In the weeks that followed the end of the war, Kaiser Wilhelm II found himself busier than he had been in years.
While he had left the war and its operations largely in the trusted hands of Bruno, he was now forced to entertain very serious political consequences and the fallout of the war’s end.
The German Army had yet to withdraw its forces from the Netherlands, despite the fighting having long since concluded. And the local population was growing antsy.
anwhile, King Albert I of Belgium had travelled to Berlin for a private eting with the Kaiser.
Wilhelm sat in his office with his Belgian counterpart in front of him. Both were dressed in their formal regalia; both had drinks in their hands.
In years past, Albert would never have considered the proposal he was about to make. But as the world changed rapidly around him over the course of the century, he knew that Belgium’s place in the world no longer existed as an independent nation.
Wilhelm was all too aware of what Albert was going to say, but he didn’t interrupt the man. Instead, they spoke of the weather, of the prosperity of their realms. And how grateful they were that the fighting had never reached their shores.
And it was only after a long and trivial discussion was concluded, did Albert finally broached the subject.
"I was visited by the Pri Minister of the Netherlands. He is concerned that you do not intend to withdraw from his country... And I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I had already planned to approach the Reich with the proposal of formal annexation."
Wilhelm’s expression didn’t shift as he continued to sip from his tea. He knew Albert was gauging how he would respond to the Netherlands and its governnt’s refusal to embrace the winds of change.
However, nothing could have prepared Albert for the answer he received.
"You can tell Mr. Jan de Geer that our forces will be fully withdrawn by the season’s end. As for your request for formal entry into the German Reich, I will grant it, and will formally embrace the Kingdom of Belgium as a federated state. But only if you formally adopt German as the state’s official language."
Albert stiffened in his seat. He was prepared to make so concessions when he ca here, but depriving the Dutch of their own language? That was simply outrageous.
And judging by the way Albert reacted, Wilhelm was quick to clarify his intent behind the matter.
"By all ans, you can feel free to maintain Dutch as a secondary language; we are not trying to deprive you of your inherent culture. But surely, you can understand my desire to avoid repeating the disasters of the Habsburg Empire, no?"
When Wilhelm phrased his intentions in such a manner, Albert’s shoulders relaxed. It made since that if they were a federated state of the German Reich, that the national language would take precedence in all legal docunts, and in all levels of education.
A nation’s population that could not communicate with one another was dood to fail. History had proven this ti again, and most recently at that.
"I’m honestly surprised that is the extent to which you ask of . But if that is it, then you will see no disagreent. Shall we draft a formal treaty?"
Wilhelm shockingly shook his head as he placed his tea down on the table. His posture tightened as he folded his hands.
"Not quite... We do not plan to imdiately annex Belgium. Rather, when the Netherlands is ready for the taking, we would like to welco both of the low countries back to the Reich with open arms."
Albert’s brow raised in confusion as he stamred over his words.
"I ... I’m sorry, but I thought you said you would be withdrawing your forces from the Netherlands?"
Wilhelm leaned back in his seat far more relaxed as he explained the plan to Albert as if he were now a part of so hidden conspiracy.
"Oh, believe , I fully intend to withdraw our forces from the Netherlands within the aforentioned ti. However, after we withdraw, the Netherlands will have to answer to its people, who, from my understanding will be electing a rather unusual party to power in the next election."
Wilhelm then reached for a dossier and slid it over on the table. Albert took one look at the title and his skin nearly jumped at the words written in bold ink.
Operation Westphalia
The dossier included information regarding over 30 years of Reich Intelligence Service operations conducted in tandem with Werwolf assets.
Specifically, in regard to subverting its neighbors whom Germany had no intentions of ever militarily invading.
The Netherlands and Switzerland were the two nations targeted for these operations, and they were both entering the final stages of destabilization. Headed straight towards crisis.
