Germany does not seek survival

The people of Turin began to oppose the war, and for a time it seemed that Italy was on the brink of collapse and revolution.

It was also in the wave of howling and collapse that two grassroots officers in the Italian army became increasingly famous.

The first person was D'Annunzio, the theoretical pioneer of Italian fascism. He was a war hero who had flown a plane to Austria to drop leaflets. In the great defeat at the Battle of the Po River, he, as the commander of the gendarmerie, executed many derelict officers and became famous overnight.

The second person, of course, is Mussolini.

At that time, Mussolini was not as famous as D'Annunzio. He was just a follower of D'Annunzio. In the defeat last year, Mussolini was injured and limped in one leg. He was able to apply to go to the rear on the grounds of disability and then serialized articles in newspapers calling for persistence in the war.

Because Mussolini has excellent writing skills, his remarks are particularly radical and extraordinary, and he dares to criticize those nobles and high-ranking officials who have been sitting in their positions doing nothing during the war, his reputation has been growing recently.

The seeds of revolution had indeed been sown within Italy.

It can be said that Marshal Conrad's desire to make one last effort and completely destroy Italy is actually reasonable.

However, Conrad completely underestimated the impact of the United States' entry into the war.

After the Americans entered the war, in order to stabilize the situation of the Allies, in addition to sending expeditionary forces to France for training, they also did one thing, which was to provide massive emergency assistance to Italy.

In less than half a year, the Americans provided Italy with a war loan of 2 billion US dollars through the "Allied Financial Committee".

The amount of money is extremely exaggerated, equivalent to Italy's military expenditure for two years. In addition, the United States sold a large amount of wheat and coal to Italy at almost free prices, which saved Italy from collapse at the end of last year. The food, energy and financial crises were all solved thanks to US aid.

By the end of the winter, the Italians had regrouped thanks to massive aid from the United States. Not only were they not weakened, but they were even stronger than before the Battle of the Po.

In comparison, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was clearly weaker than last year, with food, energy, industry... all aspects deteriorating.

"What's even worse is that Ludendorff has transferred all the German infantry divisions from the Italian battlefield," Paulus said with a wry smile. "In order to organize the decisive battle on the Western Front, General Ludendorff also borrowed seven or eight of the best divisions from the Austrians."

Ludendorff's obsession with a decisive battle on the Western Front was so strong and so deep that Faust sighed with regret when he thought of the outcome.

However, a large number of Austrian troops were transferred to the Western Front, and Conrad was confused and wanted to cross the Po River to cause trouble for the Italian army. This was actually a major benefit to the National Socialist Party.

After Conrad's mess, the rear of the Italian front, that is, from Tyrol to Venice, was left empty of troops. Although Faust only had three regiments, he still had a lot of room to maneuver.

The National Socialist Party accompanied Faust back to the mountain villa where he lived in Innsbruck last year. Hitler said directly:

"Tyrol is actually a good place, rich in minerals. The Schwarz Copper Mine was the first pot of gold that helped the Jewish Fugger family rise to prominence during the Holy Roman Empire. There are also coal mines here in Innsbruck. The transportation conditions are a bit poor, but there are direct railways to Munich and Vienna."

Munich and Vienna are the major cities where Hitler lived throughout his life, so he naturally valued these two cities more.

Faust himself was from Munich and an old member of the National Socialist Party, which was mainly composed of people from southern Germany. Everyone supported the strategy of launching a revolution on the southern front.

Only Sorge advocated, "Colonel Faust, wouldn't you consider taking action in Berlin? When Germany is defeated, Berlin will inevitably fall into a power vacuum. As long as we help the Spartacus League seize power, we can replicate Lenin's victory in Russia..."

Sorge's words made the other National Socialists present change their expressions.

At present, under the leadership of Faust, the doctrine and line of the National Socialist Party are indeed left-wing socialism, but except for Sorge, few National Socialists agree with the internationalist line of the Spartacus League.

