Chapter 191: Seeking International Prestige
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30-August-1921
’’The work at Pskov is complete. Our workers and the Russians have finished restoring the railroad connection between our two states. The line uses a track gauge compatible with our trains, allowing us to run them as far as St. Petersburg and transport the produce from our fields’’ said Alexander as he showed me documents listing the quantities of food we were finally sending to Russia to alleviate the chaos caused by the poor harvests and the drought.
’’A four-track line, as I understand it, with loaded trains running constantly in both directions. We send canned goods, pickled foods, and large quantities of grain, and the cars return full of raw materials... It seems we will be able to reduce logging in our forests for a while, provided Russian timber keeps supplying our sawmills and keeping the furniture factories and construction companies busy’’ I said, examining the trade figures.
’’That is correct, mein Herzog. Everything is proceeding as agreed. The Russians are even sending sawn boards. Although some do not conform to the dimensions we have established for certain work, we can put them to other uses. Since we acquire them at considerably less than the cost of producing them here, it is currently more profitable for our companies to change suppliers for the duration of the agreement. That will undoubtedly increase their profits’’ Alexander explained, showing me the difference between the cost of felling and processing our own timber and that of purchasing boards from Russian sawmills.
’’Well, that means we are getting more out of this than expected. We anticipated a 30% increase in revenue from food sales over the previous year, and now we are approaching 60%. Not bad at all. Between that and the savings on raw materials, we will have money for a few additional projects. We could strengthen certain services in the duchy that still need attention, such as expanding the secret police, which is proving remarkably effective at nipping uprisings in the bud. Or we could finally invest in radio facilities. We already have working designs, and we could establish a network of stations to broadcast state propaganda and transmit communications’’ I said, considering how to make use of that increase in revenue and, above all, the savings we were achieving.
’’That is one possibility, but we have numerous engineers and technicians working to improve the radio. A considerable improvement appears every little while. I do not know whether we ought to commit ourselves to such a large investment now, when some of the equipment might become outdated before we finished building the facilities’’ replied Alexander, shaking his head at the idea of extending them throughout the duchy.
’’It is true that the equipment keeps improving, but we cannot wait forever for someone to build the perfect model. What we have is already comparable, or even slightly superior, to what they use in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, or the United States. As I understand it, the Americans already have several civilian broadcasting stations. We could start there. It would give us another means of spreading news and state propaganda, besides newspapers and pamphlets. Imagine receivers in bars, with people gathered around to listen to a soccer match or some other event’’ I said, thinking of following the Americans’ example, since they seemed to be leading the way in civilian radio use.
’’It certainly has its advantages. But the decision is yours. My job is to offer another point of view so you can consider the difficulties before deciding’’ said Alexander with a smile as he went over some other documents.
’’We will do something similar, though on a smaller scale. Not a network covering the entire country, as those plans proposed, but a few stations in the major cities. We could even introduce local musicians to a wider audience. In that field, I see little sense in insisting that everything be in German. What matters is that the music be good enough for people to want to listen. We could also use the broadcasts for instruction and give cultural associations some time on the air. Let us include music in the plans’’ I said, shrugging as I settled into my chair.
’’Shall I notify one of the architects so he can begin planning the facilities?’’ asked Alexander, rising and pointing toward the door.
’’Yes, that would be best... Oh... I have an idea. Something that could bring us prestige and might not prove too expensive’’ I said, standing after giving some more thought to what we could do with the money available.
’’What is it?’’ asked Alexander, following me as I left the palace in Riga.
’’We possibly have the finest aircraft industry in the world... We could attempt the first flight around the globe. We would have to study how to accomplish it, because we would almost certainly need experimental aircraft and permission from a good many countries. We are not going to fly around the world without stopping. We will need numerous stops to refuel’’ I said as I made my way down to my armored car, intending to head to the air force’s operations center.
’’Understood. For my part, I will notify the architects at the state construction company so they can prepare plans for the radio facilities and submit a cost estimate’’ replied Alexander.
I went straight to the train station and traveled from there to Luftwaffe headquarters, which also housed one of our aircraft development and manufacturing centers.
Several air force officers greeted me upon arrival. Nearby, workers were bringing out newly assembled aircraft and moving them to the hangars, where inspections were carried out before the first test flights. Everything had to be checked to ensure it worked properly after the assembly of the parts delivered by rail. Among the aircraft, I noticed a long row of crop dusters.
’’I see production of this model is coming along well’’ I said, looking at the several dozen aircraft being prepared for shipment to Ukraine by train.
’’Work is proceeding on schedule, mein Herzog. We are completing the orders for the Kingdom of Ukraine and ensuring that every aircraft can fly under the conditions in which it will have to operate. We are also using them to train the pilots who will fly them there’’ explained one of the Luftwaffe officers as he watched an aircraft land and the mechanics approach to inspect it.
’’Glad to hear it. When will we be able to complete Vasyl’s order? I understand he has ordered more aircraft, in addition to the seventy we requested ourselves. He wants some two hundred to work constantly over Ukraine’s wheat and cornfields and reduce the need to perform those tasks by hand’’ I said, looking inside one of the hangars, where another crop duster was being built.
