Bab 114: The Road to Innovation
After Oscar got engaged to Princess Gundlinde, his life took on a new rhythm. No longer did he devote all his energy solely to state affairs; instead, he now split his time between the pressing demands of leadership and his growing relationship. Every month, he made trips to Munich, while Princess Gundlinde would often visit him in Berlin. Their engagement had become official, and no one objected to their public displays of affection, now that they were betrothed.
As the couple's relationship deepened, their private moments grew more intense. On one moonlit evening, their passion culminated in a union that left Oscar feeling the profound connection between a man and a woman for the first time. It was an experience that overwhelmed him, stirring feelings he had never known before. Yet, despite the pleasures of his newfound love, Oscar was a man with grand ambitions. The future weighed heavily on his mind. As Crown Prince, he was secure, but the looming possibility of war threatened to upend everything, including the life of Princess Gundlinde, who would face the consequences of Germany's potential downfall. For her sake, as much as his own, Oscar knew he had to work even harder to ensure their future.
In October of 1908, a breakthrough came from the Krupp company. The development of the 343mm naval gun had been completed, and it was now ready for mass production. Furthermore, they had officially started working on the 380mm caliber main gun, signaling the company's commitment to producing even larger and more powerful naval artillery. This new direction promised to enhance Germany's naval strength, and Oscar was eager to see the project come to fruition.
By November, the Deutsche Arms Company, a joint venture between Krupp and the Deutsche Industries Group, had successfully completed the light weaponry projects that Oscar had initiated. Semi-automatic rifles, sniper rifles, squad and general-purpose machine guns, mortars, and grenades had all passed their development stages and were now undergoing field tests. Oscar was immensely pleased. With the war still a few years away, he saw a golden opportunity to modernize the German Army. If these new weapons were adopted and a large-scale refit could be carried out, Germany's military capabilities would be significantly enhanced, increasing the likelihood of success in any future conflict.
Gustav Krupp, eager to discuss the next steps, made a special visit to Oscar's office.
"Your Royal Highness, we've completed the development of all the weapons you requested. The tests are going smoothly, and I've already consulted with our experts. There are no major technical hurdles left, so we anticipate completing the tests within the month. What should be our next step?" Gustav asked, his gaze fixed on Oscar, awaiting his orders.
Oscar considered the situation carefully before responding. "Mr. Krupp, if the tests go as expected, we should aim to sell these weapons to the army as soon as possible. With such excellent performance, there should be no reason for the military to hesitate in adopting them."
Gustav's smile faltered. "Your Royal Highness, while the performance of these weapons is indeed exceptional, I fear the army might not be so quick to adopt them. Their cost is higher than the current weapons in use, and both Mauser and Rheinmetall will surely put up resistance. They hold significant influence in the army, and their networks are deeply entrenched."
Oscar's brow furrowed in frustration. "Why would the army not purchase superior weapons? If they choose to stick with outdated models, it will only cost them more lives on the battlefield. I can't accept that."
Gustav sighed, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation. "The performance is outstanding, but the higher price tag will be a challenge. Mauser and Rheinmetall are powerful competitors. Their influence in the army could prevent our weapons from being accepted, even if they are clearly superior."
Oscar was not discouraged. "We can't back down. We've come too far to give up now. We'll find a way to make this work." He paused, then proposed a plan. "Next month, on Christmas Eve, we'll hold a demonstration at the shooting range. I'll invite His Majesty, the Emperor, to attend, along with all the top generals. If our weapons perform as expected, there's no way they can ignore the results. Once we have their support, Mauser and Rheinmetall won't be able to stop us."
Gustav Krupp nodded enthusiastically. "That's a good plan. I'll use all the connections Krupp has to ensure we can overcome the opposition from Mauser and Rheinmetall. This time, no one will stand in our way."
With renewed determination, Oscar and Gustav Krupp immediately set their plan into motion. Oscar went to the palace and formally invited Emperor William II to attend the upcoming weapons exhibition. Despite his busy schedule, William II expressed his support for the event. His enthusiasm was palpable, especially given the success of the previous naval projects, and he was eager to see what innovations Oscar had in store. If these new weapons could enhance Germany's military strength, the Empire's chances of success in any future conflict would increase significantly.
In addition to the Emperor, the top brass of the Army were also invited, including the Chief of the General Staff, Moltke, Deputy Chief of Staff General Waldsee, Minister of War von Falkenhain, and Minister of the Navy, Count Tirpitz. While they were all influential figures, they had a deep respect for Oscar and understood the importance of supporting his efforts.
With the groundwork laid, Gustav Krupp instructed the R&D department to ensure that everything was perfect for the exhibition. The stakes were high, and failure was not an option.
Status Power Mingguan
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