Death of the Nazi Party

There's an old proverb that likens time to a river and life to a passing shuttle. If one were inclined toward poetic expressions, they might describe the passage of time with such metaphors. On the 31st of January, 1935, Arcado received a periodic report concerning the dismantling of the Junker nobility and the monopoly conglomerates. However, the contents of the report were far from optimistic. While there had been successes in dismantling the influence of the major nobles, compromises had to be made with the smaller and medium-sized Junker nobles. The Junker nobility in Germany is deeply ingrained, almost like blood within marrow. Attempting to eradicate them could be likened to a form of national self-harm since their influence pervades all German institutions. Implementing a thorough purge would risk turning Germany into a second Soviet Union, undergoing its own painful and destructive cleansing.

It wasn't that Arcado lacked decisiveness or swiftness in action, but rather that the necessary cuts might also sever the sinews of the nation, possibly delaying or even preventing recovery. Consequently, Arcado's advisors had recommended a compromise with the Junker nobles. By making concessions, they aimed to isolate the more obstinate nobles while aligning with the majority. Figures like Merkel, of noble descent herself, supported this approach, as did Gerin Nike Cassia. Ultimately, the head of state acquiesced. The SS received orders to suppress the major landowners and conglomerates but to spare the smaller noble factions. These protected groups, seeing an opportunity in the new political landscape, quickly became supporters of the head of state's initiative to purge noble criminality.

Military leaders from the Junker class, such as Manstein, Ronderstadt, and Braušić, found this arrangement acceptable and pledged their loyalty to the head of state. The aristocracy found its own way to adapt and survive. Under directives from Mussolini, an operation was orchestrated in the Vatican, leading to an alliance with the Dutch royal family that facilitated the elevation of Gerin Nike Cassia to the rank of Viscount, a title that would be hereditary with Miss Mercedes as its heir, and also elevated to Baroness. The rush to bestow these noble titles upon the Cassia family was primarily to integrate Arcado legally and socially into the aristocratic circle, ensuring that once he married Mercedes, he would himself become a noble, thereby securing the vested interests of the nobility indefinitely.

Thus, the state wedding was transformed into a grand celebration, eagerly anticipated by many. Mercedes was even set to receive a special baptism from the Pope at the Vatican. This marriage, steeped in political maneuvering, turned into a public spectacle of interest trading. Scheduled for March 1, 1936, even the Junker nobles who had rallied to the head of state were included in the festivities, turning Arcado's wedding into a high-profile event.

However, the grandeur of the wedding preparations caused distress to Fenni and Anna for a whole month, until Mercedes personally invited them to dinner, subtly acknowledging their important roles in Arcado's life, which helped alleviate their concerns.

The compromise also stabilized the military and normalized local governance. After four months of unrest, Germany began to recover, showing a more united front as it embarked on military expansion and preparation. Yet, opposition still lingered in Congress. The Nazi Party, led by Hitler, launched vehement attacks against the protection of the Junker aristocracy, complicating the government's situation.

"Scoundrel! Mad dog!" Hitler exclaimed furiously, sweeping documents onto the floor. "He acts without legal or congressional approval, yet he still gains support from those fools!"

An elder statesman, leaning on his cane, sipped his coffee and responded calmly, "We designed Arcado to be a ruler who wouldn't destroy the established order, only expose its truths. But he's proven more ruthless, indiscriminately tarnishing the Junker nobility and the monopolists without a thorough investigation."

As Hitler fumed, the elder continued, "He's uprooted our base. The Junker nobility, our main support, is now scattered, their power absorbed by others. We're defeated, powerless to act."

"And the businessmen?" Hitler demanded.

"They can't even ensure their own survival now," the elder replied. "And the Crown Prince? He's abandoned us too."

"I'm returning to the Netherlands this afternoon," the elder stated, rising with dignity. "The Williams Royal Family wants no part in this. You should focus on managing the backlash from France and resolving internal party issues. If not, the situation with the killer and Roma will expose us all."

But the warning came too late. By the time Hitler resolved to eliminate Roma to protect himself, the SS had already apprehended him. With the aid of German intelligence, capturing the stormtrooper leader was executed with minimal effort.

"Mr. Rom, you are arrested for collusion, jeopardizing national security, and leaking state secrets," Reinhard Heidrich declared, pressing the arrest warrant against Roma's face as he was caught in a compromising situation.

