December 1935 Ice fishing near Skald
K: Jan?
J: Hey 'der Karl.
K: Ya' know sommin?
J: What's that 'der Karl?
K: Them Gerry's lookin to get all uppity agin.
J: Ya 'der hey i think you're right. Uhh! Almost got that one.
Christmas 1935 Nygaardsvold Home
Pensively sitting, watching the embers glow, I know that '35 is drawing to an end and with it the last year of cheer. It was snowing out, and here in Oslo, snow was a good thing. Can't be too cold when it's snowing. But in spite of the mild temperatures outside and the warm fire inside, i still felt chill.
Problems. More than I can count, both domestically and abroad in the world. The English, the French, the nationalists everywhere rising again. Looking into the glowing embers, i could see the world spinning out of control again just like the little sparks going up the flue. And how can I navigate Norway through all of the stormy waters coming?
My own cabinet, a 50/50 coalition of left and right, no middle ground, no progress, no agreements. And that damn Roscher-Lund running off at the mouth ... well i can fix that. Adolf, he's a good man, no doubt. But the wrong focus for us...
If i make changes, there is going to be a lot of yelling so the results had better show right away. How do i handle those facists? The communists?
Monday 31 Dec 1935 Steamhouse outside Oslo
There's just four of us, and I look around at the others: Trygve, Kornelius, and Harald. We're all sweating bullets. Harald keeps throwing more water on the coals, and the steam was so hot it's burning my mouth. Well, good. It was going to get real hot in the world. Good to see everyone can take it.
"I've brought you here because this team has to come up with some ideas and fast of how we're going to get through all this. I've briefed you individually in the last couple of days and we all agree that the storm is coming, but now let's here your thoughts. How are we going to survive? Trygve, let's start with you and go around the room."
"Well, first off: people. We don't have them and so we cannot hope to raise armies to resist. We have to create 'Fortress Norway'. It would be nice if Diesen were of the same mindset, but we know his brain froze years ago.
"While Trygve is doing that, I can optimize the economy, but let's face it: we're only 10% of Germany. It's not going to be much. Also, we have less than half the coal we need, no strategic resources, no oil, but the mines in Narvik are running great. So I will build up our stockpiles of everything else by trading all the steel we can."
"Let's analyze our defense: anyone coming at us has to come either through the Swedes or they have to land at a beachhead. If they get through the Swedes, well, there is nothing we can do, so we have to trust them to hold the land bridge. So, in addition to Trygve's work on building up the fortresses, We need to prevent them from ever getting to shore. We need a navy, but only one for defense. For that, we can use subs. We need to improve our technology and then build them. They take few people, and they can really keep ships at bay."
"Alright. All of these ideas are approved. But i think we need more. We need allies. I think we need to work the UK alliance.
"With Koht?"
"No, I'm going to have to find someone else. That's my job. Ok let's agree:
Trygve, you work the provinces, don't forget AA batteries.
Kornelius, the economy and the resource stockpiles.
Harald, research and production.
I want to see detailed plans of where we are going and how we are going to do it. I will announce your cabinet posts tomorrow. We need results gentleman and fast or we will be the ones replaced."
11 January 1936 Ice fishing near Skald
K: Jan?
J: Hey 'der Karl.
K: Real nice this extra holiday they give us, don chy'a know?
J: Real nice.
K: Shame to have to go back to work tomorrow.
J: Shame.
K: Jan?
J: Hey 'der Karl.
K: What was this for agin?
J: Forgit. That Lie fella, he seem a good sport 'der hey?
K: Ja 'der hey.
13 March 1936 Oslo
Well, it has started. Germany has abrogated the Versailles treaty. My fears are being confirmed. Baldwin and Laval are idiots for rolling over. Well, maybe I won't have to deal with them for long. Looks like both their parliaments will be calling for elections this year. On the other hand, here in Norway, my moves look to have pushed elections off for a considerable time.
Tryygve gave me his detailed plan. Basically it calls for us to build up our economy sufficient so that it can support ongoing province improvements and still run flat out. The equations went over my head, but he said that Harald had done the calculations. Well, since Harald had won Alfred's prize in 1934, i figured that I could trust him to figure this out right.
Kornelius has already had an impact upon the economy and has been making a lot of spot trades on the market. Our resource stockpiles are noticeably better.
Koht, though, is even more of a dunderhead than I thought. At a British reception recently he ignored the hosts entirely and spent the entire night discussing some obscure nonsense with Herr von Neurath. And i can't seem to find any potential successor. Work cut out for me there.
The British! Chamberlain was there too and if he is what is supposed to be the savior for the Brits? Mein Gott!
18 July 1936 A Pub
K: Jan?
J: Hey 'der Karl.
K: Whatchy'a dink about dem der spaniard folks?
J: Too warm.
K: How's dat der?.
J: If'n dey had a tad more winter, then they wouldn't be so feisty in da summer.
K: Ja hey der. No ice ta fish.
