"You've been through the mill, Comrade Lee. Still, thanks to you, some of our comrades have survived. You can be proud of yourself."
Karl Liebknecht shook my hand before the Spartacus League, who had occupied the Reichstag, and the delegates from yesterday's conference. My body still ached from the beatings I'd endured. Gritting my teeth, I clasped his hand.
"Resistance from the National Flag Corps is gradually weakening across Berlin. Moreover, the number of captured members expressing their intention to join the Spartacus League is steadily increasing."
"A telegram has arrived from the Hamburg Council! Hamburg, too, sympathizes with the righteousness of the Berlin Revolution and has declared its intention to launch an armed uprising!"
"The Frankfurt Council has also responded to the call for armed revolution and risen in rebellion!"
"The Kiel Council as well..."
The Reichstag buzzed with activity, as representatives delivered speeches they hadn't been able to finish the previous day and messengers darted back and forth. There was no sign of slowing down, and in fact, the atmosphere grew increasingly fervent as time passed.
Rosa Luxemburg and Liebknecht, who had stayed up all night, showed no signs of fatigue. It seemed the passion for revolution had banished even the need for sleep.
The National Flag Corps, which had stormed the National Council Congress with such vigor yesterday, was now forced to leave Berlin quickly due to the growing backlash erupting across the city.
Even the factories and workers who had previously passively supported the Independent Social Democratic Party and the Spartacus League, or remained neutral, began to strike and join the uprising, making it impossible for the authorities to hold out.
Berlin was becoming Germany's Petrograd.
The Reichstag was our Smolny.
"The People's Marine Division of Kiel has declared their support for the Spartacus League! They've pledged to defend Berlin and the Reichstag against the counter-revolutionaries!"
More soldiers began to join the revolution against the reactionaries.
"A Council Republic has been proclaimed in Munich! Munich has immediately declared its support for the revolution in Berlin and vowed to do everything in its power to overthrow the reactionary Republic!"
More cities and regions joined the revolution.
"The Steel Helmet has risen in revolt in Königsberg!"
... And the reactionaries have begun to resist.
"This Vice-Chairman proposes the immediate establishment of the German People's Army to defend the revolution and drive the reactionaries from German soil. Representatives, please indicate your approval or disapproval with a show of hands."
Hands bearing name tags filled the Reichstag, and Liebknecht declared the creation of the German People's Army with a satisfied expression.
"Furthermore, this Vice-Chairman proposes the official banning of the Social Democratic Party, which stands at the forefront of reactionary activities, along with the Center Party, German Democratic Party, German People's Party, and German National People's Party. We will also decide this matter with a show of hands."
Though significantly fewer than before, more than half of the delegates' name tags still glowed in the air.
"Then we'll consider it approved by a majority."
Most matters at the National Council Congress were handled in this manner.
The Independent Social Democratic Party, having ceased to be merely a party that had "broken away" from the original SDP and now being the only legitimate Social Democratic Party in Germany, resolved to change its name to the "German Social Democratic Labour Party."
Additionally, the National Council Congress officially adopted seven programmatic statements that would later be known as the "May Theses."
1. Workers' and soldiers' councils shall represent the highest democratic institutions.
2. The proletariat must struggle against the reactionary Ebert Government.
3. The proletariat must arm itself and reorganize into a Workers' Militia.
- The means of production must be owned and managed by the proletariat, and private property must be abolished.
- Natural resources and industries must be nationalized.
- Peace with the Allied Powers must be achieved.
"Isn't abolishing private property going too far?" I asked Karl Liebknecht, who was summarizing the proceedings of the National Council Congress after the delegates had returned to their cities. Liebknecht replied nonchalantly.
"The theses aren't meant to be followed blindly by the newborn Socialist Republic anyway, so the content can be revised. What's important is that the Councils, which are the driving force of the current revolution, want this. We can interpret it as a warning to the reactionary Ebert Government."
Rosa Luxemburg's advocacy for a "revolution from below" through the enlightenment of the working class had already proven futile, despite the workers' participation in strikes.
From then on, the struggle shifted to gaining the support of the workers and fighting for recognition as the legitimate government of Germany, bypassing the reactionary Ebert Government—a battle for legitimacy.
"We strongly condemn the armed uprising of the Spartacus League and declare that the only legitimate government of Germany is the Braunschweig Government."
The revolution had begun. Simultaneously, the civil war erupted.
Germany rapidly split between the Social Democratic Labour Party government in Berlin and the Social Democratic Party government that had fled once again to Braunschweig. It goes without saying that the first act of the Braunschweig Government was to outlaw the Independent Social Democratic Party and the Spartacus League.
The Braunschweig government swiftly regrouped and allied with the Steel Helmet, the group behind the April Coup. Simultaneously, renowned generals from the Great War, including Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff, joined the Braunschweig government.
From Harzburg Castle near Braunschweig, they declared a united front against the Socialist Revolution. This marked the beginning of the Harzburg Front.
We couldn't remain idle either. On May 5, 1919, members of the Spartacus League broke away from the Social Democratic Labour Party to form the new Communist Party of Germany.
On the same day, the Communist Party of Germany announced a "United Front" alliance with the Social Democratic Labour Party and the Free Workers' Union of Germany in Rhineland.
