Berlin, Reichskanzlei
24th December, 1925
The newspapers had not been pleasant reading for Sänger over the last few days.
Berliner Zeitung
December 19th, 1925
The new face of the Navy
The German Navy will change dramatically in the future in order to keep up with the changing landscape of naval warfare. The first to experience such change will be the battleships. Under the new Naval plan, there will be a division into first and second rank battleships.
Schlachtschiffe ersten Ranges
The first rank battleships will form the main battleline. They are the destined battlewagons and the decisive force in battles.
The criteria for first rank battleships are:
- heavy deck armor, if possible at least 7"
- at least a 14" belt
- at least a range of 5000nm
- at least armed with 15" guns
- at least throwing a broadside in excess of 8000 kg or 18.000 pounds
- a maximum speed in excess of 21 knots
The German Navy regards any other battleship to be too weak to stand in the line of battle. All in all, the German Navy will have 25 Battleships fulfilling those criteria by April 1926 when the six Bismarck class battleships will have entered service, with two Imperator class battleships still being built. The German Navy is most satisfied with its battleline, though it recommends that construction is not slowed down in order to keep up with other Navies. Measuring the combined firepower, the German Navy is in possession of the heaviest battleline in the world.
Schlachtschiffe zweiten Ranges
Battleships not meeting the criteria outlined above will be classified as second-rank battleships. They will be assigned to colonial stations, Theaters that will not be dominated by Naval gun battles (i.e., the Baltic) or placed into reserve. Manpower will be the deciding issue here. Already, the four Nassau class battleships have been placed into reserve, with one serving as a training ship. The German Navy announced that it will continue to place older ships in reserve when the new Bismarck class enters the fleet, likely targets are either the Helgoland or the Delaware class battleships. In the event of a war, these ships will serve as convoy escorts or support troop landings. Their firepower and armor allows them to at least in theory defeat any of the large raiding cruisers fielded by other nations. All in all, the German Navy has 18 of those ships. The reclassification of many of the proud ships of the Hochseeflotte, especially the former Fleet flagship "Friedrich der Grosse", has caused some tremors in the officer lounges, who regard this as the fleet abandoning its tradition. However Großadmiral Scheer, who commanded the Friedrich der Grosse, noted that this did not mean that Germany would throw the ships away.
Schlachtkreuzer ersten Ranges
The first rank Battlecruisers will form the fast wing of the German battleline. Many nations treat these ships as fast battleships, but the German Navy still prefers the designation of Battlecruiser. As stated by the Marineamt, the criteria for being designated as a first rank battlecruiser will be:
- speed in excess of 30 knots
- an armored deck of at least 6"
- an armored belt of at least 15"
- a range of at least 5000nm
- throwing a broadside of at least 6500 kg or 14000 lbs
The German Navy seemed most dismayed to announce that only 5 of its current Battlecruiser force would meet those criteria. However, it noted that two Scharnhorst class Battlecruisers (OOC: Not the OTL Scharnhorst) are currently being built. Still, the German Navy recommend that funding would be increased in this category and noted that by the end of the decade, it would perfer to have at least 2, preferrably 3 squadrons of first rank Battlecruisers.
Schlachtkreuzer zweiten Ranges
All ships not meeting the criteria above will be reclassified as second-rank battlecruisers. This category will currently comprise 7 ships, but there are currently no plans to place them into reserve. The German Navy refused to answer questions whether it would use them as convoy defence (placing the number of convoys with battleship escort at 25 in a time of war only counting second-rank ships) or whether they would be reclassified as heavy cruisers or still sail with the first rank Battlecruiser for lack of ships in the first category.
