Post by drakazure on Jun 22, 2021 18:18:14 GMT -6
Staas hadn't delivered a speech in what felt like years, let alone in front of millions of people. The past two days leading up to this were... Stressful. People were wondering what was happening- no communication from the President, nothing more than hearsay from news reporters. Eyes were on the Union, and frankly, Staas wasn't sure if he was the man who deserved to stand up in front of the German people and demand what they do. He reminded himself that, regardless of if he deserved it or not, he was the one who had to.
He had talked to everyone- his generals, his marshals, his economist and his diplomats. Everything was in place once this speech was finished- the economy has been tanking, so Magdalene suggested a new national bank and reissuing the Reichsmark. Relations between every other country in Europe are virtually nonexistent, so Ribbentrop suggested a mass diplomacy campaign. The Wehrmacht is demoralized and undertrained, so himself and Erich will properly reform their entire army doctrine.
All of this was well and good, but the biggest question still remained- will any of it matter? Wilhelm had treated Italians, Swiss and- prior to Staas' own occupation- the Yugoslavs like dirt. Would they ever forgive the Reich? Will other countries forgive the Reich? Staas wasn't sure.
It didn't matter, anyways. There was no realistic way out- either this, or let another kleptomaniac take power.
Staas was broken out of his thought process as Erich shook his shoulder, his eyes coming back into focus of the black car he sits in. Staas shakes his head, looking to his left and opening the door, stepping out onto the concrete off the sidewalk. In his years as a general, he had been plagued by a disgusting, festering cancer since the beginning- press. This, was no different. Cameras, reporters and microphones surrounded him mere seconds after he got out of the car. He ignored them, stepping forwards and past the crowd, stepping under the barrier line and up the stairs a plateau before the main stage. This was it. This would determine Germany's fate.
A stagehand brought him his coat, and as he hoisted the old overcoat over his shoulders, medals and all, he recalled the main points of his speech- his coup, diplomatic cooperation, and economic and military reforms. Easy, simple.
He turned towards the entrance to the main stage, looking for confirmation from the lead stagehand, who followed with a thumbs up. Staas stepped forward, and into the limelight. As he approached the podium, he scanned the crowd, mostly looking for sniper scopes flashing in the midday sun. After finding none, he cleared his throat before speaking into the microphone directly in front of him.
"People of Germany, people of the world, I am Grand Marshal Staas of the Wehrmacht. Over the past two days, our people, and the world, have noticed our silence." Staas took a deep breath. "I am here to tell you that the Heer, and after much deliberation, had decided to remove President Wilhelm from his position of power."
"President Wilhelm is dead. He was killed when we marched on the capital."
"I, however, will not mourn his death. Many of you are aware of the occupation zone, that I am in command of. This title was not given to me out of respect, merely appeasement. Wilhelm, from the very beginning, has prioritized himself, and only himself."
"From the moment he entered office, he's marginalized every group that has opposed him. My military administration had done a through sweep of the campaign actions after our acquisition of power. We've found that, election after election, Wilhelm had consistently sidelined his political opponents in terms of assassination, deportation and press alteration."
"Additionally, Wilhelm had marginalized a specific set of ethnic group in our south- Italians and Demi-Humans. Not a single vote from an Italian nor Demi-Human has been counted since Wilhelm took power."
"Wilhelm also gave massive government grants to companies- Volkswagen, Siemens and others, as well as paid off Reichstag parliament members to pass bills in secret that allowed said companies to absorb small businesses as they please and reduce regulations."
"Wilhelm was a political monster. Being elected for a third term would have been the end of Germany."
Staas took a deep breath.
"Why do I tell you this? I tell you this because the sons and daughters of Germany have been cheated. The sons and daughters of Germany have been robbed. There must be justice. For every German, Italian, Demi-Human, father, mother, son and daughter, there must be retribution."
