Forged in Blood And Steel

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28-December-1921

I had stayed in Spain for a few more days, mainly to negotiate. Without a language barrier, I found it much easier to discuss matters and deal with the Spanish Cortes through their king. I had secured permission to establish several companies that could absorb local businesses and turn them into something resembling cooperatives under Baltic control, providing the expertise and machinery they needed to begin producing on an industrial scale.

We had agreed to build a tractor factory and a truck factory, as well as establish several canning companies to distribute canned food within Spain. However, we would not be able to direct a large share of our food sales toward the country, since it was largely, though not entirely, capable of feeding itself.

I had secured lucrative contracts that would effectively allow me to recover more than half the money spent purchasing the Spanish colony in the Sahara, although I had committed almost the same amount again to establishing companies and building the specialized ports. We needed to expand that transportation system as quickly as possible so our ships and containers could be put to profitable use. The only ports capable of handling them were in the Baltic Duchy, and that was costing us money.

Starting with Spain was the best option. The colony purchase agreement and our offer to sell them aircraft somewhat better than those intended for other buyers made the Spanish easier to persuade. We would only need to provide a slightly improved, reliable version of the engine. We had much more powerful engines, but they were prone to failing in operation, so a modest increase in power should be enough for the Spanish.

These would be the first military aircraft we sold, and they would be inferior in every respect to those we used ourselves. Even so, retaining as much influence as possible over the Kingdom of Spain would be important. The country would experience considerable instability in the future, and we did not want our technical secrets falling into other hands.

But my extended stay in Spain had chiefly served to buy time for one reason: to allow the transport fleet carrying the new Baltic garrison to arrive. It consisted of German, Estonian, Latvian, and some Lithuanian troops. We needed everything in place before announcing that the Sahara had become a German colony and no longer belonged to Spain. The French could lodge any number of protests, so we needed the territory well defended by then.

Once that time had passed, I boarded my ship to await the fleet: twenty-five vessels loaded with military equipment, construction materials, mining machinery, and everything needed to build a port. As soon as the Spanish garrison departed, we would happen to discover one of the most important deposits of raw materials for fertilizer, along with gold deposits that would finally give us our own source of the metal to back our currency, instead of having to purchase it as we had until then.

All of that would lay the foundations for a robust industry capable of generating enormous profits. We already had the Russians’ precious stones, which they were practically selling us at two for the price of one. They were almost giving them away in exchange for food. If we could obtain cheap gold as well, we could begin manufacturing luxury rings and accompany their sale with an advertising campaign encouraging people to wear gold rings set with precious stones. If we managed to offer them at low prices and advertise them properly, we could capture a large share of the jewelry market, displacing artisanal production with mass manufacturing. If we succeeded, the profits would be enormous.

All the investments made so far would help finance an even larger one, which should allow us to afford still more magnificent things in the future. The most important objective was to grow the state investment fund I had recently established. The more money we accumulated in it, the greater the economic and diplomatic influence our country could exert. The power of such a fund became clear when another state sought investors and we could step forward with millions upon millions of dollars to meet that need. That would give us an advantage in negotiations, which was precisely what we should pursue.

The idea was for all colonial profits, or at least most of them, to flow into the state investment fund.

We soon reached the Sahara after stopping in the Canary Islands to replenish our supplies, including water and dried foods that would keep during our stay in the desert while the first bases were established.

"As I understand it, there is no properly marked border with the French. The Spanish have only a few border patrols watching the boundary between the two territories. You must therefore begin immediately to mark out the areas through which people may travel. The local inhabitants must have routes they use regularly, and those will need to be watched. The French will undoubtedly make use of them once they notice our movements and decide to cause trouble" I told my men shortly after we disembarked, as we prepared to meet the Spanish garrison.

"Are you members of the German security forces?" asked a Spanish officer who approached us, followed by several other officers.

"Yes, we are. Is something wrong?" I asked, looking at the man leading the group of Spanish soldiers.

"I have orders to hand over Villa Cisneros, along with some of our maps, so you can take charge of the territory" the officer said without much enthusiasm.

"Of course. They will be a great help. We appreciate your efforts, but apparently your government preferred to sell the colony rather than continue occupying it, considering everything happening in North Africa with the chieftain Abd el-Krim" I said, watching the officer.

"A pity, in truth. We had made considerable progress in pacifying the Sahrawis and bringing the area under our control. When I arrived, our presence was limited to the Villa Cisneros you see here, but we managed to establish numerous outposts in the desert. They now pass into your hands" the officer said, handing me several maps.

"Do you need anything else to evacuate the place?" I asked, already eager for the Spanish to leave so we could begin searching for gold and phosphates.