People like Hitler and Rommel still have strong nationalist complexes.

During the war, the Spartacus League's extreme anti-war stance always made many people in the National Socialist Party feel that "people with different ideologies cannot work together."

Hitler said rudely, "Comrade Sorge! Please understand the situation. We, the National Socialist Party, are not slaves of that Polish woman Luxemburg. Why should we, the National Socialist Party, help the Spartacus League?"

Tito was considered a relatively left-leaning figure in the National Socialist Party, but he also said: "The National Socialist Party does not have much of a base in Berlin. In my opinion, it would be better for us to launch a revolution on the Eastern Front, such as in Königsberg, than to revolt in Berlin."

Faust laughed. "Königsberg is the Junkers' headquarters, a den of filth and corruption. It's extraordinary. Whoever came up with the idea of ​​revolting in East Prussia would be considered an undercover agent of the General Staff."

The National Socialist Party only had a certain base on the Southern and Eastern Fronts. In the early stages of the war, Faust, Hitler, Rommel, and Sorge had indeed been on the Western Front, but at that time they were all insignificant figures and not worth mentioning, let alone any influence.

"If we want to choose a location for the uprising, the only options are the southern and eastern fronts."

Faust continued: "Berlin, Berlin, I also thought about the revolution in the capital."

The General Staff had previously recalled Faust to Berlin and ordered him to be responsible for training new chasseur troops in Potsdam, which was considered an opportunity.

If Faust stayed and developed a few new groups controlled by the National Socialist Party in Potsdam, he might be able to try to march directly into the imperial capital after a few months.

"Berlin is a place that everyone pays attention to. If the revolution in the capital succeeds, we can indeed directly obtain the title of central government, but we will also have to bear a lot of burdens."

Faust pointed out several problems: "After the Berlin Revolution succeeds, the new revolutionary government will, like Lenin, have to bear the cost of seeking peace with the Allies. The German army may even shirk responsibility and falsify history, saying that the defeat at the front was due to the Berlin Revolution. The new revolutionary regime will suffer a serious moral loss."

The atmosphere of nationalism in Germany is even stronger than in Russia. Anyone who takes on the responsibility of ceding territory and paying compensation to the Allied Powers will surely be plunged into the abyss.

Faust continued, "Between the Southern and Eastern Fronts, our Party's past strategy prioritized the Eastern Front, and we even considered cooperating with Piłsudski's Polish Legion. Now it seems the Party's development in Tyrol is better. Tyrol has direct rail links to Munich and Vienna, making it easier for us to expand the liberated areas. Furthermore, Tyrol is located in the Alps, protected by mountains and hills. We can attack or defend, ensuring we don't lose our foothold in a single setback."

Faust considered many aspects, including the right time, right place, and right people. Hitler's considerations were much simpler. He was blunt:

"In the Tyrolean uprising, victory or defeat depends on ourselves. In the Berlin uprising, if we lose, we will go to the guillotine together with the Polish women. If we win, it will also be the credit of the Spartacus League. The National Socialists cannot be like Dr. Bovary!"

Doctor Bovary, the husband of Madame Bovary, the heroine of Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary, was a gentle and submissive man. He was deeply devoted and obedient to his wife throughout their marriage. However, this only led to Madame Bovary becoming even more arrogant and extravagant. In the end, Madame Bovary had multiple affairs and squandered all of Doctor Bovary's wealth...

Dr. Bovary is the most typical representative of weak men in the European mind.

Hitler said angrily: "We are not weak French men. The Spartacus League should not try to take advantage of the National Socialist Party."

Faust did not have as strong aversion to the Spartacus League as Hitler did. Faust always believed that there was a lot of room for cooperation between the National Socialist Party and the Spartacus League.

At least before defeating the reactionary camp, the Spartacus League would be a more suitable ally of the National Socialist Party than Kautsky's Independent Party.

