Post by Catsmate on Feb 18, 2021 9:02:24 GMT
The Niederwalddenkmal Inauguration.
A small seed, suitable for a Time Meddler with a penchant for assassination and big bangs.
The 38 metre tall Niederwalddenkmal monument (wiki) generally refer erred to simply as 'Germania', was constructed between 1871 and 1883 to commemorate the Unification of Germany (and, more importantly, the victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War). It's located above Rüdesheim at the height of the Niederwald above the Rhine, overlooking the river valley with the town of Bingen on the far side.
It was officially opened on 28SEP1883 with most of the political elite of the German Empire, led by Kaiser Wilhelm I present for the dedication.
Historically, despite the efforts of a group of anarchists 'led' by August Reinsdorf (wiki), the ceremony went without everyone being blown up by a large amount of dynamite. Mainly thanks to the torrential rain.
But now someone has meddled and altered history. The plot succeed and Wilhelm I is dead, along with his son and heir (the historically short serving Frederick III), the so-called 'Federal Princes' of the principalities absorbed into the Empire, along with Otto von Bismarck (the Imperial Chancellor) and many more dignitaries and officials.
Someone has meddled. And on a grand scale.
Originally the two anarchists, Franz Reinhold Rupsch and Emil Küchler, had planned to place the explosives under the emperor's marquee at the monument itself but this was frustrated by last minute work there. Instead the charges were placed in a drainage ditch on the road that led from the town of Rüdesheim up to the memorial. The two containers of dynamite were placed in a gap under the roadway and the fuse laid in the trench and into the forest.
Now the earlier plan has succeeded, beyond the wildest expectations of the anarchists. Someone enabled the charges to be laid under the marquee and added a substantial amount of more advanced explosive to the mix; about fifty kilos of fulgarite detonated with the force of half-a-tonne of period dynamite, wiping out the Imperial party, killing dozens and leaving Germany in disarray.
There are already acts of retaliation, official and unofficial, organised and spontaneous, against socialists and others suspected of being involved. Fingers are being pointed at France and there are rumours of another war. Martial law has been declared and the new Kaiser, the 24-year-old Wilhelm II, is under heavy guard.
That's when the travellers arrive, to see Germany's Golden Age before the horrors unleashed in 1914. But those horrors may be coming early.....
Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?
A small seed, suitable for a Time Meddler with a penchant for assassination and big bangs.
The 38 metre tall Niederwalddenkmal monument (wiki) generally refer erred to simply as 'Germania', was constructed between 1871 and 1883 to commemorate the Unification of Germany (and, more importantly, the victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War). It's located above Rüdesheim at the height of the Niederwald above the Rhine, overlooking the river valley with the town of Bingen on the far side.
It was officially opened on 28SEP1883 with most of the political elite of the German Empire, led by Kaiser Wilhelm I present for the dedication.
Historically, despite the efforts of a group of anarchists 'led' by August Reinsdorf (wiki), the ceremony went without everyone being blown up by a large amount of dynamite. Mainly thanks to the torrential rain.
- The anarchists purchased fuse made from tarred hemp cord impregnated with nitrates, because it cost 50 pfennigs less than similar fuse that was waterproofed with a layer of rubber. Rain left the ground wet and the fuse, linked to two ceramic containers of dynamite, became damp and didn't burn.
But now someone has meddled and altered history. The plot succeed and Wilhelm I is dead, along with his son and heir (the historically short serving Frederick III), the so-called 'Federal Princes' of the principalities absorbed into the Empire, along with Otto von Bismarck (the Imperial Chancellor) and many more dignitaries and officials.
Someone has meddled. And on a grand scale.
Originally the two anarchists, Franz Reinhold Rupsch and Emil Küchler, had planned to place the explosives under the emperor's marquee at the monument itself but this was frustrated by last minute work there. Instead the charges were placed in a drainage ditch on the road that led from the town of Rüdesheim up to the memorial. The two containers of dynamite were placed in a gap under the roadway and the fuse laid in the trench and into the forest.
- It should be noted that a police spy (using the name Palm) had infiltrated the anarchist group and had supplied funds. He may have been involved in the acquisition of the dynamite.
Now the earlier plan has succeeded, beyond the wildest expectations of the anarchists. Someone enabled the charges to be laid under the marquee and added a substantial amount of more advanced explosive to the mix; about fifty kilos of fulgarite detonated with the force of half-a-tonne of period dynamite, wiping out the Imperial party, killing dozens and leaving Germany in disarray.
There are already acts of retaliation, official and unofficial, organised and spontaneous, against socialists and others suspected of being involved. Fingers are being pointed at France and there are rumours of another war. Martial law has been declared and the new Kaiser, the 24-year-old Wilhelm II, is under heavy guard.
That's when the travellers arrive, to see Germany's Golden Age before the horrors unleashed in 1914. But those horrors may be coming early.....
Comments? Ideas? Suggestions?