of the council of ministers.[2] The government had mobilized a lot more troops than anticipated, which were mobilized from places like Barreiro. The Municipal Guards and the city police were also deployed across the city, totaling 2600 men.

The rebels, abandoning the original plan of action, opted instead to entrench themselves in Rotunda and Alcantara. As news of the rebels at the Rotunda reached the military command, they sent a detachment headed by the colonial war hero, Paiva Couceiro, to break them up. The column advanced towards the prison and took combat positions. However, before they were finished, they were attacked by the rebels. The attack was repelled but it scattered half of the infantry from the column. Paiva responded with cannons and an infantry assault that was repulsed. Another attack was ordered but it was too repelled. Finding out he had the right time to assault the barracks of Artillery 1, Paiva Couceiro requested reinforcements to high command. That order was granted and another detachment of troops was on the way.

Meanwhile, another column had been formed to simultaneously attack the Rotunda. The column reached Rossio that evening but didn’t march out. A few subordinate officers who were suspicious of the commander, General Antonio Carvalhal, placed him under arrest when they found out he was a sympathizer. The column was placed under a new commander, Cesario Cesar, who immediately marched the column towards Rotunda Square.

Reinforcements from other parts of the country arrived throughout October 4. This was made possible due to the government’s infiltration of the Carbonaria to the point where they discovered their plans for the revolt. When members tried to cut the telegraph lines going out from Lisbon, the police were posted on every telegraph pole and stopped those that tried to. Besides, they also posted guards across the railway tracks as part of blocking the rebels' plan of cutting them. The navy ships that hadn’t defected guarded the Tagus river, allowing reinforcements from the Setubal Peninsula to arrive. Despite that, the rebel ships were docked beside the Palace Square while the Sao Paulo opened fire on the ministry buildings.

In the evening, King Manuel II and his mother were staying in the Royal Palace when the rebels attacked the building. During the firefight, the king made some phone calls to the commanders about the situation. Reinforcements soon arrived and the rebels were repulsed from the palace. The king was advised to seek refuge in Mafra or Sintra but he refused to flee in the face of rebellion.

Later on, the mobile battery from Queluz arrived and was arranged at the palace gardens. They had their guns aimed at the quarters of the revolutionary sailors, which was 100m from the palace. But before they had the time to start, they received the order to join the column which was heading for the Rotunda. In a moment of the initiative, the commanding officer disregarded the order and ordered the battery to open fire.

“Damn the square. Fire at will!” – The famous line of Capitan Joao Sanchez

Meanwhile, at an area near the Rotunda, Paiva Couceiro commenced the attack. He assaulted the Artillery Barracks, eventually taking it over and forced the surrender of the regiment. With that finished, he and Cesario simultaneously attacked the Rotunda. Both of the columns charged into the square with artillery support, gaining an edge. Vicious gunfire sounded across the Rotunda as things were slowly coming apart for the rebels. Machado refused to budge and ordered his men to hold their ground which only the most die-hard revolutionaries seemed to follow. The huge battle soon turned into a vicious melee with soldiers from both sides fought each other with only their rifles and bayonets as their weapon. Amid the fighting, both Paiva Couceiro and Machado Santos finally dueled each other. Both men fought each other with their sabers and kept fighting and parrying each other’s moves until Machado was finally killed with a sword through his chest.

Paiva Couceiro, The Hero of Rotunda
​

Seeing their only leader on the field dead, the rebels had either surrendered or dispersed. The Rebels morale had completely plummeted by then after seeing suffering setback after setback. The Rebels on the Rotunda had finally been defeated. As revenge, the rebel ships off the coast unleashed a barrage on the Royal Palace. The shells landed everywhere across the palace gardens and even a few shells had hit the building itself. King Luis II was in one room when a shell landed on it. He was wounded but still alive.

The fall of the Rotunda was a huge morale boost for the monarchists, who now took the chance and went on the offensive. They converged on Alcantara in a showdown and started unleashing barrage after barrage at the naval barracks. The men inside had barricaded themselves and were determined to fight to the last man. A little while after the bombardment ceased, the monarchist troops attacked. The two columns from the Rotunda along with the Municipal Guard breached the walls of the barracks started for every building and room in the barracks. Some of the rebels, seeing the writing on the wall, committed suicide and the rest had either surrendered or died fighting. By midnight, the King and military command received the telegram: Alcantara is secured.

