[Forum Game] Springtime of Nations

[etranger01]

​

Current Players: 17/20​

Introduction
Welcome to Springtime of Nations, the game of alternate history and organized chaos. In this game, you'll take a notable figure in revolutionary Germany and plot a course through a tumultuous period of political and social change. While many previous games have focused strictly on the political and military fields of endeavor, Springtime of Nations intends to simulate other aspects of Victorian life, including industry, bureaucracy, intrigue, scientific advancement, and cultural change. As such, the game includes opportunities for characters of many different stripes to thrive, advance, and forward their agendas. In order to accommodate the variety of characters, there are several stats being used to track their abilities and traits. These stats will largely be kept out of sight, but they will play an essential role in task and conflict resolution.

The game begins on September 1st, 1849. A cease-fire has been declared between the revolutionary forces of independent Germany and the reactionary armies of Austria and Prussia following widespread revolts, looting, and chaos. Rather than bring their full might to bear against the German revolutionaries, the Austrian and Prussian armies found themselves hamstrung by well-coordinated revolutionary action within their own countries, including full-scale revolts in Poland and Hungary. Following stunning military success by the revolutionary forces along the Weser, Austria proposed a cease-fire, which was in turn accepted by the Frankfurt Assembly and the other German states. While revolutionary Germany is independent and free of foreign armies at the moment, it remains an unorganized and unrecognized state reeling from recent (and ongoing) unrest and lacking a coherent policy on how to move forward.

Rules
Rule 1: The GM is always right.
Rule 2: The only person with whom you are required to be honest and forthright is the GM.
Rule 3: Your character is allowed to attempt any action.
Rule 4: However, you cannot state or determine the consequences of that action without GM approval.
Rule 5: For every action, there is a consequence.
Rule 6: You can only play one (1) character at any time.
Rule 7: New rules can always be arranged.

Signups and Character Profiles
To submit a character to the game, first apprise yourself of the in-game situation. Then head over to the signup thread and follow the rules there. Once you've received final approval, post your public profile and then join the game. Anything posted in the signups thread is considered public knowledge (except GM postings).

Gameplay
Each player character will be assigned a set of statistics corresponding to their roles and backstories. The principal stats in the game are Statecraft, Warfare, Management, Cunning, and Education, each with specific areas of utility.

Statecraft: Force of personality, negotiation, legislative ability, bourgeoisie affinity.
Warfare: Strategy, tactics, logistics, military affinity.
Management: Bureaucracy, business, managing enterprises, financial affinity.
Cunning: Spying, slander, underhanded tactics, street affinity.
Education: Academic knowledge, philosophy and poetry, scientific acumen, cultural affinity.

Additionally, each character will have their own values of Prestige and Influence; Prestige represents a character's prominence or notoriety and is used as a modifier to public actions, while Influence represents a character's personal connections and is used as a modifier to private actions. Prestige and Influence can be gained and lost through performing actions and spending resources. A player may take a public stance with their Prestige and then undercut it with a private action using their Influence, or vice versa. It is possible to gain Prestige by spending Influence and vice versa. It is possible that losing Prestige will result in a loss of Influence and vice versa. Finally, each character will possess Wealth, which they can spend for a variety of purposes, and may also possess property, businesses, or a military command, though there are other options as well.

To-Do Lists
Gameplay will proceed on a seasonal basis, with each two-week out-of-game period corresponding to three in-game calendar months. Players are expected to submit a to-do list for their character during each two-week period by the listed due date. To-do lists may have up to three (3) action orders and one (1) flavor order, each no longer than a medium-length sentence. Action orders represent meaningful tasks that might or should have an effect on the overall course of the game or a character, while flavor orders simply represent things your character does outside of work that have no immediate relevance to the game itself. Good flavor orders may result in a bonus.

To-do lists with less than three action orders will receive a bonus (relative to the number of omitted entries) to reflect the concentration of effort and resources on fewer tasks. Following the due date, there will be a public update posted in the thread along with private results provided for each player. Public updates will reflect common knowledge within the nation, including public events, while private results will provide direct, specific knowledge or consequences garnered by player actions. Public updates may not fully or partially reflect the objective state of the nation or the actions undertaken. Players are permitted to disseminate their private results, but are also permitted to falsify, stretch, or act in a deceptive fashion regarding these private results. At no time will the GM disclose or confirm the veracity of private results except as the consequence of a successful action, and then only privately.

Actions
Actions are carried out by leveraging statistics and/or resources in order to create a desired end. Action orders are submitted to the GM via private message; each order should be marked either PUBLIC or PRIVATE to determine the visibility of the order. Depending on the action and the context, an order may be more likely to succeed if it's public rather than private, or vice versa. Additionally, public orders are modified by Prestige, while private orders are modified by Influence. The GM will determine the relevant stat to govern the order, modify it with the relevant Prestige or Influence value, introduce a random element, and then resolve the order with any gained bonuses, penalties, or costs. At no time will the GM disclose how an order was resolved unless he deems it necessary to improve player functionality within the game.

Cooperative Actions
Any player may designate part of their to-do list as "Cooperative" in addition to the usual "Public" or "Private" tags, along with the name of the character(s) with whom the order is being performed. Cooperative orders allow characters to pool resources and put additional weight behind their an order. How each player chooses to cooperate is entirely up to them. These orders can be used for larger efforts that require multiple contributions, including the establishment of a new business, lobbying the government for legislation, and/or committing foul and unspeakable crimes in the dark of night. As a general rule, a well-coordinated cooperative order is more effective than several similar individual orders, though one inept conspirator could well ruin everything.

Ongoing Actions
Any player may designate part of their to-do list as "Ongoing." If so, the order will not resolve immediately, but will instead be put toward an extended effort designed to pay off later. Since each turn only lasts three months, players may decide to engage in larger endeavors to which they want to devote continual attention. While a single order with an extended wait prior to resolution is still viable, allocating multiple orders will generally give the character greater control over the order's development and have a greater effect. Ongoing orders could be the development of financial assets, the infiltration of an organization, or building a political organization that can function on a national level.

Information Requests
In addition to the actions performed during each game period, players may also contact the GM via forum private message to ask for information regarding the state of the nation or about your character. Information checks will be performed according to the character's stats, position, and other relevant contexts. Any information provided to the player is subjective and private; the GM will not disclose those results or confirm their veracity except as the consequence of a successful action. Players are therefore free to falsify any information acquired. The GM will never disclose any underlying numbers from the stats system, including those of your own character, save for those numbers posted as part of the public update.

