NationStates Jolt Archive

Konigstadt Conference Link- http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=367452
Applications/Questions Link- http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=366494

Near Karlsbad, Osterlich:

Georg Halder got to the top of the hill overlooking the village of Czechy, a most insulting name indeed. He motioned to his men, a few dozen armed peasants. Spitting in the direction of the Czech village, he cursed the name of the Queen, Maria Theresa before surveying his target. For centuries, the low mountains of the Sudetenland had been a German preserve. But now, Czech industrialists and Czech settlers were beginning to move into their land.

The Dual Monarchy was the worst idea in history. Why would a German monarch give in to the Czechs? In the old days, when Osterlich ruled an empire four times as large, there was no talk of undermining the German core. Maria Thereas had sold out Osterlich and no longer deserved to be their monarch. Halder would start the revolution.

But he himself had no desire to be monarch. There was a far better way to consolidate German dominance over Osterlich and to glorify Germans. That was, simply enough, to provoke Nordrreich into annexing Osterlich. As well as eliminating this pathetic Dual Monarchy, it would make Osterlich richer. Halder considered all of this as he and his band moved into the village.

A few dozen dead Czechs and a burning village did a lot to improve his sour mood.

Alright, here is a map of Osterlich. The grey represents Sudeten-held regions.

OOC> Protestants are a fairly small, but economically important minority. Most of the German Protestants live in Salzburg (about half of the city's 190,000 population), but small communities live in every major city in Osterlich. Most of the Czech Protestants live in Prague. (about a quarter of the city's 650,000 population)

Salzburg, Osterlich:

Reverend Heinrich Thunen went before his congregation and began preaching a very different message. It was time that the Catholic domination of Osterlich end! He implored all Protestants to rise up and defy the Papist! The Queen was a slave of Rome and must be suppressed in the name of God! Let the Protestant Kaiser rule over us! He will bring true religion and prosperity to the land!

Later that day, violent riots began to break out amongst the Protestants of Salzburg, who remembered centuries of outright persecution at the hands of the Catholic Hapsburgs. The telegraphed news of a German uprising in the Sudetenland only increased the violence of the riots. It was not long before a mob of several hundred armed Protestants was vandalizing the largest Catholic church in the city of Salzburg.

Vienna:

Maria Theresa was beside herself as she immediately sent an urgent telegraph to Britain and France. Although the revolts seemed small, she had a feeling that they would soon explode and that Osterlich would be unable to control them. She could not rely on the friendship of Italy, Nordrreich or Russia. She only hoped that the British remembered the aid their nation had given in stopping Napoleon and that the French remembered the graciousness her nation, once a great empire, had shown in the face of Napoleon's defeat.

President Wilhelm Hendriuckson received th news of the uprising at a precarious time. The Aden incident was being mopped up, and new pressures were occuring at the conference. He needed rest, but this was a good opportunity to help the British again. At his office, he began to write down the orders:

TO: GENERAL OTTO VON BOURQ-DU-BOURQ
FROM: PRESIDENT WILHELM HENDRICKSON
VERIFICATION: CANNON TO THE RIGHT OF THEM

GENERAL, PREPARE MOBILIZATION OF ONE LEGION OF LIGHT INFANTRY, AS WELL AS USUAL SUPPORT UNITS, FOR DEPLOYMENT IN OSTERLICH. DETAILS TO BE WORKED OUT BY YOUR STAFF. DO NOT ATTEMPT ANYTHING FANCY, JUST STOP THE REBELS.

Konigstadt:
Philip Eulenberg picked up the message from a tapped telegraph line and looked it over. He then stole a glance to his friend, Erich von Manstein and then passed the piece of paper that contained the gist of the message to him. Manstein looked it over and nodded before passing it to Eulenberg.

'So, it's finally happened, Erich?' Eulenberg said, leaning back a bit in his chair.

'It would appear that way.' Manstein replied. 'Without any encouragement at all.'

'We really must tell the Kaiser.' Eulenberg continued. 'Immediately. It is most critical.'

Manstein nodded.

'How fast could the army move to the borders?' Eulenberg asked. 'I'm not much of a military expert.'

