Chapter 148: The Integration of the Three Powers
Joseph's words were answered by waves of applause.
The members of the German Communist Party quickly realized that Thälmann was losing the debate. The atmosphere they had worked so hard to build was collapsing, so they immediately began stirring the crowd.
"He is twisting words! Comrades, take back what belongs to us!"
The first stone struck a police shield with a dull crack.
Then came the second.
Then the third.
In only a few breaths, stones rained down on the line of shield-bearing police.
The students, convinced that they represented justice and the interests of the lower classes, rushed to the front with burning faces. Fists and shoes hammered against police shields like hail against iron doors.
The Hamburg Police Leader's expression darkened. He could bear it no longer and leaned close to Joseph.
"Mr. Joseph…"
Joseph glanced at the surging crowd, then calmly stepped down from the platform.
"Teach these naive children a lesson. Their party is over."
The students thought his retreat meant fear. Seeing Joseph moving toward his car, they surged forward to block him, eager to seize this symbolic victory.
They did not know that Joseph had already exhausted his patience for peaceful resolution.
The moment one of them stretched out a hand, a police officer seized his wrist and dragged him back.
The Hamburg Police Leader raised his baton.
"Cavalry! Clear the square!"
The next morning, Berlin.
"Sir, would you like a newspaper?"
Because of the economic crisis, newspaper delivery was no longer a child's errand. A young man with a bright smile stepped into a coffee salon and addressed a well-dressed middle-aged gentleman.
"I'll take one."
The man, a member of the British Embassy dressed in a neat suit, nodded and unfolded the paper.
A striking headline immediately entered his eyes.
"A Group of Treacherous Terrorist Rogues!"
He turned the pages.
Rather than a simple article, it was a full political indictment. Evidence, photographs, timelines, and names were arranged with surgical precision, condemning both the German Communist Party and the Workers Party.
"It seems Hill still failed."
The diplomat laid the newspaper flat on the table.
"But no matter. It was merely an attempt."
As he thought, he took out his fountain pen and began drafting an analysis report on Germany's political situation, intended for submission to Buckingham Palace.
Beside him, several unemployed workers were chatting with an employee of Cardolan Investment Company.
"I never thought Hill would actually turn out to be a traitor colluding with the British. As for the German Communist Party, I'm not surprised. Some friends in Hamburg told me long ago that they were tangled up with the Russians."
"Now it seems we can only rely on the Progress Party. Among all these parties, only their Leader, Jörg von Roman, actually does things. But…"
The man hesitated.
"I just don't know whether a military man understands economics."
An older unemployed worker sighed heavily.
"I've been out of work for half a year. If I don't find a job soon, my wife and children will starve."
The Cardolan employee took a sip of coffee and looked at him.
"Karl, wasn't it? I remember you used to work in a chemical plant. Would you be willing to work for Cardolan Investment Company? I heard they will need to hire a great many people soon."
"A great many people?"
Karl's eyes brightened with curiosity.
"In this economy? And at Cardolan Investment Company?"
The employee in the black uniform nodded.
"Yes. I'm not certain what the work is for specifically. It seems to involve producing some kind of medicine. The pay is very high, though I heard there are additional requirements."
At the words "Cardolan Investment Company," the British diplomat quietly lifted his head.
Just as he was about to listen more carefully, a burst of static from the radio drew everyone's attention.
At the broadcasting office, Jörg received the emergency decree bearing Hindenburg's mark.
This was the famous Article 48 decree.
In the simplest terms, it gave the President nearly unlimited emergency authority. He could dissolve parliament, declare martial law, restrict personal freedom, and rule through emergency orders.
Now, the Reichstag had been dissolved. Constitutional provisions guaranteeing personal liberty were temporarily suspended. The Chancellor had been granted emergency legislative authority and could enact laws directly.
Most importantly, Hindenburg had added a special clause.
Until the end of his presidential term, the Chancellor would temporarily exercise all presidential powers.
In other words, until President Hindenburg's term ended in 1932, Jörg held military power, political power, and legal authority in his own hands.
And after Hindenburg's term ended, he would still hold them.
No one in this country could stop him now.
No one could stop the Progress Party.
His command had become law.
His will could decide life and death.
Standing beside him, Vito looked at the decree and, for some reason, suddenly made a joke.
"Leader, even if you ascended the throne now, I don't think anyone would object."
Jörg smiled faintly. He patted Vito on the shoulder.
"Forget it. Jörg I sounds absurd."
Then his smile faded.
"Are the police ready?"
Vito nodded.
"Everything is ready. Do you need to review the list? Should the intensity be… slightly reduced?"
Jörg shook his head.
"Vito, do you remember what I said when we took control of the Wehrmacht?"
Vito thought for a moment.
Then understanding appeared in his eyes. He bowed.
"No leniency."
With that, Vito left the broadcasting room.
In the now-empty chamber, a technician wearing headphones completed the final adjustments and gave a thumbs-up.
"Herr Chancellor, the equipment is ready."
Jörg took a deep breath.
He drew the microphone closer and announced the end of an era.
"Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday, the Workers Party committed appalling acts of terrorism on several streets. They drove civilians from their homes, opened fire on a state security organization, and attempted to sell the interests of the German people in exchange for foreign intelligence support."
"Fortunately, their actions were stopped."
"Unfortunately, we have also realized that Germany has reached its most critical moment."
"If no further action is taken, the branches of the German Communist Party and the Workers Party spread across the country will provoke unprecedented chaos. Germany will once again fall into the disorder of centuries past, and the name of the nation will be consumed by fire."
Jörg paused.
His voice remained controlled, but the weight behind each word grew heavier.
"Germany cannot bear such a consequence. The nation cannot bear the risk of another division. We have reached the edge of a cliff, and external forces are attempting to scatter us. They are attempting to install a government of their choosing on German soil."
His tone rose, sharp and solemn.
"Therefore, in the name of the Chancellor of the Weimar Republic, Acting President, and Commander-in-Chief of the Wehrmacht, I hereby announce the following."
"Effective today, the Workers Party and the German Communist Party are stripped of eligibility to participate in party elections."
"The Reichstag is dissolved. New elections will be held at a later date."
"Constitutional provisions guaranteeing personal freedom are temporarily suspended."
"A two-day state of emergency will begin across Germany. The entire nation will enter military martial law. All activities except production are suspended. Ports, airports, border roads, and railway checkpoints will be sealed."
"Troops will enter all major cities. A nationwide curfew will begin simultaneously and last for two days."
"For the safety of the public, all citizens are advised not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary."
Jörg's voice spread through radios across Germany.
It flowed through cafés, factories, police stations, barracks, government offices, salons, taverns, and the narrow rooms of the unemployed.
It also reached the entrance of the German Communist Party's publishing house.
Several senior party officials exchanged glances.
Without saying a word, they began packing documents and personal belongings, preparing to flee toward the Soviet Russian consulate.
But it was already too late.
.....
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