Recaps

British and French forces bombarded Liège Fortress while Belgian troops attacked its German defenders and suffered heavy losses. After the Belgians withdrew at sunset, General Herbert ordered another assault the next day, with heavier bombs and artillery aimed at destroying the fortress.

• General Herbert criticized the French defense of Liège Fortress and ordered the Belgians to attack to reveal German firing positions.
• British bombers arrived ahead of the agreed attack, and the Belgian commander sent his troops forward under the bombardment.
• German defenders filled gaps in their lines and fought off the Belgian advance amid artillery, machine-gun fire, and bombing.
• After several hours, the Belgian troops withdrew, leaving the ground outside Liège Fortress covered with bodies.
• A staff officer reported the calculated German firing positions to General Herbert, who ordered continued bombardment and preparations for another attack the next day.

The German garrison at Liège Fortress endured days of bombardment and failed Allied assaults, losing most of its defenders and ammunition. As the exhausted commander prepared to destroy the fortress rather than surrender it, Model arrived with German reinforcements and joined the defense.

• The Liège Fortress commander refused to leave after being wounded and learned that the garrison had suffered heavy casualties.
• General Herbert ordered repeated Allied attacks, but the assaults failed for four days despite an enormous bombardment.
• With fewer than a thousand Germans still able to fight and ammunition nearly exhausted, the commander ordered soldiers to ignite the fortress's remaining TNT if the enemy broke in.
• The Allies launched another attack, but German reinforcements arrived and opened fire on the advancing troops.
• Model lit the commander's cigarette and ordered the soldiers to prepare for battle.

German reinforcements secured Liège Fortress and forced the Allies to withdraw after their assault failed. Model then ordered a surprise counterattack that shattered the Allied lines, and General Herbert died by suicide as his troops retreated.

• General Herbert recognized that the Allied offensive had failed after German reinforcements arrived and ordered his troops to withdraw from Liège Fortress.
• German infantry divisions and a cavalry division arrived at Liège Fortress, strengthening its defenses and crushing the Allied trenches with artillery fire.
• Model and the reinforcing commanders approved Operation Long Knife to attack the withdrawing Allies.
• German cavalry and infantry launched a night assault, routing the exhausted British and French troops and driving them back.
• General Herbert refused to leave headquarters and shot himself; his staff officer ordered the retreat, and German soldiers burned the dead at dawn as the war ended.

After the victory at Liège Fortress, His Majesty Eitel ordered a state funeral for the fallen and insisted that his generals return to the Prussia War Academy after the ceasefire. He then called Field Marshal Hindenburg and told him to come learn what the Allies planned at the Versailles Conference, warning that he had only one choice.

• Rommel reported that the battle for Liège Fortress had ended in victory, and Eitel noted that more than ten thousand soldiers had died.
• Eitel ordered a state funeral for the fallen, and Manstein supported the order and proposed medals for distinguished officers and soldiers.
• Eitel explained that honoring the fallen would strengthen Germany’s position at the Versailles Conference, and Guderian and Rommel apologized for objecting.
• Eitel ordered Guderian, Manstein, and Rommel to return to the Prussia War Academy after the ceasefire, overruling their objections.
• Eitel kept Rommel behind and called Field Marshal Hindenburg, then told him to come learn the Allies’ plans and warned that he had only one choice.

Field Marshal Hindenburg pledged his loyalty to Eitel and returned the imperial command standard and field marshal's baton. After receiving the Allies' invitation to the Versailles Conference, Eitel decided to attend in person with Hindenburg, leaving to negotiate Germany's future.

• Hindenburg reflected on Eitel's leadership and declared that he would follow him for the German Empire.
• Hindenburg sent Eitel the imperial command standard and field marshal's baton.
• Eitel unlocked new army-related national focuses after completing the military authority mission.
• Rommel delivered the Allies' invitation for Eitel to attend the Versailles Conference and reported that an American would discuss a grain sale contract.
• Eitel ordered Rommel to prepare his car and summoned Hindenburg to accompany him to Versailles.

Emperor Eitel set out for the Versailles Conference amid German crowds who hailed him for the victory at Liège and his leadership. He promised to bring peace and ensure every household could eat bread and drink milk, leaving with the people’s support and their hopes resting on him.