Character Retirement
Sometimes, characters die, are rendered unplayable, or simply complete their agendas. If that's the case, you can send the GM a private message on the forum requesting character retirement. This decision is irreversible; once retired, a character is out of the game unless special permission is received from the GM. At that point, the GM will determine whether the character is considered to have retired honorably or to have retired dishonorably.

An honorable retirement is just that: the character has completed their career with distinction and goes on to their just reward. Your next character will receive a positive legacy trait, representing their predecessor's success. You may also declare your next character their heir and decide whether the character's inheritance is temporal, represented by Wealth and resources; or spiritual, represented by prestige, influence, or even another trait. The GM will determine the scope and makeup of the inheritance. The justification for this inheritance should be included in the new character's Background. Feel free to get creative.

A dishonorable retirement follows a character being discarded or killed off following an ignominious showing, public disgrace, or other negative circumstances. If so declared, then your next character will receive a temporary negative legacy trait, representing the stain left by association; this trait, unlike the honorable legacy trait, can be removed through time and circumstance. Your new character is still entitled to temporal or spiritual inheritance, as above.

Under special circumstances, the GM may declare a mulligan. In that case, the character is simply replaced by another character or removed without legacy or inheritance.

In-Character Posts
Players are free to post in-character; while these posts may affect orders (with bonuses or penalties), they do not substitute for orders and have no effect without orders. Public orders with in-character posts justifying them may be more successful than orders without them. Players are encouraged to remember that their characters do not (usually) exist within a central location and are not necessarily physically present to respond to other players' public posts. With that said, all public actions are public knowledge.

Chatroom Policy
You're free to come in and chat with the other players in #WiR_Main on irc.coldfront.net. I'll be there most of the time, but any game requests have to go through the forum PM system.

 

[etranger01]

Revolutionary Germany

​

Fundamental Rights of the German People​

I. All men are equal under the law and possess inherent rights bounded by the law, which shall exist to protect and defend those rights.
II. The right to participate in free and fair elections shall not be abridged.
III. The right to freedom of expression, of association, of assembly, and of the press, shall not be abridged.
IV. Any person suspected of a crime is to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and shall not be subject to punishment until such time.
V. No person may be held against their will except in a manner as established by law and according to proper legal procedure.
VI. The right to own and transfer property shall not be abridged, except in cases of treason and other high crimes, as determined by law.

National Overview​

Germany is a revolutionary state of roughly 10 million citizens. Its capital is located in Frankfurt-am-Main.

• In a revolutionary state, Prestige is earned through displays of revolutionary fervor, through supporting and furthering progressive and radical causes, and through actively opposing enemies of the revolution.

The National Assembly serves as the provisional government. Members of the National Assembly are elected by indirect restricted male suffrage and can be drawn from any area within the German Confederation, including those areas outside Germany's borders. There are no other branches of government.

The National Assembly lacks the authority to impose or spend taxes, establish national laws, maintain order, command military units, or engage in meaningful diplomacy. Its duties are to produce a constitution for Germany and to promote the rights of the German people. Proposals unrelated to the constitution are not being considered at this time.

At present, there is no concrete information regarding public order, though there are persistent stories of unrest and lawlessness in the areas where order isn't imposed by military units or local militias.

Political Overview​

Germany is currently in a state of temporarily suspended, undeclared war with the Austrian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the nations of the German Confederation.

Germany has no defined borders. The acting border is the cease-fire line established in the summer of 1849. The city of Dresden and its immediate environs are isolated from the rest of Germany.

Germany remains unrecognized by any of the Great Powers. The only nation that extends recognition to Germany is the Free City of Krakow.

Germany has no external alliances or non-aggression pacts.

Economic Overview​

The national economy is in disarray. Following the cease-fire declaration, limited local economic activity has resumed.

Germany has no national taxation system, nor a system of national tariffs.

Germany has no trade agreements with other nations, nor has it secured any trade permissions along waterways running through other nations.

Germany has no access to the ocean. The Rhine is closed to vessels flying the German flag.

German internal trade is subject to banditry and other outlaw activity, making national economic activity extremely difficult and dangerous.

Military Overview​

Germany is generally supposed to field between 2,000 and 8,000 regulars, 12,000 to 20,000 militiamen, and an unknown number of armed irregular citizens. This information is widely considered unreliable.

There is no central military command. Military rank is largely titular and generally acquired through self-promotion or military election.

There is no established standard for military recruitment, nor for unit size or name. Military units are generally reinforced by volunteers or deserters.

There is no established equipment or uniform standard, nor any established system for acquiring equipment and supplies. Military units generally use whatever they can buy, borrow, or steal.

There is no established system for military compensation. Soldiers are generally paid by their commanding officers or have been promised repayment at a later date.

Cultural Overview ​

There are several independent newspapers in various cities, each operating without regulation and with wildly varying degrees of accuracy and responsibility. Most of them are fanning the flames of unrest and revolutionary fervor.

There has been a substantial uptick in revolutionary fashions, including styles harking back to the Roman and French Revolutionary periods.

Several new revolutionary songs are making the rounds and German classical music is particularly in fashion at the moment.

Map of Germany

​

 

[etranger01]

Agenda of the Constitutional Committee​

"On this day, September the 1st, in the year 1849, we have gathered together to establish a common constitution for the German people, so that they may exercise their fundamental rights in peace and tranquility, that they may enjoy the exercise of their personal liberties unhampered by the interference of tyranny..."

GM: The Frankfurt Assembly has been convened to draft a new constitution for Germany. All players are permitted to fill out the following questionnaire and submit it with their to-do lists for the coming turn.

For all characters currently holding a seat in the Frankfurt Assembly, this is an act of Prestige and you are required to post your questionnaire as a public IC post. You may explain your selections.

For all characters not in the Assembly, this is an act of Influence and your positions do not need to be publicly stated, though you may choose to exercise your Prestige and post publicly instead.

Characters (even Assembly delegates) are permitted to post public statements with their Prestige and then undertake contrary private action with their Influence (or vice versa), though such action will require an entry on your to-do list and risks loss as normal. Please let me know which action you'd prefer to succeed if you're doing it on purpose.

If any players wish to propose specific executions of the broad outlines given below, they may do so as an in-character post or as part of their to-do list, and those executions or specific details thereof may be included in the final draft depending on how the process goes down.

I will write an outline of the final draft with all of the pertinent details and post it with the public update. Be warned that the constitutional convention is not the only thing happening this turn and there are many problems facing Germany, so if you have other agendas, be mindful of them.


Fundamental Rights
Should the constitution Retain the current Fundamental Rights of the German Citizen, Expand the Fundamental Rights, or Abolish the Fundamental Rights?

