# 58

Franz Josef and Wilhelm Plot Strategy.

As the carriage entered Emperor Franz' favorite palace Hofburg castle court it passed through the Swiss Gate where gaily clad Swiss Guards stood at the portals. Wilhelm nudged Erich with a tap on his shoulder and told him to look around, for the Hofburg was an entire city unto it with its eighteen wings and courtyards.

 The ornate carriage stopped in front of the thirteenth century Hofburg. Austro-

Hungarian Foreign Minister, Count Leopold Berchtold greeted the passengers. The tall, thin dandy had a high, bald and narrow skull, long nose, and short mustache hiding a pair of tightly closed lips. He was a man of unctuous charm.

At the conclusion of the introductions, Count Berchtold clasped Wilhelm, whom he

knew quite well, and kissed him on both cheeks. After a few sundry comments, the group ascended the huge chancery staircase that led to the Emperor’s quarters. At each level magnificently accoutered guards, halberds in hand, saluted the German Kaiser.

The marble floors were so highly polished that any general inspection would find

them satisfactory. Mirrors allowed every ego to enjoy its coming and going

Inside the Hofburg Palace, shadows were quite dark during the day. Sunlight found it

difficult to negotiate the palace hall’s numerous twists and turns.
At the Hofburg Imperial, orders were that fine wax candles light up its halls and

rooms.

Two Hungarian bodyguards stood with drawn swords at the door leading to the

Emperor’s office, where Franz Josef had found a single corner in which he could forget his cares during part of the day.

In the anteroom, the visitors found seats and waited for the emperor’s permission to

enter. Double doors opened, as though by magic, and a captain of the Arcieren Guard

loudly announced the presence of Kaiser Wilhelm, Count Leopold Berchtold, Field

Marshal Count Hotzendorf, and General Falkenhayn.

 Sitting at a desk, Franz Josef, emperor of Austria-Hungary, in the undress uniform of a

Field Marshal, paid little heed to his visitors. Rings of cigar smoke hung about his egg-like baldpate. Above his head, a chandelier glowed by its dozens of lighted candles.
Conrad bowed and clicked his heels saying, “Your Majesty, I bring before you,
Emperor Wilhelm of Germany.”

There was no response from the Emperor. He busied himself with his paper work.

Count Berchtold understood by the pervading silence that his presence was no longer
required. He explained to the emperor that he planned a meeting with the General Staff.
Bowing low, the three men carefully backed out of the room through the magically
opened double doors.

Willy found  an armchair in darkened corner of the room wishing that his uncle did

not despise electricity. Straining his eyes, he perceived in the near darkness a large
painting of the Franz Josef’s mother on the wall directly in front of the Emperor’s desk.

 

Meanwhile, Franz Josef continued working at his desk, piled high with sheets of paper.

His spectacles hung low on his nose. As he shifted his body, he favored his creaking

limbs, uttering a low grumble of complaint.

His desk was a simple wooden table. A dark flowered cloth covered it. At his right

was an inkwell. While Willy waited quietly, the emperor worked and smoked. He sat
patiently before his pile of papers, without uttering a word of complaint about the messages.

Finally, his work done, he shook a brass bell. An aide entered and with a bow to Wilhelm retrieved the completed documents and silently departed.
Without so much as a “How are you,” Franz Joseph exclaimed, “Now, Wilhelm, you
wrote to me that you have serious business to discuss with me and that it was urgent!”
Realizing that he acted rudely with his guest, he changed his tone. “I am very sorry
Wilhelm that I have just treated you so badly. You must forgive me!”

Willy stood up and shook the Emperor’s hand. “Uncle Franzi there is no way that I

feel badly treated by you. No, you are my paragon! I look to you for sage advice and

confident support.”

Obviously unabashed, Franz Josef rubbed his baldhead and said, “Here, Wilhelm, have one of my Havana cigars.”

 “All right, uncle, I guess I will try one.”

As the smoke curled slowly above the men, Franz Josef considerately asked his guest

about his family affairs.

Wilhelm gave a proud, but terse summary, of the personal growth of his six sons and his daughter. He spent more time discussing his wife Dona who he claimed was his close companion. “When I arrive at her apartment, she allows me to go into detail about my daily activities. I love that woman! She is a great listener, which is what I need after a particularly difficult day!”

