With the decline of the Kingdom of Prussia, the once arrogant Junkers aristocratic group has also inevitably declined.
In fact, the decline of the Junkers aristocracy was not only due to defeat, but even after defeat, they were still the largest political force in the Kingdom of Prussia.
The real reason for the decline of the Junkers aristocracy is that there is no successor in the political arena. There was no way, there were so many deaths on the battlefield that the reserve forces couldn't keep up.
The direct result of the two Russian-Prussian wars was that 56% of Junkers completely lost their land, and 17% of the noble families became extinct.
The reserve force suffered heavy losses, and the important posts in the original government held by the Junker nobles were inevitably given up.
One radish and one pit, the shrinking of the Junkers noble group is also accompanied by
The rise of other political forces.
Over time, the political landscape of the Kingdom of Prussia also slowly changed. Today, although the Juncker Group is still an important political force in Prussia, the "army owns the country" has completely become history.
Especially after the restoration of the Holy Roman Empire, the status of the Junkers aristocracy was once again attacked.
Before that, although they lost their dominance over the country, with their control over the army, no matter which political faction was in charge of Prussia, they would not dare to despise them.
It's different now, with a boss on top of it. If you want to overturn the table, you must first consider the feelings of the boss.
Otherwise, the table will be overturned in the morning, and the counter-insurgent army will be killed in the evening. How can you play
In addition to asking for money, Schlieffen and his party also have an important task, which is to strengthen the relationship with the Vienna Palace.
European aristocracy is a family, no joke. Don’t look at the fact that the Holy Roman Empire was only three years old, but as early as 30 years ago, or even earlier, the Junkers nobles had contact with the Habsburg dynasty.
As long as you carefully study the origins of the lords entrusted by Franz, you will find many aristocratic surnames familiar to the German region, including the surnames of Junker nobles.
One or two can be said to be a coincidence, ten or eight is a very coincidence, and the number can be enlarged to 1,000 or 800, so it cannot be explained by a single coincidence.
The reason for this scene is actually very simple: all the lands in the German region have owners, but there is not necessarily only one son of the noble.
Unless it is a big noble, it can be arranged. Otherwise, only the eldest son can inherit the family business, and the second son must fend for himself.
This is the case with the members of the direct line, not to mention the collateral line. In fact, most of the aristocratic side branches, except for a noble surname, are ordinary people.
Seeing that colonial empires such as Britain and France made a lot of money overseas, people in Germany are naturally envious, jealous, and hateful, including nobles.
When the Vienna government issued a call to join the colonial wave, everyone's reaction was calm.
Regardless of whether the territory is remote or not, the attributes of making money and family heirlooms exist. For most people, harvesting a farm is a good option, even if they don't get a title.
With the development of the immigration policy, more and more German people participated in the colonial movement, and of course, nobility was indispensable.
With good education, excellent military literacy, and the support of family resources and connections behind them, these people quickly stood out.
"The poor are in the busy city and no one asks, and the rich have distant relatives in the mountains."
The same applies in continental Europe, and the world of nobility is also realistic. Once a family is established, no matter whether it is a collateral line or a direct line, the right to speak in the family will be greatly increased.
People all have circles, and when they go overseas, they naturally have overseas circles, plus a series of marriages. The Holy Roman Empire has not yet been restored, but the noble groups in the German region have merged first.
Since in the process of making the big cake, the ruling class has completed the confluence, so the unification of the German region is also a natural thing.
It seems to be a logical thing, but behind it is also "some people are proud, and some people are disappointed".
Although the Junker nobles also participated, the peak of the colonial wave thirty years ago happened to be the highlight of the Kingdom of Prussia.
The victory of the First Prussian War, Prussia seized a large tract of land from the Russians, and the Junkers aristocrats also made a lot of money.
Everyone's attention is on Europe, and those involved in the overseas colonial movement are all marginalized, and the resources that can be used are almost negligible.
After the defeat of the second Russian-Prussian War, the Junkers Group not only lost a lot of money politically and economically, but also the younger generation was killed in large numbers.
One wrong step, one wrong step.
Missing the colonial wave, the Junkers aristocratic group lost not only the gains in the colonization process, but more importantly, after the restoration of the Holy Roman Empire, the Junkers group had little influence in the empire.
In fact, it is not only the Junkers group that suffers, the entire Kingdom of Prussia has a low voice in the empire.