Manstein did some quick math in his head. 'We have 60,000 men on border garrisons right now. We could double it in three days. If anyone tries to interfere, we shall probably have to resort to general mobilization.'

'It's getting pretty efficient these days, isn't it?' Eulenberg inquired.

'A million in less than a week. Two million in under a month. Faster by far than any other country in the world. Moltke was a genius for organization. Hopefully it doesn't fall to that, though.' Manstein allowed a tiny smirk to cross his face.

'Well, the Russians will support us.' Eulenberg noted.

'Of course they will. What is good for Nordrreich is good for Russia and vice versa. I hope the Kaiser succeeds in bringing the Yankees into our alliance.'

'Me too.'

Armand Legrand broke off a piece of the baguette and looked out across Paris. He was thankful a gentle breeze flowed down the avenue; A boy of the place somewhere between the city and the country, Legrand felt the air here could occasionally become stale.

"Monsieur President," Came a voice from behind. Without turning his eyes from the cityscape, Legrand smiled and said,

"I am glad to hear you have returned, Luc." Briskly walking to Legrand's chair so his President would not have to walk far, Luc and Armand embraced each other, with the obligatory two kisses on the cheek. "How was Marseilles?"

"As good as she can be," replied Luc. "I have for you a very important telegram from Maria Theresa." He motioned Legrand to sit back down.

Armand read twice over. "Does Pierresmonte know about this?"

Luc shook his head in the negative. "As far as we know, sir, no." Legrand sat in contemplation for a minute.

"Should these rebels gain momentum," he started slowly, "Nordrreich, I would wager, will become involved, and take Sudetenland. While Osterlich would become weaker still, Nordrreich would grow in power and size." Legrand turned to Luc, with an expression of supreme sadness, and said, "We do not want that. For peace, we cannot."

"Should I perhaps deliver this to the Cabinet?" aksed Luc, wishing to relieve the President.

"Yes, please, Luc. Though I do not head the Cabinet." Luc held Legrand in the highest regard. "Afterwards, I suppose, the Parliament. We shall have to hear their suggestions."

Luc stood for a moment, then left.

Prime Minister Sergetov reviewed the report on the Osterlich uprisings. As he read thoughts circled in his brain should we support the rebels, should it be open, are there any Slavs being threatened, what do do? "General Gorlach what units do you have near the border?"
The general thought for a second then said "That is the South West Army zone, we have fifteen thousand troops positioned as border guards with another twenty-thousand near the regional capital in Odessa. We also have two light polish regiments attached to the army"
"Thank you general, I want you to station the army near the southern Osterlich border and increase border security. I don't want this rebellion spilling over into our borders so be prepared to restore order in Osterlich. Also, General, prepare for a limited mobilization, this could get nasty and I don't want the Empire being unprepared."
"At once prime minister." General Gorlach saluted turned and walked out of the building with military precision.
The Prime Minister told the aide to call a meeting of all the senior minister and to call the dumas to the capital. He walked across the room with a measured step and poured himself a glass of vodka from the bottle he always kept in the bottom cabinet; he began pacing the room muttering in between drinks.

The Kaiser sat at the desk, smoking a cigar as he began to plan his response. First, he would send a telegram to the Russians, asking for their support. Then he would send one to all the major capitals of Europe, insisting that this was a Central European affair and within his rightful sphere of influence. Finally, he would order that all units in the standing army be ready to move at a moment's notice. He also sent secret memorandums to the General Staff to begin plans for general mobilization.

Nordrreich Strength In The Immediate Area:
5th Army Corps- Breslau (about 25,000 men)
3rd Reserve Corps- Munich (about 21,000 men)
7th Army Corps- Nuremburg (about 18,000 men)

Troops That Could Be Moved Within Days:
1st Army Corps- Konigstadt (about 30,000 men)
1st Cavalry Corps- Konigstadt (about 10,000 men)
1st Guards Corps- Konigstadt (about 10,000 men)
6th Army Corps- Konigsberg (about 20,000 men)
3rd Cavalry Corps- Stettin (about 10,000 men)

The Kaiser began to write his message, meant both for the Tsar, his cousin and to the people of Russia, his greatest ally. His cigar now mostly a stump he continued to write.