Faust said, "Berlin can retain an underground National Socialist intelligence agency and maintain a small amount of contact with the Spartacus League. We can provide the Spartacus League with considerable assistance in terms of military instructors, weapons and ammunition, and intelligence. We all have the same goals for a certain period of time, so we can still cooperate."

Sorge asked, "I am going to Vienna to organize the Stasi. Who should I entrust this task to?"

"Just select a few people from your intelligence team," Faust said with a smile. "Comrade Sorge, you can recommend a leader to be in charge of the Stasi team in Berlin."

Sorge thought for a moment and suggested a candidate: "There's a member of the Eastern General Planning Group who should be suitable. Lieutenant Friedrich Weissen is a Berliner. Before the war, he was a member of the Berlin Trade Union Picket. He knows a lot of people, from all walks of life. He could be put in charge of the Berlin Stasi."

The people around Sorge all had pro-Spartacus League political stances, so it was just right to let such people stay in Berlin and be responsible for liaison with the Spartacus League.

After discussing these things, the National Socialist Party can be said to have everything ready except the east wind, the final east wind, which is the result of the decisive battle on the Western Front.

Faust snapped his fingers. "I'll have one last talk with Marshal Conrad and try to secure the garrison control of Tyrol as soon as possible. The rest will be easy to handle."

Chapter 128 Nightclub

Conrad didn't want the German army to participate in the war this time. He didn't want the German army to "share" the victory he won again, so without Faust saying much, Conrad agreed immediately and did not need the three German regiments to participate in the river crossing operation.

Faust secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Conrad would insist on dragging the National Socialist troops to fight. Although the three regiments of the National Socialist Party were elite, they could not withstand the harm of Conrad.

If the Austrian army of less than 100,000 were to be used as the main force, Faust felt that there was no chance of winning even with three German regiments as the spearhead of the breakthrough.

There are hundreds of thousands of Italian troops on the opposite side, plus more than 100,000 British and French troops. Even if all these 100,000 British and French troops were deployed as German troops, at least seven or eight German divisions would be needed. How could we rely on the Austrians?

Even a million Austrian troops might not be able to resolve the battle cleanly and efficiently.

As for another request made by Faust: Faust hopes to transfer all three regiments of the National Socialist Party back to Tyrol, and it would be best if Tyrol himself could serve as the garrison commander of Innsbruck.

This matter is not so easy to discuss.

Mainly because there is no proper reason.

Conrad did not want the German army to interfere with his battle plan, but he did not want to transfer the German army directly from Venice back to Tyrol for this purpose. That would seem too deliberate and might even worsen the diplomatic relations between Germany and Austria.

For a while, Faust was really troubled by this matter for several days.

However, the reason soon became apparent.

Originally, the Cheka led by Hitler carried out a large-scale purge in the Austrian 11th Army, successfully driving away many aristocratic officers and making the atmosphere in the Austrian army much more clean.

But since the great victory on the Po River, the Austrian 11th Army received a large number of reinforcements from Vienna. The old aristocratic officers were driven away, and a new batch of aristocratic officers were transferred from Vienna.

Moreover, most of the noble officers of the Austrian 11th Army were second-rate nobles with little status in Vienna, otherwise they would not have been assigned to the 11th Army, a weak unit.

Now that the 11th Army has made great achievements, the newly recruited nobles have much more prominent family backgrounds, and the Austrian army has become extravagant and decadent again. In the city of Innsbruck, the headquarters and barracks have become deserted, but the nightclubs, bars, dance halls, theaters, and concert halls are crowded and bustling.

A bad idea immediately popped up in Faust's mind.

"Vassily, where's Vasily?"

Faust called his guard, Vasily, a member of the Habsburg royal family, and told him, "Please help me find out where the hottest nightclub in Innsbruck is right now, the most popular den of debauchery among the children of Austrian and Hungarian nobles."

Vasily was confused. "Sir, are you planning to take strong action against these brothels?"

