Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III
- Thread starter Peabody-Martini
- Start date
It is most likely that it was a stringer for the local paper who was there, and afterwards the story is picked up by the national and international press.
From there someone at ARD sees it and thinks that it would make a great one hour documentary program and doesn't ARD have a reporter who is a close friend to Princess Doctor Kristina?
And another possible story for this reporter is the budding romance of Crown Prince Franz of Bavaria and one of the younger daughters of Kaiser Louis Ferdinand and his late wife Kira.
Interesting developments, anyway.
Eh, if she put her foot down and said 'no', not like Albrecht can do much about it. If he tried to blackmail Vicky, the Hohenzollerns could easily threaten to make things public about Franz. Which would be worse for him, given it's his heir...
Eh, if she put her foot down and said 'no', not like Albrecht can do much about it. If he tried to blackmail Vicky, the Hohenzollerns could easily threaten to make things public about Franz. Which would be worse for him, given it's his heir...
Sometimes it is a matter of digging two graves when seeking revenge.
Thing is, as a younger daughter Vicky has options that aren't open to Franz or to her younger siblings. With Kat's help and the family's backing, she could drop out of the family pretty much. Family buys a small house in some other country, she could cut and dye her hair and live there discreetly with a small allowance. In a world sans Internet, she wouldn't be easily identified and as a younger daughter she's not needed for stuff - if the newspapers asked where she was the Kaiser could give some pat answer...
Not an option for Franz, though. So he and Albrecht would suffer far worse in a mutual outing...
This is true, and I'm not saying she shouldn't go for it. All I'm saying is, I seriously doubt he'd try anything if Vicky said no given what he has to lose. Especially as...odds are, he has backup options, he's just trying Vicky first because Hohenzollern.
One of the great injustices of the world is that people like him seem to live forever.
It is not that they don’t care it is just they don’t really know how to respond to it without committing a large International Peacekeeping Force with the possibility of having a large amount of casualties.
I mean *points at Rwanda, Srebrenica, Ughyer population* not like P-M isn't (sadly) drawing from reality here.
As others have noted...this stuff only gets noticed when it's convenient to do so, usually. If then.
In order to spur international action, I can see Albanian terrorists attacking outside of the conflict zone similar to Palestinian attacks during this time frame. And the Olympics are just around the corner...
Part 110, Chapter 1798
Chapter One Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Eight
1st June 1967
Tirana, Albania
This place had taken on the feel of Pusan towards the end of the Second World War when the Japanese were getting pushed out of Korea and China. Douglas Blackwood remembered that well. There had been thousands of soldiers and refugees crowding the docks, hoping that the means of escaping to the relative safety of Japan would present itself as the perimeter of the port city was crumbling. By the end, there had been people who had risked leaving on anything that would float.
Here in Tirana, the streets were crowded with thousands who had fled here for the temporary illusion of safety. An illusion that was crumbling by the hour along with the Albanian Army. Already there was word that the roads west to the Adriatic Coast were jammed up as those with the means to, fled.
The rumble of artillery was a constant reminder that the war was creeping closer. Months earlier, Doug had taken this assignment in the hope that he could document what was happening here and along the frontier with Serbia. Far to the north, it was rumored that the tributaries of the Danube were running red with blood. That was considered something of an exaggeration, but not by as much as anyone would have liked. Everyone knew that when Tirana fell the resulting humanitarian crisis would be apocalyptic, yet no one seemed to have the wherewithal to do anything about it. As it had turned out, he had barely left Tirana but had still taken many photographs that were relevant to what was happening here.
Over the past few months, the Serbian/Bulgarian Army had methodically advanced into Albania. Wherever the Albanians had dug in or had constructed fortifications, they had discovered that their enemies were perfectly happy seeing to it that those became their tombs by any means available. Most disturbing of all were the men who had appeared among the combatants who wore green uniforms that had no identifying features for nation or military division. The jokes had flown around about how these were little green men. As Doug had observed, these were not Martians but Russian speaking volunteers.
Today, Doug had found himself sitting in the back of an Iltis from the German Observation Mission. The Hauptmann in charge of it had been ordered to bug out and part of his orders had been to collect Doug and get him onto one of the transport helicopters using force if he had to. One of the first things that Doug had noticed was that he had the Hellcat patch on his sleeve, meaning that the orders had probably come from Kat herself. Considering the sort of hairy situations that she had found herself in over the years, if Kat felt that it was time to get out, then the time for debate was over. As if the full battle kit her people were wearing wasn’t a big clue already.
