Chapter 162: No Enemies Forever
Chapter 159 There is no permanent enemy
With the adoption of the Great Reserve Strategy, an increase in military spending was inevitable. In the short term, the increase in military spending is not yet obvious, with the increase in the number of reservists it is different.
No matter how cheap it is to raise reservists, military expenses will not be less than fifteen percent of the regular army. Weapons and equipment can be used in the regular army out of the old goods, soldiers’ wages can also be saved, but the training funds can not be saved in any case.
Under normal circumstances, Austria’s reserve forces, no less than two months of training time each year, after the completion of training, the government more or less also issued a condolence allowance.
According to the annual new reserve soldiers 200,000 calculations, this expenditure is equivalent to the annual expansion of 30,000, the total number of reserves to reach two million after the cap, it is equivalent to the current basis, the active forces increased by 250,000. (Deducting the half a million reserves already in place.)
If in accordance with the previous growth rate of Austrian revenue, it is estimated that it will not last long, this plan will die.
Franz couldn’t help but be glad that the industrial age had come, or else the agricultural Austria really wouldn’t have been able to afford so many soldiers.
“Considering that the future overseas colonization strategy will require the army and navy to work closely together, I have decided to establish a general staff, with Field Marshal Radetzky as the first Chief of General Staff.” Franz dropped a bombshell.
There was no doubt that this General Staff was independent of the Army and Navy, nominally only coordinating the Army and Navy to work together, but in reality, in time of war, this staff would override the Army and Navy Departments.
If there is no right how to coordinate? Do we still have to send people to reason with the troops below?
Especially the first chief of staff Marshal Radetzky, as the Austrian army in the existence of respected, with him in the General Staff can not override?
“Your Majesty, our colonial overseas strategy is not yet ready for implementation, is it not too early to set up the General Staff.” Prince Wendischgraetz objected
Objection, it had to be. The addition of a General Staff, overlapping in many places with the rights of the Ministry of Army and Navy, would inevitably greatly crowd out their rights.
Compared to Prince Wendischgraetz’s fierce reaction, the Navy Minister, who didn’t have much presence, was indifferent.
The creation of a body to co-ordinate the two armies was a matter of time, and the appointment of Field Marshal Radetzky, a native of the Army, as Chief of the General Staff was certainly an indication of the dominance of the Army.
It would be difficult for the Chief of General Staff, also of Army origin, to meddle with the Navy. In the case of professional incompatibility, the famous Marshal Radetzky will not interfere, right?
The establishment of the General Staff also marked the formalization of the Austrian government’s strategy of overseas colonization, so it became inevitable to build a large navy.
With Austria’s international status, the navy how to enter the world’s top five, or go out to grab the land, have no bottom.
And this gain than, a little power damage, the Ministry of the Navy is completely acceptable. Not to mention, this year’s naval military expenses can be raised by a few million.
Franz casually found a reason to explain: ”Early preparation is more adequate, so as not to be in a hurry when the time comes. Now the European continent still maintains the balance, when this situation is broken is an unknown.
Although we judge that the Russians may make a move against the Ottoman Empire, there is an eventuality in everything, if the Russians run to Central Asia to expand, or run to the Far East to expand.
Our original strategic plan will not have the possibility to be implemented. Then the overseas colonization strategy, which was placed at the end, can also be prioritized to the first place.”
The Russians are stupid to let go of the near Ottomans not to fight and run to Central Asia or the Far East to eat dirt.
Whether Prince Wendischgretz could accept it or not, coping with it would be Franz giving face. Bringing it out and discussing it with everyone was to show democracy, and to check for gaps.
If everyone was against it, it proved that the plan was not reliable. Either it is too advanced for everyone to accept, or it is not in line with Austria’s national conditions and cannot be implemented.
In such a case, Franz would naturally withdraw it from good advice. Now Prince Wendischgreutz is against it, so this resolution is considered to be passed.
Considering that the army generals may boycott the General Staff, Franz also specially selected the highly respected Marshal Radetzky, is to let them have nothing to say.
As long as the first Chief of General Staff sat tight, everyone got used to it later. The power of the General Staff in times of peace is actually not very big, Franz will not let them train and command a handful of people.
Checks and balances of power are necessary, the General Staff can command the whole country’s army in times of war, but the recruitment of soldiers, training, logistical support system, is still in the hands of the Ministry of Land and Maritime Affairs.
Historically, Germany’s general staff directly over the emperor’s things, Franz but early defense.
In addition to these checks and balances, the palace guard, Vienna’s city defense force are also directly responsible to the emperor, the Ministry of War, the General Staff have no command.
……
Munich.
Having thought that having gained the support of the Great Powers, the Kingdom of Bavaria would be able to consolidate the smaller states in the German region, the reality gave Maximilian I a head start.
People did not want to be annexed by Austria and Prussia, and likewise they would not want to be annexed by Bavaria. In normal times the relationship was good, but it was to keep warm and to fight against the threat from Austria and Prussia.
This is also the reason why Prussia was poorly liked in the German Confederation, the Austrian threat was separated by Bavaria, and everyone still didn’t feel it obviously, as the threat of neighboring Prussia was tangible to everyone.
“Did Württemberg also reject our pull?” Maximilian I asked with a frown
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The Foreign Minister replied dryly
Württemberg is also considered a “big country” in the German Confederation, with a territory that is second only to Austria, Prussia and Bavaria.
