To the Last Man - Jeff Shaara [363]
“We have been summoned to the palace.”
BELLEVUE PALACE, BERLIN—OCTOBER 26, 1918
“I am outraged that my own commanders would dare to submit this proclamation to our soldiers. Indeed, all of Germany is outraged! I do not require excuses, nor do I intend to hear explanations. General Ludendorff, have you any other response to offer?”
Ludendorff sat stiffly, no expression, said, “Your Excellency, it is clear to me that I no longer enjoy your confidence. I beg most humbly to be relieved of my office.”
“I accept your resignation. General Ludendorff, as of this moment, you are relieved of all duties with the Imperial German Army.”
Von Hindenburg absorbed the shock of the kaiser’s abrupt change of attitude, had seen too much of it before. Ludendorff stood, snapped to attention, and marched quickly out of the office. There was a heavy silence in the room, and von Hindenburg watched Wilhelm’s face, saw the coldness in the man’s eyes soften. Von Hindenburg said, “Your Excellency, forgive me, but under the circumstances, I must offer my resignation as well.”
The kaiser seemed surprised, smiled now. “Nonsense! You have my full confidence, Field Marshal. And, I might add, the chancellor feels the same way. We must have our strong pillars in a time of crisis. Even the gloomiest night gives way to the dawn. The German people require a unifying symbol to show us the way out of the darkness. I’m sure you have much work to do.”
Von Hindenburg knew the sign. The meeting was over. He rose, made a short bow, said simply, “Your Excellency.”
He moved outside the office, no sign of Ludendorff. No, he would not wait. It is not in his nature to sit quietly while others discuss anything that does not concern him, not even the kaiser. He has no place here.
All the maneuvering that had taken place was clear to him now. The chancellor was the civilian leader, who functioned as the kaiser’s link to the Reichstag. Von Hindenburg thought of the kaiser granting permission to issue the proclamation, so conveniently forgotten. No, now he succumbs to the pressure from the civilians, has heard too much despair of the people that he possibly fears for his own safety. After all, the Russian czar and his entire family have been executed, and Wilhelm must surely know that his control of both the army and the people is becoming tenuous. His Majesty never trusted Ludendorff, and now every voice in the Reichstag is convincing him he was right. They have lost all faith in the army. For four years they resisted the power and the influence we held over them, over the kaiser himself. And now we have failed them. General Ludendorff has made many enemies, and now they can strike back at him. And so they have.
He was furious now, moved slowly through the hallways of the grand palace, ignored the attention from the people who stood aside as he passed. The fools! They fear us? The army is all they have ever been able to rely on, and they can rely on us now! We are the only means this country has of preventing our enemies from destroying us in their own fashion! So the ministers believe they must make a choice. Fight for their country or accept the demands of President Wilson and his allies. And if the kaiser is convinced he cannot rely on his own army, then he must rely on the chancellor. And so, he concedes his power. Without his army, Kaiser Wilhelm is a toothless monarch. And that is precisely what our enemies seek.
He moved out into the street, saw the car waiting for him, the limousine that would carry him back to his headquarters, where the reports would be waiting, the continuing news of disaster from the Western Front.
NEAR LANDREVILLE—NOVEMBER 1, 1918
THE REPLACEMENTS HAD COME ONCE AGAIN, MORE FRESH-FACED men, more protests as they were ordered to leave behind the distinctive green uniforms. As they marched into the ranks of the veterans, the scenes played out as they had before, proud, boastful boys announcing their arrival with loud bravado. But the veterans had seen too much of it by now.