The only rebels left were those on the 3 ships offshore. Seeing the end of it all, D. Carlos I and Sao Rafael hoisted up white flags but the Adamastor didn’t. It was given a final warning to surrender but that offer was turned down. The captain had decided to go down with the ship than surrender like a dog. On the morning of 5th October, government ships opened fire on the Adamastor. An hour of back and forth shelling bewildered the citizens of Lisbon as they watched on. Eventually, the rebel ship went down as most of the crew, except the captain, abandoning ship. The revolt was finally crushed on both land and sea.

In the months to follow, the ringleaders were put on trial and sentenced to various sentences. Some received death, others received life imprisonment or long jail time. The soldiers of each regiment that took part in the revolt were court-martialed and either executed or sentenced to hard labor. Every member of the Carbonaria was arrested and sentenced as well. Joao Franco, with the blessing of the king, went all out on any group that opposed the monarchy. The republican ideals were squashed in Portugal and the revolutionaries had fled the country. The monarchy was here to stay.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Sorry for the long wait. Writer's Block kept me from thinking about how to change this story so I decided to go with the OTL events in a short update. But don't worry, I have plans on how to change this story in the future.

Don’t Tread on Me​

The history of Mexico since its independence was riddled with numerous conflicts between the Liberals and Conservatives. While one side wanted to impose reforms and make a change, the other would oppose all of that and maintain the traditional lifestyle they inherited from their Spanish ancestors.

All of that carnage would subside with the rise of President and Dictator, Porfirio Diaz. In his bid for a modern Mexico, Diaz built mines, plantations, telegraph lines, and railroads, bringing great wealth to the nation. However, it came at the cost of repression and drove the lower classes into deeper debt. Freedom of speech, expression, and press were ruthlessly curtailed during his time in office and most of the wealth generated from the emerging industries went into the pockets of Diaz’s close circle of friends and a few families. But all of this would come to an end sooner or later.

Porfirio Diaz, President of Mexico
(1830-1915)​

In the 1900s, Diaz’s power began to slip. An economic recession made a lot of people lose their jobs and they soon demanded change. In a bid to appease the people, Diaz promised to hold free elections in 1910.

When election year rolled around, his opponent Francisco Madero took the chance to run for President. While Diaz expected to win easily and hardly campaigned for it, Madero campaigned around the country effectively. It wasn’t a surprise when Diaz realized that Madero was going to win. To ensure victory, Diaz had Madero arrested the day before the election on trumped-up charges and fixed the results. Unsurprisingly, Madero escaped from jail and hightailed for the US border. From the safety of San Antonio, he watched as Diaz ‘won’ his re-election. Convinced there was no other way, Madero issued letter he wrote from jail. Known as the Plan de San Luis Potosi, it called for an armed revolution against Diaz and set the date for 20 November.

To guarantee the success of the uprising, Madero looked for financial backers from among the Gringos to the north. As the Madero family was rich and powerful, they managed to hire the firm of Sherburne Hopkins to encourage support in the US. The plan worked, as it even got Standard Oil representatives engaging in talks with Madero’s brother. More importantly, the US government’s neutrality laws were bent in favor of the revolutionaries.

On November 20, several uprisings broke out across northern Mexico. It attracted volunteers among working-class Mexicans and much of the country’s native groups. Various rebel leaders led the revolutionaries and scored victories against Diaz’s forces. Among them were two names that would become infamous and notorious in history: Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.

Pancho Villa and his followers​

A fraudulent election had sparked a revolution that would shape the future of Mexico in the decades to come.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Wants & Desires​

The story of Africa in the late 19th century was a tale of rapid conquest and consolidation by various European powers. While the British came down from Egypt and up from South Africa, the French traversed across the Sahara uniting their various sub-Saharan holdings with Algeria to create one large African empire. The Italians, Belgians, Portuguese, Spanish and Germans also played their part in the scramble as they secured lucrative territories for themselves.

By 1911, only 3 African countries were spared from domination: Liberia, Abyssinia and especially Morocco. While the rest of North Africa was being gobbled up, morocco managed to be spared for so long due to the Sultan playing off one European power for another. Despite that, the Kingdom had various European commercial interests that helped churn a profit. Out of those countries, France and Spain were the ones with the biggest interests in Morocco. With this in mind, both countries signed an agreement in 1904 to partition Morocco. For Spain, it wished to have a northern strip to not feel surrounded by France and for the latter to simply extend her empire further. While France had gotten the approval of other European countries, there was one that it didn’t even ask: Germany.

Von Bulow, concerned about French expansion in North Africa, insisted on an open-door policy in the area and wanted to show France that they mean it. After careful discussions with his cabinet, the Chancellor visited Sanssouci to have a private meeting with the Kaiser. He had an interesting proposal to pitch to him.

Wilhelm III: A state visit to Morocco?

Bulow: Yes, your Majesty. Its purpose is to align ourselves with the Moroccans against France.