• If the Fundamental Rights are retained, they'll remain as listed currently and limit the power of the national government.
• If the Fundamental Rights are expanded, then additional rights will be added at a later time to further limit national power.
• If the Fundamental Rights are abolished, then there won't be any limitations on government power regarding individual rights.

The Executive
Should the constitution establish a Presidential, Semi-Presidential, or Parliamentary system for the Executive?

• A presidential system will establish a president elected independently of the legislature with broad powers.
• A semi-presidential system will establish an independently elected president who shares executive authority with a prime minister appointed by the legislature.
• A parliamentary system will establish a prime minister appointed by the legislature with limited powers.

The Legislature
Should the constitution establish a Unicameral or a Bicameral Legislature?

• A unicameral legislature will be a single-chamber body with full legislative authority elected proportionately by the citizenry.
• A bicameral legislature will be a dual-chamber body with legislative authority divided between a popularly elected lower house and an appointed upper house.

The Judiciary
Should the constitution grant Independence and the power of judicial review to the Judiciary, or should it be Dependent on the other branches?

• An independent judiciary will have the power to overturn laws and executive actions it deems contrary to the constitution and serve as a check on government power.
• A dependent judiciary will be charged solely with maintaining the laws and executive actions established by the other branches.

Scope of Government
Should the constitution establish the national government as a centralized Unitary state, a decentralized Confederation, or a balanced Federal state?

• A unitary state will abolish most of the local powers and privileges held by localities and establish a strong national government.
• A confederal state will be strictly limited in the authority it can exercise, with most power devolved to localities. Local privileges will not be abolished.
• A federal state will establish a moderately powerful national government kept partially in check by local powers. Local privileges will be abolished.

Voting Rights
Should the constitution retain Restricted Male Suffrage as the franchise, expand it to Universal Male Suffrage, or further expand it to Universal Suffrage?

• Restricted male suffrage will allow any independent, home-owning adult male citizen to vote in national elections.
• Universal male suffrage will allow any adult male citizen to vote in national elections.
• Universal suffrage will allow any adult citizen to vote in national elections.

Status of the Nobility
Should the Constitution fully Abolish noble titles, or should the Status Quo remain?

• If abolished, publicly self-identifying as a noble, including the use of titles and nobiliary particles, will be a criminal act.
• If the Status Quo is retained, noble self-identification will be legal, but there will be no legal distinction between noblemen and commoners.

Status of the Church
Should the constitution establish State Religion, commit to Secularism, or enshrine Atheism?

• If state religion is established, then the constitution will commit to broad Christian principles, inclusive of both Catholicism and Protestantism, but exclude other religions.
• If secularism is established, then there will be no official state religion, but neither will the government discourage or interfere with religious exercise.
• If atheism is established, then the constitution will actively oppose and criminalize religious exercise and expression.

Pet Cause
If any aspect of the constitution is of principal importance to your character, including any aspects not listed here, then you may designate one (1) Pet Cause. Your Pet Cause will receive extra support, but your support for other issues will be slightly reduced. List your Pet Cause in this section. It can be anything appropriate to the constitution, up to and including what the flag should look like.

YOU MAY NOW POST.

ALL ORDERS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY, MAY 18TH AT 11:59 PM EST.

THE SOONER I GET ORDERS, THE SOONER YOU GET UPDATE.​

 

[MastahCheef117]

The Constitutional Manifesto of Julius Philipp Kühn
published this first day of September, 1849;
for the betterment of the German People.
​

On the Fundamental Rights of the People.
The rights of the people cannot be abridged by any man, institution, or government. The Fundamental Rights, as written down during the Revolution, are a perfect representation of all that no government or power can take away. These rights should therefore not be altered in any way.

On the Executive Power.
What good, for man's benefit, has monarchy ever delivered? In what state, in which the monarch claimed divine right to imprison and murder and prosecute war at will, have the people not suffered under the unjust rule of such tyrants as the kings of Prussia and France? And yet even today some hope to name a new President, who will rule "justly" over the German people, with the maintenance of the full power of the government. There is no such thing as an all-powerful ruler whose rule is not injurious to the welfare of his people. Only a fully parliamentary system can claim any good for the people and the nation.

On the Legislative Power.
What good shall it do to claim ourselves the benefactors of the thought of the Enlightenment, and the children of the great thought of anti-reaction, if our government is to be mired in bureaucratic meddling and layering? The only true democratic state is one that is the most representative of its people, and one in which the voice and concerns of the people are most easily and loudly heard. I cannot ever argue with full conviction against a representative and democratic legislature composed of a single chamber.

On the Judicatory Power.
The judges, determined in a democratic manner by the houses of the legislature and the government at large, shall be the most knowledgeable persons on the law; and thus can only uphold this new Constitution, and thereby the laws of the nation and the rights of the people, within an independent judiciary.

On the Size and Purpose of National Government.
We have seen the successes of the United States of America across the Atlantic; we bear witness to the successes of their federalized system, in which the central government is able to legislate where needed, and then leaves the rest of the governmental apparatus and legislating to the various local states. Why must this system not be used here in Germany? The people will and should always reject a centralized government whose power chafes upon their rights; thus should the federal system be the best choice. A confederal system leaves the central government too weak to respond to even the most dangerous and serious of national threats, and will only incite bickering among the various state governments for power here in Frankfurt, or wherever the national capital should lay after these constitutional deliberations.

On the Rights of the Citizen, Pertaining to the Election of Representatives.
Many of us have fought for the Revolution, and against the "right" of Kings and Emperors to rule over us, for our own right to choose those that lead us. The right to vote in national elections cannot be abridged; and why must this only apply to the landed men, or men at all? Are not women the same members of the same species? To deprive them of the right to vote is to deprive every German man the same; and to deprive all Germany the ability to drink, and to eat, and to live. Only free and fair elections, in which both men and women vote, can guarantee a free Republic.

On the Legality of Nobility and its Attendant Titles.
If we are to live in a nation of laws, and one of a free and prosperous people, we must abandon the ways of the past that have so harmed the people's welfare; that is, nobility and noble titles and privileges. It was the nobility that damaged the poor, the wretched, the unfortunate; the farmer, the worker; the woman, the child; the non-believer, the questioning; the ambitious, the patriotic. Only ill can come from such an institution. To claim noble heritage is one thing; to demand better representation, better treatment, and more rights, is altogether something different. The last vestiges of the nobility should be utterly wiped out from Germany forever.

On the Relationship with the Church and various Christian Denominations.
Let each man believe; let each man disbelieve; let each man attend the Church, and the Synagogue, and any other place where they worship; let them love God, or hate Him; it does not matter to me. This Republic should forever remain secular in its acts and processes.