“Yes, Wilhelm,” said Franz Josef, “I can appreciate such an arrangement. I miss

Elisabeth terribly. When Austria and Hungary formed the Dual Monarchy, she and I
worked like a team to make the plan succeed. You know that the Hungarians loved
Elisabeth
 “Are you happy with Frau Katharina Schratt?”

“Let me be very frank. Since my loss of Elisabeth, she has been a source of comfort

and solace during difficult times for me. When Katharina came into my life, she was just thirty years old and was a well-known actress in Vienna’s Burgtheater. When I first saw her at the theater, I fell in love with her much like a young Lothario. My God, I couldn’t wait to conquer that beautiful body! She was the female companionship that I missed during Elisabeth’s long absences. After she became my mistress, I purchased a charming baroque style house on Gloriettegasse near to the Schonbrunn. It enabled me to visit her at my leisure.”

“That was most considerate and generous of you, Uncle,” said Wilhelm.

“Yes, my dear friend,” replied the Emperor, “I enjoyed un petit déjeuner with the

woman many mornings. After that, we took a stroll in the grounds of the Schonbrun

amusing each other with the chatter of young lovers.”

Staring at the glowing end of his cigar Wilhelm subtly asked if Frau Schratt’s future is

secure.

“Certainly! I may be old and doddering, but I am not stupid! When I croak, she will

receive a handsome inheritance.”

The Austrian Kaiser lit another cigar.

“You know, Wilhelm, that I am eighty four years old and probably not long for this

world. However, I think always about my Austria and especially my beloved Vienna.

Over my many years, I faced storm and plight, surrounded by enemies, yet Austria
remains erect and noble. I feel that, from the moors to the mountains, I was instrumental in defending the nation. The sparkling swords of our brave soldiers are a wall of defense against enemies from the east and south.

“I believe that singing about peace is vital to our destiny. However, I will order the

trumpets to signal a call to arms to face any attack by our neighbors. I do not fear war!

Vienna fills my heart and my mind its greatness in all things. I can hear it as it weeps and as it laughs. This is where I know my way. This is where I am at home.”

“I have never met any one who lives in or visits Vienna who is untouched by its

special aura of music, art, business, architecture and its people. If I have to leave this

Eden, my yearning would never end! My ears would hear an imaginary song that has all the sounds of the city and that entices me back to its roots.
“Even now, I recall in my dreams of those idyllic houses, those lovely girls strolling
on the avenues, the parade of handsomely clad soldiers following the brass band that

makes Vienna so gay. I dream of spending time with beautiful women until late in the
night or perhaps I visualize me sitting with a girl drinking wine and my arm holding her tight. The two of us are discreetly quiet, favored by distant sounds of a waltz by Strauss.”

The old man pulled a long white handkerchief from his rear pants pocket. He blew his

nose with a loudness that startled Wilhelm

“Yes, whether or not I want it, I only hope that death comes late. Once I have to leave

this world, I will sadly part from love and wine. Unfortunately, whatever one gains, one loses. No, when I pass on I will fly right into Heaven where I will sit and watch Vienna from above and see Saint Stephen’s sunlit steeple greeting me!

 

Wilhelm stood close to the Emperor and said, “I sincerely want to regard Prussia’s

defeat of Austria as being in the past and buried. I look forward to a future of close
relationship with Austria-Hungary.”

This frankness made a deep impression on Emperor Franz Josef He gripped the

proffered hand and held it fast. While Willy looked up to Franz Josef, a man so much

older, with respectful, almost filial affection, the latter was anxious to show the German Emperor how grateful he was. Though his natural reserve did not allow his warm regard for William II to appear on the surface, anyone in close touch with him could see right down into the depths of his unshakable confidence and cordial sympathy. To this, the Emperor added his wholehearted admiration for the tremendous development of Germany during the reign of Wilhelm II, and his grateful recognition of the great achievements of the German nation in every sphere of life.”

Wilhelm said, “It is understood that Austria-Hungary is limited to poor and ancient

markets. She can scarcely hold her own among the resolute rivalry of her neighbors."

The Emperor nodded. “Yes, that is somewhat true. However, since you have taken

over the reins in Germany, we have improved economically. Much of our success has

been due to our close relation with your nation. Now, other competing nations take a
second look before trying to prevent us from opening new markets.”