’’At our present rate, we finish one aircraft a day. Assembly also serves as training for the Luftwaffe’s engineers and mechanics, who must know these machines well enough to assemble and repair them. We make sure each section takes part in the work appropriate to its specialty’’ replied the officer as he accompanied me toward the senior commanders.
Along the way, I saw numerous pilots examining their aircraft and discussing aerial tactics and formations. At last, I found Manfred, his brother, and his cousin listening to an engineer who was showing them an aircraft quite different from the latest models produced at the base’s factories.
’’Manfred... Lothar... Wolfram’’ I said, greeting the three Richthofens as they listened to Messerschmitt’s explanation of the prototype.
’’Herzog Karl, to what do we owe your visit? Have you come to watch a demonstration?’’ asked Manfred, turning toward me and saluting, as did his brother and cousin.
’’No. I have come to discuss an idea with you. We have some funds available, and I want to use them to build the reputation of our aircraft industry. Eventually, I would like to sell crop dusters to our neighbors in large numbers. It would be useful if hearing of an aircraft built in the Baltic immediately made them think of a quality machine’’ I explained as I examined the prototype, which increasingly resembled the German model we were trying to reproduce.
’’Oh... Additional funds. Those are words I am always pleased to hear. Incidentally, it seems Wilhelm Messerschmitt has resolved some of the problems with the new engine. He has also managed to lighten the aircraft considerably by reducing the amount of material in certain parts of the structure, and he has found room to install the radio’’ said Manfred, pointing to the young engineer, who was adjusting several engine components.
’’Will that not affect the armor? We also want the pilot to survive. If he has reduced the weight in the way I am imagining, he may have considerably reduced the pilot’s protection’’ I said, approaching the engineer, who moistened his lips as he saw me coming.
’’No, the armor remains the same. We have simply begun making better use of the space, eliminating unnecessary parts, changing some of the materials used in the seats, and replacing a few other components inside the cockpit. We concentrated on the smaller details. In many cases, we replaced parts made from heavy materials with lighter ones that still provide the necessary strength. We have also replaced several engine components with aluminum parts, taking a few kilograms off its weight... Though that makes each aircraft more expensive’’ explained the engineer, patting the aircraft.
’’Then that is perfect. We are negotiating with the Hungarians to establish a plant that will produce aluminum in large quantities. Given our good relations, we should soon have an abundant supply at a lower price than we pay now. Perhaps the cost will fall in the long run... And does the radio work well in the air?’’ I asked, climbing onto the aircraft to examine the equipment installed in the cockpit.
’’Yes. We have already made several test flights and have been able to talk between aircraft. There is some interference, but compared with having to signal to one another in flight... The difference when coordinating formations is enormous’’ replied Lothar, adjusting his cap.
’’Excellent... Well, let me get to the reason I came, so I do not take up too much of your time. I was thinking that you and your Jagdstaffel, Manfred, could fly around the world. As I understand it, no one has managed it yet, and we hold a considerable lead in aircraft development, thanks to talented men like Messerschmitt working for us’’ I said, pointing to the engineer, who began smiling and puffed out his chest with pride.
’’Hmm... The idea of leading such an expedition appeals to me, but I keep wondering how we would carry it out. There is one very particular difficulty that I assume you have already considered. If we want to set a good time, we will have to use our best aircraft. Flying around the world is something anyone could attempt with sufficient means. The British have their islands and colonies, and the French also have places where they could stop... But we would have to take our finest machines into countries that might try to impound them for examination before returning them’’ said Manfred, folding his arms.
’’Yes, precisely. That is one of the greatest risks: some state seizing our experimental engines, dismantling them, and trying to reproduce them, taking advantage of all our researchers’ work. Given the number of spies we arrest every week, it is a possibility I keep firmly in mind’’ I replied to the Richthofens.
’’Then what is the plan?’’ asked Manfred, looking at me curiously.
’’At first, we would fly over allied territory: from Riga to Kherson, and from there to Mesopotamia. Then we would continue over the sea, using one of our naval bombers fitted with floats. I believe I could arrange a small supply fleet, with ships waiting at designated points to provide fuel and somewhere to rest. That way, you could make almost the entire journey by sea. Upon reaching Central America, we would have to obtain permission to fly over one of those countries and cross to the other ocean. From there, you would continue over the sea until you returned to the duchy, without any major complications’’ I explained, laying out the route I had in mind.
’’Can you obtain permission to cross Russia? That would shorten the journey considerably... Taking that detour through Mesopotamia could cost us days, even weeks’’ Manfred observed thoughtfully.
’’No. The Russians would be quite capable of shooting you down to get their hands on the aircraft and examine them. I would rather not take that risk. We will also avoid Uncle Sam’s territory... And that has nothing to do with their failure to invite us to their stupid naval limitation treaty’’ I added through clenched teeth.
’’Well...’’ said Manfred with a quiet chuckle. ’’Now I understand... Anyway, I suppose we could prepare a prototype fairly quickly. We would have to remove the armament and ammunition to free up space and weight for larger fuel tanks’’.
’’Exactly. And while we are at it, we can use the work to advance civil aviation and improve the range of our aircraft’’ I said, pointing a finger at him.
Manfred turned toward Messerschmitt.
’’It seems you have work to do’’ he remarked with a smile.
The engineer merely nodded as he took the pencil from behind his ear.
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