 

[aedan777]

Fundamental Rights: Retain

The Fundamental Rights of the German People offer us a solid foundation for a free society, dedicated to the protection of liberty. I am opposed to none of its aspects, and thus believe abolishing the Fundamental Rights would be a grave mistake. Nor do I believe that further expansion of the Fundamental Rights is necessary or desirable.

The Executive: Semi-Presidential

The powers of the Executive should not be invested in a single man. A president is needed so that the leader of our nation is a direct result of the will of the people, yet even such a person should still not be the sole executive authority. Alternatively, a Prime Minister will assure that the will of the legislature has a say in the executive branch, which may not be of the same political stance as the President. Such a mixed system will best suit and protect the needs of the people.

The Legislature: Unicameral

Multiple branches of the legislature are unnecessary and needlessly complicated. A single legislative body should exist, elected as representatives from the constituent states of the nation. Note that this vote is reliant on the scope of government being decided as Federal or Confederal. If the government's scope is decided as Unitary, then I support Bicameral legislature, as a single legislative body with no federal system would hold too much centralized power.

The Judiciary: Independent

An independent Judiciary is important to establishing separation of powers in government. To make it subservient to another branch would jeopardize its role and purpose.

Scope of Government: Federal

A Federal government best reflects the historical and cultural reality of Germany, encourages those not within our state already to join, and further protects the people from potential tyranny. A confederal government by contrast would be too decentralized, and we need a government centralized and powerful enough to resist outside threats and pressure. A Federal Government best balances the needs and realities of Germany at present.

Voting Rights: Universal Male Suffrage

Restricted male suffrage is an atrocity against free government and should not even be considered by liberty loving people. And I do not see reason to support completely universal suffrage. Women generally lack the mental and emotional capacities to make informed decisions regarding the running of a nation. Thus they should not be allowed to vote.

Status of the Nobility: Status Quo

I am utterly opposed to nobility and its continued existence in any form. All men should be equal before the law. However, to make self-identification as noble a criminal act takes the matter a step too far. It is a slippery slope to criminalize such meaningless self-identification, and I fear it could lead down a road to tyranny. Thus I do not believe further action is required against nobility.

Status of the Church: Secularism

Enshrining Christianity (defined here a vague mix of Catholic and Protestant principles) as the state religion would be a mistake. Besides alienating those who are not Catholic or Protestant, which includes a number of Christians, it also could lead to further division between Catholics and Protestants, or even differing Protestant sects, which might not be happy about the extent their beliefs are represented as opposed to other groups. And supporting Atheism would alienate all believers, which make up most of this nation's population. Thus a secular solution is the only rational choice.

Pet Cause: None (So far)

-Klaus Gustaf Lehrer, Representative from Munich

 

[Noco19]

A Compendium of Revolutionary Thought
Georg Wolfsegen, September 1st, 1849

"We have in our hands, fellow members of the Revolution and of the Convention, a pivotal point in History, both for the German People, and for the World at Large, a true opportunitity to abolish the inequalities of the People, to reform ourselves for the modern age, and to create what I now know to be the True Successor the Reich - the Volksreich, the Second Reich. We now stand ready to construct a modern chapter, a modern age in which we recognize the Past, but reject its archaic society in favor of a more perfect one, underlined by Free Thought, Free Expression, and the Public Sentiments. In this manner, we are the Future; we are the destroyers of old and heralds of new, and together in this Convention, may we usher in the Volksreich, the Realm for the People!"​

Fundamental Rights - Retain

"Through the use of Revolution, we have ushered in Goodness in the form of our Fundamental Rights, a foundation for which we base our Nation upon, for the betterment of all People, with the oppression of Noble Tyrants, Church Liars, and Rich Buffoons extinguished, saving ourselves from the fires of decadence, and sipping from the cool waters of our Enlightened and Revolutionary forebears. Thus, I see not why we should alter what has set our Nation towards modernity."

The Executive - Semi-Presidential

"Pursuant to our Revolutionary Ideals of direct outlet for the Public Will, we must create an office of Presidential status, a symbol of the People and an accountable magistrate to work with our chambers. Other may cry out, and liken this figure to one of King, but I say nay, for this President would be one of grace, not from blood nor title, not from status nor birth, but from the Will of the People! In coordination with an Executive Committee, drawn from the Legislature, our Nation must, and shall, be championed by the Revolution and its German Children!"

The Legislature - Unicameral

"Democracy, it being the most beloved and cherished virtue of this German Republic, must be nurtured, given authority so that it may spread its wings and take flight for the betterment of the People! And in pursuit of this evolution, I call for the establishment of a chamber, that which is constructed as a hand able and willing to grasp the Sword of Revolution, to push forward our Revolutionary Ideals, to slay the vile Tyranny of Reaction, and to fully represent the wills of the People! Such an organ should be known as the Volkskammer (People's Chamber/Parliament), it should stand as an uncorruptable exercise of the Popular Sentiments, and from its elected membership should arise champions of the twin values of Germania and the Revolution. And from this chamber must be formed the Volkskomitee für die Revolution (People's Committee for the Revolution), an executive staff who shall be elected by their peers by virtue of their principles, in support of the Nation."

The Judiciary - Dependent

"In a Nation such as ours, where we have deposed archaic concepts, it is imperative that our Government wield in its hands the Sword of Revolution, a tool so that we may safeguard Revolutionary Ideals, by any means needed in the face of Feudalism and Decay. In this, we must have at our disposal access to the apparatus of the Judiciary, one of our chief weapons against the evils that lurk among the People, preparing its counter-revolution, preparing its subversion of our Revolution. The Volkskomitee für die Revolution shall find it necessary to execute, exile, and otherwise liquidate those forces that already array themselves in resistance to our Revolution, and this use of law cannot find itself mired with courts that may falter in their zeal to dispense Justice."

Scope of Government - Federalism

"As colleagues before me have spoken, many of us within this Convention look towards other Powers which have embraced Revolution, namely the United States of America, who turned their back, as we have, on the arcana inherent within the back-wards thought on aristocracy, monarchism, and divine right to rule over fellow Man. Germania, like the lands of America, are filled with rich and storied History, and although we are a single German People, our legacy is expansive, from Baden, to Bavaria, and even in the modern age with the Berg Free-State, birthing a host of Culture unseen elsewhere. That is why I find it necessary our union between the Nation and the constituent states be one of cooperation, not turning the Nation a tyrant to the local, but also not to allow the local to divide the Nation."