J: Ja sure ja betcha. <clink>
19 July 1936 Oslo
Franco is really stirring the pot. I wonder if he even suspects what some of the repercussions might be? Probably not, too busy dodging mortar rounds I bet. Berlin and Rome both went official with their support of Franco, no real surprise there. But Baldwin and Laval both stuck their heads in the dirt and are the paying for it today. Huge riots in London and Paris. Can't see how either will survive this debacle.
Interesting is that Stalin stayed on the sidelines on this one. What is he up too? All this playing around even is getting notice in the USA. Bunch of volunteers are supposed to arriving there soon, including Ernest of all people. What a madman he is, but brilliant writer.
I think i may have finally found a couple of potentials to replace Koht. In the meantime, I'm using the excuse of 'tight budgets' to control his diplomatic spending. No parties this year Koht.
29 December 1936 Trygve's Steamhouse in Varlo
My families steamhouse had just recently burned down, and wasn't rebuilt yet. Trygve offered his. Beautiful, sitting on the middle of a lake. The fires had been started early in the morning by his boys and the steamhouse was scorching hot. Besides the four of us, I had invited a newcomer, Paal Berg. It was time to start.
"Okay, everyone here know Paal? Paal is the result of my search to replace Koht. So everyone knows, Paal's number one job is to get us into England's alliance. How about a summary from each of you of '36, a synopsis of your plans for '37, and anything you need help with. Trygve?"
"The province industrialization is well under way. Our industry potential has grown by 32% this year. We will do the same this year. As agreed, I am targeting spring of 40 to complete our "Fortress Norway". If there are changes to that timetable, I need to know soonest. Our manpower status has been flat. What growth I have managed to 'stimulate', we have had to use to build up our economic base."
"The economy is running flat out. Thanks to Trygve's work, we'll be able to increase our discretionary budgets by 32% this year. We'll finally be out of the red. Resource stockpiles have improved by an average of over 100%. I was able to do some spot trades early in the year, but now it is really just our long term agreements that are in place. My plan is by Spring 40 we should have at least 3 years inventory of all resources."
"Our technology development has moved along smoothly thanks to Kornelius' juggling of the books. I am quite proud to say that we have just started work on our new submarine prototype. It looks real promising, even better that I had hoped. This work should be finished by spring this year. What we desperately need though is access to the alliances technology sharing network. Anything we can get would be a help. Our budget is just too small to do it on our own.
"Alright. Excellent progress. Parliament is happy. Let's keep up the good work. I think my next major job is to get someone from the military with us. Suggestions? No? Well, my job. Paal, i will announce you the first of the year. Start working your plans to get us into that alliance. OK? Harald, poor a bit more water on them rocks, let's really get the sweat rolling here!"
K: Jan?
J: Hey 'der Karl.
K: Ya' know sommin?
J: What's that 'der Karl?
K: Them Gerry's lookin to get all uppity agin.
J: Ya 'der hey i think you're right. Uhh! Almost got that one.
Christmas 1935 Nygaardsvold Home
Pensively sitting, watching the embers glow, I know that '35 is drawing to an end and with it the last year of cheer. It was snowing out, and here in Oslo, snow was a good thing. Can't be too cold when it's snowing. But in spite of the mild temperatures outside and the warm fire inside, i still felt chill.
Problems. More than I can count, both domestically and abroad in the world. The English, the French, the nationalists everywhere rising again. Looking into the glowing embers, i could see the world spinning out of control again just like the little sparks going up the flue. And how can I navigate Norway through all of the stormy waters coming?
My own cabinet, a 50/50 coalition of left and right, no middle ground, no progress, no agreements. And that damn Roscher-Lund running off at the mouth ... well i can fix that. Adolf, he's a good man, no doubt. But the wrong focus for us...
If i make changes, there is going to be a lot of yelling so the results had better show right away. How do i handle those facists? The communists?
Monday 31 Dec 1935 Steamhouse outside Oslo
There's just four of us, and I look around at the others: Trygve, Kornelius, and Harald. We're all sweating bullets. Harald keeps throwing more water on the coals, and the steam was so hot it's burning my mouth. Well, good. It was going to get real hot in the world. Good to see everyone can take it.
"I've brought you here because this team has to come up with some ideas and fast of how we're going to get through all this. I've briefed you individually in the last couple of days and we all agree that the storm is coming, but now let's here your thoughts. How are we going to survive? Trygve, let's start with you and go around the room."
"Well, first off: people. We don't have them and so we cannot hope to raise armies to resist. We have to create 'Fortress Norway'. It would be nice if Diesen were of the same mindset, but we know his brain froze years ago.
"While Trygve is doing that, I can optimize the economy, but let's face it: we're only 10% of Germany. It's not going to be much. Also, we have less than half the coal we need, no strategic resources, no oil, but the mines in Narvik are running great. So I will build up our stockpiles of everything else by trading all the steel we can."
"Let's analyze our defense: anyone coming at us has to come either through the Swedes or they have to land at a beachhead. If they get through the Swedes, well, there is nothing we can do, so we have to trust them to hold the land bridge. So, in addition to Trygve's work on building up the fortresses, We need to prevent them from ever getting to shore. We need a navy, but only one for defense. For that, we can use subs. We need to improve our technology and then build them. They take few people, and they can really keep ships at bay."