Wilhelm III: You mean making them align with us?

Bulow: Well, you can put it that way if you want to. You'll travel by ship towards the capital, Tangier. From there, you'll travel around the city including the Sultan's palace and end at our embassy building where you'll make a speech.

Wilhelm III: That's a nice plan you have. But there's one problem. You see, traveling around Europe had given me a sense of safety ever since my father's unfortunate passing. I didn't feel like a target all the time despite carrying my pocket pistol. The problem is, a place like North Africa where there's a chance for me getting killed worries me.

Bulow: I see. If that's the case, then don't worry about it. I'll have the security to make the trip safer. Not to mention, since you're relatively new to state visits, that it's best to bring your uncle along. He could smooth things over.

Wilhelm III: That's settled then. Set a date and I'll be off.

On March 31st, 1905, the Kaiser arrived in Morocco. His ship landed at Tangier as expected. At the harbor, he was received by Moroccan officials and the German delegation. Once the pleasantries were over, the Kaiser mounted on a white horse and started the journey through the streets of Tangier. Throughout the procession, he was greeted by an excited crowd, European and native alike. The symbolism of it all reminded him of the stories from the ancient Roman empire. It's as if he was Caesar and he had returned after a triumphant campaign. He soon arrived at the German embassy where he made a speech. Having rehearsed it on the way, he talked of guaranteeing Morocco’s independence and wanting to have the same treatment as that of other powers. Inside, he conversed with both the diplomatic corps and the Sultan’s envoy. While talking, he said that he wished to treat the Sultan directly as an equal. That he, himself, would make his just claims valid and expected that these claims would be recognized by France.

For the French ambassador, Count Cherisey, those words rang horror to his ears. Before he could reply, he was curtly dismissed. He left pale and went ahead with his report back to France. For the Kaiser, he got a chance to speak with the Sultan and convey his wishes that Germany must have the same rights and opportunities as that of France on the issue of economic interests. The whole visit went on uneventfully and Wilhelm III sailed for home with his ship's cargo loaded with gifts from the Maghreb.

Back in France, the government was shocked at the visit. Their arch-enemy throwing a wrench into their plans for Morocco was the last thing they expected and now have to come up with a plan. Even Britain was furious as they didn't want the country becoming a potential naval port for Germany. When the Germans called for an international conference, France accepted.

It was at Algeciras in 1906 that Germany would see which side Europe had taken. And it didn't look good at all. Britain, Spain, Italy, and others sided with France while only Austria-Hungary remained with Germany. Feeling crushed by the overwhelming odds, the German delegation gave up and recognized France's controlling interests in Moroccan affairs. In return, its economic interests were guaranteed by France.

The signing of the Algeciras Conference, 1906​

With the failure of achieving anything from the conference, the political backlash at home was harsh. Chancellor Von Bulow was torn apart in both the press and the Reichstag for such a humiliation. Even the Kaiser was embarrassed that his visit was all for nothing. He vowed to himself that he would not be embarrassed like this again.

5 years later

A Bedouin revolt was underway in Morocco. The Sultan's army tried but failed to crush it. Despite being given the training by Europeans, it didn't work against native fighters. With a great fear of being overthrown, the Sultan had no choice but to call the French for help. Responding to the request, Paris sent an expeditionary force to help crush the revolt. In Germany, the government was still determined to undermine the French and assert her status as a great power. They sent a gunboat, SMS Panther, which arrived at Agadir on July 1st, 1911. It was soon joined by a little cruiser, SMS Berlin. Their demands were territorial compensations in the form of the French Congo in return for establishing their protectorate in Morocco.

A column of French troops on the move in Morocco, 1911

SMS Berlin outside Agadir​

This sparked another crisis and France, like before, was backed by Britain. Hawks from both nations demanded war while the doves did everything they could to prevent one from happening. In the end, cooler heads prevailed and negotiations started. In return for establishing a protectorate, Germany would receive new lands from the French Congo for its colony, Kamerun.

All in all, it was another diplomatic failure for the Germans. Rather than making a wedge between France and Britain as they hoped for, they had ironically solidified the alliance as both countries had now become warier and suspicious of Germany to the point that they considered her a future enemy in a potential war. For the Germans themselves, it realized that only war could change the status quo in their favor. Slowly and steadily, the pieces were coming into place for a grand conflict.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Blood in the Water​

In the aftermath of the Agadir Crisis, other nations soon demanded compensation for losing Morocco. One of those nations was Italy. Ever since being humiliated by Abyssinia, the Italians looked for other places to restore their national pride. Since most of Africa had already been colonized Europeans, there was one place that had the potential to be theirs: Libya.