• Eitel left the Berlin City Palace as citizens cheered, while Guderian asked Rommel and Manstein why the Emperor was so popular.
• Rommel and Manstein praised Eitel’s leadership, describing how he had revived factory production, supplied the front, and secured a grain sales contract with the Americans.
• Eitel reflected that public support gave him power, but recognized that Germans lacked both food and hope and wanted the war to end.
• Eitel raised his marshal’s baton and told the crowd he was going to the Versailles Conference to bring peace to Europe.
• Eitel promised that after the war every German household would have bread and milk, then departed as the crowd cheered him.

Eitel traveled to Versailles for the peace conference, telling Rommel he intended to unite Europe under German rule and make Germany a world-spanning power. He arrived at the conference with Hindenburg and Rommel and entered the room to face the hostile Allied representatives.

• Eitel told Rommel that a united Europe would end its wars and that he would lead Germany to create an empire spanning the world.
• Rommel was captivated by Eitel’s vision and pledged to give everything to fulfill his wishes.
• Eitel arrived in Versailles, where Hindenburg briefed him on the Allies’ stance and promised to shoulder their pressure.
• Eitel, Hindenburg, and Rommel entered the conference room as reporters photographed them and the assembled delegates watched with hostility.
• A greeter directed the German representatives to their seats.

Eitel challenged the Allies’ proposed peace terms, refusing to accept Germany’s unconditional surrender and warning that the German Empire had not lost. The negotiations ended with Eitel questioning whether the Allies could sustain the war.

• Eitel refused to sit in the shabby chairs until the Allies replaced them.
• Eitel read the peace terms and objected when he saw that they demanded Germany’s unconditional surrender.
• Eitel began to leave, but David Lloyd George persuaded him to stay and discuss the demands.
• George listed the Allies’ demands, including reparations, military and territorial restrictions, and the surrender of war criminals.
• Eitel declared that Germany had not lost, and Clemenceau argued that the Allies could continue the war with their army and logistics.
• Eitel questioned whether the Allies’ logistics could truly sustain them in a continued war.

Eitel argued that the Allied peace terms were too harsh and appealed for an armistice that would not sacrifice the German people. Prime Minister George agreed to discuss revisions, while Clemenceau opposed Eitel’s proposals; the negotiations remained unresolved.

• Eitel cited the strain of supply lines and growing antiwar sentiment as reasons for the Allies to pursue peace.
• Eitel described the suffering he had witnessed and said Germany wanted peace but would not accept terms at the German people’s expense.
• Clemenceau accused Germany of causing the war, but Prime Minister George offered to discuss changes to the treaty.
• Eitel demanded that Germany’s territory remain undivided, prompting Clemenceau to insist that Germany be split and George to defer the dispute for further discussion.
• Eitel objected to reparations of 132 billion gold marks but accepted military disarmament, the end of compulsory conscription, and the dismantling of military factories.

Eitel explained that Germany could accept demilitarization while preserving military readiness and rebuilding its arms industry when needed. At the peace conference, he agreed in principle to France reclaiming Alsace and Lorraine but demanded payment for German investments and safe passage for the German inhabitants.

• Hindenburg challenged Eitel's agreement to the demilitarization treaty, and Eitel explained his plans for the soldiers, officer training, and an Imperial Research Institute.
• Eitel told Hindenburg that Germany could rebuild arms production from its blueprints and planned to acquire undeveloped mineral deposits and oil fields.
• At the next day's conference, George said the Allies accepted most of Eitel's proposals but left France's objections for Clemenceau to raise.
• Clemenceau demanded Alsace and Lorraine, along with demilitarized zones in the Rhineland and other areas, and Eitel agreed to discuss returning the regions.
• Eitel demanded payment for Germany's industrial and mining investments and insisted that France safely escort the German people in Alsace and Lorraine back to Germany.

Eitel, Clemenceau, George, and Wilson negotiated Lorraine’s industrial assets, reparations, and Germany’s military limits. The leaders agreed to value Lorraine’s facilities at thirty billion gold marks and halve reparations, while leaving the High Seas Fleet’s fate undecided.