'I ask of you, my Russian brothers to stand in solidarity and affirm that the affairs of Central Europe and Eastern Europe are not of French or British concern, but rather, the concern of Nordrreich and Russia, of the German and Slavic peoples.

It is my hope that this question can be resolved peacefully, but there cannot be peace without strength. The strength I speak of is the growing bonds between the German and the Russian, symbolized by cousin-monarchs and made reality by increasing economic and political cooperation. It is essential that we stand together so that we can assert our rights in our proper sphere.'

He went on further, but his essential point had already been made. Germany and Russia would rise or fall together and that Central and Eastern Europe was no longer the French or English playground. Germany and Russia were the natural guardians of the area. The sooner the French realize this, the better for all concerned.

Georg Halder had been elected a colonel by the Sudeten Army, although as of yet there were only a few thousand in the army. However, he had heard of discontent amongst the Protestants in Salzburg and other cities. Although a Catholic by confession, he knew that disorder was good for his interests. He'd take any trouble he could get.

The plan for the rebels was to spread their control throughout the rural portions of the Sudetenland and then take Karlsbad, the capital of the region. If possible, however, they would soon have to swing out of the Suedtenland and take Skoda, which was unremarkably except that it was the largest arsenal in Osterlich, containing countless thousands of rifles and over a hundred artillery pieces.

Privately, Halder hoped that the German portions of the Osterlicher army would mutiny and possibly join their cause. He had served in the army himself and had learned to respect their abilities. He would hate to have to kill his old friends.

While the Senators and Deputies debated and quarreled about intervening in Osterlich, Marshal of The Army LeBlanche(Who had since returned from Konigstadt) sent orders to his Generals to alert their men and put them on the ready. A veteran of the Franco-Nordrreich War, with a limp in his left leg to prove so, LeBlanche held a deep-rooted suspicion of the Germanies, especially ever since their unification.

French Forces Being Readied:
2nd Army Corps-Dijon (20,000 men)
3rd Army Corps-Annecy (15,000 men)
4th Army Corps-Grenoble (20,000 men)

Meanwhile, the President wrote a message to the Kaiser.

We were asked by the Queen of Osterlich to aid her in her own affairs. Whether or not we do so, I am afraid you are not one to dictate our actions, especially when they are guided by reason.

Respectfully Yours,
Armand Legrand

Buckingham Palace:

Queen Victoria fretted. Her grandson seemed to be letting his country's power go QUITE to his head. Perhaps she could intervene personally. She knew he still had a great deal of affection for his grandmother. As for the government, she was unsure what course they would take. She did not want a war. Because the way things stood a war with Nordrreich likely meant one with Russia as well.

Parliament:

Gladstone was getting very, very nervous. There was a virtual riot in the Cabinet, with several pro-German and several pro-French members. Considering that the largest and best part of the British fleet was off hunting pirates, he wondered how much he could really do to influence Germany. He hoped that Victoria might be able to personally convince the Kaiser to step down.

As in nature it is the natural order of things that strong will rise over the week, but with that strength comes a responsibility to maintain that order. Therefore the Russian Empire stands fast behind our German bretheren in their endeavour to bring peace to Osterlich.

General Gunther von Rathenberg looked out over the hilly terrain of the Sudetenland. His objective was to monitor the situation and, if necessary, or if ordered to, advance. He currently had about 20,000 men ready, but more were arriving. The Osterlicher army was in bad shape and he didn't doubt that if it came to an invasion that, together with the rebels, he could easily defeat it and march on triumph on Vienna.

Konigstadt:

The Kaiser recieved the Russian telegraph and sent profuse thanks as well as a personal invitation for the Tsar to come to Nordrreich for a hunting trip sometime soon. He also sent a telegraph to the French asking them to keep out of the affairs of Central Europe. Finally, he sent a telegraph to the General Staff ordering them to begin general mobilization.

M-TAG 0

Colonel Hadrec Krolewy of the 34th Cavalry approached the smouldering remains of the village of Czechy with dismay. Most of the people had fled the village along with most of the Czechs in the Sudetenland. He and his 2,500 troopers had clear orders ... to find the rebels and clear them out. The 15th Infantry and 23rd Infantry were also in the area, hunting down the rebels.