Flugzeugträger ersten Ranges
The criteria for inclusion into this category are:
- an airwing of at least 48 planes
- a speed of at least 30 knots
The two Courageous class carriers currently in training meet those criteria, with two Lexington class carrier currently scheduled to be finished in 1927, which would mean a full squadron of first-rank carriers. However, the Navy announced that this would be another area in which more funds might be of use. Specifically, the commander of the Fleet carriers, Admiral Saalwächter, noted that while aircraft cannot threaten a heavy battleship at the moment, the future might hold important advantages in this category of weapon. The Navy also declined to answer the question where the aircraft carriers will be assigned to, though one prevalent opinion is, thanks to the high speed, to group them together with the battlecruisers, first rank.
Flugzeugträger zweiten Ranges
The SMS Restauration (OOC: OTL Hermes class), the third aircraft carrier captured by the dutch, is the sole inhabitant of this group. The German Navy pointed out that its speed of 25 knots and small airwing severely limits the abilities of this ship. It is therefore likely that it will either serve as a scouting/air defence role with the slow wing of the fleet, or that it will only serve in a training role.
Schwere Kreuzer
The Navy noted that the sale of 4 of its six heavy cruisers to Chiletina had left it lacking in heavy cruisers. Using the Delaware class battleships for that role is alleviating that problem, but the Navy noted that it looked forward to receiving the four new Ersatz Blücher heavy cruisers. The Navy refused to reveal the design specification of those new Heavy cruiser, but noted that they would be capable of taking on any other heavy cruiser design in existence. A confidential source however told us that the new heavy cruiser might be more accurately described as Battlecruisers due to their size and armament.
Leichte Kreuzer ersten Ranges
The criteria for inclusion into this category are:
- speed in excess of 31 knots
- at least a 6" side armor belt
- armed with at least 12 6" quickfiring and at least 4 torpedo tubes
- a range of at least 5000nm
Only the 12 Hamburg class light cruisers currently in service met those criteria. The Navy stressed the importance of building more light cruisers over the following years, stating that it was the top priority.
Leichte Kreuzer zweiten Ranges
The German Navy said that the 7 Köln class cruisers and the 2 Novaro class cruisers would be grouped in that category. Their low speed (in case of the Köln class) and their small armament (in case of the Novaro class) would make them suitable only for escorting convoys or the slow wing of the main battlefield. Nevertheless, they currently form the workhorses of the fleet.
Zerstörer
With the end of the destroyer building programme in April 1926 the German Navy will field 181 modern and 14 older destroyers, a modern destroyer being defined with having an excess speed of 32+ knots and being at least armed with 4.7" guns, though the vast majority of German destroyers is armed with 6" guns. The German Navy said that building destroyers in the future would be another priority, considering how the German Empire has to protect more sealanes and battlefleets than ever. The German Navy announced that it would like to field at least 320 modern destroyers by 1930.
Submarines
The German Navy was most pleased about the recent submarine building program, which would result in Germany fielding 164 submarines by July 1926. This is another area in which the German Navy expressed a desire for further expansion, but it noted that the training of 80 new crews had pushed the submarine arm to maximum capacity already and that no further expansion could be made without resulting to extraordinary measures until the end of 1926.
Minelayers and minesweepers
The German Navy announced that it had 10 dedicated minelayers and 45 dedicated minesweepers. The German Navy announced that it was looking forward to expand that number, but also noted that half of the current destroyer force could be configured to serve as minelayers within a few days, if need be. Still, the building of dedicated minelaying cruisers is under consideration, even though the submarine forces will soon field 24 minelaying submarines.
Fast attack craft
The Navy stressed the need of fast attack crafts, especially in the Baltic. Currently, the Navy does not have any dedicated fast attack squadrons.
Coastal defences
The Navy said that it was satisfied with the new coastal guns being built at German military bases, but stressed the importance of increasing the torpedo bomber and naval bomber fleet.
Auxillaries
The Navy said that its Auxillaries were in good condition and that the only area which would need more funding would be the troop transports. The ten Barbarossa class liners are now nearly all in their thirties and would need replacing, especially considering their comparatively slow speed of 20 knots maximum. Therefore, the Navy recommends either increasing liner construction or purchasing foreign-built ships. At the moment, two large ocean liners are already being built, but the Navy said that as those would be serving as ships of state of the Netherlands and Belgium, they would be not immediately available if needed.