Kaiser Wilhelm II casually poured himself a drink as Albert read over the information with a mix of awe, intrigue, and horror. Until finally Wilhelm made his skin crawl.
"Don’t bla for that dreadful business. Most people assu Bruno is only good for waging war. But the reality is that he is a man of many talents. This was his brainchild... Personally I don’t care for such skullduggery, but Bruno is a man who is willing to do anything to achieve strategic victory. It’s why I intend to na him chancellor when Kurt retires next year."
The mont Albert connected Bruno’s na with the file satirically nad after the treaty that had established the idea of the modern nation state, and broken the German nation apart. He couldn’t help but understand Bruno’s long-term goal all along.
"Thirty years... Thirty years he has planned this in silence?"
The Kaiser simply chuckled and shook his head before filling up Albert’s cup. Though his words were posed as a joke, Albert couldn’t help but find them utterly chilling.
"Aren’t you glad you chose to join the winning side?"
Albert closed the dossier slowly, as though it might bite him if he moved too quickly.
For a long mont, he said nothing.
Belgium had always existed at the rcy of larger powers. Born from compromise, preserved through diplomacy, and nearly erased by war more than once.
Albert had spent his entire reign balancing on that narrow edge between relevance and annihilation.
And now he was staring at proof that Germany had already decided the fate of half of Europe without firing a single additional shot.
"You must understand," Albert said carefully, choosing each word with the precision of a man defusing a bomb, "that Belgium has no appetite for... revolutionary contagion. My people are tired. They have survived two world wars by clinging to stability, not ambition."
Wilhelm inclined his head slightly.
"Which is precisely why you are here," he replied. "And why the Netherlands will fall into our hands without a single German soldier crossing its border."
Albert’s fingers tightened around his glass.
"What you describe," he said, "would tear the Netherlands apart from within."
Wilhelm did not deny it.
"The Dutch have been living on borrowed ti since the first war," the Kaiser said calmly. "Neutrality is only virtuous when the world allows it. The last decade has proven that the world no longer does."
Albert exhaled through his nose.
"And Switzerland?" he asked quietly.
Wilhelm smiled thinly.
"They will resist longer," he admitted. "Their institutions are older; their cohesion stronger. But even mountains erode when enough pressure is applied."
Albert looked away.
He thought of Brussels, of Antwerp, of Flemish and Walloon politicians already at each other’s throats over budgets and language laws. He imagined what thirty years of invisible pressure might do to a nation like his.
"You are not conquering Europe," Albert said at last. "You are absorbing it."
Wilhelm’s smile widened, just slightly.
"On the contrary, we are simply restoring the Reich’s borders to their rightful place. Westphalia created the blueprint for the modern nation-state, and in doing so, Germany paid the price. The fatherland was carved apart to satiate the needs and desires of Europe. And for the last three hundred years the world has bled for it. Now we shall be whole again."
Albert felt a chill that had nothing to do with the weather outside.
"And if they do not accept this... reunion?"
Wilhelm shrugged.
"Then they will collapse under the weight of their own contradictions," he said. "And we will step in to restore order."
Silence fell between them again.
Albert realized then that the war had never truly ended. It had simply changed form.
At last, he straightened in his chair.
"Belgium will agree to your terms," he said. "Gradual integration. Federal autonomy. German as the language of state, with cultural protections preserved."
Wilhelm raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
Albert t his gaze.
"And we will not resist what is coming," he finished. "But we will not be humiliated by it either."
The Kaiser lifted his glass.
"A wise distinction," he said.
Albert hesitated, then lifted his own.
"To survival," the Belgian king said quietly.
Wilhelm’s eyes flicked briefly to the dossier bearing the na Westphalia.
"To unity," he replied.
They drank.
And sowhere beyond the palace walls, the future of Europe continued to unfold; not with marching armies, but with quiet signatures, sealed envelopes, and n who understood that the most decisive victories were the ones no one noticed until it was far too late.
User Comments
0 comments from readers