Ch.39German Revolution

# The Aftermath of Civil War

***

The next issue was about the countries that had supported us in the civil war.

I wondered if there might be some who would say, “We helped you, so give us something in return.”

“Do the great powers want anything from us?”

“Not yet. Even if they did, wouldn’t it be Germany? After all, Germany was the one who actively supported arming the White Army.”

Germany, huh. Come to think of it, they haven’t said much yet.

Next would be America. The Americans are nouveau riche who helped ensure the White Army didn’t starve through various Lend-Lease programs.

It would be difficult to refuse if they asked for something.

“What about America?”

“The American side has demanded that we guarantee the independence of nations that became independent under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.”

That’s not difficult.

Russia is a land of abundant potential.

Resources overflow and the population is large. In our current position, having survived thanks to the great powers, we can’t just tear up that treaty.

Well, the Baltic states have all become independent, but we’ve made Finland a pro-Russian state, and Britain overlooked our swallowing what the Bolsheviks had taken in Belarus.

As for Ukraine, we’ve taken the eastern part and let the rest survive, so…

“Is that all?”

“Well, those fellows have already gained votes just from our victory, haven’t they?”

Well, I’m somewhat ignorant about America during this period.

I spent my time hiding from delinquents in libraries reading books, but I don’t know much about America.

I only know that Wilson is partially paralyzed and has his days numbered.

It’s still unknown whether the Red-White Civil War will influence American politics.

That Wilson was also the man who conferred a doctoral degree on Syngman Rhee, Korea’s first president.

I’ve heard he influenced the March 1st Movement and the Korean Provisional Government by advocating for national self-determination.

“Have Britain and France said anything?”

“Those fellows must be having enough trouble managing what they tore from their allies, don’t you think?”

“Is that all?”

“I understand that Germany threw all its colonies into the mouths of Britain and France just to survive.”

Hmm. Wait, then this means…

From the beginning, Britain and France aren’t in a position to say, “We supported you, so give us something in return.”

Strictly speaking, Germany’s contribution to supporting us was the largest.

America helped a lot too, but they’re across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

If Germany absorbs all the colonies…

Will things proceed as they did in actual history?

So is Germany the immediate problem now?

No, wasn’t Germany’s throat in Britain’s grip?

If Germany isn’t much of a problem either, then Russia’s biggest issue right now must be rebuilding the country.

Honestly, with so many people dead from the war and civil war, there probably won’t be unemployment even if the Great Depression hits. But the end of the civil war isn’t the end of everything.

We need to rebuild our devastated country.

And blame all wrongs on the Bolsheviks.

Saying that all of this is the fault of the Bolsheviks.

“For now, let’s have a period of national reconstruction. We will implement the land reforms already in place and the economic policies planned throughout Russia. I trust the Duma will handle this matter well.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”

“Also, many people died in the previous civil war. Many who could have helped us died at the hands of the Bolsheviks, and now that the civil war is over, there will be those who cautiously show their faces again.”

Now that the civil war is over, officials from the Tsarist era and Kerensky government will start poking their heads out again.

For now, it would be good to include them in forming the government.

“There are former ministerial-level figures who took refuge in South Russia. They will also be included in the Duma.”

“We must also favor technicians in each department. After that, we need to build industrial power to prepare for the coming future.”

“When you say ‘coming future’…”

I can’t talk about World War II.

How many people would believe me if I spoke about World War II from this position?

Even if they did, I’m not certain that World War II would happen again in a similar way.

What’s certain is that now, while we have momentum, we should implement reforms swiftly.

If our situation becomes even slightly comfortable, the narrow-minded nobles might wish for a return to the old era.

So I’ll just give a warning that there might be another war.

“The Great War ended unsatisfactorily. A new war could break out within decades.”

“Surely that won’t happen again?”

He’s not completely clueless.

In fact, a war I don’t know about could break out in this alternate history.

For instance, Germany.

Aren’t they too suspicious?

Why would they follow Britain’s orders without being brainwashed?

Has the entire Germanic race been hypnotized?