Berliner Zeitung
December 20th, 1925
The needs of the Navy
Following up on yesterdays article, the navy today released a tentative funding proposal. Priorities would be allocated, in this order:
- the expansion of the light cruiser forces
- the construction of new battlecruisers
- the expansion of the naval air arm
- the consctruction of new aircraft carriers
- the construction of new destroyers
- the construction of new submarines
- the construction of new battleships
It is currently unknown whether the chancellor will acquiesce to that request. In any case, with reelection looming over the horizon, the Navy has certainly chosen its moment well.
Kiel and Stettin Naval bases to lose major functions?
A spokesmen for the Navy decided to comment on the possible relocation of the majority of the HSF to Wilhelmshaven, Antwerp or Rotterdam. Earlier today a source told the Berliner Zeitung that in order to minimize the risk of a surprise attack from the Nordic Empire, which is the only European Naval power left not allied with the German Empire or not having signed a non-aggression pact with it, the German Hochseeflotte would be primarily based at Wilhelmshaven or one of the two major Dutch naval bases. This would very well match information gained by the Berliner Zeitung earlier, which suggest that in the case of a Baltic war, the German Navy will enact a distant blockade outside the Baltic and leave most of the Baltic fighting to submarines, light forces and aircraft, with only a handful of battleships stationed at Kiel. The Chancellory however said that it has always been the policy of the German Empire to station at least two or three squadrons of Battleships at Kiel and that this policy would not change. The Chancellery also said that with the exception of the coastal H-class submarines, the German submarine forces will be based outside of the Baltic sea, with the majority of the forces stationed at Wilhelmshaven, Rotterdam and Antwerp. Stettin is also rumored to be the future command center of German fast-attack craft, which according to some rumors might be purchased from the italians.
Berliner Zeitung
December 21st, 1925
The army and the airforce also call for an increase in funding
Today, the army and the airforce called for an increase in funding as well, following the earlier actions of the Navy.
Both services however declined to comment on whether they had been successfully upstaged by the Navy. The airforce called for an additional 600 planes to join their forces over the next year. The Army called for increased motorization of its units, though unlike the Navy, did not demand an increase in manpower. Field Marshal von Mackensen cited that the German Army was large enough to defend the territories and too occupied with the integration of the dutch service personnel to expand over the next three years. He also said that the Army would not wish to appear too threatening to Germany's neighbours. When asked whether he was worried about the increased motorization of the armies neighbouring Germany, von Mackensen said that the German Army was strong enough for the needs of the empire and that so far, no enemy had ever defeated it in the field since 1815.
Sänger sighed, putting the papers away. Only von Mackensen had limited himself in his requests for more money. But he couldn't fault Scheer - after all, he was only trying to get the best for his service out of the election looming ahead. And he had been upright to come to Sänger first and tell him what he would do. And he had kept his word about making sure that the papers would write that a large part of the demands had already been met by Sänger.
Still, it was galling to see conservative politicians basically tripping over themselves in order to proclaim that they would all fulfill the demands of the three services and then some. The only upside was that at the moment, the Kaiser did not seem to favour any of them. The socialists were hardly better - their apparent frontrunners, the chairman of the party XXXXX, the favorite of the radical left, Karl Liebknecht or that young upstart Müller, had all basically said that they would welcome new work for the yards and factories, cleverly positioning themselves so that workers would hear that their jobs were secure and the armed forces would hear that while the socialists did not like weapons per se, they would look the other way in this instance.
By this the two parties had effectively forced Sänger either to say the same thing - thereby making sure that his opinion would not contrast enough with the others to be noticed - or to take a clear stand on this. So far, Sänger had managed to keep quiet until the Christmas holidays, but he would not be able to keep this up forever. And if he even wanted to have a snowball's chance in hell at trying to capture any conservative vote, he would have to make sure the armed forces would at least keep neutral in the upcoming election. And he did not like throwing money at the armament industry.
