Chapter 373: The Homefront
While the enemies of the German Reich burned in the aftermath of war, having pushed their industry and agriculture to the edge all for the sake of a futile resistance. The fatherland prospered like never before.
Their economy largely guided by the state, and its ties to the military industrial complex had ballooned from the increased volume of output and sales, not only to their own armed force but also to their allies who had begun a process of standardization of equipment in line with the German Army for the sake of the ease of logistics.
And while Austro-Hungary was still feeling the heat of the balkans ready to ignite at a moment’s notice into a great fire, the German Reich and Russian Empire were largely unaffected by the war.
Losses had been well below the replacement rate, and soldiers were routinely given leave to rest from the horrors of war, meanwhile the people flourished in their work, generating a large amount of wealth for the nation.
Would this boom last forever? Of course not? And could it easily cripple the nation after the war was over? Oh yes? But plans were already in place to begin transitioning towards civilian industries that could maintain the output of the war for more sustainable production.
Thus life continued in the unmolested lands of the German fatherland, much as they had before the war. In fact, in Bruno’s household there were subtle changes taking place. Heidi had been pre-occupied with her charities, and the daily function of her family that she had forgotten that her son Erwin’s 14th birthday was rapidly approaching.
Why was this so important? Because in the German Reich a man could marry at the age of 14 with parental consent. And considering his fiancee was roughly nine years older than him, Heidi intended to have her eldest son properly married before waiting until he was a proper 21 years of age.
Because of this, now that she finally had a day to herself she approached Alya who was staying with her family, as the Russian beauty always did whenever her adopted father as off to war.
There was a book in Heidi’s hands that she had prepared years in advance for this day, the information within it contained everything needed to plan a proper wedding, and thus she appraoched the young woman, who was in the act of helping around the house, catching her entirely off guard.
"Alya dear, can I have a moment to speak with you?"