“Would Germany, with its character, sit still? Isn’t it suspicious that they’ve become merchants supplying us with weapons? Wasn’t it the German army that captured Stalin in the previous Battle of Moscow?”

They’re too eager.

It’s like they keep pushing unsolicited favors, as if they want to gain something by putting us in their debt.

“Yes. It was a corporal named Adolf Hitler.”

“Adolf Hitler, you say?”

Isn’t that Hitler before he became his complete self, in his maturation period?

“Do you know him?”

“No, I don’t, but I’ve never seen someone accomplish such a feat. After all, Stalin was the backbone of the Bolsheviks.”

Hitler castrated Stalin.

What an irony of history.

Was he using that name during this period?

Killing him now to block the future—no.

I don’t know how the future will unfold. Just because I want to kill Hitler here doesn’t mean I can.

Should I capture and kill a German soldier who’s withdrawing? That seems wrong.

Perhaps since the German Empire still exists, Hitler’s path might change too.

Moreover, if history doesn’t change, it’s easier to deal with someone I know.

If I killed Hitler here, and someone else—someone I don’t know—took power…

And if they started another war for different reasons?

It’s better to keep him alive than to go out of my way to kill him.

But separate from that.

Those Germans are definitely plotting something.

It’s just that what it is hasn’t been confirmed yet.

“You have a point. Then we should—”

“Meanwhile, we must rebuild Russia and guard against external threats. If another great war breaks out, we, having received their help, will inevitably be drawn into it somewhere. At the very least, everyone must roll up their sleeves to build national power so that we won’t be swept into anything.”

I don’t know if I can grow Russia as large as Stalin’s Soviet Union.

Even though he caused bloodshed with the Great Purge, Stalin was still a figure who greatly increased economic power and made the Soviet Union a great power.

“As I’ve said before, railways are most important for this country. So we need to connect railway networks throughout the country to ensure smooth logistics.”

“Understood.”

“Of course, I hope there won’t be a second Great War like the one that gave the Bolsheviks their opportunity.”

The White victory in the Civil War and the changed outcome of World War I.

I don’t know what kind of snowball effect this will create.

If the future I know doesn’t come to pass, then I’ll be at a loss too.

So shouldn’t I have nuclear bombs to prepare for that time?

Of course, right now the immediate task is rebuilding Russia.

I just wish good fortune would come all at once.

For now, I expect the Romanov cadet branches will start making moves soon.

***

Berlin, Germany

“Now we should crush France—”

“Not a chance, revolution!”

At this time, revolutionary fervor was surging in Germany.

The end of the war wasn’t the end of everything.

Unlike in original history, minimizing Germany’s losses in the Treaty of Versailles wasn’t everything.

The Germanic pride scratched by defeat.

They had become errand boys for Britain and America, helping the Russian White Army, and German citizens were being squeezed for reparation payments.

In this situation, rumors began to circulate about plans for a new war.

Of course, the surface reasons were plausible.

“Too many reparations! Can’t pay! If you keep this up, I’ll have ideas of my own!”

The reasons were that reparations were too high and France’s bullying was too severe.

But apart from that, wanting to start another war was a dream full of flowers in their heads.

After ending the previous war arbitrarily, some military officials, full of discontent toward the Kaiser who had the crazy idea of starting another war, joined the revolutionary forces.

And just as Wilhelm was about to declare a national mobilization, claiming France was making life impossible…

The German Communist Party, whose revolutionary moment had finally ripened, rang the bell of revolution.

A revolution unique to Germany, different from Russia’s.

Wilhelm II, who had been excited about the idea of devouring France, failed to grasp the current situation when he heard the sounds of revolution.

“Your Majesty. You must flee!”

“What’s happening?”

“The Communist Party (KPD) bastards have declared the Free Socialist Republic of Germany and started taking over Berlin!”

The communist bastards had finally begun to rampage in Germany.

Wilhelm II was shocked.

They had been preparing well for war, but now, what was this about?

“What is the army doing?”

“The army is divided now.”