As they made their way to the airport, Doug saw the compound used by the League of Nations Mission was a hive a frenetic activity. Hardly a surprise really. The situation in Albania had laid bare the limitations of that organization. For decades, critics had seen the LON as a threat to the sovereignty of the member States. Those more knowledgeable said that it only had the authority that those same States allowed it to have and was a debate club for those connected. Recently, the determination had been reached that peacekeepers were needed in the Albanian region and the resolution had landed on the floor of the LON with a thud. After the resolution had fallen flat the best that could be achieved was a weapons embargo in an effort to contain the conflict. In Washington DC, London, and Berlin, the Governments had reached a determination of their own. To them, Albania wasn’t worth starting a larger war over and its people were paying a heavy price and would continue to do so. Doug was snapping photographs from the back of the Iltis the entire way. The fact that no one seemed inclined to stop him suggested that they had opinions of their own about what was happening.
“Here you go Sir” The Hauptmann said as they handed him his bags and hustled him across the tarmac to the waiting Albatros Al-30 Hurricane helicopter as the airport was buffeted by the sonic booms from low flying fighter planes. No one said anything as Doug took the first seat available once he got to the top of the ramp, just behind the door gunner.
As the helicopter lifted off, Doug could see smoke rising from the east where he had heard that a large set-piece battle was taking place. Then a column of smoke and dust rose up from the center of Tirana, followed by another seconds later. Through the viewfinder of his camera and the telephoto lens, he saw what he knew from long experience was an artillery bombardment commencing. The armies massing outside the city didn’t care if they took it intact and they cared even less about its residents, Doug realized as he watched it start to play out as the distance grew.
A couple hours later, the helicopter landed in Italy and Doug was greeted by the sight of holiday travelers seeking a week or more of fun in sun-soaked Apulia completely oblivious to what was happening just across the water. It seemed like a world apart. Finding a telephone, he called the house in Tempelhof. Kat wasn’t home, but he got his youngest daughter, Marie Alexandra, instead. Talking to her about what she was doing this afternoon, how Jo and Tatiana didn’t have time for her, so she was doing her own thing was exactly what he needed at that moment.
1st June 1967
Tirana, Albania
This place had taken on the feel of Pusan towards the end of the Second World War when the Japanese were getting pushed out of Korea and China. Douglas Blackwood remembered that well. There had been thousands of soldiers and refugees crowding the docks, hoping that the means of escaping to the relative safety of Japan would present itself as the perimeter of the port city was crumbling. By the end, there had been people who had risked leaving on anything that would float.
Here in Tirana, the streets were crowded with thousands who had fled here for the temporary illusion of safety. An illusion that was crumbling by the hour along with the Albanian Army. Already there was word that the roads west to the Adriatic Coast were jammed up as those with the means to, fled.
The rumble of artillery was a constant reminder that the war was creeping closer. Months earlier, Doug had taken this assignment in the hope that he could document what was happening here and along the frontier with Serbia. Far to the north, it was rumored that the tributaries of the Danube were running red with blood. That was considered something of an exaggeration, but not by as much as anyone would have liked. Everyone knew that when Tirana fell the resulting humanitarian crisis would be apocalyptic, yet no one seemed to have the wherewithal to do anything about it. As it had turned out, he had barely left Tirana but had still taken many photographs that were relevant to what was happening here.
Over the past few months, the Serbian/Bulgarian Army had methodically advanced into Albania. Wherever the Albanians had dug in or had constructed fortifications, they had discovered that their enemies were perfectly happy seeing to it that those became their tombs by any means available. Most disturbing of all were the men who had appeared among the combatants who wore green uniforms that had no identifying features for nation or military division. The jokes had flown around about how these were little green men. As Doug had observed, these were not Martians but Russian speaking volunteers.
Today, Doug had found himself sitting in the back of an Iltis from the German Observation Mission. The Hauptmann in charge of it had been ordered to bug out and part of his orders had been to collect Doug and get him onto one of the transport helicopters using force if he had to. One of the first things that Doug had noticed was that he had the Hellcat patch on his sleeve, meaning that the orders had probably come from Kat herself. Considering the sort of hairy situations that she had found herself in over the years, if Kat felt that it was time to get out, then the time for debate was over. As if the full battle kit her people were wearing wasn’t a big clue already.
