THE Storm THAT SHOOK THE World
THE Storm THAT SHOOK THE World
—— A NOVEL ——
WALTER SOELLNER
THE Storm THAT SHOOK THE World
© 2016 WALTER SOELLNER.
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Jesus met Levi and said to him, follow me and I will call you Mathew. (In German, Mathew is Mathais.)
Dedication
To Sandra York Soellner, my lovely and loving wife:
charming, kind, patient, forgiving, and smart.
She who senses the rightness of things:
words, sentences, stories, people.
Europe and Africa, 1914
The Levi Estate in Bavaria, Germany, 1909
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Imperial Germany, Autumn 1909
Chapter 2
Swakopmund and Windhoek, German South West Africa
Chapter 3
The Ranch, the Hunter, and the Huntress
Chapter 4
A Note Not of Caution
Chapter 5
Thoughts
Chapter 6
Advice from Home
Chapter 7
Storm Warnings
Chapter 8
Passion and Regret
Chapter 9
Conflicted
Chapter 10
Two Notes, Two Women
Chapter 11
Best-Laid Plans
Chapter 12
A Need in the Night, Tragedy, and Passion
Chapter 13
Happy Days
Chapter 14
Eiffel’s Tower and Baghdad
Chapter 15
Bliss and a Warning
Chapter 16
September 1, 1913, a Son
Chapter 17
Spring 1914
Chapter 18
Summer 1914
Chapter 19
News from Home
Chapter 20
If Only a Third Crown
Chapter 21
Meanwhile at Kalvarianhof
Chapter 22
Dashed Hope and Life in the Undercroft
Chapter 23
Meanwhile in German South West Africa: September, 1914
Chapter 24
Meanwhile in German East Africa: July 7, 1914
Chapter 25
Close to Heaven
Chapter 26
A Matter of Unique Skills
Chapter 27
Death at Dawn
Chapter 28
Friendly Encounter, Holes in the Sky
Chapter 29
Darkness Descends
Chapter 30
January 1915, Nyaminyami
Chapter 31
From Terror Above
Chapter 32
General Albuquerque
Chapter 33
The SMS Konigsberg
Chapter 34
A Jungle Sanctuary
Chapter 35
Distant Thunder
Chapter 36
Dar es Salaam: German East Africa
Chapter 37
A Tear in the Eye and the Massacre at Tanga
Chapter 38
Kalvarianhof, August 1915
Chapter 39
1916: The Greater Peril
Chapter 40
Portuguese East Africa: General Albuquerque
Chapter 41
The Great Escape
Chapter 42
Iron Wheels of Pain and Sorrow
Chapter 43
A Trail of Falling Wild Flowers
Chapter 44
Kalvarianhof, Bavaria, 1916
Chapter 45
Summer 1916: Riding with the Enemy
Chapter 46
Corporal Carlos Verdi
Chapter 47
Smoke in the Sky
Chapter 48
Sunken Treasure
Chapter 49
Shakespeare
Chapter 50
Tragedy
Chapter 51
Honor, Loss, and the Zimmermann Telegram
Chapter 52
East To The End, Northern Rhodesia: November 11, 1918
List of Historic and Fictional Characters
Bibliography
Note: For your pleasure, I have included preview chapters of Book III in the Kalvarianhof Series entitled The Long Way Home
Chapter 1
Bavaria, Winter 1919
Chapter 2
Soldiers All and Fighting Too
Chapter 3
Tales of Beauty and Valor
Chapter 4
Shock, Peace, and a November Surprise
Chapter 5
The Coldest Hearts of the Vastly Unjust
Chapter 6
Violence and Silence in Africa
Chapter 7
The Incident
Kingdom of Bavaria
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my friends and family, who have, over the past eight years, assisted, consulted, proofread, and edited this second in a series of four books tracing the lives of Markus Mathais and Solomon Levi.
I especially want to thank my wife, Sandra, for endless hours assisting with conceptual ideas, actual proofreading of text, and the computer applications necessary to bring book two to its present form.
High on the list of dedicated assistants are George and Gilda Forrester, who patiently read various iterations of the book two manuscript, dotting i’s and crossing t’s at every stage.
