Chapter 0849: Fierce Competition

"Twenty-eight million marks!"

"Thirty million marks!"

The representatives of Argentina and Brazil promptly joined the bidding, instantly driving up the price of the battleship Nassau by a full ten million marks. This amount already approached two-thirds of the ship's original construction cost. For a battleship that had served for several years, fetching such a price was undoubtedly impressive.

This fierce bidding was, of course, driven by intense competition among the buyers.

Chile, Argentina, and Brazil were recognized as the three major powers of South America. Each boasted formidable naval strength. Chile, in particular, despite its relatively small territory, was endowed with abundant mineral resources, especially copper, which had brought the nation considerable wealth.

With an influx of national wealth, military spending naturally increased. This development posed a threat to Brazil and Argentina, two traditional powerhouses in the region, compelling them to bolster their own military capabilities. Consequently, South America descended into a triangular rivalry among the three nations.

To the great powers of the world, however, the so-called "South American triumvirate" was little more than a child's game. Any of the major powers could easily overwhelm them. However, with each great power supporting proxies in South America, the regional dynamics became intricate. It was this geopolitical complexity that allowed these three nations to rise to prominence. For example, Chile enjoyed the backing of Germany; without such support, its rapid development would have been unthinkable.

"Damn it! The price has already soared to thirty million marks, and the bidding has just begun!" Crown Prince Karl cursed under his breath. He had hoped to acquire all 18 capital ships Germany was selling in this auction. But now, with so many contenders in the fray, it seemed increasingly unlikely. The two-billion-dollar loan from the United States, equivalent to eight hundred million marks, could only stretch so far.

"Your Highness, should we make a bid?" Admiral Anton Haus asked anxiously.

"Not yet. Let them fight it out. We can't afford all the ships. Focus our efforts on the later ones equipped with 343mm main guns," Crown Prince Karl decided swiftly. He opted to forgo the earlier, less capable capital ships and concentrate on securing the more powerful ones to come.

"Understood, Your Highness," Admiral Haus nodded.

The Ottoman Empire's Fatih Pasha also withdrew, evidently uninterested in the South American rivalry.

"Thirty-six million marks!" The representative of the Chilean Republic raised the bid again.

The Brazilian representative hesitated and eventually withdrew, but the Argentine representative countered with a bid of thirty-eight million marks.

The Chilean representative remained unfazed and promptly raised the bid to forty million marks.

In this heated competition between Chile and Argentina, the battleship Nassau was ultimately sold for an impressive forty-five million marks.

Following the Nassau, the next ship up for auction was the Westfalen. This second ship of the Nassau class fetched forty-three million marks, purchased by Argentina.

The third ship, Rheinland, was claimed by Chile for forty-four million marks.

The fourth and final ship, Posen, ended up in Brazil's hands for forty-two million marks.

The four Nassau-class battleships collectively sold for a total of 174 million marks. While slightly below their original construction costs, the overall proceeds were still quite satisfactory.

"Next, we will auction the Imperial Navy's Blücher-class battlecruisers. Two ships of this class remain, namely Von der Tann and Leopold," Vice Admiral Hipper announced with a broad smile, introducing the specifications of the Blücher-class battlecruisers. A total of three ships in this class had been built, but the lead ship, Blücher, had been sunk during a naval engagement with the British, one of the few German capital ships lost during the war.

Nevertheless, the loss of the Blücher did not reflect poorly on the class's capabilities. During the engagement, the ship had been encircled and overwhelmed by British forces, leading to its eventual demise.

The starting price for the Von der Tann was set at twenty million marks. Chile, Argentina, and Brazil displayed only mild interest in battlecruisers, each placing only a single bid before withdrawing. The price soon reached thirty-two million marks.

Battlecruisers, while slightly less powerful than battleships, offered the advantage of higher speeds. For nations with overseas interests, these ships held significant strategic value. However, for countries without such interests, their utility was limited. Still, acquiring them at a reasonable price remained an attractive proposition, especially given the outstanding performance of German-built battlecruisers, which boasted exceptional durability and could even engage in direct battles against capital ships.

The Ottoman Empire's Fatih Pasha, seeing an opportunity, entered the bidding, raising the price to thirty-five million marks in hopes of securing a bargain.

Unfortunately for him, Admiral Anton Haus, acting on Crown Prince Karl's instructions, also joined the fray.

"Forty million marks!" Admiral Haus declared boldly.

Fatih Pasha's expression darkened. He had hoped to secure the ship at a bargain price, but Austria-Hungary's involvement now rendered that unlikely. Yet, he was reluctant to back down, particularly given the historic enmity between the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary.

"Forty-two million marks!" Fatih Pasha gritted his teeth and placed another bid.

"Forty-five million marks!" Admiral Haus countered without hesitation.

"Forty-seven million marks!" Fatih Pasha raised the bid again.

This time, Admiral Haus refrained from further bidding.

Though Fatih Pasha successfully secured the Von der Tann, the final price far exceeded his initial expectations, leaving him visibly displeased.

The auction for the Leopold quickly devolved into another intense rivalry between the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary. Perhaps wary after his earlier misstep, Fatih Pasha adopted a more cautious approach. In the end, the Leopold was acquired by the Ottoman Empire for forty-two million marks.

The two Blücher-class battlecruisers were sold for a combined total of eighty-nine million marks.