Airfield outside Vienna
December 31st, 1925
As the plane circled over Vienna and made its final approach, Sänger almost felt sleep overwhelming him. The last few days had not been very generous to him - and neither had the press.
Berliner Zeitung
Conservative politicians decry Chancellor's plans
In a rally today held at the headquarters of the Deutsche Konservative Partei (DKP), Alfred Hugenberg decried Chancellor's Sängers politics as disastrous and un-german. "Considering the impact upon Society, it is time we stop looking at other nations and ethnicities and put Germany and Germans first. There is no doubt that the Chancellor has led Germany to a great victory, but this victory was not gained by the Chancellor - it was gained by German soldiers under the command of our great leader, our beloved Kaiser, His Imperial Majesty Wilhelm II." Hugenberg then went on to critizise the policy of rapproachment with Great Britain and the generous treatment of the former dutch citizens as "folly", noting that those nations were and will continue to be enemies of the German State. He also went on to add that the Nordic Empire and Poland were "filled with degenerates".
Hugenberg or Hindenburg?
Alfred Hugenberg
Paul von Hindenburg
Graf Kuno von Westarp, the leader of the DKP, today declared that he would not seek the parties candidacy for the Chancellery, thereby leaving the field open for the two other contenders. Though von Hindenburg has not declared his intentions of running, his name has often come up. Both candidates would offer a strong challenge to the Chancellor. If Hindenburg would run, he would instantly gain support of the military and of the industrial complex. Hugenberg on the other hand controls most of German media, thereby leaving him with an especially strong foothold on the public opinion....
I'll say, Sänger thought. Already papers close to Hugenberg had started on a full-time character assassination.
Der Tag
Reichskanzler Sänger - a communist sympathizer.
It is well known that Sänger has close ties with several high Soviet officials and was the driving force behind an advantageous trade deal with the Soviets. But new documents show that during his studies abroad, the Reichskanzler came in contact with Leninist students even before the Soviet Union was even established. Read more on page....
Deutsche Zeitung
Reichskanzler Sänger - a hypocrite of the highest order
Reichskanzler Sänger has always declined to wear order ingsignia in public, citing hanseatic tradition. However, he quite proudly accepts them and displays them inside the Reichskanzlei. He also declined to accept board memberships of any company. Yet we have found out that a large number of shares are held by the Chancellors relatives, especially his father and his younger brother and sister. His brother is also a captain in the fleet of the Norddeutscher Loyd, a company that received the contract for owning and operating the new ship of state of the Kingdom of Belgium.
Berliner Lokalanzeiger
The Kanzler's harem
Knowing Sänger and his moral corruption, it is no surprise that the most beautiful girls are today found in the direct employ of the Reichskanzler, serving as his "secretaries". In fact, it was found out by investigative reporters that the Reichskanzler placed great emphasis in recruiting even more young girls, doubling the size of the secretarial pool. One of the selection criteria was that the candidates had to have no attachments, thereby making them even more succeptible to Sänger's dubious charms. As if that was not damning enough, it has further come to our attention that a pool of at least three secretaries always follows the Reichskanzler on "business trips" and that the secretaries are the only ones having direct access to the Kanzler, who has never been married. It is now time to chase the old Bluebeard out of office and stop this deprevation. Young girls of Germany, do not be fooled by the Lustmolch any longer.
Sänger frowned and tossed the papers aside. The first story was an exaggeration of the highest order - he had attended one philosophical discussion about Lenin when he had studied in Constantinople. As for the second one, it was a collection of circumstantial facts cobbled together to give the appearance of inpropriety. And the third - well, it spoke for itself.
The left end of the spectrum was hardly any better.
Der Arbeiter
Hermann Müller designated candidate
Hermann Müller has been designated the candidate of both the Social Democratic Party and the Dutch Socialists, uniting the two greatest left-leaning factions and uniting a voter potential of 35-55% behind him. The choice of the more centrist leaning Müller has been called a great coup by political analysts, as his more centrist politics are projected to attract more voters. Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg, the leftist candidates, pledged their support to Müller despite disagreements of the past, proclaiming that this would be the hour of the social democrats and that the time for change was now.
Müller decries Sänger as warmonger
Hermann Müller has declared that while the domestic policies of the Reichskanzler are laudable, the foreign policy record of the Chancellor speaks of a sign of Machiavelli. He said that while rapproachment with Great Britain and France was laudable, the unprovoked aggression against the Dutch was the sign of a paranoid man, a man unable to trust his neighbours. Müller added to thunderous applause: "We have now entered a new age - and neither Sänger nor the conservatives are the right people for the job. We need change, and change we shall have."
