Chapter 76

End (1)

Defeat.

But defeat does not necessarily mean destruction.

At least, that was what the upper echelons of the Empire believed.

Austria-Hungary attempted to transform itself into a multiethnic federal state.

But there was not a single nation left that still wished to live under this relic of a bygone era.

Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia—even the Germans, the empire’s ruling people, each rejected the emperor in turn, and like a bursting balloon, the once-glorious empire was torn to pieces.

The Ottoman Turks fared even worse. After suffering defeat in multiple places, they signed a humiliating separate armistice.

Even as its allied nations collapsed one after another, Germany—the center of Europe—still showed confidence that it would never fall like those petty states.

“As Kaiser of the Empire, I take responsibility for failing to properly lead the nation. I will dissolve the existing Imperial Parliament and entrust governance to a new assembly.”

“Long live the Empire!”

“Long live democracy!!”

Of course, this transition to a constitutional monarchy was part of a plan devised by Ludendorff, a faction of military elites, and the Kaiser himself.

After roughly handing power over to that semi-treacherous rabble, the Kaiser fled to the General Headquarters in Belgium to more firmly secure control over the army—the true pillar of the Empire he trusted above all else.

Even then, the Kaiser’s faction believed the matter was settled with a simple, “We’ve taken responsibility this much—satisfied? Now you reds try running things.”

But the leadership of the enemy nations, who had risked their lives fighting for years, thought very differently.

“Those bastards are disguising themselves again.”

“A mere constitutional monarchy? What a joke. Planning to restore the throne later?”

“This is not a negotiation, but a set of preconditions for negotiations: withdrawal of German forces from all illegally occupied territories, cessation of all submarine operations, and the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II!”

Germany, upon hearing these terms, was thrown into turmoil, and Ludendorff—as always—naturally responded with, “Go to hell.”

But now, the situation had changed.

Ludendorff was no longer the real power of the Empire.

Cornered even within Germany due to his reckless words and actions, he finally fled in disguise with forged identification, escaping to Sweden in disgrace.

“Just you wait! You fools who rejected my advice! And you weak Kaiser! Your empire has little time left! Within half a month, there will be no Empire and no Kaiser left in Germany!!”

His curse came true in a way that was almost absurd.

The collapse of the German Empire happened in an instant, like falling dominoes.

“Gentlemen, defeat is now unavoidable. However! The proud Imperial Navy cannot simply sit in port and accept defeat like this!”

“What are you even saying? Feed us first.”

“For the glory of the Empire! Let us gather our remaining strength and rain fire upon the British! Forward, sons of Germany!”

“You lunatics—if you want to die, go die by yourselves!!”

“Keep your mass suicide to yourselves!”

When they were ordered to sortie on what was essentially a suicidal mission, the sailors of the German Navy did not obediently sail toward the British—they mutinied.

The flames of rebellion only grew stronger, and the masses—who had endured for years on scraps while waiting for victory—joined forces with socialists and poured into the streets.

At last, the rebellion that began at the naval base in Kiel spread like wildfire across all of Germany.

Not a single Allied soldier crossed the German border.

Before their boots could even touch enemy soil, the Empire—already at its limit—was crumbling like a sandcastle.

More precisely, a nation that should have long since collapsed after exhausting all its national strength had somehow endured through absurd administrative efficiency, scraping together even the last turnip and the last pair of shoes within its borders—only to finally run out of its last reserves.

“End the war!”

“The Kaiser must take responsibility!!”

“We want bread!!”

A massive wave rising from the northern edge of the Empire.

Citizens, filled with rage, pouring into the streets.

Like a body burning itself to ashes by drawing upon its very life force, the Empire crumbled from head to toe into dust.

The final twilight of an empire that once dominated an era was miserable and horrifying.

***

“What on earth is happening?”

“A communist revolution has broken out in Germany! The mobs and reds are trying to establish a communist state!”

Even the American forces, who had finally reached Sedan after a desperate struggle that turned the Meuse-Argonne into a river of blood,

And the Anglo-French forces, who were finally reclaiming the vast German-occupied territories across Belgium and France—

All were left in shock at the news of the Empire collapsing beyond the border.

In the Kingdom of Bavaria, once part of the German Empire, a communist revolution erupted. Armed reds declared the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a new communist state.

In Berlin, the imperial capital, the Spartacus League led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht marched proudly, waving red flags.

It was a nightmare.

Following the fall of the Russian Empire, another autocratic empire was collapsing, and in its place, a massive nightmare—a communist state—was rising.

“Shouldn’t we stop that?”

“And how exactly do you propose we do that?”

“Even if it’s rotten, isn’t it better to keep Germany barely alive to prevent it from turning red?”

“Our France, trampled for years, will surely extract the price of this blood—no matter what it takes!”

Even while retreating from occupied territories, the German army did not withdraw quietly.

They fled while blowing things up, setting fires—even deploying poison gas.