Faust smacked Vasily on the forehead. "What a heavy blow! Don't ask so many questions. Find out for me right away. Wherever there's the glitz and glamour, that's where I'll go."

Faust deliberately stretched out his voice and repeated, "Go and look for me, are there any prostitutes in the city?"

Vasily touched his forehead and couldn't figure out what Faust was planning for a while. However, a typical playboy like him could easily get relevant information from his circle of friends even if he didn't know much about the entertainment venues in Innsbruck.

The most famous nightclub in Innsbruck is called the Bat Cabaret, which was named after the most popular underground club in Vienna's upper class society. Although the interior decoration is completely retro in the 19th century style, the music played is not 19th century symphonies or musicals, but the most avant-garde jazz music of the time.

In the summer in Innsbruck, the spruce and black pine trees in the city are lush and green, and it looks like a midsummer atmosphere. However, the streets are very deserted. Most of the men are on the front lines. There are very few shops open during the day on both sides of the road. The occasional figures are all very old women or very young children.

Faust ordered Vasily to prepare the car. The summer of 1918 had arrived, and November could not be far away.

Faust was worried. It was almost the middle of 1918, and he heard that Operation Michael had begun on the Western Front. Great progress had been made during this period, with the German army winning battle after battle and still having the upper hand on the battlefield, suppressing the Allies. But Faust knew very well that this was just the last gasp of the German army.

Faust was not only a colonel in the German army, but also held the title of deputy director of the training directorate of the Austrian 11th Army. There was a white license plate with the words "High Commissioner of the Austro-Hungarian Empire" on the front of his car. When he drove onto the road, even the noble officers from Vienna would stand up straight and salute the fast-moving car.

Vasily, a member of the Habsburg royal family, drove Faust. When the car arrived at the door of the Bat Dance Nightclub, Faust asked Vasily to park the car farther away.

Then Faust took off his rank of colonel and did not allow Vasily to wear his rank. Vasily was confused and had to do as he was told.

The two men walked into the Bat Dance Nightclub as ordinary soldiers. Although the city of Innsbruck was so deserted, this nightclub was still brightly lit. A row of waitresses in low-cut tights stood at the door. Perhaps because they had seen too many noble officers, they didn't even bow when they saw Faust and Vasily coming in side by side.

Only when the waitresses saw Faust's handsome face did the eyes of these snobs in the entertainment industry light up and they immediately put on smiles.

At night, the fountain in front of the Bat Dancing Nightclub was still setting off fireworks. Red, blue and green conical flames shot up into the sky and then fell into darkness. It was very beautiful.

only……

Faust heard that the Austrian army was having trouble even getting ammunition, and a nightclub actually had gunpowder for fireworks.

After entering the Bat Dance Nightclub, there is a long corridor with dim lighting. Masks are hung on the walls on both sides of the corridor. Vasily told Faust: "Colonel, this is the rule of this nightclub. You must wear a mask to enter."

Faust thought the masked ball was very funny, but Vasily himself was already wearing a black mask, and he handed another black mask to Faust.

Although it is called a black mask, it is actually more like the eye patch worn by Zorro, which only covers the upper half of the face. There is an extra part extending from below the right eye, covering most of the right side of the face.

Faust put on the ugly mask with some disgust, and the two of them walked into the nightclub. The jazz music inside was particularly loud, and there was more than one band playing. The interior decoration was too luxurious, even a little tacky.

A beautiful waitress led Faust and Vasily inside. She said rudely, "Since you two didn't make a reservation, there are no extra booths. You can only sit at the bar in front."

Faust took a quick look and saw that the booths were concentrated in front of and around the dance floor, where he could clearly see the band and dancers' performances. However, the view was very bad at the bar, where he could hardly see anything.

The noble sons from Vienna all sat in the front row booths, surrounded by an endless supply of delicacies and fine wines. In addition to the band and dancers performing in the front, there were also many waitresses in gorgeous clothes with their breasts half exposed, walking around the table serving drinks. The atmosphere was truly decadent and dissolute, with a feeling of apocalyptic decadence.