"If you confess, you'll be hanged, but your lover and followers may continue to serve the state. If you refuse, they'll be hanged with you, and we'll fabricate a suitable charge," Reinhard stated, smoke curling from his cigarette.

"I demand to see my lawyer! We've done nothing illegal," Roma protested, but to no avail. The SS swiftly subdued him and his associates, coercing a confession that implicated him and others in high treason.

With Roma's forced testimony, the head of state banned the Nazi Party and ordered Hitler's arrest. Broadcasts of Roma's confession and images of his arrest stirred public outrage, demanding severe punishment for all involved. The SS then began purging and reevaluating the loyalty of former Nazi members, offering them a chance to redeem themselves by denouncing others.

Amidst this turmoil, Arcado could finally focus on advancing Germany's naval and aerial military technology. With Hitler's capture imminent, the nation was poised on the brink of a new era, reshaped by Arcado's decisive actions.

The recent communications from the Navy brought exhilarating news to Akado: the new aircraft carrier had been successfully launched and was now undergoing anti-wind and wave tests in the tumultuous waters of the North Sea. The elite pilots of the German Navy, demonstrating exceptional skill and precision, had completed their assigned tasks ahead of schedule. This marked the aircraft carrier's maiden voyage, during which it successfully executed sea takeoff and landing tests. It was evident that the German Navy, which had been subdued since its last heroic self-sinking in Britain, was now eager to reclaim its former glory. The prolonged wait for resurgence had indeed been too long.

The geopolitical landscape had shifted significantly. The Washington Naval Treaty had been rendered obsolete by Soviet actions, prompting nations to escalate their naval capabilities. Japan had commenced construction of the formidable Yamato-class super battleships in response to the Soviet threat. Similarly, the British, not to be outdone, began work on the second sister ship of their renowned class cruisers. The United States Navy initiated plans to complete its fleet of battleships, while Italy feverishly worked on its new Victor-class battleships. Germany, not lagging behind, had launched its own monumental naval asset: the aircraft carrier.

Germany unveiled two Zeppelin-class aircraft carriers simultaneously. The first, bearing the hull number 001, was christened Zeppelin; the second, with hull number 002, was named Bismarck. Each ship stretched 275 meters in length and 44 meters in width, with a full-load displacement of 28,000 tons—a considerable size for the year 1935. Both carriers featured a closed deck and hangar, ensuring that the aircraft were well-protected against the harsh North Atlantic weather. The design included a massive straight flight deck, an island bridge, and a single integrated chimney, closely resembling the future archetype of aircraft carriers, save for the two elevators positioned centrally on the flight deck.

Interestingly, these ships were not equipped with large-caliber artillery; instead, they housed 12 Bofors anti-aircraft guns for defensive purposes, with the remaining space allocated for fuel and aircraft ammunition storage. This design choice led to an increase in tonnage. Each carrier was outfitted with 35 naval Fw-190D fighters with foldable wings, 28 Stuka dive bombers also with foldable wings, 4 reconnaissance Fw-190 aircraft, and one spare aircraft for each type, totaling 70 aircraft.

In comparison to contemporary British carriers, the German carriers did not boast superior specifications. The British Royal Ark, still under construction, was designed for a 20,000-ton full-load displacement yet could accommodate 60 aircraft. The rapid production of German carriers was achieved by standardizing many hull structures and components, which unfortunately led to the use of civilian-standard equipment and resulted in wasted space and weight—a trade-off between quantity and quality.

This compromise diminished the carriers' protective capabilities and overall combat effectiveness. However, the advantage was clear: the construction and launch of the two carriers, culminating in their readiness for sea trials, took just over a year. In contrast, the British Royal Ark was still docked, incomplete.

Upon their launch, the newly formed German High Seas Fleet, under the command of Admiral Rydell, immediately set sail in the North Sea. The fleet, comprising two aircraft carriers, four cruisers, and eight large destroyers, marked a revival of the formidable presence Germany once commanded in these waters. The hulls of two additional aircraft carriers were promptly sent to the docks, with shipyard engineers confidently informing naval technicians that within less than ten months, Germany could boast two more identical carriers, significantly bolstering its military presence in the North Sea.