Lovely, Sänger thought. Then, with a slight bump, the aircraft landed and Sänger and his entourage piled into cars. While the car was driven through the city, fireworks were being launched and Hans turned to the Reichskanzler with a smile. "Happy New Year, Herr Kanzler".
Vienna
Hotel Imperial, balcony
Next Morning
Sänger stood in the somewhat chilly ear and finished his speech. Non-surprisingly, Vienna had turned out en Masse, the place being filled to capacity and his speech being broadcast over all parts of the German Empire. This was supposed to be the crowning moment of his career - and although the emperor had declined to attend, Sänger was nevertheless proud of it.
".....over ten years ago explosions ripped through the Musikverein. The devestation was enormous. This cowardly act claimed many lives of those we held dear." Sänger paused for a moment, forcing himself to continue despite the memories threatening to overwhelm him.
"With one stroke, the Austrian Empire lost its beloved Emperor Franz Joseph and many other distinguished men and women. The German Empire lost its crown prince and its beloved Empress. I think I speak for all of us that this day was the darkest one in Austro-Hungarian history. The lives lost can never be replaced. We shall always honour their memory."
The crowd remained silent, captivated as each relieved their memories of that dreadful day.
"But while we honour the dead, we shall not forget to live our own lives. For those who were lost would not wish for ourselves to be lost. In the ten years since the massacre, Germany, Austria and Hungary have become one and we shall never forget that this unity was paid for in blood. It is a holy unity, one which we shall not sacrifice. There are those who would say that we should forgo that unity. I ask those whether they want the honoured dead to have died in vain and I promise that to my dying breath, I will fight to preserve that unity."
While the crowd applauded, Sänger took a sip of water before continuing. "Since the conclusion of the terrible war, every single citizen has done his utmost to ensure that no such massacre may ever happen again and that the damage done will be repaired. Today I can proudly say that the Austrian, Hungarian and Italian parts of the German Empire have finished the long and ardous task of reconstruction and modernization. Today, Prussians, Austrians, Hungarians and Italians can stand shoulder to shoulder. I shall also pledge that I will do my utmost to ensure that the same privileges will be extended to our new dutch and belgian citizens. Never before have we enjoyed such prosperity and security. We shall not surrender it, instead we shall expand it. We shall not sacrifice our unity, but instead strive for an even greater union. We shall not highlight the differences, but focus on that which binds us together. It shall not matter if you were born in Vienna or Berlin, for we are of the same blood and same heritage. Our history is a proud one, an unbroken record of success. Fellow citizens, let us continue on that path - the path of progress, of prosperity, of unity and friendship. I thank the great city of Vienna for receiving me so kindly. A piece of my heart shall always remain here."
Under thunderous applause, the Reichskanzler shook the hand of the Bürgermeister and that of the Kardinal of Vienna before retreating.
Vienna, the streets
As the Reichskanzlers car slowly drove through the cheering crown, Sänger took a look at the Musikverein building. It's renovation was finished and from the outside, the building looked at beautiful as ever. Clutching the bouquet of white Roses and Clove Pinks, he remembered how it had looked after the massacre - a burned-out skeleton, the plaza before it filled with dead bodies and body parts - and blood colouring the snow read.
After a short while, a mounted police escort cordoned off the car, giving the Chancellor more privacy as the car neared the Zentralfriedhof. Hans watched as with heavy strides, the Chancellor strode towards the rear section of it. As with every visit to Vienna, Sänger stopped before a modest yet elegant grave and laid the flowers to it. He remained silent for a long time and it was not until two hourse later when he bent forward and kissed the headstone. Then he turned and left, Hans following at a respectful distance. No words were spoken, for none were necessary.
The headstone remained behind and if anyone had passed it at that moment, he would have seen the inscription upon it.
Julia Theodora Weidling
02.08.1886-01.01.1915
Omnia vincit Amor, et nos cedamus Amori
Vienna
Opernhaus
The same evening
The city of Vienna had decided to throw a great ball both to celebrate the New Year and the completion of the Reconstruction efforts. And while Sänger was not in a mood to dance, the political reality had forced him to attend - after all, snubbing Vienna was not a good idea. And so the ball had started, though Sänger had stopped dancing after an obligatory dance at the start with the wife of the Bürgermeister. Truth to be told, he did not particularly enjoy dancing anymore - not that he was never a great dancer in the first place. He never would have gotten through all those diplomatic dances if Julia had not been there. Thinking of the tricks she had employed to hide his deficiencies at dancing made him smile - a smile that was bittersweet and soon disappeared from his face.