Faust was really curious: "Where do all these high-end food and drinks in the nightclub come from?"

These things are in short supply on the front line!

Vasily reminded him quietly, "Colonel, most of these were captured from the Italian army. The spoils in Innsbruck are piled up like mountains, which is why they attracted so many powerful people from Vienna."

Vasily spread his hands and said, "Those delicacies and wines are rare even in Vienna today."

In front of Faust, the young men of Vienna were all wearing uniforms with military ranks and medals, and almost everyone had a scantily clad waitress sitting next to them to serve drinks. They touched the waitresses unscrupulously and flattered each other.

As Faust walked in, he occasionally met several waitresses carrying fruit plates in the aisle. Although he was wearing a black mask, some of the waitresses still caught a glimpse of Faust's face, became attracted, and rubbed against him.

The waitress even put her arm around Faust and asked him if he wanted to have some fun on her sofa.

Faust pushed the woman away coldly.

This scene of corruption and depravity was too much for even someone like Faust, who had witnessed all the apocalyptic extravagance of Berlin. It seemed that the moral bottom line of the ruling class of the German Empire was still much higher than that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

The nightclub was quite large, with a thick layer of carpet on the floor, divided into left and right, with a circle of sofas and a dance floor on each side. The sofas were not backrest-type, but allowed people to half-recline, so some people were already lying on them. In the dim light, it was difficult to see clearly what they were doing with their female companions.

The room was hot and Faust really felt a little angry. Even when he attended the princess's birthday party in Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, he didn't feel such strong anger. Perhaps it was because the ruling class in Germany still had to maintain some decency and would not be as corrupt as the dignitaries of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

At this moment, the music of several jazz bands suddenly stopped. Vasily also pulled Faust, pointed at the stage, and whispered: "I have seen that person. I saw her in Vienna. She is a famous female singer."

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the European music scene began to shift from musicians playing pure music to singers playing pop music. Hitler's favorite Wagner opera was somewhere in between the two. By 1918, singers performing vocals had actually begun to replace most symphony and opera performances.

However, in the past few hundred years, pure music instrumentalists could still become guests of honor in the courts of various countries and had a higher social status. However, singers who performed vocals, like in China, were still considered a "lowly profession" of the lowest class in most of the time.

Especially female singers. For most of the 19th century, female singers, like ballet dancers, were still a profession similar to prostitution, and the boundary between the two was blurred.

Vasily's expression became enthusiastic, and he was a little happy. He quickly introduced Faust, saying, "Colonel, look! That's Miss Galadia, a member of the Vienna Ballet. I saw her perform The Rite of Spring in 1913. But everyone says that Miss Galadia's singing is more graceful and attractive than her dancing. She's even more beautiful than the Swedish nightingale Jenny Lind's singing!"

As soon as Miss Galadilla appeared, the hall suddenly became much quieter, and the music on the stage became quiet and melodious. Faust was also shocked, and the restlessness in his heart seemed to be washed away in an instant.

Galadilla wore a fiery red off-shoulder long dress with a high slit on the side. The hem of the skirt went all the way to her thighs, revealing the lace straps above her stockings. The skirt was tightened at the waist, outlining her figure just right, and she swayed gracefully with the singing.

She had very fair skin and a tall figure. Her pair of peach blossom eyes were indeed very alluring and looked extremely charming, but with a bit of the coldness peculiar to a ballet dancer. The moon-white ostrich feathers slanted from the brim of her hat, making it look like a snow cloud plucked from the top of the Alps.

Faust also closed his eyes for a rare moment, quietly listening to Miss Galadilla's singing. She held the microphone with her fingertips, and when she spoke, her voice was like ice and snow:

"...for the soldiers' rest and joy,

It is located on the edge of the forest.

A cottage with ivy-covered walls,

For true warriors it is the name of the tavern.