However, today had been a good day - the first one the whole month. He picked up todays paper, smiling as he read the headlines.
Berliner Zeitung
December 24th, 1925
First christmas for new citizens
Today, the families of the new Kingdoms of the Netherlands and Belgium received their free christmas goose from German authorities. This gift to the dutch people was organized by Reichskanzler Sänger to "make sure that our new citizens receive the blessing of being a member of the German Empire." Meat had previously been scarce under the communist government.
Reichskanzler Sänger addresses citizens
In a Radio and print address, Reichskanzler Dr. mult. Sänger today addressed the citizens of the German Empire. In a speech widely lauded by commentators both domestic and foreign, he summarized the events of this year and outlined his hopes for the next one. He specifically addressed the new dutch citizens, noting that while the war was terrible, the situation in the dutch territories has by all indicators much improved. The Reichskanzler added that prosperity would keep rising as long as the German Empire would be led by reasonable men.
Gran Columbia to buy German ships
The Chancellery announced yesterday that the Columbian leadership had accepted an offer by the Reichskanzler to buy German-designed ships. Under the terms of the agreement, german shipyards would built three battleships, with a fourth one being built under a licensing agreement in the shipyards of Gran Colombia. As usual, the design specifications were kept secret, but sources close to Krupp and Blohm&Voss said that the ships would be able to fit through the Panama canal and would be armed with 18" guns. Needless to say, all ships would be heavily armored according to the German design philosophy.
Germany and the socialist state of Gran Colombia have had close ties since the building of the Panama canal and the Chancellor announced that this was more proof that the German Empire was not hostile to any political ideology. He also noted that at least two of the ships would be built in yards in the Netherlands and Belgium, therefore ensuring that workers there would be secure in their jobs. The German companies of Blohm&Voss and Germaniawerft, Kiel, supplied the design and Krupp will produce the main armament, but the German shipyards are already filled to capacity with orders.
Reichskanzler Sänger to address citizens of Austria, Hungary and Northern Italy
As the reconstruction and modernization efforts in the aforementioned territories come to a close, the Chancellor has announced that he has accepted the invitations of more than twenty cities to speak at them regarding this momentous occasion. The reconstruction and modernization effort, started by the chancellor's predecessor von Baden after the war of 1915, were the largest public work projects in German history, but will likely be dwarfed in volume by similar projects in the newly added territories of the Netherlands and Belgium. The Reichskanzler will attend the New Year's celebration in Vienna and then proceed to go on a five-day plane trip to Graz, Salzburg, Budapest, Venice, Mailand and other cities.
Sänger smiled. The Emperor had been invited as well, but Wilhelm abhored planes and after the death of his wife and son had sworn never to go to Vienna gain. At least that would be one area in which the Emperor would not manage to upstage him. Imperial decorum prohibited Wilhelm from snubbing Sänger publicly, but it was no accident that Sänger lately found himself ignored by the Emperor who favored surrounding himself with Generals and Admirals and the conservative politicians of the hour. But remembering the Vienna Massacre, Sänger was not sure whether he would have the mettle to stand in the area where his fianceé had died again. But that was a problem for New Year's Eve.
He still faced the larger problem of how to win reelection without the support of the Emperor, which is why he had called Jakob Burchardt in. Burchardt was a ranking member of the national liberals and like Sänger, a Hanseat, though hailing from the city of Hamburg instead of Bremen. He was probably the only Reichstag delegate Sänger would call a friend. As his seat was safe, Burchardt was also one of the few that had come out in strong support for Sänger. Which is why he was now sitting opposite Sänger, sipping Cognac, having left the Chancellor to read the paper when they were on a break from the strategy planning session.
