The Rise of the Empire

"If you just look at the budget, I really can't believe that the Kingdom of Bavaria is only supporting five armies!" His Majesty the Kaiser said after closing the German Empire's army budget report for this year that Moltke sent the day before.

Compared with history, Germany's standing forces in this dimension have further expanded. Historically, Germany had 25 armies at the beginning of the war, but now Germany's standing armies and reserve armies that can be drawn out have reached 30! After Bavaria expanded its army twice, its standing force reached 5 corps. How to put it, although the Bavarian Legion's growth rate is relatively large, it is still within the tolerance of the Kaiser.

Logically speaking, the Bavarian Army is supported by the kingdom itself, and the Prussian military should not interfere. However, the Kaiser discovered this time that the cost of the five Bavarian armies was really a bit high! Five armies actually spent the money of eight armies! This is so abnormal!

If someone says that Bavaria wants to rebel, it is absolutely impossible. There is no motive and no strength, but William II, a curious baby, still wants to know where the Kingdom of Bavaria spends all this money! After spending this money, is it really worth it as Ruprecht said?

"Are the arrangements for the 1907 annual exercise?" the Kaiser asked, changing the subject.

"It has entered the final stage. The two sides of the exercise are Hindenburg's Fourth Army and Mackensen's Eleventh Army. Each side will draw about one division of troops to launch an offensive and defensive battle. General Hindenburg will be responsible for the defense. General Mackensen was in charge of the attack to test the tactics of combining outflanking and frontal breakthrough as well as the German army's ability to attack tough targets," said Xiao Maoqi.

"Why are the two sides participating in every major exercise an army of the Kingdom of Prussia?" the Kaiser said with profound meaning.

"Huh?!" Little Maoqi turned green after hearing this. Isn't this nonsense? Prussia's military power dominates the German Empire. Although the Kingdom of Württemberg and the Kingdom of Saxony are kingdom armies, their numbers are too small. They are originally only one or two armies. How about pulling out a division to participate in military exercises? Besides, although these two countries are kingdom armies, their organization and equipment are the same as those of the Prussian Army, which is different from the complete independence of Bavaria. Since they are basically the same, who is different?

Of course, since it was the Kaiser who was asking the question, Moltke obviously didn't have the guts to answer like this. Just as he was thinking about how to answer the question more tactfully, the Kaiser spoke again.

"The Bavarian Army already has five armies. In terms of numbers, it is close to one-sixth of the imperial army. However, they have spent military expenditures that could arm eight armies, and they have also reached an agreement with the Austro-Hungarian Empire. , they will help the Kingdom of Austria-Hungary build a legion, and then this legion will fight side by side with the Bavarian legion during wartime, that is to say, during wartime, Ruprecht will have two legions in his hands."

"Their position should be at the center of the Eastern Front. This is a very important position. The combat effectiveness of their regiment has a great impact on the entire Eastern Front and even the overall situation. Ruprecht wants to build a brand new army, but this How effective is the army? I really want to know. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Well, Your Majesty, what you mean is that you plan to have the Bavarian Army dispatch a unit to participate in this annual exercise? But judging from the time and arrangement, it is already a little too late. A division of troops entered East Prussia from Bavaria. After arriving, We still have to prepare for the drill, so time is a bit tight. Moreover, the Kingdom of Bavaria’s Legion needs a lot of heavy equipment.

It is also difficult to transport so much heavy equipment in peacetime. "Little Maoqi said with some embarrassment.

This is a time of peace, which means that Prussia’s military command power does not exist. If you ask the Bavarian Army to leave the homeland for exercises in East Prussia, the other party can shirk it, and this time the reason is very good. There is no time and no transportation capacity. In World War I, the Germans accomplished the feat of transporting 250,000 troops 800 kilometers in 11 days, but that was during wartime! Not in peacetime.

Xiao Maoqi once estimated the mobility needs of the Bavarian army. Even if the transportation was carried out according to the equipment configuration given to him by the other party, Xiao Maoqi believed that the transportation volume of a division of the Bavarian Army was approximately 1.5 to 1.8 times that of a normal German division! There is not much difference in the number of people between the two sides, but the biggest difference is in the equipment. Not to mention anything else, a single division of the Bavarian Army has 350 vehicles of various types, which is enough to outlast the Prussian division. Take Hindenburg's division as an example. A division can only have about 120 trucks at most.

Transporting so much equipment and providing various supplies is a very troublesome matter for both Prussia and Bavaria in peacetime. And at this time, if you directly modify the plan without saying hello in advance, what will the other party think? If nothing else, at least I am definitely unhappy.

"This is Ruprecht's business, isn't it? As long as he wants to come, he will definitely come. All you have to do is re-plan the exercise plan, and then send an invitation letter to the latter and see what their Opinion. You don’t have to worry about the rest.” The Kaiser said with a smile, seemingly not taking this matter to heart.

"So if Bavaria is one party in the exercise, which one, General Hindenburg or General Mackensen, will be the other party? How to divide the offense and defense of the two sides?" Moltke then asked.

"We will discuss these issues later. In short, remember one thing, I don't want the Prussian army to lose. You can strengthen it appropriately." The Kaiser was not sure about the combat effectiveness of the Bavarian Army. After all, this thing could not even build the Rump. Leicht only knew that it would improve a lot, but by how much, even the initiator didn't know. But the Kaiser knew that the combat effectiveness of the army was related to money consumption. After spending so much money, the combat effectiveness would not be degraded... The Kingdom of Bavaria is known for its advanced weapons and equipment, so the Kaiser felt a little guilty this time.

"What is this?" Little Maoqi never thought that the annual exercise plan he had prepared for several weeks would be overturned by the Kaiser in one morning. He wanted to know what the emperor was thinking. But now, his best option is to prepare immediately, which is not an easy process.

Did the Kaiser act on a whim? Obviously not! Maybe William II did make a lot of stupid moves and had character flaws, but a person who could handle Bismarck and sit on the throne for more than 20 years was generally above average. The report given by Little Maoqi was just the last spark to detonate this idea.

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