Akado personally commended the shipbuilding engineers and workers at the Port of Kiel, urging them to continue their diligent production of various warships for the German Navy. In a strategic meeting with Admiral Rydell and other naval officials, it was outlined that within the next three years, the German Navy would expand to include six aircraft carriers, 18 cruisers, 33 ocean-going destroyers, 60 other defensive destroyers, and 170 submarines. This formidable fleet was intended to employ submarine wolf pack tactics to sever the British maritime supply lines, followed by a decisive aerial assault from the carrier-based aircraft to annihilate the Royal Navy.

The ambitious naval expansion plan brought tears to Akado's eyes. With such a powerful fleet at his disposal, he mused that the German Army could conquer the world with mere trolleys—the Air Force, in comparison, seemed almost pitiful since trolleys couldn't fly.

Akado's strategic vision included having four aircraft carriers and a sufficient number of support ships ready when war broke out, potentially as early as the following year. However, the actual combat effectiveness of naval aviation remained untested, which was a significant concern. Naval aviation was not merely about deploying land-based aircraft on carriers; it required a complete system overhaul.

Germany had developed a specialized anti-ship bomb for the Navy's Stukas, equipped with a delayed fuse, but its effectiveness had yet to be proven. While the Stuka was an excellent land-based dive bomber, its adaptation for sea-based operations against warships was both risky and untested, leading Akado to temper his expectations for its combat performance. The torpedo attacks, on the other hand, would be carried out by the versatile Fw-190 fighters, necessitating regular training for naval pilots on torpedo deployment against naval targets.

After addressing the Navy's updates, Akado turned his attention to the Air Force. He had previously dismissed Krupp's proposal for a railgun project, which left him in dire need of a powerful weapon capable of breaching the fortified defenses in France and the Soviet Union. Without suitable armaments, these fortresses could pose insurmountable obstacles for the German forces.

Recalling the massive train guns used against the formidable Soviet fortresses on the Crimean Peninsula, Akado lamented their absence, which could potentially turn these fortified locations into graveyards for German troops. Although not a military enthusiast in his previous life, Akado was conversant with iconic military hardware like the T34 tank and the battleship Bismarck. However, when it came to more obscure references like the Kwk30l/55ausf—a German 20mm shell code—he was at a loss.

His knowledge of siege weaponry was based on World War II-era train guns and the ground-penetrating bombs used during the Gulf War. With the development of ground-penetrating weapons ruled out for the German Air Force, Akado was forced to brainstorm other methods of fortress neutralization in his office.

Ultimately, he and his technical advisors devised two alternatives. The first was to employ heavy bombs to demolish the fortresses, prompting him to commission the development of massive 3-ton aviation bombs for future Air Force heavy bombers. The second strategy involved using incendiary weapons to clear enemy personnel from fortifications. Akado planned to utilize napalm bombs, which would effectively empty the fortresses of enemy troops.

After thorough deliberation with Air Force experts, it was decided to prioritize the development of napalm bombs, considering that Germany's four-engine heavy bombers were still in the experimental stage. Opting for an immature special weapon for an untested aircraft seemed imprudent.

Recently, following a suggestion from the head of state, Germany's leading chemical company succeeded in developing a new type of incendiary weapon, which the head of state named the napalm bomb. This devastating weapon, composed of polystyrene mixed with gasoline, was designed to stick to targets and burn intensely. The napalm, upon explosion, adhered like lard paste, making it extremely difficult to extinguish. Attempts to smother the flames by hand only intensified the fire, while rolling on the ground to douse it risked spreading the fire across the body.

A chemistry expert in the laboratory advised Akado that, for humanitarian reasons, it might be kindest to end the sufferer's agony with a gunshot, as death was a merciful release for victims of napalm. The German-designed napalm bombs also incorporated white phosphorus, which, upon contact with skin, could cause severe burns and potentially fatal blood poisoning through wounds.

Another perilous effect of these incendiary bombs was their ability to rapidly deplete oxygen in the vicinity, producing lethal amounts of carbon monoxide and causing asphyxiation—a common occurrence with such weapons.

Equipped with this formidable new weapon and the proven effectiveness of the Stuka dive bombers, Akado felt confident in the German military's ability to breach enemy fortifications. With these powerful tools at their disposal, German commanders were now fully prepared to penetrate the defenses of their adversaries at a moment's notice.