Unfortunately, the hilly and often forested terrain did his horses and men no favours. They could be hiding anywhere. He hoped that he found them soon so he could punish them for what they did to the poor people of the village. As he rode up to another village, Buedjovic, he saw another scene of devastation. The rebels must be near, he thought ... now to hunt them down.

He ordered his men to fan out, searching the nearby hills and forests for the hiding rebels.

OOC> New map attached.

Osterlicher Parliament, Vienna:

Ernst von Stahlman stood up in the Parliament Building. He was one of the three members that represented the Sudetenland. He pulled out a small revolver and fired at the ceiling, hitting a newly installed light fixture.

'Osterlich is no more! There are only Germans!' He roared melodramatically before he, the two other Sudetenland representatives, the member from Salzburg and a few other representatives left. The remaining delegates simply sat in their seat, stunned. The Czechs looked particularly nervous. They were not Germans ...

The German uprising in the Sudetenland threatened to become a national revolution. Already, a riotous crowd was beginning to form in the streets of Vienna. Soon, there would certainly be fighting between the police and army and the rioters in this centre of global culture.

Karlsbad, Sudetenland:

The local citizen's militia had turned to the rebels and the streets were filled with the sounds of combat. Already, dozens of rebels and many garrisoned troops had died in skirmishes. The erection of barricades in the streets ensured that significant parts of the city would be under rebel control. Government forces dug in in their own secutions of the city, each side waiting for someone to intervene in the combat which had reached an uneasy stalemate.

Skoda, Bohemia:

A Czech militia stormed the German quarter of the city, suspecting it of being a rebel hotbed. Conflict between the Czech and German citizen militias resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides. The larger Czech militia, however, was left in possession of the critical war industries of the city. Unlike in the Sudetenland, most of the people here had no interest in joining Nordrreich ... it would only marginalize them. After all, they had local autonomy in the Dual Monarchy.

Czechy, Sudetenland:

Georg Halder spat derisively on the corpse of a slain Czech cavalryman. His rebels had systematically cut off the divided cavalry units and eliminate them. The hilly and forested terrain worked greatly in their favor. The rebel forces in the Sudetenland now numbered in the thousands and was preparing to march on Karlsbad to aid their comrades in the city.

Linz, Osterlich:

Several hundred soldiers, sent to dispatch a riot in the area, decided to join the rebels in their cause. It was not long before they managed to seize the entire city. There have been mutinies, desertion and outright treason in several army units throughout the country. Almost all of them are amongst the German units of the army.

Private Thom Bialystock got off the train, with his the rest of his company, in the town of Graz, located south of Vienna and east of Salzburg. The government had decided it would be helpful in winning Britain's favour by sending a legion of men to Osterlich's aid. The only problem was that the main portion of the army was situated in southern Patagonia, working around the frontier. It had taken some time for the legion to reach Osterlich. One of the Legion's ships had slipped off course and recently discovered they had accidentally reached Dublin, while another was currently aground near Norfolk, Virginia. Only 1,216 of the Legion's total 5,076 men had made it to Osterlich so far. Another 2,500 were expected within the next to weeks.
Thom looked about. The town he had gotten off in seemed stable enough. No revolting here. Maybe they could relax for a few days....
Then the soldier next to him fell down dead, shot.

General Gunther von Rathenberg had recieved his orders. It was time to move in to assure the security of Osterlich. His 20,000 men would move directly into the Sudetenland from its base near Dresden in Saxony. They would be able to secure the Sudetenland rapidly enough.

His army, however, was only the small portion of a powerful pincer operation. 40,000 men would move in from bases in Nuremburg and Munich into Salzburg and Linz and 40,000 more would swoop down onto Bohemia from Silesia. Meanwhile, almost the rest of the army was being redeployed in the west.

Rathenberg smiled slightly as he prepared to board the trains that would take the troops into the Sudetenland. He had an idea what the Kaiser's real plan was. He may live yet to see the completion of German unification.