Even the most peace-loving Frenchman could not suppress the urge to tear Germany apart.

France’s absolute objective, after years of being trampled, was to break Germany into dozens, hundreds of pieces—so it could never again cause trouble.

But the British Empire, which held a strong share among the victors, and the rapidly rising United States, expanding its influence, thought very differently.

“Wipe Germany off the map? Not a chance.”

“France still thinks Richelieu is their leader, it seems.”

Originally, Britain and France were not close.

In fact, they were more like bitter enemies.

Because Germany had grown so rapidly, the others had been alarmed and joined hands for mutual benefit—but now, wasn’t that Germany finished?

From Britain’s perspective, Germany had to continue to exist.

It needed to remain beside France, constantly unsettling it.

The Americans had no intention of fully supporting Britain’s continental strategy, but neither did they intend to sit back and watch communists sweep across Europe.

“If we make demands that are too unreasonable, a second communist state could emerge in Germany.”

“Shouldn’t we at least leave the Germans enough strength to crush the reds themselves?”

If there was one thing all Americans shared—politicians, bureaucrats, capitalists, and soldiers alike—

It was this:

“You deal with the reds by beating them first.”

Even within their own country, communists were already stirring up trouble.

Russia was one thing—after all, it was a backward, unenlightened wasteland.

But Germany was completely different.

They could not tolerate red influence seeping into what would become one of their greatest markets for selling goods.

When the German armistice delegation met Foch in the Compiègne Forest near Paris—

“These are the terms of the armistice.”

“This… this is far too excessive!”

“What are you talking about? Let me repeat—this has nothing to do with peace negotiations. Now that Sedan has fallen, you know quite well that even returning home won’t be easy for you. Decide before France’s sons, blinded by vengeance, cross the border. I’ll give you 72 hours. You vile invaders.”

The terms presented for the armistice left the German delegation speechless.

The surrender and transfer of various heavy weapons, trucks, trains, and artillery.

The surrender and transfer of nearly all surface vessels and submarines.

Acceptance of the Allied naval blockade during the armistice period.

Immediate withdrawal from Alsace-Lorraine and occupied territories in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, along with the release of all detained civilians and prisoners.

Permission for Allied forces to occupy German territory, with Germany bearing the costs.

Complete nullification of peace treaties signed with countries such as Russia.

“Th-this is—!”

“If you don’t like it, walk away. Honestly, I’d prefer it if you refused to sign. Please—just go back.”

I want to kill them all.

Seeing that clear, transparent hatred in Foch’s eyes, the German delegation could do nothing but request a few days to seek approval from their homeland.

***

What a mess.

Wasn’t there a saying about how chaotic and bizarre the world can be?

For the past few days, I’d been lounging back in a chair, sipping coffee, watching Germany collapse—it was quite a spectacle.

Who could have imagined that the Kaiser, who once commanded the world with thunderous authority, would abdicate in such a miserable way?

Perhaps he believed he could maintain his throne through military power—abandoning his own capital and scurrying off to the Supreme Headquarters in Belgium. In the end, he became someone who could never return to Germany again.

And the very first thing the new democratic Germany did after driving out the Kaiser was, of course, to sign the armistice.

November 4th.

At last, the armistice was concluded.

The moment the news spread, soldiers burst out of their barracks, shouting cheers at the top of their lungs.

“We’re going home!!”

“We won!!”

But I could only watch them with pity.

Sorry—but you’re not going home.

“What are we going to do about the soldiers?”

“Uh… don’t they all know? That we still have to maintain the occupied territories?”

“You know something I’ve realized lately? Our troops are… much more ignorant than we think.”

I’d bet five dollars that more than half of them can’t even tell the difference between an armistice and a peace treaty. Seriously.

In our unit, at least, there are quite a few educated volunteers—men who’ve studied enough to care about expanding rights for Black people—so maybe only half are clueless. In other units, I’d wager it’s closer to 80 percent.

More accurately, though, they probably just don’t want to accept the truth that they can’t go home yet.

“Give them a clear fact check. Tell them to drop the false hopes.”

“They’re going to be really disappointed. What do we do?”

“Make them grateful they don’t have to risk their lives charging machine gun nests anymore.”

Yeah—soldiers should be thankful they’re not going to die.

Now the most important things were managing the troops properly, making sure they wore masks, immediately evacuating anyone who started coughing… in other words, preventing accidents.

At least here, there’s no one desperately trying to get themselves transferred to the water unit, no one whining to avoid training, no one pulling the “my distant relative is a general” card just to slack off. Wow, managing this unit is ridiculously easy.

There’s something I need to do once the war ends.

I haven’t forgotten.

Without delay, I ran to send a telegram—

A modest request across the Atlantic.

—To Chairman Ford, who will soon be showered with money.

Please send me a division’s worth of lawyers and accountants.

I will never forgive those Jerries for stealing my barbed wire patent!