Voting Rights - Universal Suffrage

"Is it not our Revolutionary Creed that the German People be equal, be free, and be one? Then why is it so that many murmur of divisions applied to us by the forces of Reaction? Let every German, Man or Woman, sup from the Revolutionary State, let them cast vote, speak word, and participate in statecraft, lest we succumb to a society of archaic design!"

Status of the Nobility - Abolish

"As I have spoken, and has I shall always speak, let every German be equal, for we derive from the same stock, as it known. But since the Dawn of Evil, there has always been those who entrench themselves above others, who invent fantasies to justify inequality! Let it be known that the concept of nobility is vile, that it is a direct attack on the sanctity of Democracy, Freedom and Revolution! Those who cling to these falsehoods of 'high-birth', let them be be liquidated before they take root as a leech on the side of Germania! I warn you Brothers and Sisters, these are not nobles by blood, but tyrants by blood!"

Status of the Church - Civic Cult - Pet Clause

"There is an institution beyond aristocracy, beyond nobility, beyond elites that threaten to strangle the Revolution and its Children. It shares the vile features we are familiar with: authority over freedom, orthodoxy over Revolution, the few against the many, arcana against Reason, Liberty, and Virtue. I refer to the Church, be it Catholic or Protestant, for both seek to poison the People with lunacy perpetrated by mad men. And yet for so long, like the lunacies of Feudalism, we accepted them as fact, allowing clergy to dictate to us our salvation, to strip away our rights, and to divide us like cattle! No Longer I say, No Longer!

With the Revolution, we have been given the means to end this farce now. We must continue the Revolution, and we must march to every Church, and to every False Preacher, and to them we say 'Begone'! They simply are Tyrants in Priest Dress! These Men must be ran out, forced to join the People, to marry, to disavow False Teachings! To any property or wealth owned by such Churches, I say, let them be given to the Nation for the People! For the False Iconography, I say, let it be destroyed! And to anyone who harbors these agents of Sedition, let them be cast alongside them, to Death!

And in this absence of arcana, we must plant the Seed of True Faith. The Churches of Old have supported no one but themselves in wanton Greed! But with the Revolution, we may establish an organization that stands for the People, for the Nation, and for the values of Revolutionary Importance; we desire a civic cult, for which we will be formed a theology of sanity, of reason and liberty. It stands in defense of a Single God, a Benevolent God, who in their Divinity granted us the tools to Think, to Express, and to form the Revolutionary Nation in its glories! This Supreme Being would be personified as the Force it serves, the feminine aspects of Germania, the embodiment of the People! I name this, the Kult des Höchsten Wesens (Cult of the Supreme Being), to mirror the Thought of past thinkers, who form the early strain of thought expounded by our Revolution. Let us use this to destroy the undue influence of the Churches, let us celebrate our newfound Freedom with Civic Festivals, replace Saint Calendars with proper People Calendars, let us bring forth the Revolution in all aspects!"

 

[baboushreturns]

Freunde , Brüder und Lands today we stand at the precipice of greatness. Our revolution has been won and the oppressors of the people have been defeated. We must celebrate our victory but we also must also ensure that our gains are not reversed. A strong constitution which provides for a stable and fair central government, one that is checked by itself so that it does not grow tyrannical like the old regime is necessary for the preservation of our new found liberties.

​

Fundamental Rights​

​

The current fundamental rights provided for this body are sufficient and I do not see the need at this time to add more. Or for this body to be exorbitant therefore we shall retain the Fundamental Rights appropriated to our people by Fundamental Rights of the German People. ​

​

The Executive​

​

I strongly and loudly support the introduction of a Presidential system to the free German state. This war has made many things clear to me among them the need for a strong central, elected executive power. One capable of leading the military and making decisions quickly that this body as splendid as it is currently is incapable of making quickly. ​

​

The Legislature​

​

I voice my support for a unicameral system in the legislature. The people should be able to voice their will through one body at the very least and a second legislature would over complicate the system and serve to promote inequality among the electorate. ​

​

The Judiciary​

​

As a lawyer who has studied the law across Europe and the globe I strongly voice my support for an independent Judiciary capable of safeguarding the constitution and checking the other two branches of government. While the other two branches are purely political the judiciary will be less so and as in all Republics our new free state will need a referee from time to time to mitigate crisis and to protect this document that we today have all agreed to. ​

​

Scope of Government​

​

A federal government does best fit in with the laws and customs of the German people. A strong central government that also is able to empower and leave room for strong local municipalities and states will allow Germans to keep their local traditions in tact while being unified by a strong national government. ​

​

Voting Rights​

​

Universal Male Suffrage is the way forward for Germany, while women are too slow and incapable of participation in political life due to their fragile physique all men regardless of their age, race or creed should be able to voice their concerns and opinions on the national stage, through the democratic process and through their votes. ​

​

Status of the Nobility​

​

Noble titles should be abolished in our country just as they have been by our brother's in the American continent on the eve of their liberation from oppression. The Nobility has kept this continent in chains for millennia and this is the dawn of a new age. We must recognize formally that the age of the Kings has past and the age of the people is at hand. ​

​

Status of the Church​

​

The German state must serve as a secular one. In our land no man should be discriminated upon based on his religion just as no man should be discriminated upon based on his race or creed. While the Church has played a roll in public life since the birth of Jesus and beyond that it has always been the nobility that has oppressed the people. In Germany especially the Church has always served only to enlighten the masses. And thus I hope to see this institution protected. ​

​

 

[Noco19]

The Bergwald Club
"Freedom or Death!"
​

Rising from the ashes of the Old Order and forged within the flames of the Revolution, the Bergwald Club occupied the space of the radical fringe of the radical fringe, a core group of revolutionaries that saw the preservation of the Revolution as paramount to the viability of the fledgling German Nation. Like its forebears, those factions apparent within the Frankfurt Parliament, the Bergwald Club stands as an unofficial entity, a loose collection of ideologues and characters who confer with one another as colleagues and share the same general principles of radical change. As per tradition, the moniker itself derives from where its members met, in this case in a woodland inn within the revolutionary Berg Free-State, wherein the principal figures of the club by happenstance crossed paths. And while this acts not as their primary meeting grounds today, given their various obligations across the Nation, it has become their de-facto designation.

Politically, the Bergwald Club centers itself around the concepts of a unicameral chamber, which in turns produces an executive committee, a semi-presidential system, and the expansion of democratic and revolutionary rights to the people. Through varying levels of admission, the Club's true ideological precursors are easily seen to be the Society of the Friends of the Constitution, or better known as the Jacobins of the First French Republic. Both have aligned themselves with the common proletariat, and both seek to use this support for leverage in enacting change on the grand-scale, using the government as a tool to liquidate elements seen as anti-German, anti-democratic, and anti-Revolutionary.

