Recaps

Eitel Friedrich claimed the German throne, rallied the army, and returned to Germany to suppress naval and workers’ rebellions while preparing for peace negotiations. The arc left him racing to reinforce Liège Fortress as British and French forces prepared to attack.

• After Wilhelm II abdicated, Eitel Friedrich declared himself emperor at the front and won the army’s recognition, then used a national focus to strengthen German morale and combat effectiveness.
• Eitel’s Stormtroopers repelled the American assault on the Meuse River Line, and he persuaded Hindenburg to hold the front as leverage for peace talks.
• Eitel returned to Germany with young officers, sent Guderian to suppress naval mutinies, and confronted captured workers, including Wilhelm, Karl Liebknecht’s son.
• Eitel entered Berlin to public acclaim, halted the Hipper Plan, and worked with Marshal Erich as Guderian crushed the Wilhelmshaven rebellion and Wilhelm captured the Spartacus League leaders.
• Eitel unlocked the Industrial Module, began the Four Year Plan, rejected the Allied peace terms, and sent a revised document to Wilson while confronting the Social Democratic leaders.
• Wilson offered Germany support at the peace conference in exchange for trade agreements, while Hindenburg ordered the garrison at Liège Fortress to hold out for five days.
• As British and French forces prepared to attack Liège Fortress, Eitel dispatched reinforcements, but Manstein warned that holding the fortress for five days was unlikely.

Eitel secured a peace treaty that preserved Germany’s unity while accepting disarmament, then was crowned Kaiser and began rebuilding the empire through economic reforms, military training, and covert arms deals. The arc left him preparing to sell surplus weapons to both sides in the Russian Civil War and seeking resources or territory in return.

• General Herbert’s repeated assaults on Liège Fortress failed, and German reinforcements routed the withdrawing Allies before Herbert shot himself and the battle ended.
• Eitel honored the German dead, secured Hindenburg’s loyalty, and went to Versailles to negotiate peace with the Allies.
• Eitel challenged the Allies’ demands and negotiated reduced reparations, the return of German territories, and limits on Germany’s military.
• Eitel offered Wilson the High Seas Fleet in exchange for contracts and a loan, then signed the Treaty of Versailles and returned to a cheering Berlin.
• Chancellor Max crowned Eitel Kaiser, and Eitel began demobilizing the army, converting arms factories, training officers, and establishing the Imperial Research Institute.
• Eitel recruited promising commoner officers, reassured Krupp and Rheinmetall executives, and planned secret weapons cooperation with America and the Soviet Union.
• Eitel arranged with Wilson to explore economic cooperation and proposed exporting German goods to America while importing American products.
• Eitel proposed selling surplus weapons to the Soviet Government and the White Army through companies outside Germany, with payment in resources or territory such as Ukraine and Romania.