Although their military strength is still second only to Austria among all states, they cannot even rank in the top ten when it comes to the right to speak.
In a word, "there is no one in the DPRK".
Although the small state has a limited size, the ruling class and the Vienna government colluded early. The investment was made in advance, and the younger generation was sent to Austria for development early.
There are their people in overseas colonies, their descendants in the imperial army, and their children can also be seen in the central government.
Decades have passed, and what is gold has long been shining. The initial investment is now reflected in politics.
Having someone in the DPRK always brings some convenience. If the dilemma faced by the Prussian military was placed on the heads of other influential states, the problem would have been solved long ago.
Isn't it just a lack of military spending, and it's not that there is no way to solve it. Not to mention getting the same standard of the Central Army, but raising the standard of funding from the central government is always feasible.
The Kingdom of Prussia is also a border, with the Nordic Federation to the north and the Russian Empire to the east, a proper military center. It is completely reasonable to ask the central government to bear 40% of the military expenditure.
In addition, it can also be stationed abroad to obtain subsidies from the central government.
If you are lucky, if you encounter it, maybe you can get two combat missions, then there will be no problem.
Of course, the more money is taken from the central government, the greater the impact will be, and the autonomy will definitely be greatly affected.
This is also something that can't be helped, and it is impossible for you to take all the benefits. Whoever eats and for whom to die is a matter of course.
The army of the Kingdom of Prussia now has a high degree of autonomy, and the military expenditure that can be obtained from the emperor is naturally not high.
Like all hinterland states with no military threat, the central government only bears 25% of military spending.
The reason given by the War Department is very simple: there is no external military threat.
No kidding, this is serious.
The Ministry of War also gave a reasonable and detailed explanation: the Russian Empire is an ally of the Empire and does not need to be prepared; while the Nordic Federation has limited strength and poses no threat to the Empire.
The same thing, in other words, is two different results. However, both arguments are justified. It is impossible to distinguish right from wrong just on the surface, and it is difficult to even justify.
As a member of the Prussian military, Schlieffen naturally did not agree with the statement of the Imperial War Department. But there was no way, he found a reason to refute.
The existence of contradictions between Prussia and Russia does not mean that there are also contradictions between Shinra and the Russians. The Russian-Austrian alliance lasted for many years, and the Vienna government had sufficient reason to believe that the tsarist government would not invade.
As for the Nordic Federation, it goes without saying. Talking about the Nordic threat, Schlieffen himself felt ashamed.
In order to find a reason for military spending, Schlieffen also racked his brains. As for the reasons for domestic preparations, from the moment he arrived in Vienna, he decisively chose to give up.
The Russian threat theory is not easy to talk about. If you really emphasize the Russian threat blindly, maybe the Vienna government will send troops to help them guard the frontier.
For details, please refer to the Principality of Luxembourg in the west. The defense problem is borne by the Central Army, and the state army only plays an auxiliary role.
If it really reaches that point, the autonomy of the Prussian military will be lost. The Central Army assumed the responsibility of border defense, and it was reasonable to set up a military district in Prussia.
"Three lives are unfortunate, the magistrate is attached to Guo".
With a military region coordinating the regional armed forces overhead, the Prussian military has become the unfortunate "magistrate", and it is only a matter of time before it is overridden.
…
In a military camp on the outskirts, the Prussian officer corps participating in the military parade was sweating profusely on the field at the moment.
As the commander, Shi Lifen had a sad face at the moment.
"Why, are you still worried about military spending?"
A familiar voice sounded from behind, pulling Schlieffen out of his contemplation. I saw him frown, and then asked back: "Mackenson, didn't you ask this knowingly.
Do you think that apart from this big trouble, what else can give me such a headache? "
Mackenson replied solemnly: "Yes, and there are many more!"
"For example: the issue of unified training and distribution of officers proposed by the Ministry of the Army, and the rotation of each unit's defense plan proposed by the General Staff."
After the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire, Franz folded the command of the army, but this fold was also very limited.
The German states are used to their own ways, and it is obviously impossible to take power back from them at once.
In addition to using the allocation of military spending to intervene in the armies of various states, under Franz's instruction, the Ministry of War and the General Staff also tentatively put forward suggestions.
It is just a "probing", the training and distribution of unified officers, and the rotation of troops to garrison. On the surface, it seems very common, but in essence, it is related to the power of personnel appointment and the command of the army in peacetime.
If these powers were really obtained, the so-called state army would cease to exist.