And as the state begins to shape itself, it is wondered how influential the Bergwald Club will be in implementing their radicalism into the Constitution itself, and how its message will be received across the people they claim to represent; whether in glory or disgrace, the Bergwald Club will surely leave their mark on the history books.

 

[Stormbringer]

FRAUEN-ZEITUNG

Dem Reich der Freiheit werb ich Bürgerinnen!

Issue 1, September 1st, 1849

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE GERMAN WOMEN

The shackles of slavery, imposed upon the World by God and King, are shattered. New era is upon us. It is up to us to secure for ourselves our rights, our freedom, and our liberty. And our liberty consists solely in this, that we obey the laws of nature because we have ourselves recognized them as such, and not because they have been imposed upon us externally by any foreign will whatsoever, human or divine, collective or individual.

Already the so-called assembly in Frankfurt is denying us a place in the new era. These men have written that they are equal under the law, but they deny the same rights and liberty to the other half of all of Germans, their wives, mothers, daughters. We must take what is ours, for the tyranny of men remains in our lands even if we are free of the tyranny of Kings and Gods. These are the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE GERMAN WOMEN, and should the men in Frankfurt deny us these rights, then we shall have no part of their republic.

1. Women and men are equal before the law and possess the same natural rights, bestowed upon them by their personhood.
2. Women have the right to participate fully in the political process, and any government that denies this right has no legitimacy and must be opposed.
3. Women have the right to education, and no institution may deny women access to learning.
4. Women have the right to own property and require no special permission or consent of any man to dispose of it as they wish.
5. Women may not be forced to enter into marriage against their will, and have the right to, at any point and for any reason, to dissolve the marriage. The women's liberty, property, and body remain theirs alone in marriage as in life.

These are our rights and they cannot be taken away by King, God, or government.

 

[Ironhide G1]

Open Letter to the Assembly, entitled Open Letter to the National Assembly on the Creation of an Organized Military

My esteemed Countrymen,

May this letter find you all in good health and spirit. We may have temporarily secured our independence, however, this independence is not at all certain. We must of course secure a Constitution and stabilize the country; but also of great importance is the state of our survival. We need to build up and develop our military; otherwise this peace so dearly bought will be nothing but a quick paragraph in the history books. May this not be our fate gentlemen!

We are in a perilous position. We share borders with three nations with some of the strongest militaries on the face of the earth- Prussia, France and Austria. True, our military has achieved us an armistice, but future wars may not be as successful. Hardly any state recognizes us legitimate. We are truly in a dire situation. With no foreign legitimacy, no allies, we are free to any great power to cut up. Let us not forget what Russia, Prussia and Austria did to Poland a century ago! We must try to work together so that we may not end up splintering as other powers divide us up.

We need to organize the military into an effective fighting force. We need an effective fighting force to defend the land we so dearly cherish. I certainly wish to defend this land with my life- it is my home. Therefore, we must organize and train the military that it may defend the homeland properly. This matter is as, if not more, important than the new constitution, because the very survival of this new beacon of freedom is at stake.

The current state of the military is in shambles. While we united to drive back a common foe, now the military is comprised of little brigades and regiments, without any clear order or hierarchy. I know good men commanding other divisions like mine; however there are also others out for personal gain with their own militias, and we have no way to reign them in. We need a clear chain of command, and training for the military, that we may create a fighting force for this young nation's defense.

My suggestion would be to put a man in charge of the military. It may seem prideful, however I would venture to say I would be a good fit for this position. If you do not already know, I am the commander of Frankfurt's military before the revolution, where I served in the revolution's military, first of my class at the Prussian Military Academy, and am honorable and true to my word. I know other commanders who will make great additions to the military once the command has been formed, men of great character and skill- namely Hauptmann Wilhelm Bodenstein, and Hauptmann Friedrich Karl von Meckler.

I am committed to seeing my homeland and my fellow citizens safe. This is why we need the military. I stress to you again gentlemen, in order to maintain the peace we have so dearly bought we must protect ourselves. In order to do so we must have a strong military. I implore you to act as quickly as you may to address this issue so that we may establish order and make a peaceful realm.

Your obedient servant,
Peter von Babenburg

 

[Noco19]

On the Fundamental Rights of the German Women​

"It is apparent that All Germans have bled and fought for the Revolutionary Ideals, that arbitrary divisions of gender have proven to only subvert the unity of our Nation, and that in order to progress, we must enforce equality between Man and Woman. We have all been shackled by the chains of Feudalism, the Woman even moreso, for it was they who first received the imposition of archaic slavery, a cultural slavery of subservience. And we honor our Mothers, and our Sisters, and all good Women, yet we dare - in the same breath! - deny them what they have reaped through toil and labor?

Many Revolutionary Women have taken a stand against this continued Tyranny, and it is I who stands with, and it is only true Germans who stand with them, just as it so that only Counter-Revolutionaires and Despots stand against them. Our Revolution stands incomplete, but we can and must complete it now, the first step being the adoption of the Fundamental Rights of the German Women. I stand with the Frauen-Zeitung, I stand with Women, and I stand with the Revolution!"

 

[MastahCheef117]

A Letter to the Editor
at the Frauen-Zeitung
​

I would like to remind the author of the "Fundamental Rights of the German Women" that I was the first member of the Assembly -- and, until recently the only -- to argue for the dearest rights of the German woman to be enshrined into our new constitution. Are women not entitled to the same rights entitled to men? To argue against such a proposition is to argue against the very nature of humanity and of the calling of the human spirit -- that is, for all of the people, man and woman, to achieve the rights they so desperately need.

A man's right is a woman's right, and vice versa, and so on; and, as I expressed in my constitutional manifesto, to abridge a single natural right of one woman is to abridge all of the rights of every man. Absolute legal equal between the sexes -- between all people -- must be the ultimate objective of this Assembly, and I do pray that my colleagues in the chamber can agree with me on such a demand.

Respectfully yours,
Julius Philipp Kühn

 

[Stormbringer]

Dresdner Zeitung

CARRY ON THE REVOLUTION!

Men, women, comrades! Our would-be slavers are turned back. We have bought our LIBERTY on the barricades and streets of our city. Our sisters and brothers sacrificed their lives for the ideals of EQUALITY and REPUBLIC. We must pause and mourn their death, but only for a moment, for we have to CARRY ON THE REVOLUTION in their memory.

Counter-revolutionary forces are already trying to undermine the republic. There are those who would like nothing better than to see the German people in shackles once again. Be vigilant comrades! Those nobles and priests telling you to respect their authority are agents of the Prussians and the Austrians. Take their money, seize their land, and put it to the use of the REVOLUTION.

