The Rise of German empire

"Your Majesty, what is the reason for summoning the Minister at such a late hour?" Moltke, still drowsy, stood in front of William II, his fatigue evident. The lingering scent of alcohol on his clothes was unmistakable, confirming Essen von Jonareit's earlier words.

William II's expression soured at the smell. He had never been a fan of such behavior, and it only deepened his dissatisfaction with Moltke.

Von Falkenhain stood silently, though his thoughts were far from idle. He had already received the telegram from Oscar, and he knew the younger prince's intent to remove Prittwitz. Von Falkenhain, although he still respected Moltke, understood that such a move would significantly undermine his ally. Prittwitz was a strong supporter of Moltke, and if the 8th Army was to be rid of him, it would be a heavy blow to the Chief of Staff's influence.

Though von Falkenhain wasn't entirely sure whether William II would agree to the request, the growing tension in the room made him hopeful. His decision was already made—should the emperor seek his advice, he would support Oscar without hesitation.

"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, Your Excellency Minister of War," William II addressed the men before him, his voice cold and firm. "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has sent a telegram requesting the transfer of General Prittwitz from the 8th Army. What are your thoughts on this?"

"What?" Moltke's eyes shot open, his drowsiness gone in an instant. The alcohol-induced haze lifted, replaced by a sharpness that betrayed his surprise.

Just days ago, Moltke had lauded Prittwitz for embarrassing Oscar, but he hadn't anticipated such a bold move from the crown prince. He quickly grasped the gravity of the situation: if Prittwitz were removed from his position, his fate could be worse than merely losing his rank. The general could be relegated to an idle position, stripped of any real power—an unacceptable outcome for Moltke, who had backed Prittwitz as a strong ally.

"Your Majesty, how could His Highness the Crown Prince take such a drastic step?" Moltke was irate. "General Prittwitz is a seasoned and capable commander. It would be an injustice to remove him from the 8th Army."

William II, however, remained unmoved by Moltke's anger. His gaze shifted to von Falkenhain.

"Minister of War, what is your opinion?" the emperor asked.

Von Falkenhain, his face impassive, weighed his response. "Your Majesty, what grounds does His Royal Highness have for requesting the transfer of General Prittwitz?"

Oscar's reasoning had been clear and firm. "Oscar believes that General Prittwitz's abilities are insufficient for commanding the 17th Army. The upcoming conflict with Russia requires leaders who are capable of handling the immense responsibility. He believes Prittwitz is not up to the task."

"Slander!" Moltke erupted, his anger boiling over. "This is pure slander! General Prittwitz has been one of the empire's greatest generals. How could he possibly be incapable of commanding the 17th Army?"

Von Falkenhain did not flinch. "I disagree. General Prittwitz's capabilities have always been in question. His performance in recent months has made it clear that he is not suited for the role of commander. His removal from the 8th Army is a reasonable decision, for both the stability of the army and the empire."

Moltke's face reddened with fury. "You speak nonsense! Prittwitz missed the ceremony, but this is no reason to remove him! Are we to start punishing generals for such trivial matters now?"

William II's patience was wearing thin. Moltke's increasingly shrill defense of Prittwitz had begun to test the emperor's temper.

"Enough, Moltke. This quarrel is pointless," William II finally interjected, his tone cold. "For the good of the 8th Army, we shall temporarily transfer General Prittwitz."

Moltke, his face now a mask of frustration, knew he had lost this battle. Even if he protested, it was clear that the decision was final. The emperor had spoken, and his mind was made up. Moltke's only remaining option was to try and find a new, dignified position for Prittwitz, though it would be difficult.

His frustration boiled over as he stormed out of the palace, muttering under his breath, "Just wait, Oscar. I won't let you get away with this."

The following day, a telegram arrived for Oscar. Essen von Jonareit and von Falkenhain had both sent messages confirming that William II had agreed to transfer Prittwitz. A formal order would be issued soon. Oscar couldn't help but feel a wave of relief wash over him.

"It seems William II is still on my side," Oscar thought to himself, though he was keenly aware that this victory was only temporary. He understood the precariousness of the political landscape. If he pressed his luck too far, it could backfire, and he could easily find himself on the receiving end of reprimands from the emperor.

At 9 o'clock that morning, Hindenburg and Ludendorff arrived at Oscar's headquarters. They, too, were pleased to hear of the emperor's decision to transfer Prittwitz. As for the new commander of the 17th Army, they suggested Leopold von Zeckert. Oscar, after considering the proposal, agreed. He recalled that in another timeline, Zeckert had earned the reputation as the "father of the German army" in World War II. This made him a promising choice.

With the news of Prittwitz's transfer spreading like wildfire throughout the 8th Army, the generals were stunned. If Prittwitz, one of the most respected officers in the empire, could be removed for offending Oscar, they knew that none of them were safe. Oscar's influence had reached an unprecedented level, and the army was now firmly under his control.

This marked the beginning of a long-anticipated series of reforms that Oscar had planned for the German military. The structure of the army, which had long been hierarchical, was ripe for change. Oscar proposed eliminating the brigade as a unit and consolidating divisions to directly control regiments. If conditions allowed, he even intended to remove the "army" level altogether, further flattening the command structure and improving efficiency.

Oscar knew this plan would cause an uproar, but he was ready for it. To ensure its success, he first sought the counsel of Hindenburg and Ludendorff.

As the reform movement gained momentum, it became clear that Oscar's vision for the German military was taking shape—and with it, his dominance over the empire's armed forces.