It was the Ottoman empire's only territory in Africa. It was surrounded by French and British possessions and was just across a short sea distance to Italy. Italian businessmen had set up shops and made a profit from the coastal cities, making it an attractive target for their quest for glory. And so, it was decided to send an ultimatum to the ottomans. They demanded to let Italian troops be deployed to Libya to 'protect and ensure the safety of its citizens'. As expected, the Sublime Porte rejected the ultimatum and Italy declared war on September 1911.

In October, the Italians began landing troops on all the coastal cities. The first to fall was Tripoli, soon it was Derna, Tobruk, Khoms, and later Benghazi. With the coastline occupied, the ottomans couldn't send in reinforcements by sea or land since their navy wasn't up to the task and the British wouldn't let them through Egypt. The only way they could was by stirring up local resistance against the 'Infidels'. To accomplish this they smuggled in men, officers, weapons, ammunition and all kinds of supplies. One of the officers smuggled in was the young Mustafa Kemal. Deep in the desert, they mobilized the local tribes and reorganized the remnants of the garrison to fight the Italians.

Italian troops battling against Turkish and Libyan forces​

Soon enough, the Italians started getting bogged down by local resistance the further they advanced into the desert. Arab and Turkish armies began attacking day and night, leaving the Italians cornered. The coastal cities became fortresses for the garrisons unlucky enough to be posted to them. The war dragged on for more than a year which seemed like forever. To break this stalemate, the Regia Marina took the fight to the Aegean. After wiping out the Ottoman fleet, the Italians took control of the Dodecanese islands.

With this victory, the Italians decided to negotiate for a favorable peace deal. In the peace treaty that followed, The Ottomans would cede Libya to the Italians in return for regaining the Dodecanese islands. The Italians had won the war at the cost of 7600 dead and wounded, along with the financial costs ranging up to 1.3 billion lire.

For the Ottomans, the suffering wasn't over. It was just getting started. The day after the treaty was signed, the combined might of the Balkans descended upon the Turks. First, it was Montenegro that declared war, then Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece followed. All 4 countries had secretly joined together to form the Balkan League.

Faced with insurmountable odds, the Ottomans buckled under the sheer pressure. Their army in the Balkans was horrendously poor and inefficient on the field. Their Officer Corps spent more time dabbling in politics than studying war. Not to mention, their logistics were so bad that the Turks were forced to requisition goods from each village they come across.

Ottoman troops marching in the Balkans​

All across the Balkans, the Balkan League gained victory after victory in their quest of 'freeing the Slavic peoples from Turkish oppression' all the while expelling the Turkish and Muslim populations and assimilating those that weren't of the same ethnicity as them. The Serbs and Greeks assimilated the local Bulgarians, while the Bulgarian Orthodox Church baptized the Slavic Muslims.

When the Bulgarians advanced towards Constantinople, the Great Powers finally said enough was enough and called for a truce. Both sides accepted and went to London to start negotiating. After months of talks and deliberations, a treaty was signed. In the following peace terms:

• All Ottoman territory in Europe except Albania was handed over to the Balkan League.
• Albania was to become an independent state
• The island of Crete was handed over to Greece.

Normally, one would think that this is a huge victory for the League. But in the land of the Balkans, each side had irredentist claims over one another. Both the Serbs and Greeks very reluctantly withdrew their forces from Albania. Meanwhile, Bulgaria was in dispute with Serbia and Greece over the division of Macedonia. Things got worse to the point that both Serbia and Greece settled their differences and signed a military alliance.

On June 29, 1913, Bulgaria attacked the Serbs and Greeks over the spoils of the previous war. While initially successful, Serbia and Greece repulsed the offensive and went on a counter-attack. Having border disputes of its own, Romania joined the fray against Bulgaria. Sensing the opportunity to recover lost territory, the Ottomans advanced from behind and recaptured Edirne.

With the Romanians coming closer and closer to Sofia, the Bulgarians relented and asked for an armistice. All the belligerents sent their delegations to Bucharest with the simple goal of humbling Bulgaria. In this, they succeeded as the Serbs and Greeks gained most areas of Macedonia except the small area given to Bulgaria. To add further punishment, Romania gained Southern Dobruja and the Ottomans regained Eastern Thrace. Greece extended its coastline, leaving Bulgaria only a sliver of it facing the Aegean.