"All that remains is to withdraw the garrisons stationed inland. Once that is done, we will leave, and you can begin making your own security arrangements" the Spanish officer said.

"I understand. You were the governor-general of this area, were you not?" I asked the Spaniard.

"Indeed. I have spent several years here trying to pacify the region" the officer replied.

"How strained are relations with the Sahrawis? I would like to know whether we can approach them for talks with some confidence, or whether tempers are running so high that we will need to take special measures to calm them" I asked, interested in how we would manage our relations with the territory’s inhabitants.

"We have negotiated with them on numerous occasions, so you should find it fairly easy to resume those dealings if you wish. It will depend on the relationship you want with the local inhabitants, but there is nothing to exploit here apart from the fishing grounds and some land suitable for cultivation near Villa Cisneros. Beyond that, maintaining good relations should take priority, so you do not have to send bad news to your superiors. The Sahrawis can become quite troublesome when angered, attacking the garrisons that guard routes they consider themselves entitled to travel by ancestral right" the Spanish officer said.

"Ah, I see. Thank you. I will keep that in mind. We will make the necessary preparations to establish our garrison" I replied, taking my leave of the Spanish officer. He promptly handed over all the documents that might prove useful in administering the territory as we began taking over Villa Cisneros.

There was a sizable Spanish population, and our government and Spain’s had begun offering modest compensation to those who wished to return to their country. They could also remain, although they would have to comply with the Baltic Duchy’s regulations, particularly those concerning language. Naturally, these would not take effect all at once. Those wishing to stay would be given a year to learn German.

Faced with those conditions, many preferred to accept the money we offered and board one of our ships, which was finishing unloading, to travel to Seville and use that sum to rebuild their lives there.

The few who stayed accepted the regulations, and we quickly began turning Villa Cisneros into the center of the colonial administration. We also brought construction equipment ashore to transform the Spanish settlement into a German town and build factories and fishing facilities. Fishing had been the Spaniards’ principal economic activity and their sole interest in retaining the settlement.

Now that fishing rights were shared, Spanish fishermen could land their catches in our colony, where we would process and preserve them, securing a readily available source of supply.

"Good. I need patrols sent to every Spanish garrison. I have already paid the Spanish interpreters to remain for another year and help us speak with the Sahrawis, so we can explain the change in government and what it means. It is only a matter of time before difficulties arise, so in the event of a confrontation, everyone is authorized to shoot to kill" I told my officers while studying the map of the Spanish Sahara and the territories that now belonged to us.

Some of my officers hurried to motorcycles and trucks, while others turned to the camels the Spanish forces had left us as a gift to help us get around, since the sand would present considerable difficulties.

"Will we not have problems with the vehicles? Although many have received the modifications deemed necessary for sandy terrain, as in the Middle East, conditions here may prove far beyond what their engines can withstand" one of my engineers said, looking directly at me.

"Then we will have to improvise and repair the breakdowns. You have a blank check to resolve whatever difficulties the sand causes. We need a reliable vehicle for this terrain, drawing on the modifications our troops in the Middle East made to address the same problem" I replied, scratching my cheek.

"Understood, mein Herzog" the engineer said, promptly leaving to supervise the trials.

"I want the border with the French colonial possessions clearly marked, so we must begin demarcating our territory. I do not know how practical it would be to erect a barbed-wire fence along the border... Although perhaps it would only be useful to block the routes used by the Sahrawis. Leaving the border open poses a considerable problem" I said, examining the maps of the routes followed by the local tribes.

"There is far too much ground to enclose with barbed wire, mein Herzog. It would be better to establish fortified posts and deploy patrols throughout the area, keeping watch along the border in case the French attempt anything. We could also build an airfield and bring in reconnaissance aircraft, although their engines might suffer failures under the same climatic conditions" another officer said, indicating a possible site for the airfield on the map.

"Yes, the Baron mentioned that the engines had experienced failures in certain areas, mainly because of airborne sand. I suppose we could work on that as well. We will prioritize construction of the airfield so it is ready as soon as possible, in anticipation of the French reaction" I replied, running a hand along my jaw.

"I will add it to the plans so the workers can get started" Alexander said, leaving the room.

"Good. What matters now is conducting geological surveys for minerals or any other resources that might make this colony more profitable. We must also look for oil. Perhaps we will find it if we explore thoroughly enough, and the machinery is already on its way... We should also examine the groundwater reserves the Spanish used for their farms. If they are plentiful enough, we could establish greenhouses for cultivation, using water to help keep the temperature down" I said, looking at the officers and officials gathered around me.

Once everyone had nodded and begun attending to their duties, I turned to supervising the work while we awaited a possible French response.

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If there are spelling mistakes, please let me know.

Leave a comment; support is always appreciated.

I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.

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