Thank you, Eve and Ken Reid, another pair of minds of true value, who contributed insightful margin notes throughout.
My daughter, Anna Soellner, for her ongoing support in keeping my spirits from flagging and encouraging me onward over the long writing process, thank you.
Edward Rooks, talented artist and designer who created maps and transformed photos and drawings into true works of art for publication, many thanks.
Thank you Kristi Conley, for your artistic skills with the cover design.
There are unnamed friends and colleagues who have encouraged, support
ed, and inspired me in this wonderful endeavor, warm thoughts and many thanks.
Kaiser Wilhelm II
King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany
CHAPTER 1
Imperial Germany, Autumn 1909
Sailing south from the city of Bremerhaven, a major port for Imperial Germany, in a reverse route Markus had traveled seven years earlier, the young Imperial German officer leaned on the familiar railing of a naval cruiser and watched the coast of France slip by.
The SMS Konigsberg, loaded to the gunwales with supplies for Germany’s four African colonies, plowed through late September swells, bringing troops, military supplies, settlers, food, and beer—lots of good German beer—to the thirsty colonials in Africa.
Markus Mathias, newly minted lieutenant of His Majesty, the German Emperor, King of Prussia, William II, was bound for the Imperial German colony of South West Africa. This was Markus’s third trip to this wild and primitive land on the south west coast of the Dark Continent. He enjoyed his first trip with his friend Levi in 1898 as teenagers on an adventurous holiday. His second trip, Christmas of 1900, was the coaling stop on the return of his military unit after the Boxer Rebellion in China.
Now, in the autumn of 1909, this third journey was to be the start of a new life after the tragedy of his lost love with Levi’s sister, Ilsa. Yes, they agreed, both teary-eyed, that it could never be—a Jewish girl and a Catholic man. Catholic Bavaria in general and their social and professional circles were not ready to accept a union so mixed, no matter how true the love. And, of course, the families would have had none of it—if they had known.
So Markus, now twenty-seven, found himself alone on a long and important military mission, and for the first time, without his close friend Levi.
I’ve always relied on Levi to give me good advice and encouragement, and he had a way of tempering my more reckless impulses. This trip is different; I’ll be alone and with some serious responsibilities. He thought of these things as he jostled other soldiers crowding the railing on a sunny, blustery day off the coast of France.
“Well, young man, what do you think of our ship? It’s one of your navy’s finest, I imagine.” The speaker was a stout man with a quick smile, speaking in heavily accented German and wearing a perfectly tailored civilian suit. Markus turned to respond to the hearty questioner.
“Ja, it is a fine ship, and fast, but these cruisers are being superseded by a new class of heavier more advanced design and with better armor.” Markus hesitated. “And who, sir, do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
“Warner Lange, Professor Warner Lange”—he cleared his throat—“from California.”
They both blinked in the gusty wind. “And I see you are a lieutenant—and with lightning bolts on your epaulets. You must be in some kind of communications outfit?” He looked expectantly at Markus, waiting for an answer.
“Yes, sir, that’s correct.” Markus stood erect, clicked his heels, and said, “Lieutenant Markus Mathias, electrical unit officer of the First Bavarian Army Corps for Lower Bavaria, with headquarters in Munich, currently assigned special duty to the Kaiser’s colony in South West Africa.” They nodded to each other in mutual recognition.
“So, Professor Lange, what brings a professor from far-off America—California, you say—aboard a German cruiser heading for Africa?” It was an intriguing question, and Markus focused intently on the American.
“I have been invited by your government to assist in the upgrade and testing of the long-range wireless telegraph installation in your South West Africa colony. So we are headed to the same destination. How interesting.”
They both eyed each other with growing professional interest. “And you, Lieutenant, what is your purpose in this long sea voyage to the southern hemisphere?”
“It appears we are both going to the same facility. I am bringing our latest wireless equipment for installation.”
There was a long pause as the two men, pressed momentarily against the railing, let other passengers through the crowded deck.
Markus continued, “You say you are from California? I just read about Marconi’s radio broadcast from some little town over there. Very impressive!” He grinned and shook his head slightly before adding, “And exciting for the future of direct-spoken wireless communication.”
