December 18, 1915, was a clear day. Though it had just snowed and the temperature was somewhat low, the accumulated snow had long since been cleared away. The square before the imperial palace was packed with people from all over Germany. They had all come to witness this Military Parade.
On the specially built reviewing stand sat German Emperor Wilhelm II, the heads of state and government leaders of various countries visiting Germany, the foreign envoys stationed in Germany, Germany's senior military and political officials, and prominent figures from society.
At nine in the morning, General Kluck, the commander-in-chief of the parade, reported to Oscar that the troops under review were ready. Oscar nodded, signaling that the parade could officially begin.
The first item of the parade was Oscar's speech.
Rather than use the speech draft prepared by the Cabinet, Oscar spoke extemporaneously. He praised the contributions made by the German military and people during the war, thanked the officers and soldiers for their valiant fighting and the public for their dedication, and credited this victory to them. Oscar declared that without their sacrifices, Germany would not have achieved victory.
Oscar also stated that the German Empire was a peace-loving nation. Its participation in the war had merely been a passive counterattack. Naturally, people from other countries scoffed at such words. If Germany was truly a peace-loving nation, then where had all the territory and overseas colonies it now possessed come from? If it had not defeated other nations, how could those nations possibly have willingly ceded land to Germany and transferred their rich overseas colonies to it?
Thus, Oscar's speech was nothing more than barefaced lies.
But the German people bought it! They thought His Majesty the Emperor had spoken wonderfully.
After Oscar finished speaking, the public erupted into