Chapter Summaries

Oscar secured Krupp Company’s support for new artillery and small-arms development, then visited Daimler Company to review its expanding motorcycle production and new products. The chapter ended with Oscar inspecting the newly developed Daimler Sedan.

• Oscar asked Gustav Krupp to adapt the French recoil system for German artillery, and Gustav agreed that Krupp could develop it.
• Oscar left Krupp Company after helping establish the German Arms Company and securing plans for larger naval guns and new infantry artillery.
• Oscar traveled to Stuttgart after receiving a notice from Paul Daimler, who reported rising motorcycle sales, expanded factory shifts, and a new factory under construction.
• Paul Daimler told Oscar that Wilhelm Maybach was leading development of the Second Generation Motorcycle and that it was expected to be completed the following year.
• Oscar went to Daimler’s research and development department, where Wilhelm Maybach presented the upgraded Phoenix automobile, officially named the Daimler Sedan.

Oscar approved the new Daimler Sedan and planned to launch it on January 1, while urging Daimler Motor Company to expand production. He outlined a three-tier lineup of A-, B-, and C-Class sedans, leaving Paul Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach ready to begin developing the luxury and affordable models.

• Oscar praised the new Daimler Sedan, and Paul Daimler asked when it would go on sale.
• Paul Daimler said production could reach five thousand cars per month, but Oscar set a goal of fifty thousand monthly within three years.
• Paul Daimler stated that the sedan cost seven thousand Mark to produce and would sell for ten thousand Mark.
• Oscar named the new model the Daimler B-Class Sedan and ordered development of a luxury A-Class and an affordable C-Class priced below two thousand Mark.
• Wilhelm Maybach agreed to have the research department begin work on the A-Class and C-Class sedans.

Qin Tian arranged Daimler’s passenger-car launch and reviewed its new truck, aiming to make the company a leader in the automobile industry. He gave the first hundred B-Class cars to influential German figures, beginning with Wilhelm II, to promote the brand before its official sale.

• Qin Tian told Wilhelm Maybach to launch the B-Class car on January 1 and accelerate development of the A-Class and C-Class models, especially the C-Class.
• Wilhelm Maybach showed Qin Tian Daimler’s prototype truck, which could carry 1.5 tons and reach forty kilometers per hour; Qin Tian urged the company to improve its reliability for military use.
• Qin Tian named the vehicle the Maybach heavy-duty truck, delighting Wilhelm Maybach.
• Qin Tian left Stuttgart with one hundred B-Class cars to give to the Emperor, royal family members, ministers, military officers, and prominent entrepreneurs as free advertising.
• Qin Tian presented a B-Class car to Wilhelm II, who drove it around the palace and praised its comfort and performance.

Oscar’s Daimler B-Class cars sold out on their first day, prompting plans to expand production, while he promoted Maybach heavy-duty trucks to the military. The army considered the trucks useful but had yet to decide whether it could afford them.

• Bernhard von Bülow told Oscar that the government wanted to buy Daimler B-Class cars, and Oscar offered a ten percent discount and priority delivery.
• Daimler sold all ten thousand B-Class cars on January 1 as government agencies and wealthy merchants bought them, leaving Paul Daimler with a flood of unfilled orders.
• Paul Daimler sought Oscar’s approval to accelerate factory construction and plan a large automobile factory in northern Germany.
• Oscar presented Maybach heavy-duty trucks to German military leaders, explaining how they could transport soldiers and supplies beyond Germany’s rail network.
• Moltke the Younger questioned the trucks’ reliability and raised concerns about tight military spending, while Oscar offered the military a price of six thousand five hundred Mark per vehicle.

Oscar arranged for Daimler to build reserve trucks after the Army’s purchase of twenty thousand trucks and the Navy’s purchase of five thousand, while recognizing that Moltke the Younger’s resistance limited Army adoption. On the journey back to Berlin, Tirpitz discussed the Army’s needs and revealed that Wilhelm II would hold Oscar’s coming-of-age ceremony on his twentieth birthday.

• The Army agreed to buy twenty thousand Daimler trucks in five installments, while Oscar planned to build reserves and expand civilian sales for possible wartime requisition.
• The Navy bought five thousand trucks, and Tirpitz told Oscar that the Army needed far more than its purchase would provide.
• Oscar said Wilhelm II trusted Moltke the Younger too much to replace him, and Tirpitz offered to raise the matter with the Emperor before Oscar discouraged him.
• Tirpitz told Oscar that Wilhelm II planned a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Oscar’s twentieth birthday, attended by senior ministers and social elites.