“By the way,” said Franz Josef, changing the subject, “I want to relate to you

experience I had several years ago that concerned you. In the spring of 1901, I had gone to Budapest to meet with the Hungarian leaders there. One evening, several of us
gathered for a light dinner. The topic of South Africa arose and the cessation of hostilities there. The Boer Conflict was still an important item among the foreign affairs ministers.
Someone at the table made a remark about Emperor Wilhelm’s telegram to Oom Paul
Kruger, the president of the Transvaal. The guest construed it as a challenge to England.
That was not how I construed the telegram. It was merely a quite natural and human

recognition of the incomparable bravery of the Dutch Boers. No other construction could be put upon it, because I know only too well that the German Emperor’s one thought is always the maintenance of peace.”

A moment of silence ensued while the two men mulled over the last statement.

Wilhelm was pleased for it showed him the support of Franz Josef that he needed before he broached him about Germany’s plans for a preventative attack against the Triple Alliance.
 

 Franz Josef patted Wilhelm’s hand. “However, I will tell you something dear nephewthat causes me concern. I read about your recent speech, the ‘shining armor.’ I hope that your temperament is not getting the better of you. This boasting about the sharpness of the German sword seems to me dangerous. In countries where feeling is unfriendly to us that means almost everywhere- such words may only too easily be misunderstood deliberately misconstrued. Europe today is like a powder keg; we must be careful and not scatter sparks about carelessly.”

Continuing to pat his guest’s hand, he said, “However, I believe in you. Your love of
your family, your trust in God and loyalty are the qualities which endear you to me.”

“Thank you. I deeply appreciate your kind thoughts! Uncle, you are the main reason I

visit Vienna so often. I am quite human and I sincerely need your wise advice and
support.”

Wilhelm removed a gold cigarette case from his pocket and lit one of his cigarettes.

He sucked the smoke deep into his lungs before continuing his discussion.

“Dear Uncle, I need to talk to you about a world shattering topic! I…”
 

“Hold that thought, Wilhelm,” said Franz Josef. He picked up a small brass bell and

shook it violently.

 

The double doors sprung open and a servant carrying a silver tray brought cold beer to

the monarchs. He placed two colorful pewter steins on a small buffet. Holding the tray to his side, he bowed and backed out of the room.

Franz Joseph walked over to the buffet and poured beer into the steins. He gave one to

Wilhelm and they tapped their steins together.

“Prosit!” said the emperor.

Wilhelm had decided it was time to provide a detailed description of the war strategy

that his General Staff developed. He leaned forward in his chair, his face a few inches
from that of Franz Josef.

“Of course, Uncle, you well know that Germany is surrounded by hostile nations in

particular France, Russian and England. We now have indisputable information that they have completed plans to attack not only Germany but Austria-Hungary!”

Franz Josef folded his hands across his chest and leaned back in his chair. “I, too, have

heard rumors about that. Do you really possess substantive proof of those rascals and
their schemes?”

“Our spies,” said Wilhelm, “have provided us with detailed information of the
nefarious strategy cooked up by the Triple Entente!”
 

The Austrian Emperor sat up straight and motioned with his hand for Wilhelm to give

him more details.

 

“At a recent meeting of English, French and Russian top military men in Devonshire,

England plans were developed that clearly indicated that the Triple Entente was
determined to attack at least two members of the Triple Alliance.”

Franz Josef walked over to a corner table and took a cigar from humidor. Wilhelm

swiftly offered a light, but the Emperor had used a candle flame to do the trick.
 

“Uncle Franzi, our duty is clear. We know what must be done to defeat the unholy

three.”
Wilhelm paused for a moment searching the Emperor’s face for some form of

emotion. He found nothing that might suggest fear or irresolution

“We must strike first, immediately, powerfully and overwhelmingly. We must in one

stroke defeat them. We realize that our Austrian brothers in arms can play a major role in our overall strategy.”

Franz Josef pointed a finger at his nephew. “Are you suggesting a preemptive attack?”

Wilhelm nodded. The silence that followed worried him. Again, the younger monarch
searched for a reaction to his remarks. Franz Josef’s face remained impassive. Wilhelm

had a sinking feeling that he was not reaching his uncle. He decided to take a mor

positive approach, one that might bolster the old man’s confidence and to stiffen his

resolve.

“Of course, you and I are not alone. We have aligned Turkey, Bulgaria, Italy and

possibly Romania.

“Basically, the strategy is to lure Russian armies into a holding pattern until we can

beat the French. Then, we can finish off the Russians!”
 

Franz Joseph sipped his beer and spoke for the first time about the military alignment.

“Are you certain of the aid of Italy?”
 

