All across the German Empire the people were rejoicing France had been humbled by the Imperial Army and the Majestic Star of Kaiser Wilhelm II had never been so high. The streets echoed to the sounds of the people singing in the Street, thousands from the Industrial Worker in the Rhinelands Factories to the Prussian Junker in his Manor to the Farmer in Bavaria to the Musician in Austria the whole of the German world reverberated to the sounds of two competing strains of music. Many sung, eyes swimming in tears for a day they had never thought would happen; Das Deutschlandlied;
Germany, Germany above everything,
Above everything in the world,
When it stands for protection and defence,
Brotherly sticks together.
From the Meuse to the Neman,
From the Adige to the Belt,
Others sung with equal fervour and perhaps more topical knowledge; Die Wacht am Rhein;
A call roars like thunderbolt,
like clashing swords and splashing waves:
To the Rhine, the Rhine, to the German Rhine,
who wants to be the stream's guardian?
But the whole country with equal fervour sung the 4th stanza of The Watcher on the Rhine;
As long as a drop of blood still glows,
a fist still draws the dagger,
and one arm still holds the rifle,
no enemy will here enter your shore!
The most ancient foe of Germany had been defeated, her lands lay shattered and her Emperor had asked for terms. And oh how the people exclaimed over the terms the Tyrol to be returned after so long an absence from her Fatherland, the Rhineland back safely in the all embracing arms of the Fatherland, The Dutch long wishing to shake the bonds of French servitude now willing partners in the Empire of All Germans and Antwerp a prize for all Germanys humiliations.
One thing eluded Germanys complete unity, its moment of absolute triumph, Austria held out from the union; and the people howled for her government to relent to join. But her government encouraged on by foreign powers it was widely said would not join her brothers just across the borders.
Plans were afoot inside Austria, true German Patriots contrived to bring down the Government. The German people rejoiced in the knowledge that inside Austria opposition was strong the traitors would not be allowed to continue to deprive Germany of her unity. Cries for Unity reverberated, Das Deutschlandlieds final verse was sung with a certain predatory look in the peoples eyes.
Unity and justice and freedom
For the German fatherland!
For these let us all strive
Brotherly with heart and hand!
Unity and justice and freedom
Are the pledge of fortune;
Unity became the German National Slogan, Unity above all costs, Unity.
OOC: Thanks to all those who wished the German Empire a welcome birth you wont be forgotten
