German Civil War – Harbinger of the Storm (3)

September 10, 1939 — Schacht Mansion, Frankfurt, 9th Military District

The uninvited guest who had shattered my plans for a relaxing weekend with Claudia took a leisurely sip of coffee and spoke.

"Excellent brew."

"I apologize for the lack of preparation—we weren't expecting such an honored guest," Claudia replied with an extraordinarily bright smile, though I could tell she was slightly annoyed.

What puzzled me was Wilhelm's obvious displeasure with Claudia. Why?

"I understand you're not yet married."

"We're engaged. Due to current circumstances, we haven't been able to hold the ceremony."

"Hmm, indeed."

That explained it. Wilhelm's expression remained disapproving, but why had he barged in on Sunday morning only to act this way?

"If I may ask, Your Highness, what brings you to our home?"

"Ah, forgive my sudden visit."

The Crown Prince offered only perfunctory apology, then glanced at Claudia before focusing on me.

This man...

"She is not merely my fiancée, but my most trusted comrade. If she cannot hear what you wish to discuss, then neither can I, Your Highness."

Wilhelm appeared genuinely embarrassed for the first time. Was this so surprising?

"I meant no offense. But at my age, discussing politics in the presence of an unmarried lady seems... improper."

Seriously? He was playing this card?

Claudia grasped my hand and rose.

"Then enjoy your conversation, Your Highness."

Claudia ascended to the second floor as the Crown Prince watched, disappearing into her room.

There went my plans for a park lunch date and sweet desserts to cheer her up.

The Crown Prince was an important figure. Knowing compromises were possible and he could serve as a crucial negotiator—as long as he didn't capitulate to the royalists—I took him seriously.

"I understand you serve as the link between civilian forces and the military in the new government."

"In part, yes, Your Highness."

My official title was Spokesperson of the New Government and Army Major in charge of radio broadcasting. Until the new government's formation, I'd been a mere captain.

Hardly high-ranking, yet somehow he knew my role and had come here.

Wilhelm studied my face, took another sip of coffee, then spoke.

"Count Blumenthal is my eldest son's close friend. I know to some extent what you've been doing since the Munich Agreement."

Ah, so that's how...

I'd wondered how he'd learned to approach someone so junior, but Count Blumenthal had been party to Hitler's assassination attempt—a direct conspirator in Operation Widerstand. No wonder he'd told the Crown Prince everything about my role in this coup. Though his fate remained uncertain.

"Count Blumenthal is..."

"A loyal and noble hero who sacrificed himself for the Empire."

I'd intended to express regret about his son's friend's disappearance, but the Crown Prince spoke as if confirming his death.

Now I slowly understood his stance.

"I'm told you seek to revive democracy, not empire. Correct?"

"That's correct, Your Highness."

I felt no need to deny it, so I affirmed immediately.

"I feel it's a waste of time to play useless games. Since you answered honestly, I'll be honest too."

The Crown Prince smiled at my words, then leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

"I have no intention of bringing my father back as emperor."

Ah, so this was it.

The reason for his lukewarm response to Dr. Goerdeler and the royalists.

I hadn't expected him to want constitutional monarchy. If he had, joining the new government would have been unnecessary.

After all, if the new government spoke of imperial restoration, the Nazi Party couldn't harm the Crown Prince for that alone. It would only backfire by showing desperation.

If he didn't wish to play a leading role in the new government and didn't mind being appropriately honored as a figurehead, he could simply have waited at Oleśnica Castle for us to secure Germany.

Yet he'd dared leave Silesia and risked himself during civil war to come here.

"Your Highness seems to want to become emperor yourself."

"As the Count said, your head works well."

Only now did the Crown Prince's actions make sense.

Yes, he was in his fifties. Understandably, he had no desire to make his father emperor.

"Then what do you expect of me, Your Highness? As I said, I have no interest in restoring the empire."

"I want an alliance with your faction."

Alliance? What was this? Perhaps my expression was too obvious—Wilhelm's face showed slight uncertainty.

"Why that reaction? I could be the strongest check against hardline royalists who resent your faction."

True. If the Crown Prince supported us, Dr. Goerdeler's influence would weaken. However—

"What do you expect from us?"

"Simple. Let the people know that bringing my father back is unrealistic."

Look at this man. Was he openly promoting hostility toward royalists—even internal strife?

"You reportedly have considerable diplomatic insight. Realistically, if we bring my father and revive the empire, Britain and France will not stand idle. Isn't that correct?"

"That's correct, Your Highness."

Wilhelm began speaking passionately at my confirmation.

"I am different from my father. All he did was make mistakes during the Great War. If I had run for president during Weimar at minimum, a madman like Hitler could never have become Führer! If only my father hadn't stopped me! He made that impossible! We cannot endanger Germany again!"

The Crown Prince grew excited as he spoke. From discussions with Tresckow and investigations, I now knew.

He'd planned to run for president during the Weimar Republic, but Wilhelm II—who despised democracy itself—had forbidden it in anger, leading Wilhelm to support Hitler instead.

I understood his feelings.