They both smiled broadly, with the knowledge that it was, indeed, the future direction in their field.
“Well—Markus, is it? Markus, I’ve just come from that little town; it’s San José … San José, California, and I was with my friend and colleague Gugliermo Marconi when he made that transmission. A wonderful scientific event! We were both teaching at the college there until he left to develop his business interests.”
Lange stared out to sea. Markus, so impressed with the stranger he had just met, thought, He’s a friend and colleague of Marconi, and apparently, he participated in the first voice radio broadcast ever! Markus didn’t know quite what to say.
Warner Lange solved that by offering, “Lieutenant, would you join me and my family for dinner at our table this evening? Say, seven o’clock? We’re in the first class dinning salon. We can continue our conversation over a nice meal.”
“It would be my honor and pleasure, Professor Lange.”
With that, Warner Lange took his leave with a tip of his hat and disappeared into the crowd on deck.
Dinner was served separately in a dining salon reserved for civilian passengers and high-ranking officers. It was a plush, ornate room, with deep carpet, curtains on the windows and the dinnerware had the ship’s own motif, with SMS Konigsberg prominent on each plate and bowl. Markus felt a bit on display as he walked upright through the tables of military and civilians.
Most officers who looked up immediately fixed their eyes on the two Iron Crosses on his uniform, earned by his daring actions in China.
He spotted Lange across the room at a round table for six. Two naval officers were already seated with the Langes. As he approached, Warner’s eyes lit up, and he rose slightly as he greeted his new acquaintance.
“Lieutenant Mathias, glad you could join us. Dear, this is Markus Mathias, Bavarian lieutenant assigned to the same project I will be working on.” All eyes were on Mrs. Dorothy Lange, a strikingly beautiful, willowy woman of about forty.
Next, Lange introduced his daughter, who was sitting with her back to Markus. He stepped to her side as she offered her hand as her mother had done. Diana Lange smiled but said nothing as the two naval officers rose from the table.
Lieutenant, this is Captain Spencer, the chief medical officer on board and Captain Becker, the purser. Markus saluted and received salutes and greetings in return.
Dinner was served and pleasant conversation was had around the table. Professor Lange inquired, “What can we expect when we get to port in Africa?”
The two naval officers each commented that he had been to other German colonies, but not to German South West Africa.
“And you, Lieutenant, have any ideas?”
“Ja, well, this will be my third visit to this colony.”
Thus began a series of lively questions from all around the table; most were taken aback that such a young officer could have visited this far-distant and impoverished corner of the world twice all ready.
Questions about South West Africa led to the whys and wherefores, which led to Markus’s experiences in China and finally to how he managed to receive two Iron Crosses, one of the most prestigious honors in the German military.
The conversation was brisk and entertaining and progressed long after most guests had left the dining lounge.
Finally, Mrs. Lange suggested it was time to retire. Everyone agreed, with chairs pushed away and cloth napkins dropped onto the table. Parting words were exchanged and everyone headed toward their rooms. Warner caught the cuff of Markus’s uniform. “Shall we retire to the bar for a final toast to our joint venture?”
German South West Africa
CHAPTER 2
Swakopmund and Windhoek, German South West Africa
Markus was surprised to see how much progress had been made in developing the port and town as the SMS Konigsberg eased into a berth at Swakopmund. The railroad to the capital, Windhoek, had been completed and expanded to other parts of the colony.
Over twelve thousand German missionaries and immigrant farmers flowed into the back country fifty miles beyond the desert terrain of the coast for free land, and in the process, transplanted German culture to the wilds of Africa.
There was the usual excitement and confusion of disembarkation, with piles of civilian luggage next to tons of government equipment. Warner Lange, followed by his family, managed to spot Markus and exchange lodging addresses.
“We are staying here in Swakopmund for a few days to see the sights and get our land legs before moving on to the capitol next week. And you?” Lange was practically shouting because of the stiff wind howling around the superstructure of the ship.
Markus replied in kind, “I’m off by rail to the military base at Windhoek tomorrow morning. I’ll be bunking here on the ship this evening, although I thought I would walk the town to see what’s new. Can I help you with the luggage?”
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