Oscar turned twenty and celebrated his coming-of-age with a grand palace ceremony as Germany’s acting Crown Prince. His family left the choice of a bride to him, while jealous brothers and hostile foreign powers watched his growing prominence with resentment.

• Empress Victoria urged Oscar to consider marriage and hoped he would choose a woman he truly liked.
• On July 2, 1908, Wilhelm II held a grand coming-of-age ceremony for Oscar, attended by German nobles and foreign envoys.
• An envoy from Austro-Hungary pressed Wilhelm II to arrange a Habsburg-Hohenzollern marriage alliance, but Wilhelm II left the choice to Oscar.
• Oscar completed the ceremony’s rituals, and Wilhelm II praised him as Germany’s finest Crown Prince before the guests.
• Britain, France, Russia, and Oscar’s older brothers resented his position and the honors he received.

At Oscar’s coming-of-age banquet, he rejected the noblewomen seeking his attention and considered the ambition of his brothers. The British Ambassador Vincent then warned him about the consequences of war, but Oscar remained determined to help Germany defeat Britain and take its place as the world’s hegemon.

• Eitel Friedrich, Prince Albert, and Prince August Wilhelm resented Oscar’s elevation to Crown Prince, while Oscar resolved not to yield the throne.
• Oscar rejected invitations to dance from noblewomen at his banquet, and Empress Victoria and Wilhelm II discussed his high standards for a future wife.
• Oscar approached Prince Heinrich and Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz, but they urged him to mingle with the noblewomen instead.
• Vincent, the British Ambassador to Germany, warned Oscar to contribute to world peace and avoid a war with unbearable consequences.
• Oscar viewed Vincent’s words as an attempt to influence or warn Germany and remained committed to helping Germany defeat Britain.

Oscar confronted British Ambassador Vincent over Germany’s naval expansion and rejected his threats, while Prince Eitel Friedrich, Prince Adalbert, and Prince August Wilhelm considered seeking military support. Later, Oscar spotted a beautiful young woman at the banquet and felt drawn to her, leaving the watching guests wondering what he would do.

• Oscar told Ambassador Vincent that Germany was peaceful but would defend itself, while Vincent warned that Britain could crush its rivals.
• Oscar rejected Vincent’s claim that Germany’s armaments provoked Britain, and Vincent left the banquet after warning him not to regret Germany’s course.
• Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz and Prince Heinrich backed Oscar, while Prince Eitel Friedrich, Prince Adalbert, and Prince August Wilhelm considered strengthening their ties with the military.
• Oscar noticed two young women in white gowns, became captivated by the younger one, and walked toward them as the guests watched.

At his coming-of-age ceremony, Oscar approached the Bavarian princesses and chose Princess Gundelinde as his dance partner, making his interest in her clear. Their dance left the other noble ladies jealous, while Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz and Prince Heinrich welcomed the prospect of a Prussian-Bavarian marriage alliance.

• Oscar walked up to Princess Helmuth and Princess Gundelinde and asked Gundelinde her name.
• Oscar invited Princess Gundelinde to dance, and she accepted.
• Oscar and Princess Gundelinde danced while the noble ladies watched with envy.
• Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz and Prince Heinrich praised Oscar’s choice as a chance to unite Prussia and Bavaria.

At his coming-of-age banquet, Crown Prince Oskar danced with Princess Gundelinde and invited her to stroll through the palace gardens, drawing the attention of both their families and the guests. The Bavarian royals welcomed the possibility of an alliance but left the choice to Gundelinde.

• Prince Franz told Rupprecht and Prince Karl that Crown Prince Oskar had invited Gundelinde to dance, and they welcomed the prospect of a match.
• Rupprecht told King Ludwig III about the dance, and Ludwig said Gundelinde should decide for herself whether she wanted to be with Oskar.
• Oskar danced with Princess Gundelinde, learned about her preferences, and resolved to make her his wife.
• Princess Victoria approved of Gundelinde as a potential match for Oskar, while Wilhelm II considered the political implications without interfering.
• After the dance, Oskar invited Princess Gundelinde to stroll with him through the palace gardens.