• Eitel demanded fifty billion gold marks for Lorraine’s industrial facilities and the repatriation of Germans, prompting Clemenceau to collapse after protesting.
• George intervened, urging both sides to compromise and arguing that Eitel’s proposed valuation was excessive.
• Eitel lowered the valuation to thirty billion gold marks and asked about reducing Germany’s reparations.
• George proposed halving reparations to sixty-three billion gold marks, with thirty billion for Lorraine offsetting France’s share, and called for limits on Germany’s navy and a ban on its air force.
• Eitel accepted the proposal in principle but said he would consult his ministers about the High Seas Fleet and asked for understanding over repayment.
• Wilson, George, and Clemenceau each agreed to the proposal, leaving Clemenceau isolated at the negotiations.

At the assembly, Britain and France ignored Italy’s territorial proposal and divided Germany’s overseas colonies. Eitel accepted the treaty without objection after realizing the few colonies left to Germany included mineral-rich New Guinea, giving him resources for his future plans.

• Wilson felt humiliated as Britain and France dismissed America’s claim to a share of the spoils.
• The Italian representative raised Italy’s proposal concerning the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, but George, Wilson, and Clemenceau offered him no support.
• The assembly divided Germany’s overseas colonies while Hindenburg and Rommel watched, and Eitel silently endured the proceedings.
• Eitel reviewed the revised treaty and recognized that New Guinea’s undiscovered mineral deposits could provide Germany with valuable resources.
• Eitel declared that he had no objections, and George felt relieved after returning a few less valuable colonies to Germany.

After accepting the peace terms, Eitel calmed Rommel’s anger and sought President Wilson, believing the German Empire needed time and foreign support to rebuild. Eitel offered Wilson the High Seas Fleet, and Wilson asked him to explain the deal.

• After the parliamentary session ended, Eitel returned to his lodgings and heard Rommel insist that Germany should refuse to sign and keep fighting.
• Eitel told Rommel that fighting would bring Germany only ruin and said he would make the other powers pay after gaining time to develop.
• Eitel asked Rommel to arrange a meeting with President Wilson and reasoned that America might support an isolated German Empire.
• Eitel met Wilson, who criticized him for agreeing to peace talks, but Eitel said Germany had no reason to continue the war.
• Eitel offered Wilson the German High Seas Fleet as a major business deal, and Wilson leaned forward and asked for details.

Eitel sold the High Seas Fleet to President Wilson in exchange for money, long-term resource and reconstruction contracts, and a large loan. The next day, Eitel and Rommel arrived at the conference hall for the formal signing ceremony.

• Eitel offered the High Seas Fleet to President Wilson, who proposed five million dollars and twenty-year resource and reconstruction contracts.
• Eitel accepted Wilson’s terms and shook hands with him to seal their partnership.
• Eitel claimed the German Empire was impoverished and asked Wilson for a loan.
• Wilson agreed to lend the German Empire five hundred million dollars at the normal interest rate, and Eitel left with Rommel.
• The next morning, Eitel and Rommel approached the conference hall, where the guards opened the doors for the German representatives.

Eitel signed the Treaty of Versailles despite his reluctance, then returned to Germany and was welcomed by its people. He declared that the peace was only a temporary armistice and vowed that Germany would rise again.

• Prime Minister George opened the Treaty of Versailles signing ceremony as Eitel and the other representatives took their seats.
• Clemenceau mocked Eitel for hesitating, and Eitel signed the treaty while memorizing the faces of the gathered representatives.
• After the ceremony, Wilson solemnly nodded to Eitel, who left with Rommel and Hindenburg.
• Eitel reflected on his role as Germany’s emperor during the train journey and realized he could no longer view history as an observer.
• Manstein led Eitel through cheering crowds in Berlin, where a wounded soldier thanked him for his service.
• Chancellor Max and General Rudolf welcomed Eitel at White Hall, and Eitel called the peace a twenty-year armistice and promised Germany would rise again.

In December 1918, Eitel formally became German emperor, took an oath to preserve the empire and its people, and unlocked the Hearts of Iron System’s full functions. He left the ceremony with Chancellor Max, Field Marshal Hindenburg, and General Rudolf to resume unfinished work.