As they made their way to the airport, Doug saw the compound used by the League of Nations Mission was a hive a frenetic activity. Hardly a surprise really. The situation in Albania had laid bare the limitations of that organization. For decades, critics had seen the LON as a threat to the sovereignty of the member States. Those more knowledgeable said that it only had the authority that those same States allowed it to have and was a debate club for those connected. Recently, the determination had been reached that peacekeepers were needed in the Albanian region and the resolution had landed on the floor of the LON with a thud. After the resolution had fallen flat the best that could be achieved was a weapons embargo in an effort to contain the conflict. In Washington DC, London, and Berlin, the Governments had reached a determination of their own. To them, Albania wasn’t worth starting a larger war over and its people were paying a heavy price and would continue to do so. Doug was snapping photographs from the back of the Iltis the entire way. The fact that no one seemed inclined to stop him suggested that they had opinions of their own about what was happening.
“Here you go Sir” The Hauptmann said as they handed him his bags and hustled him across the tarmac to the waiting Albatros Al-30 Hurricane helicopter as the airport was buffeted by the sonic booms from low flying fighter planes. No one said anything as Doug took the first seat available once he got to the top of the ramp, just behind the door gunner.
As the helicopter lifted off, Doug could see smoke rising from the east where he had heard that a large set-piece battle was taking place. Then a column of smoke and dust rose up from the center of Tirana, followed by another seconds later. Through the viewfinder of his camera and the telephoto lens, he saw what he knew from long experience was an artillery bombardment commencing. The armies massing outside the city didn’t care if they took it intact and they cared even less about its residents, Doug realized as he watched it start to play out as the distance grew.
A couple hours later, the helicopter landed in Italy and Doug was greeted by the sight of holiday travelers seeking a week or more of fun in sun-soaked Apulia completely oblivious to what was happening just across the water. It seemed like a world apart. Finding a telephone, he called the house in Tempelhof. Kat wasn’t home, but he got his youngest daughter, Marie Alexandra, instead. Talking to her about what she was doing this afternoon, how Jo and Tatiana didn’t have time for her, so she was doing her own thing was exactly what he needed at that moment.
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Perhaps the study of this phenomenon is the full stop at the end of Peter Von Holz's career as a psychologist dealing with PTSD. And some new field of research that he can pass on to his next generation of students and proteges?
Vicky & Franz should politely tell Albrecht to jump in that lake, cool off a bit and rethink his options re the succession. Franz can easily succeed his father without a lavender/velvet marriage and the Act of Succession can be altered to have the line of succession skip an unsuitable heir that would place the kingdom at risk. It has been done before, so there is a precedent. Bavaria would probably accept a lifelong bachelor rumoured to be A Dear Friend Of Old Fritz more readily than one who is widely regarded as a financial wastrel. By this stage ITTL (as in OTL) most people don't really care what a monarch does as long as nobody gets hurt and the country doesn't go broke leading to mass unemployment/starvation.
As for the sad state of affairs in the Albania, sadly, there is not a lot that the LoN can do if there is enough apathy within the governments of its member states, especially within the leadership of its more powerful member states. As P-M said, too many don't want to run the risk of a Balkan war spreading into a larger one (remember WW1?). The Germans, and to a lesser extent, the French & British are also getting tired of cleaning everyone else's messes, they have their own to deal with, even though their people on the ground really see the need for intervention.
That said, Doug's photos & the Moondogs album are going to hit the public perception at the same time. The impact will be impressive.
As for the sad state of affairs in the Albania, sadly, there is not a lot that the LoN can do if there is enough apathy within the governments of its member states, especially within the leadership of its more powerful member states. As P-M said, too many don't want to run the risk of a Balkan war spreading into a larger one (remember WW1?). The Germans, and to a lesser extent, the French & British are also getting tired of cleaning everyone else's messes, they have their own to deal with, even though their people on the ground really see the need for intervention.
That said, Doug's photos & the Moondogs album are going to hit the public perception at the same time. The impact will be impressive.
For me the real big red flags is the presence of the Russian "Volunteers".
So far the only confirmed nuclear powers are Germany, Great Britain, and the United States, I don't know if France is but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.
Russia as part of the Peace Treaty that ended ITTL WW II may be prohibited from having weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons but have a clandestine program of producing enhanced uranium and weapons grade plutonium.
Russia does not have to test the actual devices but only the trigger mechanism which uses conventional explosives which they can disguise the use of in mining and oil and gas exploration.
So far the only confirmed nuclear powers are Germany, Great Britain, and the United States, I don't know if France is but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.
Russia as part of the Peace Treaty that ended ITTL WW II may be prohibited from having weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons but have a clandestine program of producing enhanced uranium and weapons grade plutonium.
Russia does not have to test the actual devices but only the trigger mechanism which uses conventional explosives which they can disguise the use of in mining and oil and gas exploration.