Oscar and Princess Gundelinde grew closer during a walk through the palace gardens, and Oscar decided he wanted to marry her. After Wilhelm II approved the match despite its political implications, Oscar prepared to leave for Munich and entrusted the German Industrial Group’s projects to Karl von Jonath.

• Oscar and Princess Gundelinde toured the palace gardens, realized they shared feelings, and invited each other to visit Munich, where Gundelinde would leave the next day.
• News of Oscar’s interest in Gundelinde spread through the German Empire, and Wilhelm II summoned Oscar to ask whether he intended to marry her.
• Oscar told Wilhelm II that he wanted Gundelinde as his wife and argued that their marriage would not prevent the emperor from consolidating power through gradual policies.
• Wilhelm II accepted Oscar’s decision and expressed his support for the marriage.
• Oscar visited Karl von Jonath at the German Industrial Group and instructed him to oversee its shipyards, Engine Factory, Arms Company, and other projects while Oscar went to Munich.

Oscar traveled to Munich to court Princess Gundelinde, presenting gifts to the Bavarian Royal Family and spending several days with her. He confessed his love and asked her to marry him, and Gundelinde happily accepted.

• Oscar left Berlin for Munich with gifts for the Bavarian Royal Family and arrived on July 6.
• Crown Prince Rupprecht welcomed Oscar and accompanied him to Munich Royal Palace, where Oscar presented Daimler B-Class cars to the royal family.
• Ludwig III welcomed Oscar and teased Gundelinde about his pursuit of her, while her unmarried sisters looked on enviously.
• Oscar and Gundelinde toured Munich together over the following days and grew closer.
• Oscar confessed his love and asked Gundelinde to marry him, and she accepted before they kissed.

Oscar and Princess Gundelinde announced their engagement plans to the Bavarian royal family, then Oscar returned to Berlin to ask Wilhelm II for his approval. The two families arranged their engagement for August 18, 1908, and set their wedding for September 1909.

• Oscar and Princess Gundelinde appeared hand in hand at dinner, where Oscar announced that she had accepted his proposal and Ludwig III approved their match.
• Ludwig III suggested that Oscar and Princess Gundelinde become engaged that year and marry after she turned eighteen, and Oscar agreed.
• Oscar left Munich the next morning and returned to Berlin on July 10 to tell Wilhelm II about the proposal.
• Wilhelm II supported Oscar's choice, and discussions between the imperial and Bavarian families set the engagement for one month later.
• Oscar and Princess Gundelinde became engaged in Berlin on August 18, 1908, with their wedding set for September of the following year.

Oscar and Gustav Krupp prepared to introduce German Arms Company's new small arms to the Army despite opposition from Mauser and Rheinmetall. They arranged a Christmas Eve exhibition attended by Wilhelm II and senior military leaders, where the weapons would be judged.

• In October 1908, Krupp completed development of the 343mm naval gun and began developing a 380mm gun.
• In November, German Arms Company developed several new infantry weapons and began testing them.
• Gustav Krupp warned Oscar that the weapons' higher cost and rival companies' Army connections could block sales.
• Oscar proposed holding a New Weapon Exhibition on Christmas Eve to demonstrate the weapons to the Army's senior leaders.
• Oscar invited Wilhelm II, who agreed to attend, while Gustav Krupp pressed the research department to ensure the exhibition went smoothly.

At a German Arms Company exhibition, Oscar and Gustav Krupp presented the MG09 General Purpose Machine Gun to Wilhelm II and senior Army and Navy officials. Its performance stunned the generals, who were left comparing it unfavorably with the Army’s MG08.

• Gustav Krupp oversaw security and preparations for the exhibition at the Berlin firing range.
• Wilhelm II, Oscar, and senior Army and Navy officials arrived in Daimler A-Class cars.
• Oscar explained that the Navy might eventually establish a Marine Corps, though he expected the Army to resist the plan.
• Five MG09 machine guns fired on targets, emptying their ammunition belts in under half a minute.
• Gustav Krupp revealed that the MG09 weighed 12.5 kilograms, fired up to 800 rounds per minute, and had a maximum range of 2,000 meters.
• Falkenhayn and the other generals were astonished by the MG09’s capabilities compared with the Army’s MG08.