Wilhelm stroked his chin. “We have offered them incentives that will keep them in the

fold. If they stay with us, they will provide a buffer zone at the French border.”

“The main problem is Servia! Russia and Servia are intertwined like Siamese twins.

The Serbs can put a wrench in our plans by first striking at Austria and holding up your

armies. Therefore, if Austria can knock out the small Servian army in a month or so w

will provide a solid front against the Russians from the Baltic to the Black Sea. A victory can practically insure the continuation of our monarchies. Thus, rest assured, dear Uncle, a victory will insure that Austria-Hungary and Germany will remain economic and military powerhouses and together we will keep the peace of Europe. I know how you feel, Uncle, but we must definitely know that our beloved brothers in Austria are with us.”

 

Franz Josef began tapping his fingers on his desktop. After a few moments of

meditation, he wiped his face with the palm of his hand. “You have presented me with a world-shaking proposition. It is one filled with dangerous pathways. One wrong move, one wrong path taken and all is lost! What you suggest is little more than a toss of the dice. If you are lucky, the German world will last for a millennium. If you lose, a chaotic future lies ahead for Germany and Austria-Hungary. However, Wilhelm, I am a gamble at heart.”

Pouring himself another pint of beer, the Emperor began to make his thoughts

cohesive. After a few moments, while Wilhelm sat quietly by, he said, “My intuition tells me that if Austria goes to war, it is not for territory, but to save itself. If the Monarchy must perish it should at least perish with decency!”

Franz Joseph’s face lit up and took on a glow that Wilhelm had never observed before.

“You have my promise!”
 

The two Emperors stood up and hugged each other for several minutes.

When they sat down, Wilhelm said, “Our main problem is to find a reason for Austria

to attack Servia without looking like aggressors. You see Uncle, in a type of war that I

am suggesting, we will need to keep all the friends we can throughout the world. If we

are seen as the victims of Russian, French and British bullies, we can pretty well count on the sympathy of the United States and the rest of Europe.”

By now, Wilhelm feared that he might have gone too far in his attempt to gain Franz
Josef’s backing for war. He decided to change the subject for a while and let the Emperor assimilate the difficult decision.

“I fully understand, Uncle Franzi, that you consider yourself the chosen guardian of

the fame and reputation of your House— house which has claimed and occupied the

first place in Europe for more than six hundred years. How hard it must have been for

you, worn out by the blows of fate, to give your consent to the Franz Ferdinand’s

morganatic marriage! Yet, you seemed to have no choice if you are to follow the laws of royal continuity. When I visited Franz Ferdinand, he seemed very concerned about how he will best lead his nation when he is placed on the throne.”
 

The emperor said, “I, also, have the same concerns. However, when the time comes
his reign will be in the hands of God!”

For a few moments, he closed his eyes and remained lost in thought. Then he spoke,
not so much to Wilhelm as to himself, the words seemed to tear themselves from his

heart.

“A higher power has ordered me to reach a single conclusion!”
 

“What is that, Uncle?”
 

Franz stood up with difficulty. His old bones creaked as he did so. With his fists

closed and shaking, he exclaimed, “That’s it! That’s it!” By God, that’s it! Wilhelm,

listen to me! I have made decisions that sent thousands of men to their death. I have

ordered assassinations that you wouldn’t believe. I have absolutely no qualms about my actions. Sin! Evil! No, my good man! I did what was best for the nation. Moral judgment didn’t even enter into it.”

Wilhelm crushed his cigar in an ashtray. “I don’t believe for the world that you would

order such a terrible thing as an assassination!”
 

“Oh no? You may recall Louis II of Bavaria, the friend of Richard Wagner, was found
drowned in 1886 in Lake Starnberg?”

“You had something to do with that?”
 

“The bastard stole the heart of my beloved Elisabeth from me. I would kill for that

woman and I did!”

Suddenly Franz Josef turned bright red and began to choke. Wilhelm feared that the

old man was having a stroke. However, the situation immediately resolved itself when

the emperor raised his arm to wave off Wilhelm’s help.

“Don’t fear, nephew, I am not dying! A damned piece of my cigar end got stuck in my

throat!”

Back in his chair again, Franz Josef nervously tapped his fingers on the desktop. Then he stood up and began vigorously scratching his derrière. “It’s my damned

hemorrhoids!”

From behind the emperor’s bushy mustache and sideburns emerged a face of pure

evil. His eyes reddened, his skin had a gray sheen, and he rapidly licked his lips, his

tongue appeared large and warty.