“How could this happen so soon after the end of the Russian Civil War? Who are the ringleaders?”

What kind of wretches would dare start a communist revolution in Germany!

“Individuals named Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. They’ve started the revolution now.”

At that moment, something clicked in Wilhelm II’s mind.

His mind was racing faster than ever before.

The death of his cousin Nicky. Anastasia surviving alone. The Russian Civil War.

Communism and monarchy cannot coexist.

Those bastards will surely try to execute the Hohenzollern imperial family.

“W-where should we go?”

“We have forces outside Berlin. We should join them, and in the worst case, we’ll need to consider East Prussia.”

“East Prussia?”

“Yes. It seems those bastards have recruited even regular army troops.”

“Let’s do that.”

Wilhelm II quickly evacuated the imperial family outside Berlin.

The German Communist Party was furious at failing to capture the imperial family, but their urgent task was to fully secure Berlin and establish the Free Socialist Republic of Germany as a proper government.

In actual history, the Social Democratic Party, which declared the Weimar Republic, was instead oppressed by the German Communist Party, and thus a communist state was being established in German history for the first time.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.

“Communists? That’s absurd!”

August von Mackensen, who had been in East Prussia to guard against the Baltic states, Poland, Ukraine, and others that had fallen into British hands, gathered the remaining imperial troops and, together with Ludendorff, moved to stop the Communist Party.

In February 1921, Germany entered a state of civil war due to the German Communist Party’s revolution.

Germany’s civil war was enough to influence neighboring countries.

“Didn’t we go easy on them to prevent Germany from becoming like this?”

“What did the Kaiser do to cause a revolution?”

The existing Entente powers were in an uproar.

Just as the Russian Civil War was about to end with a White victory, now a revolution had broken out next door.

At this time, the existing Entente powers were already in a muddy fight with Atatürk’s Turkish Grand National Assembly, which had risen up in anger over the excessive dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire.

In a situation where they were already in a dirty fight with the Turkish Grand National Assembly, now they had to worry about their neighbor too.

Additionally, when the German Communist Party couldn’t completely gain the upper hand in the civil war, they requested help from France.

“The Kaiser was planning to attack France again! This is evidence and the reason why France should recognize us as the legitimate government.”

“What did you say?”

France was also thrown into turmoil by the revelation of the German Empire’s intentions.

They had been lenient, only to find out that such intentions were harbored behind their backs.

They wanted to bring down the German Empire, but starting another war was burdensome for France too.

Within France, the truth about the German Empire’s war plans had not yet been fully established, and stopping the rise of the Communist Party was more important, so they supported Ludendorff and Mackensen’s military government.

Of course, France wasn’t normal either.

The French Communist Party was also watching the German revolution, aiming for the revival of the Paris Commune.

And there was a figure within France who didn’t like these movements.

“How did the once-great France come to this sorry state?”

That figure was François de La Rocque.

In actual history, he led the far-right anti-republican organization Croix-de-Feu, calling for the overthrow of the Third Republic. In this altered history, he was stimulated by the war’s futile conclusion due to the Russian Civil War and the German revolution.

The dirty German Empire aiming at France again, and the German Communist Party that would share a border if the revolution succeeded.

One had tried to stab France in the back, and the other was a bunch of communists not worth associating with.

La Rocque worried about whether France would be able to defend itself when they inevitably clashed with Germany again.

And in Japan…

“Koreans are causing trouble, saying they should rally around the Yi royal family for independence!”

“What is the Governor-General’s Office doing? Why haven’t they suppressed everything?”

“They say to resolve it diplomatically rather than just using force!”

“It’s because we’ve been diplomatic that those bastards look down on the Empire of Japan and cause disturbances!”

“For now, make sure the Yi royal family is under strict surveillance so they can’t get any ideas!”

The story of the Russian Grand Duchess personally leading troops to resolve a national crisis had spread like a fairy tale to the Korean Peninsula, inspiring Koreans to start independence movements centered around the Yi royal family.

The snowball Anastasia had set in motion continued to roll endlessly.