If Bavaria wanted to stand on its own feet, it could not do so without the support of Württemberg. Obviously, no one wanted to be a stepping stone for others, and the Württemberg government did not want to become a vassal of Bavaria.
Even if everyone merged in name only, and in reality Württemberg still retained nearly all of its rights, that wouldn’t do.
No one was fool enough to realize that if all the German states were to merge now, the dominant Austrian states would also retain their rights. There is no other reason, it just can’t be swallowed.
Likewise, if Prussia had annexed the smaller states except Austria, they would not have been able to swallow them and would have had to make compromises.
The same is now true of the Kingdom of Bavaria, not to mention that the territories of the remaining German states are small, but in fact almost all of them are economically well-developed and densely populated areas.
So when Maximilian I threw out the generous conditions, everyone refused. With Austria and Prussia watching, Bavaria would not dare to threaten them by force.
Do you really think that with the support of the Great Powers, you can make everyone give in? Don’t forget that Prussia and Austria are still Great Powers, and no one has compromised with them!
No, Prussia could only be considered a quasi-Power, with the military power of a Power, but not the national power of a Power.
In a way, the Kingdom of Prussia kept a strong army for fear of being annexed by Austria.
Given the choice, Frederick William IV was not willing to beat a dead horse. Now the Prussian government’s finances could go bankrupt at any time, but their military expenses were never a penny short.
Undercurrents were already surging within the Kingdom of Bavaria, so how could so many German exchange organizations in Austria not play a role?
The news that the Bavarian government wanted independence was passed on, and a march against the division of the country was already in preparation.
In order to avoid suspicion, those responsible for planning the march were German nationalists, and the organizations and individuals associated with Austria were merely waving the flag.
……
Berlin.
Since the end of the Prussian War, the Kingdom of Prussia had been on the road to reform. The first problem before the government was finance.
Unlike in the past, the Prussian War had dragged on a little bit longer, which meant that the military expenditures had increased by 50-60 million guilders.
Theoretically, as long as they got the funds that the people of the German region helped them raise, they could basically fill the hole.
Obviously this was impossible, never mind getting the rest of the money. The embassies or offices of the Kingdom of Prussia in the various states were still harassed from time to time by debt collectors.
In the face of these people, they can not even touch, can not even scold, reasonable people bite – liar.
As a result, these staff members do not even dare to go out to buy groceries for fear of being hit by unidentified flying objects, and all their living problems are solved by the governments of the countries where they live.
In order to divert the attention of the public, the Prussian government has even made concessions, and the Bavarian Kingdom, together with the “three responsible cabinet”.
However, it was not expected to arouse the fear of the Great Powers, and due to diplomatic pressure, the plan was aborted just after its implementation.
It is impossible to say that Frederick William IV did not have grievances in his heart. Unfortunately, he had no place to vent his anger.
In this series of measures, the Prussian government performed moderately well and did not make any major mistakes, the responsibility for the failure can not be blamed on them.
The reaction of Austria, Bavaria and other countries was no more than natural, everyone stood on their own interests to consider the problem, no one owed anyone.
“Prime Minister, how far has the matter of borrowing with the British progressed?” Frederick William IV asked with concern
“Your Majesty, I’m afraid that borrowing from the British is out of the question, they have proposed an unacceptable condition.” Prime Minister Josef von Radowitz replied with a bitter smile
“What kind of condition, that there is not even room for negotiation?” Frederick William IV asked suspiciously
Joseph von Radowitz sighed and said, “The British demand that we permanently withdraw from the German Confederation!”
“What?” Frederick William IV asked incredulously
Withdrawal from the German Confederation? If the Kingdom of Prussia withdrew from the German Confederation, then the Kingdom of Prussia’s dream of being a great power would be directly shattered, and they would be a medium-sized country with their current size.
Frederick William IV was sure that once Prussia withdrew from the German Confederation, then the British would surely unite with France and Russia to force Austria to make the same decision next.
By then, the remaining German states would be merged and become a medium-sized country again. Under the complicated international situation, this newly established country might not be aggressive enough, but it definitely had more than enough to protect itself.
After a half-loud pause, Frederick William IV reacted, and then said: “No, such conditions we absolutely can not accept, we must contact the Austrian government as soon as possible, I think they are not willing to leave so gray!”
Undoubtedly, Frederick William IV undoubtedly thought the wrong way, thinking that the British were ready to split the German Confederation.
Don’t look at the fact that they were always trying to break up the Austrian-dominated German Confederation, but when the German Confederation was really split up, the one who was most worried would definitely not be Austria.
Even if they left the German Confederation, the Austrian Empire would likewise be a great power in Europe, but the Kingdom of Prussia would not be able to do so, and there would be no chance for them to go further.
Prime Minister Joseph von Radowitz analyzed: ”Your Majesty, we can’t rush this issue, the Austrians will likewise not give up the German region, we just need to pass through some channels and reveal the news to the Austrian government to know.
The British want to think about it, but if they really want to turn this plan into reality, they can’t do it yet.
Even if Britain, France and Russia join hands to put pressure, as long as we and Austria don’t let go, they can’t do anything about it, they can’t start a war with us just because of this matter, right?”
The union of Prussia and Austria also exists the problem of the initiative, if Prussia just sent to the door, that is not to give up the initiative in the alliance?
(End of chapter)