Looking across the room, he tried to hide his boredom. Vienna had turned out in style of course, it was Vienna after all. There also was a large number of Russian nobility in attendance - something that was to be expected, Sänger mused. After the massacre, most of the aristocracy of the Austro-Hungarian empire had been wiped out and many more had been killed in the chaos when the state had disintegrated. The state had therefore become the owner of a great many holdings and estates, which were quite expensive to maintain. In a way, the Russian revolution had taken care of that - after Sänger had formulated a deal which allowed the wealthy Russians and nobles to leave Russia with their possessions, a lot of them had purchased the holdings as the state was quite happy to get rid of them and the Russian nobles needed places they found acceptable. This in turn was now responsible for the Russians composing quite a large faction in attendance, but they stayed far away from Sänger and Sänger was quite content to leave them alone. After all, they were political enemies.
Sänger scanned the room once more and took a sip from his glass of wine when he heard a familiar laughter. Turning his head once more, he noticed the Countess Volkonskaya joking with some lady friends of hers. At that time, she turned and looked at him, smiling.
The countess being the one smiling.
Sänger nodded a greeting, then realized that it would not be enough as she had caught him staring. Sighing, he stood up and made his way over to her, bowing. "Countess, Myladies." The woman smiled and replied with a short curtsy. "Herr Kanzler. Allow me to introduce my friends, the Princess Aleksandra and Fräulein von Eggenberg." The two dark-haired women curtsied in turn to Sänger, who replied with a bow before countinuing to address the countess. "My condolences for your loss, Countess." Her mother had passed away a few weeks before, which was also the reason why Sänger now addressed her with Countess instead of Mylady. "Your note was much appreciated, Herr Kanzler." Nodding, Sänger was about to bid her farewell when he noticed that immediately turning away would look as if he could not stand her company. So he continued with some small talk. "If you do not mind me asking, Countess, what brings you to Vienna? I would have thought you would be in Berlin."
The Countess smiled. "And you would be correct, Herr Doktor. However, my father" - the countess pointed at a large man with enormous whiskers surrounding a heavyset face - "has just purchased a Summer house near Vienna. We visited it a few days ago to conclude the deal and some friends invited us to stay until New Year." Sänger smiled in return. "Indeed a most valid reason, Countess. What property did you buym unless you would consider the question too forward?" The young woman laughed. "Of course not. My father purchased a lovely countryhouse. It is the most lovely house, with two stories and a great garden. You would love it, I am sure. Oh, you must visit it sometime."
The joy of the young women was contagious and Sänger found a grin breaking out on his face. Until she added: "It was even sold by a merchant from your hometown of Bremen - a Mr. Weidling. Do you know him per chance?"
Sänger felt the blood draining from his face and nodded. "Yes. Yes I do." He made a short bow. "If you would excuse me, Countess, Myladies."
Balcony
Sänger removed his collar and breathed in the dark, rich Vienna air. After he had steadied himself, he fixed his collar and was about to return when he almost collided with the Countess, whose brow was now worried. "My apologies, Chancellor. Did I insult you?" Sänger forced himself to smile. "No, you did not. You are not at fault." "But something I did must have caused you to retreat so quickly...Herr Kanzler, was it the house?"
Sänger smiled grimly. "It was nothing that you did. Do not worry about it." "But the mention of house upset you. Did you know it?"
Sänger twitched before regaining control over his body, his hands gripping the rails tightly. Oh yes, he knew the countryhouse well - after all, he had lived in it for the greater part of a year. "Yes. Yes, I do know that house."
Seeing that talking about it caused him distress, the Countess decided that she had invaded the privacy of the Reichskanzler enough already. Biting her lip, she turned to leave when his voice caught up with her. "I lived in that house for six months. It belonged to a very dear friend of mine." She stopped and joined Sänger.
