In Oscar's view, equipping every infantry squad in the German Army with an MG10 squad machine gun, a grenadier, and a sniper rifle, while providing the remaining soldiers with M1 semi-automatic rifles, would elevate the German Army's firepower to the level of World War II in another timeline. This would ensure that Germany's military remained at the forefront of global power.
With such an arsenal, the German Army would have a decisive advantage in the looming World War I. Even if the conflict turned into another protracted trench war, the sheer firepower available would allow the German forces to crush the British and French defenses with ease.
Oscar could barely contain his excitement at the prospect of revolutionizing the German Army's equipment. The war was still a few years off, and if the army began transitioning its gear now, it would be fully prepared when the time came.
"Father, generals, you've seen firsthand the performance of these weapons developed by the German Arms Company. To secure victory in the coming wars, I propose that we replace the current arsenal with these new weapons. This will significantly enhance the combat effectiveness of the German Army," Oscar said, addressing the room. He expected the transition to be a simple matter of course following the demonstration.
However, Oscar quickly realized that his expectations might have been overly optimistic. The process of overhauling the military's equipment would not be so easily accomplished.
"What are your thoughts on His Highness the Crown Prince's proposal?" Wilhelm II asked, looking toward the military officers. Despite being emperor, even he knew it would be difficult to impose such a sweeping change without careful consideration and approval from the army leadership.
The first to speak was Minister of War von Falkenhain, who had been closely aligning himself with Oscar's interests. "Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, the weapons developed by the German Arms Company are undeniably impressive. If our military budget allows, I believe we should proceed with the transition."
Von Falkenhain's endorsement was not just for the sake of the German Army's future strength; he was positioning himself as a key ally to Oscar, having been increasingly sidelined by the influence of Moltke and those connected to the interests of Mauser and Rheinmetall.
Several generals voiced similar support, but there were also some who remained silent, or spoke up only to offer cautious resistance. These were the men loyal to Moltke, as well as those who had long-standing ties to Mauser and Rheinmetall, whose financial interests would be threatened by such a dramatic shift.
"Your Majesty, if a large-scale equipment change is to be made, the costs will be considerable," said General Valdese, the deputy chief of staff, with a furrowed brow.
Oscar nodded in agreement. "The M1 semi-automatic rifle costs nearly double what the Mauser 1898 rifle does."
The room buzzed with conversation as the generals weighed the financial implications. Even Wilhelm II's expression hardened as he realized the scale of the expense. The German Army may have only a few hundred thousand soldiers in peacetime, but in the event of war, that number would quickly swell to over three million. With such a large force, the need to purchase new weapons for every soldier would strain Germany's already precarious finances, which were burdened with debt.
"Although these weapons are excellent, the cost is prohibitive," Little Moltke interjected, offering a solution that reflected his own financial interests. "I suggest we purchase small batches for now, and scale up as our budget allows. Our current army is already the most formidable in the world. The immediate need for these weapons may not be as pressing as it seems."
Oscar's face darkened at the suggestion. He understood the importance of financial prudence, but he also knew that Germany's military could not afford to wait for a more favorable time to modernize. The war would be coming soon, and the German Army needed every advantage it could get. If the army waited until the war broke out to equip itself with these advanced weapons, they would not only be behind their enemies in terms of technology but would also risk incurring far heavier casualties.
"Your Majesty, these weapons will enhance the combat effectiveness of the army immeasurably," Oscar said, his tone more forceful. "Delaying the outfitting of the troops will cost more lives in the future. Germany has a small population, and every life lost is a severe blow."
A general spoke up, raising a valid concern. "The performance of the weapons is impressive, but we must consider the logistics. The increased firepower will significantly raise ammunition consumption, and that will burden our supply lines."
Oscar was quick to counter. "We can increase our logistical personnel and invest in more transport trucks to meet the demand. The added logistical pressure is an issue, but it is one that can be solved."
"True, but I also noticed a potential flaw with the machine guns," said another general. "The air-cooled MG10 machine guns and the MG09 are both lightweight and have high rates of fire, but I noticed the barrels heat up quickly. After sustained fire, they turn red-hot, and it may become difficult to keep firing without allowing for a pause to cool the barrel."
"That's not an issue," Gustav Krupp replied confidently. "A well-trained crew can swap out the barrel in seconds. It's a standard procedure in modern machine gun operation."
"But that creates a delay between shots," the general countered. "In a battle, that could give the enemy a critical window of opportunity to strike. And carrying spare barrels adds to the soldiers' load, which is undesirable. This also increases the overall cost."
"These are valid concerns," von Falkenhain said, addressing the room. "But none of these issues are insurmountable. We can mitigate them with better training, improved logistics, and possibly incorporating more durable barrel materials."
The room grew quiet as the officers continued to deliberate. Oscar could see that the path forward would not be as easy as he had hoped. While the weapons' performance was undeniable, the costs, logistics, and practicalities of a full-scale overhaul were significant hurdles.
Oscar knew he needed to push harder. The future of Germany's military superiority—and his own political future—depended on it.