"Alright. All of these ideas are approved. But i think we need more. We need allies. I think we need to work the UK alliance.
"With Koht?"
"No, I'm going to have to find someone else. That's my job. Ok let's agree:
Trygve, you work the provinces, don't forget AA batteries.
Kornelius, the economy and the resource stockpiles.
Harald, research and production.
I want to see detailed plans of where we are going and how we are going to do it. I will announce your cabinet posts tomorrow. We need results gentleman and fast or we will be the ones replaced."
11 January 1936 Ice fishing near Skald
K: Jan?
J: Hey 'der Karl.
K: Real nice this extra holiday they give us, don chy'a know?
J: Real nice.
K: Shame to have to go back to work tomorrow.
J: Shame.
K: Jan?
J: Hey 'der Karl.
K: What was this for agin?
J: Forgit. That Lie fella, he seem a good sport 'der hey?
K: Ja 'der hey.
13 March 1936 Oslo
Well, it has started. Germany has abrogated the Versailles treaty. My fears are being confirmed. Baldwin and Laval are idiots for rolling over. Well, maybe I won't have to deal with them for long. Looks like both their parliaments will be calling for elections this year. On the other hand, here in Norway, my moves look to have pushed elections off for a considerable time.
Tryygve gave me his detailed plan. Basically it calls for us to build up our economy sufficient so that it can support ongoing province improvements and still run flat out. The equations went over my head, but he said that Harald had done the calculations. Well, since Harald had won Alfred's prize in 1934, i figured that I could trust him to figure this out right.
Kornelius has already had an impact upon the economy and has been making a lot of spot trades on the market. Our resource stockpiles are noticeably better.
Koht, though, is even more of a dunderhead than I thought. At a British reception recently he ignored the hosts entirely and spent the entire night discussing some obscure nonsense with Herr von Neurath. And i can't seem to find any potential successor. Work cut out for me there.
The British! Chamberlain was there too and if he is what is supposed to be the savior for the Brits? Mein Gott!
18 July 1936 A Pub
K: Jan?
J: Hey 'der Karl.
K: Whatchy'a dink about dem der spaniard folks?
J: Too warm.
K: How's dat der?.
J: If'n dey had a tad more winter, then they wouldn't be so feisty in da summer.
K: Ja hey der. No ice ta fish.
J: Ja sure ja betcha. <clink>
19 July 1936 Oslo
Franco is really stirring the pot. I wonder if he even suspects what some of the repercussions might be? Probably not, too busy dodging mortar rounds I bet. Berlin and Rome both went official with their support of Franco, no real surprise there. But Baldwin and Laval both stuck their heads in the dirt and are the paying for it today. Huge riots in London and Paris. Can't see how either will survive this debacle.
Interesting is that Stalin stayed on the sidelines on this one. What is he up too? All this playing around even is getting notice in the USA. Bunch of volunteers are supposed to arriving there soon, including Ernest of all people. What a madman he is, but brilliant writer.
I think i may have finally found a couple of potentials to replace Koht. In the meantime, I'm using the excuse of 'tight budgets' to control his diplomatic spending. No parties this year Koht.
29 December 1936 Trygve's Steamhouse in Varlo
My families steamhouse had just recently burned down, and wasn't rebuilt yet. Trygve offered his. Beautiful, sitting on the middle of a lake. The fires had been started early in the morning by his boys and the steamhouse was scorching hot. Besides the four of us, I had invited a newcomer, Paal Berg. It was time to start.
"Okay, everyone here know Paal? Paal is the result of my search to replace Koht. So everyone knows, Paal's number one job is to get us into England's alliance. How about a summary from each of you of '36, a synopsis of your plans for '37, and anything you need help with. Trygve?"
"The province industrialization is well under way. Our industry potential has grown by 32% this year. We will do the same this year. As agreed, I am targeting spring of 40 to complete our "Fortress Norway". If there are changes to that timetable, I need to know soonest. Our manpower status has been flat. What growth I have managed to 'stimulate', we have had to use to build up our economic base."
"The economy is running flat out. Thanks to Trygve's work, we'll be able to increase our discretionary budgets by 32% this year. We'll finally be out of the red. Resource stockpiles have improved by an average of over 100%. I was able to do some spot trades early in the year, but now it is really just our long term agreements that are in place. My plan is by Spring 40 we should have at least 3 years inventory of all resources."
"Our technology development has moved along smoothly thanks to Kornelius' juggling of the books. I am quite proud to say that we have just started work on our new submarine prototype. It looks real promising, even better that I had hoped. This work should be finished by spring this year. What we desperately need though is access to the alliances technology sharing network. Anything we can get would be a help. Our budget is just too small to do it on our own.
"Alright. Excellent progress. Parliament is happy. Let's keep up the good work. I think my next major job is to get someone from the military with us. Suggestions? No? Well, my job. Paal, i will announce you the first of the year. Start working your plans to get us into that alliance. OK? Harald, poor a bit more water on them rocks, let's really get the sweat rolling here!"
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