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“Mein Führer.” “As Minister of Defense, your job is to prepare the Wehrmacht for war, as war will be the only means by which Germany will be able to regain her former glory.” To the askant looks around the table, Halstead replied, “But do not worry. We have fourteen years to prepare for war, a war which shall begin on May Day, Nineteen Thirty-Four.” Lossow stared up at Halstead, a frown beneath his mustache. “Why that date?” Halstead quickened the second circuit of the room, which had slowed to a crawl. “Do not ask, good general, merely prepare. Prepare for war with France and Britain in the spring of Nineteen Thirty-Four. Rudi.” “Yes, mein Führer.” “Do you have a copy of the Diktat with you?” “As you requested, mein Führer.” Hess pulled a mimeograph of the Treaty of Versailles from the mound of papers he had set on the table before him. “Read Article One Sixty for the benefit of the rest.” Hess flipped through several sheets, then began to read aloud. “By a date which must not be later than March Thirty-First, Nineteen Twenty, the German Army must not comprise more than seven divisions of infantry and three divisions of cavalry. After that date the total number of effectives in the Army of the States constituting Germany must not exceed one hundred thousand men—” “Quite enough, Rudi. Thank you,” Halstead called out from the opposite end of the table, where he had halted his pacing. “Of course, the dictators of Versailles laid down many additional restrictions, including the prohibition of any additional organizations dealing with military matters. Minister of the Interior Röhm.” |