ORGANIZE! Men and women and workers and farmers, our strength is in OURSELVES. Organize in unions, in clubs, and in political circles. Your coworkers and neighbors are your comrades. You answer only to them. Work together to seize the tools and means of production. Arm yourselves to defend your LIBERTY AND LIFE against the counter-revolutionaries.

CARRY ON THE REVOLUTION!

 

[sealy300]

A Constitution built from the bottom:
A Practical Manifesto from the frontlines of governance in Germany, constructed by the Popular Council of Koblenz and its Mayor Friedrich Karl. ​

Fundamental Rights:
From the present situation in the State of Germany, it is clear that the fundamental rights that are enshrined in the 50 articles that the Frankfurt Assembly laid down should Remain as they presently are. They fully embody the natural rights of Man and citizen that each and every German should enjoy in their full rights. What we, as a nation, must now embark on is to construct a legal system based upon these principles, not altering them. They should stand as the basis of what will come in the next few years as our nation creates laws to abide by.

The Executive:
The executive is one of the most important branches of government, and thus its construction is of paramounce importance. With regards to the most effective system of governance we know, we must look to that of the United Kingdom. That Parliament of Westminster operates on democratic principles using a Parliamentary system. They have effective, stable governments that are able to react to the needs and wants of the general populace, while not sacrificing stability of the state. Emulating; and improving upon this system, would afford us the same privileges. This type of system; coupled with a non-partisan executive, would create the perfect system for governance in this nation.

The Legislature:
With regards to the nature of the legislature: the basis of any parliamentary system, it is clear that a bicameral body is the best method for the prevention of tyrannical government and the scrutiny of legislature. A lower house based on a constituency system would provide the best method for representing the people, while an upper house to restrain the powers of the other place and to act with the legislative imperative independent of party politics.

The Judiciary:
For the effectiveness of government, the will of the people must come paramount. In any representative democracy, the elected representatives of the people are the embodiment of the popular will, and therefore are responsible for the creation of laws. The judiciary serves to enforce laws, not make them. Therefore, it should be dependent on the other branches of government.

Scope of Government:
The government should endeavour to be as effective as possible, and the best way to do this is through a unitary state. This allows for easy and quick reorganisation of local government for the purpose of maximum effectiveness with regards to local services and practical application of executive government. The only sovereign state in Germany should be Germany itself, all other forms would weaken it and leave it open to those who would wish to destory it to do so.

Voting Rights:
It is clear that the men of this nation have earned the right to Universal Male suffrage through their actions in this revolution. Any elected assembly that comes to govern over the people of this nation should be decided by all of it.

On the Nature of the Legislatures:
With bicameralism implemented in this nation, we must create a stable legislative system. To enshrine this, it is apparent that a clear system must be created. The Lower House of this assembly; The House of Deputies, will be elected from multiple member constituencies via the Single Transferable Vote System: invented in 1815 in Dublin, UK, yes as-of-yet unused. This allows for local representation in national government via a direct, proportional vote. The Upper house of our national Parliament; the House of Representatives, will be elected by the local councillors, mayors and other local government officials as blocs to represent the nation on a local governmental level. This mixture of direct and indirect elections allows for the fusion of the two into a perfect body for the representation of the people.

 

[Nax24]

All that Political Stuff: Abstain

Pet Cause:
​

A Proposal to Centralize the Armed Forces
​

With the creation of the German state, the need for national defense is greater than ever. Three of the strongest military powers in Europe border the German state, and can easily destroy us if they so choose. Thus, the need to centralize our armed forces must be a priority of this convention.

The Organization of the Structures and Hierarchies of the Armed Forces
​

The structure of our current armed forces is small units of militia, regular soldiers, and mobs. This structure is anarchical to the status of our army, and must be centralized in order for them to properly defend our nation. The following is suggested:

I. The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the following rank hierarchy in ascending order of rank and control:

I. Enlisted Soldiers
II. Non-Commissioned Officers
III. Officer Corps
IV. Staff Officer
V. General Officer

II. The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the enlisted soldier hierarchy as followed in ascending order of rank and control:

I.
a. Infantryman, Light-Infantryman, Fusilier, Grenadier (Infantry)
b. Gunner (Artillery)
c. Dragoon, Hussar, Uhlan, Cuirassier (Cavalry)
II. Lance Corporal
III. Senior Lance Corporal

III. The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the non-commissioned officer hierarchy as followed in ascending order of rank and control:

I. Corporal
II. Sergeant
III. Deputy-Sergeant Major
IV. Sergeant Major

IV. The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the Officer Corps hierarchy as followed in ascending order of rank and control:

I. 2nd Lieutenant
II. First Lieutenant
III. Captain II Class (Infantry and Artillery)/Riding Master II Class (Cavalry)
IV. Captain I Class (Infantry and Artillery)/Riding Master I Class (Cavalry)

V. The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the Staff Officer hierarchy as followed in ascending order of rank and control:

I. Major
II. Lieutenant Colonel
III. Colonel

VI. The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the General Officers hierarchy as followed in ascending order of rank and control:

I. Brigadier General
II. Major General
III. Lieutenant General
IV. Colonel General
V. General
VI. Field Marshal

VII. The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the hierarchy as followed* **:

I. Regiment: 500-1,000 soldiers led by a Colonel
II. Brigade: 2,000-4,000 soldiers led by a Brigadier General
III. Division: 10,000-15,000 soldiers led by a Major/Lieutenant General.
IV. Corps: 20,000-40,000 soldiers led by a Colonel General.
V. Army: 80,000+ soldiers led by a General.
VI. Army Group: 2+ Armies led by a Field Marshal

*All ranks above the required leadership rank may lead that military group.
**Units smaller than a regiment may be assigned to lower ranking officers at the discretion of the Lead Officer of said regiment.

Military Recruitment and Officer Training
​

There is no current way our armed forces can be reinforced in times of war. A recruitment system must be put into place to allow our army ranks to swell, as well as a plan of action for officers in the military. The following is suggested:

The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the recruitment plan as followed:

I. Entrance into the military for those men wanting to join it as a career shall be allowed. These enlisted men must undergo basic training before being deployed, which include drills, usage of firearms, exercise routines, etc. Soldiers will be trained to be cavalry or gunners at the bequest of their officers.

II. All citizens of the German State must serve one year of Militia service upon reaching the age of 18 else pay a fine of 100 marks. Militia members must undergo a more simplistic version of the military training course. Those who wish to stay in the military after their one year will be directed to the main military for further training. Those pursuing higher education shall be exempt from militia service until completion of their higher education.

