Chapter 10

It was November 11th! Following Hitler's speech, the number of people who gathered and prepared to march toward Berlin swelled to 30,000. This was no ordinary crowd; it was an army of discontented souls, ready to follow their leader toward what they believed would be a new dawn for Germany.

This was not just any group; it was a force capable of altering the course of German history. On the morning of what future generations would call "Singles' Day," Hitler and Ludendorff led their followers in an epic march toward Berlin. The capital awaited them, and with it, the fate of a nation.

The distance between Munich and Berlin was nearly 600 kilometers, a journey that, on foot, would take weeks. Hitler burned with impatience to reach Berlin and overthrow the Weimar government, which he saw as a stain on Germany's honor. However, logistics posed a significant challenge. They lacked sufficient means of transportation—neither cars nor trains—to move 30,000 people at once. Dividing them into groups would be risky, exposing them to potential ambushes or desertions.

Thus, Hitler opted for a more cunning strategy: to advance slowly, delivering speeches in every town and city along the way. Each word he spoke was a seed falling on fertile ground, drawing more people to his cause. The Workers' Party, still unknown to many, began to gain influence. This march was not merely an act of rebellion; it was a moving propaganda campaign.

Hitler knew that if he played his cards right, his army would grow like a snowball. By the time they reached Berlin, they could number a million. The thought electrified him.

The flag waved high, defiant and proud.

The Defense Forces, who had joined their cause, took the lead. Behind them, Hitler and Ludendorff marched with unwavering determination, followed by a crowd of stormtroopers and citizens of Munich. The atmosphere was electric; the youth, filled with patriotic fervor, were ready to give everything for their leader.

Alex walked beside Hitler. After the last battle, he had earned a special place in the Führer's heart. He had almost displaced Göring in importance, becoming Hitler's closest confidant. Göring, who had taken two bullets, lay in a Munich hospital, far from the action.

Hitler couldn't help but look at Alex with admiration. "If it weren't for your ingenuity in the last battle, this coup would have failed," he thought.

Alex had been pivotal in threatening enemy forces with a bold maneuver. Without a doubt, if they came to power, Alex would hold a prominent position in Hitler's new government.

Yet, something in Alex's expression troubled Hitler. A shadow of concern lingered between the young man's brows.

"Alex, what troubles you?" Hitler asked, breaking the silence.

"Leader, do you think the Weimar government will allow such a large group to march toward Berlin without resistance?" Alex replied, his voice tinged with caution.

Hitler had been so intoxicated by the excitement of the march that he hadn't seriously considered that possibility. But Alex, well-versed in history, knew that the Beer Hall Putsch had failed in the past precisely because of local forces' intervention. Now, with history rewritten, what awaited them?

"Our uprising will succeed," Hitler declared firmly, clapping Alex on the shoulder. "We have no other choice. It is for the resurgence of Germany!"

At that moment, a shout interrupted their conversation.

"Look! What is that?"

In the distance, a metallic structure advanced toward them. It was a steel monster, a Mark IV tank. The British had designed it during the First World War to break enemy lines, and now, here it was, right before them. Its armor was studded with rivets, and on its front, a painted skull pattern made it even more intimidating. A machine gun protruded from the front, flanked by two six-pound cannons on the sides.

The Mark I, the first of its kind, was a fearsome machine that sowed panic merely by appearing on the horizon. Its metallic roar and imposing presence were enough to make even the bravest soldiers retreat. However, it was not perfect. Its mechanical failures and rudimentary design limited its effectiveness on the battlefield.

After its debut, the British did not stop. They improved the design with the Mark II and Mark III, though these only received minor adjustments and were not produced in large numbers. It was with the Mark IV that true evolution arrived. This model corrected critical errors: the engine was relocated to improve efficiency, the suspension was optimized to reduce breakdowns, and the awkward tail wheel was removed, allowing it to adapt better to difficult terrain. Additionally, it was equipped with a more reliable Lewis machine gun and a second machine gun was added to the front, making it a lethal machine against enemy infantry.

The Mark IV was the first British tank produced en masse, with 1,220 units manufactured—a staggering number compared to the 150 units of the Mark I. However, not all survived intact. Some fell into German hands due to mechanical failures or ambushes. Interestingly, after the war, the German Defense Forces disdained these captured tanks and handed them over to the Free Corps at no cost. To the Germans, they were obsolete relics, but to the Free Corps, they represented the perfect tool for intimidation.

The thin armor of a few millimeters was insufficient to face modern weapons, but it was ideal for terrifying crowds. When one of these tanks advanced, the sound of its tracks and the gleam of its armor provoked visceral fear in anyone who saw it. Even war veterans, accustomed to death and destruction, felt a chill at its sight. For ordinary people, it was a nightmare made real.

The Free Corps adopted these tanks as symbols of their power. They painted black skulls on their armor, a distinctive mark that set them apart from regular German forces. They were not conventional soldiers; they were an irregular force, feared and respected in equal measure.

On one occasion, during a demonstration in the streets of a German city, the sound of engines echoed through the air.

"Hurry, disperse the troops, take cover, and prepare for battle!" shouted Scherner, a charismatic leader inspired by Hitler's tactics. Scherner knew his presence on the front lines was crucial. If his men faltered, the entire operation would collapse.

"How do we fight tanks and armored vehicles?" the soldiers wondered. Alex, a senior officer, approached Scherner, his subordinate, with a question:

"Scherner, do our people have special ammunition?" Alex knew the distribution of weapons and ammunition, but he also knew that without the right resources, any resistance would be futile.

"There's a sniper over there!" Scherner shouted, pointing toward an elevated position. The tension was palpable. The tanks advanced, accompanied by armored vehicles and trucks filled with armed soldiers. The ground trembled under the weight of the machines, and the air was thick with the smell of oil and gunpowder.