To the Last Man - Jeff Shaara [361]
THE KAISER SAT BACK IN HIS LUSH CHAIR, SEEMED TIRED, GAZED past them as the aides handed each man a copy of Wilson’s cable. Von Hindenburg took the paper, adjusted his glasses, read.
Feeling that the whole peace of the world depends now on plain speaking and straightforward action, the President deems it his duty to say, without any attempt to soften what may seem harsh words, that the nations of the world do not and cannot trust the word of those who have hitherto been the masters of German policy, and to point out once more that in concluding peace and attempting to undo the infinite injuries and injustices of this war the Government of the United States cannot deal with any but veritable representatives of the German people, who have been assured of a genuine constitutional standing as the real rulers of Germany.
If it must deal with the military masters and the monarchial autocrats of Germany . . . it must demand not peace negotiations, but surrender. . . .
Ludendorff tossed the paper onto the table in front of him, said, “Unconditional surrender. This is the price we pay for placing our faith in such a man. This is utterly unacceptable to any soldier. It proves that our cause has been just from the very beginning. The president of the United States uncloaks the pretense, strips bare the rhetoric. Our enemies desire nothing more than our total destruction.” He looked at von Hindenburg. “We must tell the army of this. All those cowardly officers who whimper and crawl to us for inspiration will now find it right here. If they cannot give their own soldiers a reason to fight, then we shall. What son of Germany can fail to rise to this challenge? Here it is, for all the world to see! If we do not fight, we will perish!” Ludendorff was shaking, his hands gripping the arms of the chair.
Von Hindenburg studied him for a moment, saw sweat on the man’s brow. He looked now at the kaiser, who seemed lost in thought, and von Hindenburg said, “Your Excellency, I must agree in large part with General Ludendorff. If we tell our army what the Americans propose, they will share our outrage. It will energize their fight. It may be the only means to prolong this war so that we can achieve the kind of armistice that will guarantee that our enemies do not abuse our people.”
Ludendorff said, “What armistice may we expect now? If the Americans are willing to succumb to the pressures of the British and French, we have no future left to us. Look at this letter. The American president refuses to recognize that we lead this nation! Your Excellency, he insults you directly! He says plainly that he will only deal with a leader of his own choosing!”
Wilhelm seemed to focus now, said in a quiet voice, “Then what would you have me do?”
Ludendorff said, “Fight to the death! If we show such resolve, the enemy will understand that we will never be dictated to in such a way! It matters not where the front may be, it matters not where the enemy places his troops. Prolonging the war will exhaust our enemies to the point where they will succumb to a peace that we dictate! Your Excellency, a fortress that surrenders without defending itself to the last is dishonored.”
The kaiser stared at the desk, and von Hindenburg could see that Wilhelm never looked at Ludendorff at all. Wilhelm said, “You would allow this war to be brought into our own streets?”
“Excellency, what else can we do? We use the word armistice. They use the word surrender. What they mean is punishment. Destruction. Obliteration. Is that not worth fighting for?”
Von Hindenburg put a hand on Ludendorff’s arm, could feel the man’s boiling fury. He tightened his grip and Ludendorff looked at him, responded to the old man’s silent order. Calm. Von Hindenburg said, “Your Excellency, I do not wish to see our nation suffer the ravages of war, but if we are to survive, that may be inevitable. We have enemies on this continent who would celebrate our extinction. We had all hoped that the Americans would prevent such a catastrophe,