The left united in the United Front, while the right coalesced around the Harzburg Front.
However, just as during the Russian Civil War, the Harzburg Front, bolstered by the mass defection of military officers and high-ranking generals, stood in stark contrast to the United Front, which boasted a large number of soldiers but lacked a coherent command structure.
"That's why I earnestly ask you, Comrade Lee. Please take up the position of Chief of Staff of the German People's Army."
"But I've never received any military training!"
The German People's Army, desperately short of capable leaders, was actually trying to appoint me as Chief of Staff. As I stared in disbelief, Liebknecht replied with a bitter smile.
"Most of us here haven't even received proper regular education, let alone military training. But Comrade Lee, you've led troops in Russia and served as a staff officer, haven't you? Please take charge."
"I've never worked as a staff officer..."
*It wasn't as a staff officer that Trotsky appointed him in Yekaterinodar.*
"Anyway, aside from Comrade Lee, no one in the Spartacus League has even dipped a toe into military affairs. And with such a dire shortage of officers..."
There's no one else they can turn to. I sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders.
"Well, very well. If there's no one else, I suppose I have no choice."
"Thank you, thank you, Comrade Lee! If you have any requests, please feel free to make them."
"Then, I'll set three conditions for serving as Chief of Staff," I said, raising three fingers.
"First, we must recruit as many officers from the Old Imperial Army and the National Army as possible. Command should go to those who can actually lead. We can't have soldiers electing their officers through some kind of battlefield democracy. If we introduce such nonsense here, we'll lose the civil war. Even if war is ultimately about resources, discipline is crucial."
"Second, we must minimize political interference in military affairs. Civilian control can wait until after the war. I won't tolerate the army being manipulated by politicians."
I added this condition because I've seen what happened to the Red Army in Russia. I refuse to watch our army lose a war because of desk-bound fools who don't understand reality.
"Finally, thirdly. If someone capable of taking my place emerges, I will immediately resign as Chief of Staff."
Liebknecht pondered for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Then, subject to these conditions, I hereby appoint Comrade Siyeong Li as the first Chief of Staff of the German People's Army. Oh, and one question."
"What is it?"
"Do you get to decide who will replace you?"
Well, probably. I'm not the type to hand over my position to someone recommended by others.
"Yes. If you find a suitable candidate, please recommend them. And when recruiting officers, bring them here so I can interview them one-on-one."
*After all, shouldn't I be the one to judge whether an officer is competent or not?*
Liebknecht agreed and left.
The very next day after I established these principles and assumed the position of Chief of Staff, I heard a commotion outside my office. When I went to investigate, I found a bound officer standing there.
"What's going on here?"
A soldier who had been gleefully restraining the officer answered:
"Ah, Comrade Chief of Staff! We were questioning a suspicious character and discovered he's an officer from the Freikorps. We were about to execute him on the spot, but since you gave orders to bring such cases to you directly, we brought him here immediately."
"Let me go! I need to get to Hanover!"
"Calm down. What's your name?"
I asked the officer, who was fiercely resisting even with his hands tied. The officer, with his intense, murderous gaze, glared at me as he answered.
"I am Heinz Guderian of the 10th Hanoverian Leaflet Battalion. Could you please untie me?"
Oh, really? I stared intently into his eyes. No wonder he looked somewhat familiar—there was a reason for that.
"You, do you want to become Chief of the Army General Staff?"
"Huh?"
The two soldiers who had tied him up, along with Guderian himself—the three men all stared at me with the look of people who had seen a madman.
"Er... don't you like tanks?"
"Well, I don't dislike them," Guderian replied matter-of-factly.
What's wrong with this guy? I thought. Isn't he supposed to be obsessed with tanks? Why is he so indifferent? I thought he'd jump at the chance to talk about them.
"Um... are you dissatisfied with the current German Armed Forces?"
"Not particularly."
Damn it, this is infuriating. Is it because it's still 1919?
"The German People's Army is a new force. If you join us, you could rise quickly, especially since we're short on officers..."
"I have no intention whatsoever of joining the People's Army. So release me."
"What?"
Guderian's blunt refusal left me utterly dumbfounded.
"You Socialists—no, I mean, you Socialists—are the ones scheming for peace in Germany while stabbing the back of the Imperial Army, which was fighting so well, aren't you? I have no desire to serve under such bastards."
What... what kind of bastard is this? I stared at him as if he were insane.
"I thought you were sane, but you're just a believer in that crazy 'secret conspiracy' theory, aren't you?"
"Huh? What did you just say...?"
"Hey. Get me a beer. This bastard must want to drink it through his nose."
"W-What are you doing? Release me immediately!"
When our soldiers waiting outside brought in the beer, Guderian fidgeted nervously. I took a swig with a mischievous grin.
Ah, this is what they call "Information Technology Korangtang" in South Korea.
"This beer is perfectly brewed. Now, Comrade Guderian, whether this beer goes into your mouth or up your nose depends on your answer."
"S-Save me!"
"Alright, will you serve in the German People's Army? Or won't you? Answer quickly, before the beer gets cold."
I savored the terror in Guderian's eyes as I asked him.
Guderian's hands trembled violently with fear.