III. Women may serve in non-combatant positions, including as nurses, messengers, spies, etc. They may not be put on the front or allowed to fight in battle.

IV. The age of recruitment shall be from age 18 to age 35.

The Army of the German Republic shall adopt the officer training plan as followed:

I. Four years of education at a war-college either in the German State or abroad are required. After that, a twelve week course must be taken inside the German State for those wishing to be Commissioned Officers.

II. Upon completion of the education, the officer shall be admitted to the army as a 2nd Lieutenant.

Equipment Supply
​

The Army of the German Republic does not have the means to supply itself with equipment and supplies for its soldiers. The following is suggested:

I. The Army of the German Republic shall set up contracts with weapon producers in the German State, and import weapons if necessary from other countries.

II. Cannons and Horses shall be bought by internal manufacturers/breeders respectively, or imported.

III. A portion of the budget of the German Republic shall be used to give the military the funds needed to buy equipment and supply its troops.

Soldier Compensation​

The Army of the German Republic does not have the means to pay its own troops. The following is suggested:

I. As soldiers and officers are government employees, they shall receive wages from the portion of the budget allocated to pay government employees.

II. Higher ranking soldiers shall be paid more than low ranking soldiers.

 

[Noco19]

On the Imitation of Foreign Tyrannies​

"When structuring our Nation, it is imperative that we do so with goodwill and Revolutionary zeal; without these things, we are doomed to poison the People and invite Reactionary Infiltration into our midsts. That simple fact is why I speak to you all, and I point my gaze at the 'works' of Friedrich Karl of Koblenz, who suggest that we imitate a foreign monarchy - the United Kingdom - because they are supposedly 'democratic and stable'.

Let it be know firstly that the United Kingdom is not democratic, nor is its Parliament a democratic organ, for there can be no true democracy under a Crown, nor can there be true democracy under the supervision of Lords. We are a state with the fortunes of Revolution, yet he would throw it away to regress, back into what is constructed by Tyrants and Feudal Auspices.

It is thus no surprise that he likewise neglects nearly half of our entire People and Nation by restricting the political participation of Women. Just as he submits to Foreign Tyrannies - calling their system perfect! - he submits to the archaic structures instituted by Kings, by Clerics, and by the other assorted forces of the counter-revolutionary conspirators throughout the world. Do not listen to such a man who would defile our Revolution, be wary of his intentions, and above all, know in your hearts that the only true guardians of the People are those who reject the chains of the Old Order!"

 

[Mikkel Glahder]

Hauptmann Friedrich looked at his men. Some looked grim, other looked neutral and some outright happy for some reason. The uniforms, even though being similar in colour and form, were not always the correct size and some looked ridicolous with a too big or too small uniform. Friedrich had noted things that they lacked from day one. Among other things, they lacked the discipline and will that he had met in the Prussian army and surely needed some careful placed reforms that would not confuse the individual soldiers.
He was ready to protect the revolution and the newly emerged "state" from everything that might threaten it. May this be the reactionary forces of Prussia and Austria or the mob rule that could come out of such disorganization.

 

[aedan777]

On the Creation and Organization of an Army​

Though the current constitutional convention is no place for explicit organization of an army, there are many voices, predominantly from the armed forces currently in existence, that are calling for an official creation of an organized military. Certainly, our state requires an organized army to defend the revolution and its liberties from foreign tyrannies. However I am categorically opposed to the attempts by those currently claiming commands to impose their will upon the German people. These are men who served under the old kingdoms, the reactionaries. They hold their positions because the enemies of the revolution allowed it. And now they seek to simply adjust the old order to have revolutionary trappings. The militarists would still see a monopoly on power by their clique of unelected and reactionary educated officers. This is unacceptable to protecting the spirit of the revolution.

If we must sacrifice the Revolution to preserve it, then this is all for nothing, and we are unworthy to call ourselves revolutionaries. Thus the only acceptable method for organizing our military is by election. If the men defending our nation and commanding scores of soldiers are chosen by the people, then they will be true guardians of the Revolution, unlike the reactionary clique that currently compromises our military. If a man wants to command an army, he must be elected by the people. We can never allow a militarist reactionary with no mandate from the people to seize power, as Napoleon once did. Only by the will of the people can Germany remain strong, not by imitating the reactionaries that we have overthrown.

-Klaus Gustaf Lehrer, Representative from Munich

 

[Nax24]

On the Creation and Organization of an Army​

Though the current constitutional convention is no place for explicit organization of an army, there are many voices, predominantly from the armed forces currently in existence, that are calling for an official creation of an organized military. Certainly, our state requires an organized army to defend the revolution and its liberties from foreign tyrannies. However I am categorically opposed to the attempts by those currently claiming commands to impose their will upon the German people. These are men who served under the old kingdoms, the reactionaries. They hold their positions because the enemies of the revolution allowed it. And now they seek to simply adjust the old order to have revolutionary trappings. The militarists would still see a monopoly on power by their clique of unelected and reactionary educated officers. This is unacceptable to protecting the spirit of the revolution.

If we must sacrifice the Revolution to preserve it, then this is all for nothing, and we are unworthy to call ourselves revolutionaries. Thus the only acceptable method for organizing our military is by election. If the men defending our nation and commanding scores of soldiers are chosen by the people, then they will be true guardians of the Revolution, unlike the reactionary clique that currently compromises our military. If a man wants to command an army, he must be elected by the people. We can never allow a militarist reactionary with no mandate from the people to seize power, as Napoleon once did. Only by the will of the people can Germany remain strong, not by imitating the reactionaries that we have overthrown.

-Klaus Gustaf Lehrer, Representative from Munich

This is preposterous! The Head of the Armed Forces is not some political position! The Military and Politics must be as separate as possible for the armed forces to work to the best of their ability, otherwise the political infighting we see in politics will spread to the military and make it extremely inefficient, something our nation cannot afford to have. We need to keep the Head of the Armed Forces as an appointed position based on merit and merit alone!

-Wilhelm Bodenstein speaking to his troops in Bavaria in response to the comments by the Representative from Munich brought to him by a soldier

 

[Korona]

It seems that the representative of Munich would risk inept military officers and leaders for the sake of keeping reactionaries out of the military. While our new army must strive to push away the aristocratic cliques of the Prussian military, we must also adopt a system where our officers are advanced based on their merit and skill at arms, rather than promoting incompetent officers, who fancy themselves as politicians and are better at engaging in debates than in war.

-Colonel Theodor von Buttel of the 1st Revolutionary Infantry to his friend Heinrich, whilst reading the newspaper in the Cologne barracks.