"Retribution for the crimes, the corruption, for the destroyed futures. The next months will be the light at the end of the tunnel for Germany. When all is said and done, my administration will give up it's power and we shall hold fair and true elections. After all this time, the forge of Germany will produce steel once again, and stronger than ever before. Steel forged in the hearts of every son and daughter."
He had talked to everyone- his generals, his marshals, his economist and his diplomats. Everything was in place once this speech was finished- the economy has been tanking, so Magdalene suggested a new national bank and reissuing the Reichsmark. Relations between every other country in Europe are virtually nonexistent, so Ribbentrop suggested a mass diplomacy campaign. The Wehrmacht is demoralized and undertrained, so himself and Erich will properly reform their entire army doctrine.
All of this was well and good, but the biggest question still remained- will any of it matter? Wilhelm had treated Italians, Swiss and- prior to Staas' own occupation- the Yugoslavs like dirt. Would they ever forgive the Reich? Will other countries forgive the Reich? Staas wasn't sure.
It didn't matter, anyways. There was no realistic way out- either this, or let another kleptomaniac take power.
Staas was broken out of his thought process as Erich shook his shoulder, his eyes coming back into focus of the black car he sits in. Staas shakes his head, looking to his left and opening the door, stepping out onto the concrete off the sidewalk. In his years as a general, he had been plagued by a disgusting, festering cancer since the beginning- press. This, was no different. Cameras, reporters and microphones surrounded him mere seconds after he got out of the car. He ignored them, stepping forwards and past the crowd, stepping under the barrier line and up the stairs a plateau before the main stage. This was it. This would determine Germany's fate.
A stagehand brought him his coat, and as he hoisted the old overcoat over his shoulders, medals and all, he recalled the main points of his speech- his coup, diplomatic cooperation, and economic and military reforms. Easy, simple.
He turned towards the entrance to the main stage, looking for confirmation from the lead stagehand, who followed with a thumbs up. Staas stepped forward, and into the limelight. As he approached the podium, he scanned the crowd, mostly looking for sniper scopes flashing in the midday sun. After finding none, he cleared his throat before speaking into the microphone directly in front of him.
"People of Germany, people of the world, I am Grand Marshal Staas of the Wehrmacht. Over the past two days, our people, and the world, have noticed our silence." Staas took a deep breath. "I am here to tell you that the Heer, and after much deliberation, had decided to remove President Wilhelm from his position of power."
"President Wilhelm is dead. He was killed when we marched on the capital."
"I, however, will not mourn his death. Many of you are aware of the occupation zone, that I am in command of. This title was not given to me out of respect, merely appeasement. Wilhelm, from the very beginning, has prioritized himself, and only himself."
"From the moment he entered office, he's marginalized every group that has opposed him. My military administration had done a through sweep of the campaign actions after our acquisition of power. We've found that, election after election, Wilhelm had consistently sidelined his political opponents in terms of assassination, deportation and press alteration."
"Additionally, Wilhelm had marginalized a specific set of ethnic group in our south- Italians and Demi-Humans. Not a single vote from an Italian nor Demi-Human has been counted since Wilhelm took power."
"Wilhelm also gave massive government grants to companies- Volkswagen, Siemens and others, as well as paid off Reichstag parliament members to pass bills in secret that allowed said companies to absorb small businesses as they please and reduce regulations."
"Wilhelm was a political monster. Being elected for a third term would have been the end of Germany."
Staas took a deep breath.
"Why do I tell you this? I tell you this because the sons and daughters of Germany have been cheated. The sons and daughters of Germany have been robbed. There must be justice. For every German, Italian, Demi-Human, father, mother, son and daughter, there must be retribution."
"Retribution for the crimes, the corruption, for the destroyed futures. The next months will be the light at the end of the tunnel for Germany. When all is said and done, my administration will give up it's power and we shall hold fair and true elections. After all this time, the forge of Germany will produce steel once again, and stronger than ever before. Steel forged in the hearts of every son and daughter."