Putting out the fire

"Stand up!" The officer in charge bellowed as he spotted a sleek car gliding through the gates of the barracks. His command echoed sharply, "Salute!" Instantly, a chorus of arms shot up, creating a subtle rustling sound that underscored the gravity of the moment. The car came to a slow halt amidst this imposing display. As the door swung open, the first thing to emerge was a pair of meticulously polished leather boots. Major General Wagner, the commander of the 22nd Division, approached the vehicle and gave a respectful nod to its occupant, "Thank you for the information. All officers and men of the 22nd Division welcome you to Munich, Colonel Akado Rudolph."

Colonel Akado stepped out, his uniform immaculate. He adjusted his gloves meticulously, each finger snug in its place, before brushing off imaginary dust from his trousers. A young soldier, observing from nearby, couldn't help but marvel at Akado's commanding presence, thinking to himself, "One day, I want to be just like him!"

"Long live the Great German Reich!" General Wagner whispered to Akado, his voice filled with reverence. "As the party head in the Munich area, I welcome you, Chairman."

Akado nodded in satisfaction. "Assemble the troops immediately and arm every block according to this plan! I want to ensure stability in Munich!"

"Yes, sir!" Wagner saluted sharply. "I will execute the order."

"It's hard work," Akado acknowledged, clapping Wagner on the shoulder. "You're doing a good job."

Major General Wagner, a close friend of industrial magnate Gustav Krupp, had risen through the ranks from Colonel to Major General of the Army, thanks in part to Akado's recommendation to Hindenburg. Now a pivotal figure in the Grand German Party, Wagner was a staunch supporter of Akado. Receiving praise from his leader, albeit of a lower rank, filled Wagner with a mix of pride and excitement. He held immense respect for Akado, recognized across the National Defense Force as a pioneer of new tactics and an expert in armored warfare.

"Prepare!" Wagner commanded, signaling to an officer behind him, who then bellowed, "Load all weapons and ammunition! Level one alert!" The parade ground soon filled with the clatter of gun bolts and the rhythmic thumping of boots on the ground.

Akado stood by the car as soldiers swiftly lined up and trucks bearing the distinctive blue and white round logo of BMW began to move. Over forty soldiers mounted motorcycles, engines revving in anticipation. Akado gave Wagner a nod and slipped back into the car. The vehicle, piloted by his driver Geer, began to inch forward. The motorcyclists encircled Akado's car, forming a protective convoy, followed by four of the latest wheeled armored vehicles from the Krupp factory, and an endless stream of trucks.

Inside the car, Akado allowed himself a moment of rest, his eyes briefly closing. Just hours before, his confidant Gaskol had relayed crucial information to General Hickett, who had then summoned Akado to his office.

"I know you are acquainted with Adolf Hitler, and you communicated frequently last year," Hickett had begun, his tone suggesting he had finally caught Akado in a compromising position. "I want to know what his recent activities in Munich have to do with you, Colonel Akado."

"I am not affiliated with him, General," Akado had replied coolly. "If necessary, I can handle him personally."

"What a relief to hear that from a brave colonel of the Wehrmacht!" Hickett had responded, a smirk playing on his lips. "It just so happens that the Bavarian capital is currently hosting two units you're quite familiar with—the transport battalion and your newly formed 22nd Division."

"I can begin immediately," Akado had stated, standing tall.

"You'll fly directly from the airport on the outskirts of Berlin. The aircraft are already waiting," Hickett had informed him, dismissing Akado with a wave, signaling the end of their conversation.

Back in the present, the car jostled slightly as it navigated the streets of Munich, the cityscape coming into view through the windows. The convoy's passage halted pedestrians, who watched in awe or apprehension as IDF soldiers swiftly disembarked from trucks, setting up barricades and unspooling barbed wire at strategic intersections.

Inside the car, Geer turned to Akado, "Colonel, what about the Fokker fighters General Hickett mentioned?" During a crisis in the Ruhr industrial area, Germany had secretly acquired 100 advanced Fokker monoplane fighters, capable of speeds over 171 miles per hour. Unfortunately, logistical issues had prevented their deployment, turning them into a proverbial hot potato. Akado had managed to offload 50 of these to the Romanian government, desperate for modern aircraft, turning a tidy profit in the process. The remaining 50 were kept hidden by Hickett as a strategic reserve.

"Transfer those planes to the mountain bases," Akado directed after a moment's thought. "Replace the outdated biplanes there with these slightly newer models, and send the old biplanes to the Soviet Union for use in their air force training schools."

As the car slowed to a stop, a soldier on a motorcycle reported loudly through the window, "Colonel, the riot crowd is about two streets ahead. Our soldiers are setting up barriers at this intersection!"

