Chapter 298: Consolidating Gains From Victory in the Balkans
The victory in the Balkans, despite the losses sustained in the theater by the Central Powers served to strengthen their position on the global stage, and the war effort as a whole rather than derail it. And this was because of two reasons in particular.
Now that Constantinople had been reclaimed for Christendom, the path for the Russian Black Sea fleet was finally clear. Until now, the Russian contributions to the war had been entirely on land, as they were a nation lacking in the ability to contribute much in terms of naval supremacy.
Russia, having lacked warm water ports for the majority of its history as a nation, had little means to deploy naval assets so long as Constantinople remained in control of the Turks. But today was different, for the time being the Greeks were an ally, and they now held the city for the first time in nearly 500 years.
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Meaning the waterways in and out of the black sea were totally under the command of the central powers. Hence, the moment Constantinople was claimed, the Russian Navy ordered the deployment of the Black Sea Fleet to the Mediterranean.
Currently speaking, the German Kaiserliche Marine was maintaining control over the Baltic, North Sea, and Atlantic. Providing only a few submarines and destroyers to Suez Canal in order to aid in its defense.
Maintaining control over colonial supply routes was a huge importance. Especially since oil flooded the fatherland, and by extension its allies as a result of Bruno's investments into German Kamerun.
In addition to this, the Lion of Africa was holding down half a million British and French soldiers in German East Africa, and though his prowess in the art of Guerilla warfare was so exceptional that he did not need resupply as he simply stole those from the enemies he killed, it was still a welcomed sight when German aid arrived to his forces.
Because of this, the Black Sea Fleet, being a major contribution to the K.u.K Kriegsmarine, and the Hellenic Navy had changed the position in the Mediterranean from one of eternal contest, to overwhelmingly in the central powers' favor.
The secondary reason that the end of collapse of the Ottoman Empire favored the Central Powers, was because whatever military assets they had remaining, that being water-cooled machine guns, field artillery, or even aircraft shipped to them by the western allies could be retrofitted and sent as aid to the Hellenic Army who were the most under-manned nation within the current lineup of the Central Powers.
But there was actually a third reason, and that was with the collapse of the Allied Powers and their Balkan front, as well as the seizure of the Suez Canal, more and more nations that were not officially entered into the war began considering entry.
One of which was actually in South-East Asia. And Bruno's eldest brother Franz, who had been best known for managing the family business after their father's retirement from the position, had extensive ties to the east.
Currently, he was sitting in the royal palace of the Kingdom of Thailand, meeting with the Thai King, Vajiravudh.
Thailand, having previously remained neutral ,but being approached by both the British Empire and the German Reich, in regards to development of their nation, and potentially currying favor for the sake of joining the war effort on their behalf. Began to realize that this war was a one-sided affair, or at least currently appeared to be.
And if they wished to reclaim their lands previously seized by the British and French during the years leading up to the conflict, rather than allow the Imperial Japanese Army to march ever further west with impunity, they would need to join the side of the Central Powers.
As a result, the Kaiser dispatched Franz along with a team of dedicated ambassadors to the Kingdom of Thailand to negotiate this entry into the war after King Vajiravudh reached out to him. Franz was a man, who was ultimately known by his peers as the exact opposite of his youngest brother when it came to interpersonal relationships.
While Bruno was a deeply stoic and aloof man who constantly desired to be out of the spotlight, despite his innate charisma. Franz was an intensely gregarious man, and his charisma was as natural as his youngest brother's.
This, compounded with his family lineage, and good looks, allowed him to despite his age, which, like the rest of his family appeared much younger than he actually was, allowed him to pursue younger women that attracted his fancy.
Unlike Bruno, Franz was not a loyal man, at least not to his wife. In fact, their relationship was one made out of political convenience and had never truly blossomed into love. And while Franz's wife had her children to love and cherish. Franz found his emotional needs in the arms of a series of foreign lovers.
It was one of the reasons he was always abroad under the guise of expanding the family business abroad. Whether it was Asia, the Near East, or the Latin world, Franz had sired dozens of bastards with as many women. None of which knew who their father really was, nor had ever met the man.
And while Bruno respected his eldest brother's position in the family, as the heir apparent, he did not respect the man personally because of these differences in morals and general character. Hence why they seldom met with one another outside of official means, or family gatherings.
But, it could not be stated that Franz was not a man important to the interests of the German Reich, whether as the war industrialist supplying small arms and artillery to the German Army, or as a skilled diplomat with a silver tongue, the man had his uses.
And that included his visit to Thailand, where he sat patiently, eying the local ladies as if he were an apex predator gazing upon the fauna of a foreign land. He did not even hear the words spoken to him by the Thai King, at least not at first, until the question was raised even louder. Thoroughly encapsulating his full focus.
"I hear you are the elder brother to the man they call they call Mamushi. Tell me, what is he like?"
At first, Franz did not recognize the name which the Thai King was referring to, it was one of Bruno's nicknames, but was only used by the Japanese, or those within their sphere of influence, and despite his extensive outings to Asia, the man had stayed outside of Japan for multiple reasons.
Thus, it was only after one of the diplomats whispered the translation in his ear, and clarifying that he was referring to Bruno, did Franz adjust his appearance, as he was quick to entertain the Thai King's questions with all the masterful display of charm he could muster.
"What would you like to know?"