Territorial changes after the Balkan Wars, 1913​

With this treaty, Bulgaria felt humiliated. The country and its people were traumatized by the losses and hoped to recover the lost territories one day. So, they decided to search for allies and bide their time waiting for the time to strike. That time would soon come.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

The Heat of the Moment​

Belgrade, Serbia

1913

A young man sits in a cafe. As he reads the newspaper and drinks his coffee, he hears whispers from everywhere. The young man didn't bother with it and continued reading. Then he sees a headline in the paper

Archduke Franz Ferdinand to visit Sarajevo next year

Reading the headline widened his eyes. After finishing his coffee, he rushes back to a meeting place. Once he arrives, a group of men sits around a table in a discussion. "Ah Gavrilo, you're here!" a bearded man said. Gavrilo takes a seat and joins the table. He unfolds the newspaper in his hands and points to the headline.

"See this? The Hapsburg bastard is coming here soon to Sarajevo. This could be our biggest shot. Instead of wasting our time assassinating local officials, we could strike at the heart of this wretched empire. Gavrilo said with joy.

“This is wonderful. That man has plans that would be detrimental to Serbia if he were on the throne. If we kill him, our goals for a Greater Serbia would be much easier. I’ll have to see if Apis would approve of this plan, though.” The bearded man said.

"Let us hope this might work, comrades. Glory to Serbia!" the man stood up and raised his drink.

"Glory to Serbia!" cried out the others. All of them had sworn in secrecy never to reveal the Black Hand to the world. It was to remain a secret organization until 1914. For Gavrilo Princip, this would be his greatest moment as he imagined it. All that was needed now was planning and preparation. But before that, permission from 'Apis'.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

New Opportunities​

Munich, Bavaria
Germany
1913

​

Adolf Hitler, now 24 years old, sits in his flat designing various projects across the city. Having been hired by an architectural firm, he got to work designing bridges, buildings, and monuments. Hitler also did paint which got his works being bought up by wealthy customers. As a result, Adolf was earning some serious cash.

He had moved from Austria to Germany as he didn't want to be conscripted into the army and to be in the land that was fully German. He disliked his former homeland for being a mishmash of ethnic groups that could hardly be united.

In both Vienna and Munich, he had a keen interest in politics. He had listened to speeches by various politicians which fit his pro-German views. Unsurprisingly, he found common ground with nationalists, conservatives, and Catholics. He disliked the Socialists but admired the laborers.

While amid his work, Hitler wonders what his old friend Kubizek is up to. Not to mention, how is his sister doing. All these thoughts hover around Adolf's head that he just sits there blank. Eventually, he snaps out of it and resumes his focus, feeling blessed that he had heeded his late mother's advice and reaped the reward. His only fear now is when the Austrian police would be after him for avoiding conscription.

 

[Joriz Castillo]

Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam
Germany
Christmas 1913

Wilhelm III, now 31 years old, sat in his office going through the usual government paperwork. Documents that needed reading and signing had come and gone in big boxes. It was just another day in the office for a monarch. His wife, Cecilie, and their 4 children were in the other rooms living their lives.

After going through the paperwork, Wilhelm went to the balcony and lit up a cigarette. While he smoked, he pondered back at the past 12 years of his reign. The various crises that nearly brought the world to war, the foreign visits he made, the parades he attended, his wedding, and so many others. But out of all those 12 years, only one event stood out.

In South-West Africa, the native Herero and Nama tribes rose in revolt. They started attacking white farms everywhere, necessitating a military crackdown. The man chosen to crush the revolt was Lothar von Trotha. After a few battles, the revolt turned into a bloodbath as von Trotha drove the Herero and Nama tribes into the desert and poisoned the wells. As a result, thousands of men, women, and children perished in the deserts looking for water. When news reports of what was happening in the colony reached Germany, there was shock and outrage. Even the Kaiser felt disgusted based on what he was reading.

Soon after, von Trotha was relieved of his command and the killings subsided. But the damage had already been done. It left a mark on the then-young Kaiser as this was the first real issue he had to face regarding the colonies. To make sure the revolt and the subsequent killings never happen again, reforms were implemented that favored the native tribes.

Looking back at the event reminded Wilhelm of the situation he’s focusing on right now. Some unrest in Alsace Lorraine over the actions of a Lieutenant that outraged the locals. If he needs loyal people in a coming war, then he needs to be on their side in the face of injustice. So, he voices in favor of the Alsatians which shocked officers. Nonetheless, he retains his chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg despite a no-confidence vote from the Reichstag for the first time.

Even if the 1912 elections gave the SPD a slim majority for the first time as well, pressure from the right forced to him to retain the chancellor. But it showed the slow and growing power of the Reichstag that had usually been subservient to the will of the military and the crown.

But enough of all that for now. Now’s the time to celebrate Christmas with the family and give a speech to the whole nation. Hopefully, the year 1914 could become just another year of peace. Hopefully…