Oscar presented the German Arms Company’s new infantry weapons to Wilhelm II and the German Army’s generals, including machine guns, rifles, mortars, and grenade launchers. Wilhelm II praised the weapons, while Moltke the Younger worried that Oscar’s influence would grow; the chapter ended with Oscar urging that the new arms be issued to infantry squads and platoons.

• Falkenhayn and the generals praised the MG09 General Purpose Machine Gun, while Moltke the Younger concealed his alarm and considered how to limit Oscar’s influence.
• Gustav Krupp demonstrated the lightweight MG10 Squad Automatic Weapon, and General von Waldow reacted with astonishment at the prospect of equipping every infantry squad with one.
• The German Arms Company demonstrated the M1 semi-automatic rifle and M2 sniper rifle, and Wilhelm II praised Oscar’s work.
• Oscar presented mortars firing on trench targets, impressing the generals with their ability to strike troops and fortifications from indirect positions.
• The German Arms Company demonstrated portable Grenade Launchers, and Oscar declared that equipping infantry squads and platoons with the new weapons would give them an overwhelming advantage.

Oscar urged the German Army to replace its current weapons with advanced arms developed by the German Arms Company, but the generals raised concerns about the cost, logistics, and machine-gun barrel changes. The discussion ended without a decision on reequipping.

• Oscar proposed equipping the German Army with the German Arms Company's weapons to increase its combat strength.
• Von Falkenhayn supported reequipping if military funds allowed, while some generals stayed silent because of their ties to rival arms companies.
• Von Waldow questioned the weapons' cost, and Oscar admitted that the M1 rifle cost about twice as much as the Mauser 1898.
• Moltke the Younger argued that the Army should buy the weapons in small batches and delay large-scale reequipping until funding improved.
• A general warned that the weapons would strain logistics, but von Falkenhayn suggested adding logistics personnel and trucks.
• A general criticized the air-cooled machine guns' overheating and spare-barrel requirements, and Gustav Krupp defended quick barrel changes.

Oscar's effort to secure army adoption of German Arms Company's new weapons met opposition from generals allied with Mauser and Rheinmetall, as well as practical concerns about cost and logistics. Wilhelm II approved a small-batch re-equipment plan, leaving German Arms Company with a limited order and Oscar determined to pursue larger purchases later.

• Generals opposed adopting German Arms Company's weapons, prompting Oscar to challenge them and renew his conflict with Moltke the Younger.
• Wilhelm II asked General von Waldow about re-equipping the army, and von Waldow advised against replacing all its equipment at once because of cost and logistical strain.
• Minister of War von Falkenhayn proposed replacing equipment in small batches, and Wilhelm II approved the plan.
• Gustav Krupp and General von Waldow agreed on an order for machine guns, sniper rifles, semi-automatic rifles, mortars, and grenade launchers.
• Gustav Krupp reported the order to Oscar, who accepted its limited scale and said they would seek more orders later.

After the Army ordered few weapons from the German Arms Company, Oscar sought to secure more Navy purchases and proposed creating a Marine Corps. Tirpitz welcomed the idea but warned that the Army might strongly oppose it.

• Gustav Krupp told Oscar that Tirpitz had returned to the Naval Ministry and wanted to discuss Navy purchases.
• Oscar went to the Naval Ministry, where Tirpitz gave him the Navy’s order for weapons to equip naval base guards.
• Oscar proposed that the Navy establish a Marine Corps for landing operations, both to open beachheads and reduce Army casualties.
• Tirpitz supported the proposal but warned that the Army would resist, so Oscar suggested starting with a Division or a Brigade.

Oscar and Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz asked Wilhelm II to approve a navy Marine Corps for future landings in Britain. Wilhelm II was intrigued by the plan but hesitated over the likely conflict with the army.

• Oscar urged Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz to establish a Marine Corps despite the army’s likely opposition.
• Oscar and Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz went to the palace to seek Wilhelm II’s support.
• Grand Admiral Count Tirpitz argued that Germany should prepare to land in Britain if its navy defeated the British Royal Navy.
• Wilhelm II questioned the proposal, and Oscar supported it by arguing that specialized marines would reduce casualties during beach assaults.
• Wilhelm II recognized that Oscar’s proposal might be a response to the army’s refusal to rearm, but he remained undecided.