"I don't know your thoughts, but I know reality. Those so-called loyal royalists simply want to regain aristocratic privileges—they need an emperor because they can't stand being the same as commoners. You know this."

So this was his thinking?

"I don't understand those who would establish an emperor like that, then let an uncontrollable military resurrect to start another war and blame the emperor! My family and I fought at the forefront of a Great War we didn't wage, yet our reward was governmental abolition while the military men who started the war stayed silent."

While World War I wasn't solely Wilhelm II's fault, the German imperial family wasn't blameless either.

"If you agree to join hands with me, my Germany will ensure the old order of emperor and nobles balances with the new order of democrats. To control the military, monarchy is necessary. The democracy you dream of isn't entirely realistic."

Indeed, he faced reality to some extent and, unlike Wilhelm II, was far from incompetent.

"I want people to think of me as the greatest monarch since Frederick the Great. When they hear 'Wilhelm,' they will think of me, not my father who was lead Germany to its ruin. And you are the right person to be my Bismarck."

"Me? A humble major?"

Embarrassed by the prince's sudden proposition, I stammered, but he continued as if there were no problem.

"I've been watching you long through Count Blumenthal. I am well aware that these new government leaders were slick bystanders. In truth, you created the new government."

The Crown Prince spoke as if he'd come intending to persuade me.

Even I was surprised that the Crown Prince—thoroughly exploited and abandoned by the Nazis—had harbored such passion during years of silence.

"Oster and Tresckow are zealous soldiers, but that's all. You have vision—passionate enough to plan drastic civil war, flexible enough to attract diverse forces, skilled enough to successfully reverse seemingly impossible public opinion."

I'd never imagined a situation where the Crown Prince would praise me so highly.

"If origin and class matter, marry my daughter Cecilie. As an Imperial Family member, no one would dare object."

"I have a fiancée."

Wilhelm glanced toward Claudia's room with obvious displeasure at my answer. Why did this man dislike her when he proposing to an engaged man to become his son-in-law?

"My daughter is also pretty and sweet, but if you still prefer your fiancée, simply marry my daughter as well. I don't mind you keeping her as a mistress. Isn't that how high society works? My wife is also a proper princess, but not attractive as a woman. I'd happily admit it."

"Your Highness..."

"If deciding now is difficult, think carefully. Marrying my daughter would greatly help your future. After all, what matters to nobles is bloodline and stature."

The prince grimaced as he drank the coffee that had cooled, losing its aroma and taste.

"You may need time to think, but given circumstances, I'd like a decision soon."

"No, Your Highness. I can answer immediately."

Wilhelm frowned at my words.

"Oh, you are sure of your decision?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Wilhelm ran his hand through his hair and smiled bitterly.

"Well, good. Let me hear your reason."

"With apologies, Your Highness—Britain and France will resist imperial restoration even if it isn't the former Emperor."

Prince Wilhelm looked uncomfortable at my words. True, his accession differed from bringing Wilhelm II back.

The Crown Prince was already in Germany—if declared emperor immediately, Britain and France might respond slowly, perhaps lukewarmly.

But that was merely possibility. Unlike with Anschluss and Munich, their patience had reached its limit and war preparations were well underway.

Who could guarantee they'd remain passive if given cause?

"I won't gamble Germany's fate—painstakingly saved from the Nazi—on Britain and France's possible response."

He frowned, studied me quietly, then spoke.

"But couldn't we overcome this diplomatically? Right now, you're merely a major. There's clear difference between having connections and wielding power yourself. Imagine what you could accomplish as part of the Imperial Family and my Chancellor."

"You may be right, Your Highness, but, I will not betray those who believed in me and followed me, dreaming of a democratic revival. Just as Your Highness is reluctant to rely on royalists for power, I don't wish to become someone who is dependent on you, either."

He couldn't object. His suggestion was quite tempting—empowering me while leaving room for civilian forces to exert influence under monarchy.

But ultimately, containing royalists with my and civilian support meant neither we nor they could escape his control.

"Moreover, I won't serve someone who views as disposable a person who believed in me and risked her life for our cause."

If she hadn't connected me with the Frankfurter Zeitung, if she hadn't supported me after Munich, if she hadn't believed my uncertain words and assassinated Ribbentrop—

Neither I nor our new government would exist now.

"I make you this offer, Your Highness: Reign as an honored emperor in democratic government, but do not rule. If you do this, the House of Hohenzollern will be loved by Germans and endure long, without fear of tyranny or corruption."

Prince Wilhelm smiled bitterly.

"You've just lost your chance to become the man who raised Germany to glory under a great emperor's reign."

I don't necessarily believe democracy is absolutely superior to monarchy. History proves enlightened dictatorship is far more beneficial than misdirected democracy.

In times like these, for Germany like this—

He could certainly be a decent emperor.

But in this age, in this Germany, his competence might prove poisonous.

In an already industrialized country where nationalism had intensified, absolute monarchy can no longer maintain complete control of a nation—and overconfidence in one's abilities can be a disaster.

"I hope you become the great emperor Your Highness believes."

"Hmph, I hope the German democratic government you desire comes to pass."

We turned away from the Germany each of us wanted.