Especially personnel rights. As long as the Army Department swaps officers from various states when assigning them, their own children cannot serve in their own state, and the inheritance of power is broken.
The command of the army in peacetime also had a huge impact. Rotating defenses directly broke the tradition of local troops stationed in the state. Once they are not stationed in their own country, is the army of the country still the army of the country
It involves the core interests of the military aristocracy of the state, so such a proposal is not feasible at all.
If it is really forced, the Holy Roman Empire, which has just been unified, will soon fall into a state of disintegration.
After all, the Shinra Empire's stall is now so big, it is supported by the ancient traditional mode of enfeoffment.
If the central government recklessly usurps the rights of the state, what will the overseas fief aristocrats think? No one wants to make a wedding dress for others after they have fortunately laid down the foundation.
It takes many years to build credibility, but it often only takes one time to destroy it.
Schlieffen shook his head disdainfully: "Nonsense, these proposals are all jokes, it is impossible to pass, and they are not even qualified to enter the parliament for voting.
The constitution clearly states that the army of the state is only under the dual command of the emperor and the king. Neither the Ministry of the Army nor the General Staff has the power to intervene in the state army.
The value of their existence is only to assist the emperor to manage the army, not to manage the army for the emperor. This is a completely different concept.
It seems that you are in a good mood. Could it be that you went out to meet friends and got a windfall? "
When the word "friend" was mentioned, Mackenson's expression suddenly became unnatural. Unlike Schlieffen, who was originally a Junker nobleman, Mackensen is a representative of the rise of grassroots.
Born in Mackensen, Saxony, he was able to enter the Prussian army because of an accident.
His grandfather used to be a commander of the Hanoverian cavalry. By his father's generation, he had already fallen into the middle of the family. Not only did he have no noble title, but he was also reduced to a land economic man.
At a young age, Mackenson aspired to become a cavalry officer. At that time, Austria had not yet grown, and the Kingdom of Prussia had not declined.
Opportunities arose soon. On the one hand, Austria opened up overseas colonies to recruit people; on the other hand, when the Russian-Prussian War broke out, the Berlin government raised its flag and recruited troops.
Young and vigorous Mackensen, decisively chose to join Prussia, what a nuisance to the Russians.
With extraordinary talent and luck, Mackensen quickly stood out, and was even unexpectedly appreciated by William II. Unfortunately, the Kingdom of Prussia was defeated.
At this time, it is obviously impossible to turn around. As an ordinary person, Mackenson, who stepped out in one step, could only bite the bullet and go on.
Confined to the stage of the Kingdom of Prussia, Mackensen, who was a commoner, quickly hit the ceiling.
One radish and one pit, the Prussian army is limited in size and cannot afford too many senior generals. Mackensen, who has no background, can only stop at the colonel commander.
This is already a high profile, unless the position is greatly improved, otherwise the colonel is the end point of Mackenson.
It is a pity that the Kingdom of Prussia has a total of four divisions, and the Vienna government recognizes no more than 15 generals. This position is not enough for the Junkers themselves. Where can he get the top
It is already a miracle that someone from a civilian background can get into the current position. Throughout the entire Prussian army, there is no second one to be found.
By contrast, childhood playmates are on the fast train of Austria's rise. All the way through the thorns and thorns, the first to cross the threshold.
If it's just these, it's nothing. It's normal for different national conditions to develop differently. The point is that the Holy Roman Empire is unified, and this difference is obvious.
One is the commander of the major general of the Central Army, and the other is the colonel of the state army. You don't need to think about who has a brighter future.
This is no longer a question of ability. No matter how powerful Mackensen is, there are only a few positions in the Prussian army. If the people in the front do not come down, the people in the back have no chance to make up.
Although a little sad, but also can not talk about regret. After all, there are very few people in Austria who can get up from the commoners.
Mackenson's friends were able to rush out, and in addition to luck and ability, the surname also played a role.
The fallen aristocratic collateral is similar to the commoners in normal times, but once they turn over, they will soon be able to use the family behind them to continue their connections.
After a short period of stunnedness, Mackensen replied: "Forget it! He suggested that we should not act rashly and strengthen our relationship with the Vienna Palace first.
After all, when we were strong, we offended Austria a lot.
It's not easy to settle accounts after the autumn, but there must be many people in the Vienna government who are unhappy with us. These people may not be able to accomplish anything, but it is easy to break our business. "