• Eitel donned the imperial robe and carried a field marshal’s baton into the enthronement hall.
• General Rudolf called for Eitel to receive the crown, and Chancellor Max placed it on his head.
• Eitel swore to uphold the imperial constitution, preserve peace, and unite the German states.
• Eitel proclaimed, “Long live the German Empire!” and the attendees hailed him as Kaiser.
• The system announced that Eitel had completed his mission and unlocked laws, decisions, and the Rebuild the Holy Roman Empire Decision.
• Eitel told Chancellor Max, Field Marshal Hindenburg, and General Rudolf to join him as he prepared to finish what they had left unfinished.

Eitel summoned Chancellor Max, General Rudolf, and Field Marshal Hindenburg to plan how the German Empire would implement the Treaty of Versailles. After issuing orders for army demobilization and industrial conversion, he reviewed the Hearts of Iron System and selected economic growth and Reichsautobahn national focuses.

• Eitel asked Chancellor Max, General Rudolf, and Field Marshal Hindenburg for their thoughts on implementing the Treaty of Versailles.
• Field Marshal Hindenburg proposed demobilizing the army in five groups, starting with five hundred thousand men, and assigning some soldiers to police stations; Eitel entrusted the work to Hindenburg and General Rudolf.
• Eitel ordered the selection of one hundred thousand soldiers and officers for officer training, directed Chancellor Max to convert most arms factories to civilian production, and ordered the creation of the Imperial Research Institute.
• After the ministers left to carry out his orders, Eitel examined the system interface and saw the German Empire’s debuffs.
• Eitel selected Prioritize Economic Growth and Build the Reichsautobahn as national focuses, while the system informed him that he could not change his main national focus branch.

Eitel spent political points on a nationwide patriotism campaign and selected laws to stabilize and develop the German Empire. The next day, Ludendorff reported on the retained troops and the first phase of demobilization, and Eitel summoned Chancellor Max.

• Eitel used 50 political points to launch a nationwide patriotism campaign that would raise stability and war support while increasing daily political points.
• Eitel selected the free trade act, civilian economy act, limited conscription act, and local administration policy, accepting their early economic drawbacks.
• Eitel approved American contracts and selectively considered British documents while ignoring France's demands to dismantle military factories and demobilize troops.
• Ludendorff gave Eitel the roster of 100,000 retained troops who would receive further training at officer academies.
• Ludendorff reported that Hindenburg expected to complete the first demobilization phase within a month, producing 300,000 police officers, 150,000 workers, and 50,000 registered hunters and flying club members.
• Eitel told Ludendorff to continue the work and summon Chancellor Max for a discussion.

Eitel and Chancellor Max discussed how to build a loyal military leadership while avoiding a premature clash with the Junker nobles. At a closing arms factory, Eitel offered the unemployed workers a chance to design new portable weapons, and they eagerly agreed.

• Eitel questioned why Model, Schörner, and Kesselring had been assigned to an obscure military academy, and Max explained that hard-line Junker nobles had suppressed commoner officers.
• Max urged Eitel not to confront the Junker nobles yet and advised him to cultivate loyal officers; Eitel decided to send promising generals to the Prussia War Academy for further study.
• Eitel asked Max to find Lothar Rendulic, Franz Böhme, and Friedrich Materna and arrange their training at the Prussia War Academy.
• Eitel and Max visited an arms factory being dismantled under the order to stop producing weapons with calibers greater than 50.
• Eitel told the workers they could continue by designing new portable weapons below that caliber, and they enthusiastically agreed.

Eitel discussed restructuring Germany’s factories with Chancellor Max and learned that the conversion of Krupp and Rheinmetall was taking longer and costing more than expected. He ordered their leaders to Berlin, while accepting the delay as a consequence of the Civilian Economy Act’s penalties.

• Eitel proposed merging and restructuring small factories, and Chancellor Max recommended gathering statistics and setting industry standards before acting.
• Eitel reflected that Germany’s stability had improved and that the Red Guards and Freikorps had not emerged as they had in the original history.
• Max reported that Krupp and Rheinmetall’s conversion into civilian machinery companies was taking longer and costing more, threatening the schedule before Allied inspectors arrived.
• Eitel said he already knew about the delays, insisted the companies were not to blame, and asked Max to summon their leaders to Berlin.
• Eitel considered the Civilian Economy Act’s penalties and rested, treating the added conversion costs and slower construction as an early investment.