MILAN
Premier Agostino Depretis looked up as an aide rushed to him.
'Sir there has been an uprising Osterlich, German Nationalists have taken Czechzy and the surrounding area. Nordrreich has sent in troops to subdue the rebellion.'
Depretis was not that surprised about the Kaiser's response to the uprising, as he knew the Kaiser was planning to unite all Germans so something like this had been on the cards for a while.
'Take these two telegrams and have them sent immediately'
***
Telegram 1:
To: King Humbert I
From: Premier Agostino Depretis
Sire it has happened, Nordrreich troops are now in Osterlich. Shall I offer our support?

Telegram 2:
To: His Imperial Majesty Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm III
From: Premier Agostino Depretis
Das Königreich von Italien verlangt, daß Sie uns über Ihre Pläne informieren, nachdem der Aufstand unten gesetzt worden ist. Und wenn Sie beabsichtigen, die germanischen Leute zu vereinigen dann, pledge wir sind Unterstützung und ein Regiment unserer feinsten Infanterie.

[OOC: Translation below]
The Kingdom of Italy requests that you inform us of your plans after the rebellion has been put down. And if you intend to unite the Germanic people then we shall pledge are support, and a Regiment of our finest Infantry.

***

'Humbert doesn't need to be troubled to much by this so send the one to the Kaiser first will you, there’s a good chap.
Oh and send Principale Colonnello Spuri to the me'

The aide walked briskly away, as Depretis had a sip of his ice cold lemonade.
And thought of conquest.

OOC> Trieste is an important port city, and the last sizeable Italian population that is not incorporated in Italy at this time. There's also a few smaller scraps, but Trieste is a sizeable prize.

To: Premier Agostino Depretis
From: His Imperial Majesty Kaiser Friedrich II (Not exactly the same person as IRL German Kaiser ... sort of a combination of Frederick the Great and Willy II)

Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated. However, you may find a sizeable contribution may earn you a sizeable prize. As I intend to finally unify Germans in one nation-state, I am reminded that there are also Italians in portions of Osterlich, particularly in the port city of Trieste. All told, there are nearly 500,000 Italians that assuredly yearn to be brought back into their proper nation-state. Full diplomatic support and assistance in pacifying Osterlich can and will be rewarded generously.

Maria Theresa had stayed up all night, making the most difficult decision of her life. Even if she had not been tortured, the riots outside the palace would have kept her awake. It was clear that Osterlich was gone ... France and Britain could not keep a dying country that didn't want to be anymore ... the Germans of Osterlich had increasingly wanted to be a part of Germany ever since the Empire had fallen after the war against Nordrreich.

She was young, unmarried and tired of this. Even if she would cry bitter tears everytime she saw the portrait of her illustrious ancestress who bore her name, that preserved Osterreich, as it was back then, from the king of Nordrreich ... it was too late. She sighed ... her people would probably be happier. The Kaiser was overambitious and militaristic, but she knew that he also passionately loved his people.

All night, she and her faithful servants had been collecting the crown jewels and the palace monies. All told, it amounted to about fifty-six million Osterlich thalers, or just under forty million francs. More than enough for Paris. She sent a telegram to France. And finally, a second one to Berlin.

To: The Government and People of France
From: Maria Theresa, former Queen of the Dual Kingdom of Osterlich

I have been watching the riots for days now and have come to regret my asking your aid. It has become clear to me that most of the people want union with Nordrreich. I would be beside myself if there was a general European war over my reflexive action. The Habsburg Empire lasted a long time. All empires must fall, must they not?

I ask only that you allow me and my entourage into your country. If you would be so kind as to grant me an honorary title, I would be flattered immensely. However, I am content with living as a private citizen in your fine country.

God does not play dice with the universe, and it seems to be His will that the old German Confederation is brought together as a complete nation-state. I only hope that you can forgive me and allow me to live with your people in France. Please relay this message to London and all other suitable capitals.

I am renouncing the throne of Osterlich, and the country will become a part of Nordrreich under similar provisions as those for the other independent German states in 1871. I think we will all be much happier if you immediately recognize this.

Yours Truly,
Maria Theresa of Habsburg

To: His Imperial Majesty, Kaiser Friedrich II
From: Maria Theresa of Habsburg, former Queen of the Dual Kingdom of Osterlich

I hereby resign my title and realm into your hands. Dear Friedrich, this is not because of you or your army, formidable as it may be. It is because my people will it and I have no stomach to deny them. I truly believe that God frowns upon we monarchs when we deny both the true will of the people and His plans. I hope you will remember this.

