Moroccan Crisis

At Oscar's earnest invitation, Diesel agreed to join his engine manufacturing company. Oscar purchased all patents for Diesel's engine for five million Marks.

At the same time, Oscar hired Diesel as chief engineer of the Diesel Engine Division at the German Engine Manufacturing Company, responsible for further research on diesel engines. Soon, Oscar would invest at least twenty million Marks to build a research center and factory in Augsburg, enabling rapid production of highly reliable diesel engines.

In May 1905, the German Engine Manufacturing Company was formally established. Besides the previously founded Diesel Engine Division, there were also a Steam Turbine Division and a Gasoline Engine Division. In the future, an Aviation Engine Division would be added, ensuring comprehensive coverage across sea, land, and air. Of course, Oscar's focus remained on military applications. Once the military entered the mechanized era, demand for high-power engines would be enormous, directly impacting combat effectiveness. Starting the groundwork now would undoubtedly ensure Germany stayed ahead of other nations in this regard.

Oscar's ventures entered a phase of rapid growth. The German Shipyard was undergoing large-scale expansion; with massive capital investment, this century-old medium-sized shipyard was transforming dramatically. Though the German Engine Manufacturing Company was just starting out, it had already taken the global lead in diesel engines and steam turbines by acquiring complete technology sets. Oscar was organizing engineers to study the Curtis steam turbine technology obtained from the United States, aiming to master it quickly and produce large steam turbines suitable for Battleships, giving their vessels greater speed.

Although Oscar knew this path was extremely difficult, he also enjoyed the feeling of changing the world through his own efforts. Even if his influence on Germany and world history was still very small, Oscar believed this was an excellent start. As long as he continued developing, his impact would grow ever larger. Before long, Germany would undergo tremendous changes because of him. Of course, historical inertia remained very powerful. Whether Germany could win the war and alter its fate due to Oscar's presence was uncertain. All he could do was try his utmost to help Germany achieve victory.

While Oscar's ventures were booming, Germany faced a diplomatic crisis. A major failure in German diplomacy had occurred. The entire German society was outraged, and tensions in the world began to escalate.

Morocco, a country in northwestern Africa. Since the 15th century, Western powers had been invading Morocco. Entering the 20th century, Morocco's situation grew even more chaotic and complex. France and Spain were vying for their respective interests in Morocco. Meanwhile, German capital was also pouring into Morocco.

In April 1904, Britain and France signed an agreement: France promised not to interfere with British actions in Egypt, while Britain recognized Morocco as France's sphere of influence. But this infringed on Germany's interests in Morocco.

In February 1905, France demanded that Morocco carry out reforms under French supervision, attempting to turn Morocco into a French protectorate. Germany immediately pushed back. On March 31, German Emperor Wilhelm II visited the Moroccan city of Tangier, declaring that Germany would uphold Morocco's independence and that all foreign powers should have absolutely equal status in Morocco. Subsequently, German Prime Minister Bülow proposed to all signatories of the 1880 Madrid Convention that the Moroccan issue be submitted to an international conference.

The Madrid Convention stipulated that all foreign nations and their citizens should enjoy equal trading and other rights in Morocco. Germany's note to France threatened war. French Foreign Minister T. Delcassé took a hardline stance and received British support. The situation suddenly became tense.

On June 6, fierce debate erupted in the French cabinet meeting. Delcassé was forced to resign, and Prime Minister M. Rouvier concurrently took over as Foreign Minister, continuing negotiations with Germany.

On July 8, an agreement was reached: both sides consented to convene an international conference of Madrid Convention signatories to discuss the Moroccan issue.

However, Germany clearly did not have the upper hand on the Moroccan question.

At the Imperial Palace, German Emperor Wilhelm II convened an Imperial Council. Prime Minister Bernhard von Bülow, Foreign Minister von Kiderlen-Waechter, Chief of Staff Moltke the Younger, Minister of War von Falkenhayn, First Sea Lord Tirpitz, and Crown Prince Wilhelm attended this meeting.

As for Oscar, although his performance over the past year had been completely different from before and had earned Wilhelm II's attention, overall, he was not yet qualified to participate in such an important meeting.

"Father Emperor, we absolutely cannot continue to yield. The French actions in Morocco completely disregard our interests there—this damages the German Empire's interests and tramples on its sovereignty. We must not compromise any further. We need to use our powerful military strength to show the French our resolve and make them back down." Crown Prince Wilhelm's impassioned voice echoed in the office.

On the Moroccan issue, Crown Prince Wilhelm's stance was very firm. He knew this represented the voice of the people. The military's position was equally tough. By taking this line, he would undoubtedly gain more support, further solidifying his position as Crown Prince.

Oscar's recent developments had deeply alarmed Crown Prince Wilhelm. He needed to find ways to secure his own status as heir.

"Your Majesty, public sentiment at home is also quite agitated. Most people believe we cannot retreat any further. Otherwise, the Empire's overseas interests will not be guaranteed," Prime Minister Bülow added.

Germany had only unified in 1870, and its subsequent development was very rapid. But when it became a first-class world power, it discovered that the world had already been carved up. Germany had only obtained a few insignificant colonies in the wave of global partition. This was completely mismatched with Germany's strong economic and military power. Moreover, Britain and France had set up trade barriers in their colonies, preventing German industrial goods from entering, which fueled growing discontent within Germany toward Britain and France.

This Moroccan incident had precisely ignited the anger of the German people.