Sänger nodded and started the discussion over again. "Let us assume the worst. The National liberals - sans you, of course - will follow the conservative parties once the Emperor settles on a candidate. The socialist will not form up behind me." Burchardt followed up. "That means out of 163 million votes, you just lost Prussia, 1/2 to 2/3s of the dutch and probably the same in mainland Germany. In short, you can forget about 100 million votes right now." Sänger nodded. "Yes. That leaves me with the catholics in the Rhineland, the Hungarians, the Italians and the Austrians. And of course the hanseatic cities"
Burchardt smirked. "That assumes the socialist will not become the majority there. I know that only due to your popularity Bremen is not red already. If, for example in Hamburg, where you are not that well liked, the center and the right does not trend towards you, Hamburg and other cities will go to the reds." Sänger grimaced. "Yes, I know. I will make a point to visit the hanseatic cities, make sure I get their support." "You know what would help? Ship orders."
The Reichskanzler scowled. "Don't you dare start now, too. Anyway, the catholics." "They might like your idea of freedom of religion, but they will not like the secularist parts in your proposal. That means you cannot really count on their support. The Austrians - which are sure to go catholic Zentrum again - will like your policies much better, considering you openly advocate for them keeping their identity. Which will hurt you in Prussia -" Sänger interrupted at this point. "Let's not worry about Prussia right now. Go on." Burchardt took another sip of Cognac and then continued. "So coupled with your tour, the Austrians are a maybe. The Hungarians - the same, only they are even more conservative than the Austrians, so they will not like your idea about the role of women. The Italians, well, half of them still hate your guts for writing their surrender."
Burchardt finished his cognac and stood. "The Exiled Russians - well, you kinda brought their displeasure on your head when you were the driving force behind recognition of the Soviet Union. And then you go and reinforce their idea that you are a socialist commie traitor with signing the latest trade treaty with the Soviet Union. In short, if you manage to even pull more than 40 million votes, I would be very much surprised."
Sänger nodded. Burchardt's analysis very much confirmed his own. A quarter of the electorate in his pocket - and that would be a good showing. "Thank you, Jakob." "My pleasure, Johannes." The two men shook hands. As he departed, Burchardt called back over his shoulder: "For what it is worth, I think you did the right thing." Sänger nodded.
If I had denied it, the conservatives would have used the memos to sabotage everything that even looked like it had one percent of liberalism in it. If I lose, Liberalism is dead as well. Great going there, Johannes.
The door once more opened and Elise walked in, looking even worse for the wear than Sänger did. She had taken the leaks the hardest, even going so far as to pull in every secretary for a one-to-one chat, wherein she outlined in graphic details what would happen if she ever found out who had been the source of the leak. After the third secretary had erupted in tears, Sänger had interceded and put an end to her inquisition. Now she arrived, carrying a sealed envelope.
"A letter for you from Bremen." Sänger nodded and opened it, a smile forming. "Good news, Herr Kanzler?" Sänger nodded. "Quite. Good old hanseatic tradition." "Do you want me to have one of the girls type a reply?" "No, thank you." Elise nodded and departed. Then something registered in Sänger's mind. "Wait - one of the girls? How many are still there?" Elise smiled. "All of them." There was no need in saying that they would not have to be there, especially not on Christmas.
Sänger smiled. The loyalty his staff was showing even in the face of reelection odds less than dismal... "Elise, wait. If you would be so kind as to go down to the wine cellar and select some of the best bottles, half a bottle maximum for each girl? And please put an order through to whatever restaurant will still take our calls. I'd like enough for a small feast." Elise smiled. "Jawohl, Herr Kanzler. I trust you will contain your enthusiasm for historical details?" Sänger smiled. "Hey now. What would christmas be without me telling you all the mistakes the evangelists made or from where the bible was copied?" Elise shot him a look. After a while, Sänger threw up his arms in mock disgust. "Fine. Have your fables."
The familiar ritual now complete, both went about their business.
Results:
- Christmas in Germany
- Germany and Gran Colombia sign a deal regarding battleships
- The armed services want more money and reveal a great deal of future planning by them
- election planning
- Lots of fluff