All I ask is that you treat my people with the same dignity and justice that you have given your own people as well as safe passage for myself and my personal entourage to Paris. Also, remember that there are things more important than power and glory. And finally, that we are all in the hands of God.

Sincerely,
Maria Theresa of Habsburg

Jules Barthélemy-Saint-Hilaire sat alone in the long room, full of desks clogged with paper and maps on the wall, his the only lit lamp in the room. The Minister for Foreign Affairs was writing a message to be dictated to be telegraphed, when he heard the distinct sound of footsteps on the marble floor. Within half of a moment, his aide Jean-Pierre appeared before Saint-Hilaire.

"Why, sir, do you sit out here?"

"I am closer to the telegrpah operators, Jean, no?"

The aide looked over Hilaire's shoulder. "No, sir, they have gone." When the Minister began to stare at him, Jean remembered his intent, and handed Hilaire a sealed envelope. "From the operators that are still here, right from Osterlich. The Queen, in fact."

Hiliaire tore the envelope in a swift motion with his letter opener and took in the message's contents in a single read. "I suppose it was eventual." He looked at Jean-Pierre. "They have fallen."
---
To: Maria Theresa, of Osterlich
From: Minister Jules Barthélemy-Saint-Hilaire

I cannot express what sadness and regret we are feeling from the fall of the great Habsburgs.

We shall allow you and your entourage to enter and live in France. In light of your accomplishments and sanity in facing Nordrreich, your people, and the situation, the President has bestowed upon you Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Parliament had also made contingency plans before hand; France shall welcome wih open arms any Osterlichers displaced by war or violence.

Again, I wish to convey to you the sympathies of the people of France.

With high Regards,
Jules Barthélemy-Saint-Hilaire
---
In Marseilles and Toulon, soldiers that had flooded the docks soon heard they would not be going across the sea...

Wilhelm was ashen-faced. Now his support seemed stupid and Whutehfeckia's presteige would suffer. He would have to withdraw the troops.

-------

"WHAT?!?" bellowed Thom in Graz, to his commanding officer. "We're withdrawing? We lose hundreds of men for shit? Why those greasy litte politicians ought to.... ARGH! I'm gonna kick their arses!"

At dawn the 4th Italian Light Regiment marched east to Trieste after diembarking unto Osertlich soil. The feeling among the men was that it would be good to finally finish the Unification of Italy, but some were worried that the citizens of Trieste would prefer living under Nordrreich rule.
***
'If all goes well my Lord we should have Trieste within a week, and then your father's goal of uniting Italy will be completed' said Depretis to his King. 'And after that we shall look towards Africa'

OOC> Check out the finished map.

The Nordrreich Government prepared a telegram to send around the world.

To: The People Of Osterlich
From: The People Of Nordrreich

Terms of Annexation:

1.) The Incorporated State of Nordrreich and Osterlich shall not be named either Nordrreich or Osterlich, but properly as the German Empire.

2.) The people of Osterlich shall be organized into the states of Osterreich, Suedtenland and Bohemia-Moravia.

3.) The people of Osterlich shall have the same rights, privileges and obligations as other German citizens, including the right to vote in Reichstag elections, all civic freedoms, the benefit of government social programs, as well as the obligation of conscription along the German model.

4.) The language of said territories will be German, with the exception of Bohemia-Moravia, which shall be bilingual, Czech and German. The state of Bohemia-Moravia will also recieve limited rights of autonomy, as is the case with the Polish-dominated Posen Province.

5.) The remaining members of the Royal Houses of Osterlich are to be granted, if they choose to remain resident in Germany, Princes of their respective state in the federal body of Germany.

6.) All rebel activity is to cease immediately. Continuation of violent uprising will result in severe action being taken by the armed forces of Germany.

7.) All crown property will pass directly into the hands of the government of Germany, to be disposed of or kept at will.

8.) Any Osterlichers who wish to leave, shall be allowed to do so unharmed.

Territorial Provisions:
The entirety of Osterlich is to pass into Germany, to complete its national unification, with the exceptions of Trieste Province and part of the southern Tyrol, which is to pass into the hands of Italy, in accordance with the principles of nationality.