Eitel told the heads of Krupp and Rheinmetall that Germany would preserve its arms industry despite the shift to civilian production, secretly moving machinery and arranging future weapons collaboration abroad. He planned to prolong the Russian Civil War to secure a foothold in Soviet territory and intended to discuss separate cooperation with America.

• Max reported that Germany’s arms factories were converting to civilian production and that Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach and Heinrich Ehrhardt had arrived in Berlin.
• Eitel met the Krupp and Rheinmetall executives and explained that some machinery would be secretly sent to the Soviet Union, while other equipment would be involved in cooperation with America.
• Eitel assured the managers that their arms-industry personnel would be retained and that they could later travel to America and the Soviet Union to collaborate on weapons development.
• Max warned that sending machinery into the Soviet Civil War risked losing it and asked whether Eitel planned to intervene.
• Eitel said Germany would secretly prolong the war, sell weapons through an outsourcing company to gain permission to operate in Soviet territory, and seek cooperation with President Wilson.

Gustav and Ehrhardt left reassured by Eitel’s plan to shift military production toward civilian goods, while Eitel compelled Hindenburg to become headmaster of the Prussia War Academy and surrender his active posts. Eitel then discussed reclaiming military authority with Chancellor Max and asked him to telephone President Wilson.

• Gustav and Ehrhardt agreed to cooperate and prepare their companies for civilian production and subsidiaries, trusting Eitel’s guidance.
• Eitel rejected Hindenburg’s request to remain field marshal and ordered him to take up the headmaster’s post at the Prussia War Academy in three days.
• Hindenburg accepted Eitel’s decision after Eitel promised him an honorary field marshal’s position.
• Eitel told Chancellor Max that he intended to reclaim military authority and ensure the empire followed his direction.
• Eitel asked Max to telephone President Wilson so he could discuss further matters.

Eitel urged President Wilson to support a joint German-American military research venture and proposed economic cooperation, while warning him to investigate America’s economy. After receiving a troubling report, Wilson thanked Eitel and agreed to consider the arrangements, including a four-year economic alliance.

• Eitel called President Wilson and proposed that Krupp engineers establish a joint weapons-research subsidiary with American arms companies.
• President Wilson acknowledged the potential benefits but said the upcoming election limited what he could promise.
• Eitel advised Wilson to investigate the stock market, financial sector, and real economy, suggesting the findings could improve his reelection prospects.
• Wilson ordered his secretary of state and treasury secretary to investigate, then reviewed their report and found the economic situation alarming.
• Wilson called Eitel, who proposed exporting German raw materials to America, buying American goods, encouraging other countries to import them, and signing a four-year economic alliance.
• Wilson accepted the proposals in principle but said he needed to consult his cabinet before agreeing to the economic alliance.

Eitel considered the financial burden of demobilizing Germany’s army and proposed selling its surplus weapons to both sides of the Eastern European war. Ludendorff warned that the Allies might notice and investigate, leaving the plan’s risks unresolved.

• Ludendorff reported that 500,000 soldiers had been demobilized and questioned whether their severance pay was too costly.
• Eitel asked Ludendorff about Eastern Europe, and Ludendorff predicted the war between the Soviet Republic and the White Army could last at least four more years.
• Eitel proposed selling Germany’s surplus weapons to the Soviets and the White Army to raise funds and clear the stockpile.
• Ludendorff praised Eitel’s idea but warned that the Allies could detect the German weapons and investigate.

Eitel came up with a plan to sell Germany’s surplus weapons to both the White Army and the Soviet Government while evading Allied restrictions. He explained the scheme to Chancellor Max, who asked how they would conceal the weapons’ origins.

• Eitel spotted a French order demanding the destruction of Germany’s heavy weapons and summoned Chancellor Max.
• General Ludendorff fetched Chancellor Max and reflected that the arms deal Eitel had proposed was risky.
• Eitel told Max that Germany should sell surplus weapons to the White Army and Soviet Government, with payment possibly made in resources or territory.
• Eitel identified Ukraine and Romania as possible sources of repayment from the Soviet side.
• Eitel proposed creating companies outside Germany and selling weapons through a trusted representative, while claiming that wartime losses made the weapons’ origins difficult to establish.