WesWorld

The Berlin Observative: Excerpts from Q3, 1921

30 July 1921

The Reichsmarine has cancelled the third unit of the new Emden class of cruisers, just weeks before the ship was to be laid down. Two ships - Emden and Munchen - are already under construction.

Minister of Defense Petrol Gessler explained, “The Emdens are a necessary step in rejuvenating our naval ship-building capability. However, they are somewhat smaller than the Versailles Treaty allows, and since we have a fixed number of cruisers, it makes little sense to build any more small ones than necessary.”

Minister Gessler subsequently added, “Design work is now underway for a second pair of cruisers to be laid down in 1923; these will be more appropriate responses to the terms of the Versailles Treaty.

27 August 1921

The nation is in shock after the brutal assassination of former finance minister Mattias Erzberger yesterday. Reports say that Mr. Erzberger was shot in the head no less than a dozen times as he was walking in the Black Forest.

Mr. Erzberger was initially a supporter of the war, but opposed submarine warfare as the war continued. In 1918, he led the German delegation that signed the armistice with the Allies, prompting the Right to accuse him of being a French sympathizer. Post-war, Chancellor Ebert appointed him Minister of Finance, but he resigned last year after a dispute with another former Finance Minister, Karl Helfferich.

No arrests have been made by police at this time, though both the Left and the Right are accusing each other of the crime.

Mr. Erzberger will be buried on the 31st, and it is expected that President Ebert will be in attendance.

29 August 1921

The dreadnought Markgraf has returned to service, after four years of on again, off again repair work.

Markgraf was torpedoed twice by Nordmark light forces at the Battle of Swinemunde and was fortunate to survive the trip back to Cuxhaven. The dreadnought only received temporary repairs in the aftermath of the battle, and remained laid up until proper repairs were ordered in 1920.

At a small ceremony yesterday, Fleet Admiral Anton Von Wegener called the ship’s return a milestone. “We in the Reichsmarine have had a difficult time of late. Our capital ships are of various ages and types, our cruisers are aged, and we lack aerial and submarine support. We have a legacy of mutinies, strategic defeats, and inaction.

“Today, with the return to service of Markgraf , we put that behind us. The critical task of defending the Republic has been placed in our hands and we must not fail, either in peace or otherwise. If the Versailles Treaty restricts the ways in which we can defend Germany, then we must excel in those ways left to us.

“Markgraf’ s shakedown cruise will last until the end of the year. When that work has been completed, we will begin an aggressive training program to bring the Reichsmarine up to the level of excellence that the nation expects and deserves.”

7 September 1921

Barely ten days after the murder of a prominent politician - now blamed on the Freikorps - the extreme right has struck once more. Five members of the Freikorps attacked Indian princess Prahminder Canagasundrum at a private boarding school near Dresden.

Four of the five men are in custody now, and have been treated for injuries including lacerations, bruises, and fractures. Three school staff, two Indian bodyguards, and the princess were also treated for their injuries before being released.

The fifth Freikorps member died during the melee after one of the Indian bodyguards crushed his larynx. There is some dispute over the actions of the two so-called “Strongmen”, as some witnesses allege that the Indian men seemed intent on inflicting serious injury on the intruders, rather than merely defending their charge.

Calls for the arrest or deportation of the Indian strongmen were promptly brushed off by Chancellor Joseph Wirth. “We will not be charging the individual in connection with the death of the young man at Dresden. Frankly, I have very little sympathy for the dead man or his colleagues - they have threatened to destroy our relations with India, and have embarrassed us once more. This violence must be stopped before it de-stabilizes the republic.”

Sources have indicated that the Indians have left the country, possibly for Nordmark, where, as one person said, “They appreciate royalty.”