Wilhelm started to rise from his chair.

“Stay where you are!”

Wilhelm fell back in his seat, again deeply concerned that the old man might be

having apoplexy.

 

“By Christ,” shouted Franz Josef, his voice had become quite hoarse, “if you want a

casus belli for an attack on Servia, I will damn well give you the perfect solution to your Gordian knot.”
With a demonstration of great excitement, he accidentally knocked his beer stein to

the floor. Suddenly, as though new life surged through his body, the emperor stood up

and leaned within inches of Wilhelm’s worried face!

The old man gleefully shouted, “Kill Franz Ferdinand!”

With both hands, the emperor then grabbed the German monarch’s shoulders and
shook the trembling and greatly astonished man. “Yes, have the bastard assassinated by some fucking Serb radical and our problem is solved! Do you understand me?”

Wilhelm quickly answered, “Yes, I do! By God! Yes I do.”
 

“Kill Franz Ferdinand!” The Emperor shrieked, “Oh, if I could me rid of this pesky

prince once and for all!”

 

For a moment, Wilhelm listened in silence.

“But wait a moment, Uncle Franzi,” said the nervous German Kaiser having second

thoughts, “you can’t make that happen. It’s a mortal sin! You are certainly not the type of human being that would even consider such an evil act!”
 

“Bull shit!” was the reply. “Oh, my poor, innocent Wilhelm! Hear me out! My doctors

tell me that Franz Ferdinand’s tuberculosis has returned and that he may not live too

long! Actually, I would be doing him a favor!”
 

“Now listen to this! Last year, I gave Franz Ferdinand the rank of Inspector General of

the armed forces. I figured it would make the fool happy. Now, it just happens that he is planning to attend troop maneuvers in Bosnia this coming June.”
 

“I don’t follow you, Uncle,” said Wilhelm.
 

“Now, for Christ’s sake, use your noodle, Wilhelm! What would happen if something

terrible happened to the heir apparent?”
 

“In Bosnia?” asked Wilhelm. “I doubt that an incident there would cause much

alarm!”

“Ach du Lieber! You are not thinking, nephew! What if a stupid Serb assassinate
Franz Ferdinand? A man from that secret society, the Blackhand? We could easily place the blame on the Servian government! It could provide us with the greatest opportunity to eliminate Servia as a political force. The world would sympathize with us!”

The emperor giggled like a young child with a new toy.

“Are you with me, Wilhelm?”

The German Kaiser shouted, “I love it!”

After Kaiser Wilhelm agreed to the nefarious plan, the old man opened his fly.

“Wilhelm, place your hand on my naked thigh and swear fealty.”
 

Without hesitation the Kaiser did as directed. “I swear to you that I will remain your

trusted ally through any tempest we face, so help me God!”

As Wilhelm withdrew his hand, he felt the Emperor’s body quiver.

Suddenly a terrible thought occurred to Wilhelm. “Uncle Franzi, did you have

anything to do with Rudolf’s death? How about Elisabeth’s death?

 

Franz Josef made no effort to reply. He simply put a fresh cigar in his mouth and lit it

with a candle flame. He showed no emotion by Wilhelm’s questions. In fact, he blew a

ring of smoke in the German Kaiser’s face.

“It’s my last chance,” he expressed himself sadly. “It would enable me to make

restitution for all my failures!”
 

The emperor slowly caressed the surface of his desk “By God, I don’t mind admitting

that I want to go out in flames! I want a glorious end! Yes, Wilhelm, it will be my

Götterdammerung! Yes, by God it is time to throw the dice!”

Wilhelm wondered about the strength of his uncle’s outburst.

From the darkest corner of the room, a grandfather clock began to grind its gears

followed by bonging the hour of eleven o’clock.

The aged monarch stood up, straightened his tunic and said, politely, “I have a

meeting with some members of the Parliament
 

Without ado, he shook Wilhelm’s hand and said, “Goodbye!”
 

However, as Wilhelm was about to leave, filled with mixed feelings of joy and
consternation, the Emperor said to him, “Dear Willy, do come back soon to Vienna. It
will give me great pleasure. The sooner you come the better, I shall be pleased!”
 

Just as he passed through the great twin doors, Willy heard the Emperor loudly

blowing his nose. Was it catarrh or was it the stifling of a secret feeling.


                        Alea iacta est!
               What fools we mortals be!