章節 115: The Dawn of Innovation
On December 22, 1908, the air was thick with anticipation as the shooting range outside Berlin stood completely closed off, secured by army and security personnel. The new weapons exhibition, organized by the German Armament Company, was one of the most important events in the Empire's history. Among those attending were the most influential figures of the nation, from high-ranking military officials to the Emperor himself. Every precaution had been taken to ensure the security of the event, for the stakes were extraordinarily high.
The weapons being displayed were state secrets—cutting-edge designs that, if stolen by hostile nations, could jeopardize the safety of the German Empire. Oscar had envisioned these weapons as the key to dominating the world stage in the coming years, ensuring German victory in any potential conflict. His goal was not just to arm the German Army, but to solidify Germany's military dominance on a global scale.
"Hurry up, arrange everything. It's almost time. His Majesty and His Royal Highness will be here soon," Gustav Krupp, who had arrived early, barked orders as he oversaw the final preparations for the exhibition. He was responsible for ensuring the event's success and was intent on making it flawless.
"Yes, Chairman," came the quick response from the Krupp personnel, as well as those from the Deutsche Arms Company, who were working with frantic energy to set everything in place.
"Can you confirm that all the weapons are ready and functioning properly?" Gustav asked, his tone tense but hopeful.
"Chairman Krupp, everything has been tested thoroughly. There will be no problems," an engineer assured him with confidence.
Gustav Krupp nodded, satisfied with the answer, though the weight of the occasion still loomed over him.
By 9:00 AM, a long line of luxury cars arrived at the shooting range. These were Daimler A-class vehicles, designed by the company under Oscar's control. The A-class had become the epitome of luxury, each vehicle priced at 50,000 marks, a cost few could afford but which attracted the wealthiest businessmen, nobles, and dignitaries. Despite not being as popular as the more affordable B- and C-class models, the A-class still represented the pinnacle of automobile engineering in Germany.
Among those arriving was Emperor William II, who stepped out of his A-class car alongside Oscar. Following them were senior army and navy officials, all of whom had gathered to witness the exhibition. The army, being the primary purchaser of the weapons, had a significant presence, but Oscar was also eager to have the navy take an interest, especially since he planned to build a Marine Corps for the navy. This would give the navy land combat capabilities, further consolidating his influence over the military.
Oscar's rise in the military had been hindered by the entrenched power of General Moltke, the Chief of Staff of the Army, who had not been particularly welcoming of his influence. However, Oscar had made strategic alliances, notably with Minister of War von Falkenhain, and he was determined to expand his power within the army by leveraging the navy and its future Marine Corps.
As Oscar and the Emperor arrived at the shooting range, Gustav Krupp immediately greeted them. "Good morning, Your Majesty," he said warmly, his tone respectful.
"Good morning, Mr. Krupp," replied William II, showing due respect to the influential businessman who had made such significant contributions to the Empire's armaments industry.
"Your Royal Highness," Gustav Krupp turned to Oscar, extending his greeting.
"Mr. Krupp, is everything ready?" Oscar asked, his voice calm yet authoritative.
"Rest assured, Your Royal Highness, everything is ready for the exhibition," Gustav Krupp replied confidently.
At 9:30 AM, after a brief speech from Oscar, the new weapon exhibition officially commenced.
The first demonstration featured the newly developed MG09 general-purpose machine gun. Five of these guns were lined up, ready to be fired. As the order to fire was given, the machine gunners pulled their triggers.
"Da-da-da!" The sharp crack of the machine guns filled the air, each round striking the distant target with impressive speed. The sound of the rapid-fire shots echoed across the range as sawdust and splinters flew from the targets. Within less than half a minute, the belt of 250 rounds had been exhausted, and the barrel of the gun glowed red from the intense heat generated by the rapid fire.
The generals, both from the army and the navy, stood in stunned silence as they watched the weapon in action. The rate of fire was considerably faster than the MG08 heavy machine guns currently in use by the Army, and the performance of the MG09 far exceeded their expectations.
"Your Royal Highness, is this the heavy machine gun you developed?" asked Minister of War von Falkenhain, astonished by the weapon's rapid fire. He had not expected such innovation from the newly established German Arms Company.
The other generals shared his disbelief, their eyes wide with surprise at the weapon's performance.
"Yes, this is the general-purpose machine gun we developed," Oscar replied, his tone calm. "However, we don't call it a heavy machine gun. We call it a general-purpose machine gun."
The term "general-purpose machine gun" seemed to intrigue the generals, who speculated about what the name meant.
"Mr. Krupp, please explain the specifications and capabilities of this general-purpose machine gun to His Majesty and the generals," Oscar said, turning to Gustav Krupp, who was clearly pleased with the weapon's success.
"Of course, Your Highness," Gustav Krupp said with a smile, stepping forward to provide the details.
"Your Majesty, Excellencies, Generals," Gustav began, addressing the assembly. "The MG09 general-purpose machine gun weighs 12.5 kilograms, and with the tripod, the total weight is 20 kilograms. This is only one-third of the weight of the MG08 heavy machine gun that the army currently uses. The muzzle velocity of this weapon is 750 meters per second, with a maximum firing range of 2,000 meters. It is fed by a belt of ammunition and can fire up to 800 rounds per minute."
The generals stood in stunned silence. The MG09 was a game-changer, far superior to the MG08 in almost every respect. They had no doubt that if adopted, this new machine gun would drastically improve the effectiveness of the German military on the battlefield.
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