"The battle begins," Akado stated calmly.

Behind his car, a dozen soldiers with scoped rifles disembarked from a truck. They sprinted towards nearby buildings, using their rifle butts to force entry, their movements eliciting shouts and curses from within. Soon, the dark muzzles of rifles poked silently through windows and behind curtains, ready for action.

Hitler, leading his riotous band, had initially felt fortunate when they easily bypassed a police blockade, thanks to Hermann Göring's audacious bluff about holding government officials hostage. However, their luck ran out when they encountered the IDF's formidable blockade at Munich's Opera Square. Two armored vehicles and a line of soldiers with rifles awaited them, the armored cars' heavy machine guns ominously trained on the rioters.

"Don't shoot!" one of Hitler's bodyguards cried out in panic. Hitler himself appeared flustered but tried to assert control by brandishing his revolver and invoking the name of the revered General Ludendorff.

"Surrender! Surrender!" the Nazis shouted, some red-faced and nearly hoarse from their cries. In stark contrast, the IDF soldiers remained silent, their expressions a mix of disdain and vigilance, as they awaited orders.

Stepping out of his car, Akado approached the chaotic scene. His presence caused a sudden hush among the Nazis. Hitler, pistol in hand, pointed it at Akado and demanded, "You come to stop me?"

"I'm saving you one last time," Akado replied coolly, his eyebrows slightly raised.

"To prove that you are right?" Hitler lowered his pistol, skepticism in his tone.

"No, Mr. Adolf, to prevent Germany from having an armed force other than the Wehrmacht," Akado clarified.

"You wouldn't dare arrest me!" Hitler retorted angrily.

"Try me," Akado challenged, turning back towards his troops. The air was thick with tension as he walked away, the moment stretching until he finally gave the order.

"Fire!"

The sound of gunfire erupted, punctuating the charged atmosphere and marking the beginning of a decisive confrontation.

The snipers positioned in the buildings on both sides opened fire after a brief pause. They had been explicitly ordered not to target Hitler, a directive issued by Akado himself. Akado's decision wasn't born out of compassion. Just as Hitler had previously refrained from killing Akado in front of hundreds of IDF soldiers, Akado had his strategic reasons for sparing Hitler's life. He needed someone like Hitler to confront his adversaries within the National Defense Forces and to stir the murky political waters, enabling Akado to navigate these troubled waters more effectively. Despite the risks, Akado believed it was necessary to keep Hitler alive.

However, others were not as fortunate as Hitler. Air Force Marshal Hermann Göring, standing beside Hitler, was struck in the head by a sniper's bullet. As he collapsed, his legs twitched, his blood splattering Hitler and sending him into a state of shock. Sensing the imminent danger, Hitler ducked and scurried to the corner of a nearby building. Unfortunately, Schborner Richter, who was next to him, was less lucky, taking a bullet to the thigh and falling instantly. In his attempt to grab onto something for support, Richter inadvertently pulled on Hitler, causing Hitler's arm to dislocate. The intense pain overwhelmed Hitler, who, in a panic, dropped his pistol and fled the scene, leaving behind 3,000 Nazi party members in utter disarray. This lack of resistance allowed hundreds of IDF soldiers to easily disarm the Nazis, who knelt on the ground, hands raised, too afraid even to look up.

The chaos unfolded rapidly. As Hitler reached a car a short distance away, the driver quickly started the engine and drove off. Meanwhile, the body of Hermann Göring, still warm, lay twitching on the ground. Akado, unable to delay any longer, ordered his soldiers to head directly to the villa of Hanfsteinger, knowing that it was the only place Hitler would likely flee to. Akado was concerned that if Hitler spent too much time in hiding, historical events might not unfold as he was accustomed to them. He intended to manipulate events at a later stage, specifically during Operation Barbarossa, the battle against the Soviet Union, not now.

In the aftermath, 17 Nazis and 3 policemen lay dead, including the relatively unknown Nazi party member Hermann Göring. Hitler, now hiding in the villa of Hanfsteinger, contemplated suicide as IDF troops closed in but ultimately abandoned the idea. Arrested and handcuffed, Hitler was despondent and silent throughout the journey to detention. The trial of Hitler was not Akado's concern. He knew that despite the impending trial, Hitler and the Nazi party would eventually rise to power, which would then help dismantle the conservative political factions—an instance of using one's enemy to one's own advantage, even if it meant potential harm later on.

Seizing the moment, Akado traveled to the mountains of southern Germany to inspect a secret military base. He authorized the sale of 500 artillery pieces and 100,000 shells stored there, along with 50 outdated biplane fighters to China. This transaction did not involve cash; instead, all these arms were exchanged for rubber. The deal was discreetly facilitated through a transport line in the Soviet Union. Despite the high costs, this arrangement not only addressed Germany's rubber shortage but also evaded the watchful eyes of Britain and France, making the price worthwhile.