Sänger briefly considered not continuing on, but then decided to tell her what besides her only Hans knew. "Julia and I had been inseperable since our childhood. She was the daughter of one of our neighbours. When I had completed my military service in 1904, her family's house burned down, killing all but her. When I started studying in Münster, she followed me, trying to escape Bremen and the attention that she received from people who only saw her as the victim of a tragedy. Since then, we always travelled together. She and I then went to Berlin, Barcelona, Oxford, Constantinople, her always studying with me. I did not propose to her - after all, I did not have the means to support a family and while she was the heiress to a small fortune, living off her money was not something I wanted to do. Nevertheless, we had an agreement that as soon as I would find gainful employ, we would indeed marry. In March 1914 I joined the diplomatic service and was posted to Vienna in June. She used her money to purchase a beautiful house in the country and I did propose to her on her birthday in November."
Sänger stopped, obviously overwhelmed. The countess reached out and touched his arm, willing him to go on. After a small pause, he did. "The ceremony was scheduled for January 15th, 1915. Two weeks before that, the Kaiser visited Vienna for a concert on New Years Eve and as a member of the diplomatic corps, I had to attend." Sänger shuddered as the memories came back. "When the first bomb detonated, we were lucky - we were close enough to the exit to get out. Then the second bomb detonated, sending a metal splinter into the back of her head, instantly killing her."
After a long pause, Sänger continued. "I then threw myself into my work and in 1915 I joined a delegation to Russia, leaving Vienna behind. As the house was in her name and we were not married yet, it fell to a distant relative of hers, me neither having the money nor wishing to keep it any longer. The house which your father just purchased."
After a short pause, Sänger felt the countess shudder and turning to her, saw tears running from her eyes. He immediately handed his handkerchief over to her. "I am most sorry, Countess, I seem to have ruined your evening." Dabbing at her eyes, the countess shook her head. "That is quite alright." Returning the handkerchief, she proposed "If you like, I can ask my father to sell it to you." Sänger considered the offer before shaking his head. "That is most kind, Countess, but I have to decline."
The Countess nodded. Wishing to change the topic to a more joyous subject-matter, the Reichskanzler asked: "I hear your brothers will be coming home soon." "Yes, they will." The girl smiled. With the war in Manchuria being almost guaranteed to be over due to the recent peace talks, the foreign volunteers would be returning home soon. "I am looking forward to see Wanja and Piotr again after that long time." Sänger chuckled, remembering the hot-headed young men. "I just hope he does not stick a pistol in my face again." To his immense relief, the countess laughed, her clear laughter rolling over him and lifting his spirits as well.
Sänger smiled. "Now, my dear, I fear it is high time you return to the ball. Otherwise your father will be coming looking for ýou and to be honest, I rather have enough troubles with his friends in the Reichstag already." The girl nodded. "I understand. How goes the campaign? The papers are full of contradicting things most vile..." The Reichskanzler nodded grimly. "To be honest, it is not looking so good. I am beeing squeezed very hard on both ends of the spectrum, with both the left and the right being quite content to hammer me instead of each other for a change. But to be honest, this is a lot of very depressing talk and I think we both had our fill of that already. I'll accompany you back to the ballroom, if you would like that."
The countess nodded and took his arm. As they almost reached the ballroom, they heard laughter and music coming from it. The orchestra started to play the
Kaiserwalzer and the countess stopped, biting her lip. Seeing her hesitate, Sänger stopped and waited for her to clear her mind. Then, she asked: "Will you dance with me?" Sänger frowned, not having expected that. Seeing him frown, the young woman almost immediately apologized. "Oh, I am so sorry. That was very tactless of me. Of course, you have no intention of dancing with me, not after that talk we had..." Sänger held up a hand to stop her from babbling. "It is not that I wouldn't dance with you - I just don't dance. At all. I try to avoid it whenever possible."
"Oh." She laughed. "But I do love Music. And Furtwängler will start the season in Berlin on January 10th. If you would care to trade a dance for the Berlin Philharmonic..." Sänger trailed off. She nodded. "I accept." Sänger smiled. "I shall see you then. I now must bid you goodbye, Countess. I have a night train to Salzburg waiting for me."
Results:
- huuge amount of fluff written, storylines step forward
- an insight into Sänger's past
- candidates for the election are revealed and a short glance at their programmes
- Election date is January 20th
- As approved by the mods, the reconstruction and modernization of Austria is complete, putting the parts of Germany, Austria, Hungary and northern Italy at a 5 economy and infrastructure. The Dutch parts will not receive any bonus as their reconstruction is still ongoing and will be for several years.