Jiang Jieshi, a new ally in China, endorsed the deal with Akado and helped establish a joint trading company in Guangzhou, controlled both by Germany and the Guangzhou Revolutionary Government. This company facilitated the export of rubber to Germany in exchange for artillery and shells. To support the growing secret expenses of the National Defense Forces, Akado even convinced President Hindenburg to sell the rights to a Chinese railway owned by a German company to the Chinese, with the profits used to purchase rubber from Myanmar and Malaysia.

Following these dealings, Akado did not return to Berlin but flew directly to the Ruhr industrial zone to visit the Krupp Weapon Factory. Gustav Krupp, having been informed of Akado's arrival, personally escorted him around his industrial empire. They then proceeded to the MAN company to check on the progress of a new tank model. Upon seeing the nearly completed "P-2 tank," Akado was thrilled. At his suggestion, the earlier "P-1 tank," still on the drawing board with inadequate armor and firepower and no space for radio equipment, had been scrapped. The P-2 tank, equipped with a 20 mm rapid-fire gun and a machine gun in a rotating turret, was a significant improvement over its French counterpart, the Renault tank. Its front armor was 15 mm thick, and it could be temporarily augmented with bolt-on plates as per Akado's specifications. Both designers and test drivers from the National Defense Forces were impressed and eager for mass production.

Despite financial and technical challenges slowing down the tank project, Krupp's artillery production was bustling, spurred by Akado's insights. The factory had begun using assembly lines for the standardized production of 88 mm caliber cannons, versatile enough to serve as anti-aircraft guns and, when necessary, as anti-tank flat-fire cannons, with occasional use of high-explosive shells for supportive firepower. Most parts of this artillery were interchangeable with those of the Navy's 88 mm guns, a design that allowed Krupp to economize by consolidating two factories and ten shell production lines. The outdated artillery production equipment was sold at a high price to the Red Army factories in the Soviet Union, which were in desperate need of bolstering their heavy industry.

Germany's imports of oil from Romania and the Soviet Union, along with a substantial outflow of real gold and silver from the National Defense Forces, worsened the country's foreign exchange reserves. Although Akado saw potential in many factories, their own developmental needs meant he could not divert more funds to support the National Defense Force's expansion. Moreover, due to secretive maneuvers by the Grand German Party and growing mistrust among some old World War I generals towards General Seekert, President Hindenburg decided to replace the commander of the Wehrmacht's 2nd Division, General Tchaiwicz, with Colonel Lutz, formerly of the Transport Battalion's Transport Battalion, which was now handed over to Akado's protégé, Major Goodrian. Colonel Lutz, promoted by Akado to the Directorate of the Transport Corps, effectively placed the 2nd, 15th, and 22nd Divisions under Akado's control.

However, in the subsequent IDF promotion list, while Colonel Lutz was promoted to major general, the nomination for Major General Akado, who had served longer than Lutz, was blocked. General Seekert, possibly out of personal resentment, used his influence within the National Defense Forces to thwart Akado's promotion. The cost of this obstruction was high for Seekert, who was compelled to approve the promotion of Colonel Lutz to the commander of the 2nd Division and reluctantly cede control of the new 3rd Division to Hindenburg.

Unexpectedly, Major General Lutz, immediately after his promotion, secretly joined the German Party, becoming one of only three generals in the party at that stage. However, not everything was going smoothly within the party. For the first time, a dissenting voice emerged. Dr. Einstein, opposing Akado's general policy of military expansion and preparation, wrote a letter expressing his concerns. He criticized Akado for "provoking war despite the hard-won peace conspiracy," prompting Akado to apologize to the esteemed scientist. Admitting to having misused the noble cause of science, Akado promised to cease using Einstein and other scientists for war expansion. He also facilitated Einstein's appointment as a professor at the University of Berlin and arranged for at least 20 Gestapo agents to monitor and protect him.

At the subsequent National Defense Forces Development Conference, Akado persuaded Hindenburg to approve the expansion of the Transport Department Directorate's transport battalion into Germany's first armored force, the 25th Armored Division. Heinz William Guderian, the most experienced and theoretically adept of Germany's armored soldiers, was promoted to lieutenant colonel and temporarily tasked with overseeing the expansion. Hindenburg, not particularly optimistic about the armored forces' prospects, approved Akado's proposal without much thought, and General Seekert, who had never believed in the potential of armored forces, did not oppose the decision. Thus, Germany's first armored force was officially established.