by gerald hall
Harold and Dorothy walked up to a window in their hotel room that overlooked the Seine that evening. They could see much of the Paris lights from where they stood.
“This is beautiful. Isn’t it, Dorothy?”
“Yes, it is. Now, I am very curious about who it is exactly that you want to meet here. Will you please tell me?”
“His name is Sigismund von Braun. He is Wernher von Braun’s brother. He is also working in the German embassy here in Paris. Over the past few years, I have had some business dealings with several German companies. I should be able to leverage that into meeting with Sigismund. From that point, I hope to direct the conversation towards Wernher and his love of future space travel.”
“I hope that can accomplish what you are hoping for. Before we met, I read several novels that talked about travelling in space to other worlds. The idea of it fascinates me even now after all of the incredible things that I have learned from you, Harold.”
“Well, the sooner that I can get Sigismund’s brother focused exclusively upon space travel instead of ballistic missiles, the better off this world and humanity as a whole will be. A famous scientist from my time was quoted as saying that the only change for humanity to survive would be for it to expand beyond this one world. I happen to agree wholehearted with that statement, especially after what happened in 2040.”
“Well, let me get the children. I’m sure that they will love the idea of touring through Paris, especially the girls.” Dorothy replied before giving Harold a quick kiss.
Harold then prepared to go to the German embassy. He put on a good suit and hired a local taxi to take him to the front gate of the German embassy. He then got out of the taxi, walked to the gate and asked the guard in German to speak to Sigismund von Braun by name. Harold also gave the guard a business card to give to von Braun.
What Harold did not notice was that there was a French police officer orGendarmewatching him from a nearby street corner. The police officer had been ordered to observe anyone going in or out of the German embassy, especially if they were not Germans. He would then report these people to his superiors. However, this particularGendarmedid not only report to his superiors at police headquarters. He also passed along the information to someone else who had absolutely nothing to do with the French government.
About twenty minutes later, a well-dressed man walked out to the embassy gate and spoke to Harold in English.
“Hello,HerrCavill. I was surprised to hear that you were asking to speak to me. After all, I am only the personal assistant of the Ambassador here. We seldom receive visits from wealthy foreigners here, certainly not any from outside of Germany or France.”
“My family and I happened to be traveling to Paris. I learned that the brother of Wernher von Braun was serving here and decided to come meet with you. You see, he and I share some very interesting common interests.
I had tried to talk to your brother’s mentor, Hermann Oberth, a few days ago. Unfortunately, he was not at home at the time of my visit to Romania. There were also a few issues with language there since I do not speak Romanian. However, there is still a significant German expatiate community in Sibiu that I did make contact with. What I was finally able to determine was thatHerrOberth was staying at a small room in Medias while working at his teaching job. Apparently, he only went home periodically to Sibiu periodically to see his family. But I simply did not have time to travel also to Medias.”
“My brother Wernher certainly spoke very highly of Herr Oberth and the American engineer Robert Goddard in conversations that I have had previously with him.” The German diplomat commented as the two men continued to stand there by the embassy gate. Sigismund chose not to invite Harold inside the embassy for fear of how it might be construed by the German ambassador. Sigismund insisted that the conversation be kept out in the open because of his concerns.
“I would like very much to offer your brother a position working for me. I share his desire to explore space using rockets. As you probably already know, I employ a great many people who are building very innovative products in a variety of areas. So I certainly have the resources to finance your brother’s research fully.”
“I am afraid that Wernher is otherwise employed by my government.” Sigismund replied, not mentioning that his brother was working for the German Army. The latter information was highly classified by the German Army, Sigismund knew.
“That is unfortunate. Some of the people who work for me are engineers from Germany. I have found them all to be exceptionally talented and meticulous with their work. I have also done business with several major German companies like Lurssen, Daimler-Benz and BMW. It would be very good business for your country to continue to work together with my companies.”
“There are certainly many people in your Commonwealth who do not share your opinion about Germany at all.” A surprised Sigismund replied.
“If we can maintain the peace in Europe, there is no reason at all for us not to work together in the sciences and through commercial trade.” Harold replied. Of course, he knew that the war was coming. But Harold also knew that he had no hope of reaching out to Wernher and eventually influencing him if he approached the Germans as anything other than a friend while he still could.
“I would hope so as well,HerrCavill.”
“I would appreciate it very much if you could convey my best wishes to your brother towards his quest to sending men into space. It is a most worthy goal for all of mankind.”
“Thank you,HerrCavill. I will convey your message when I speak to my brother next.” Sigismund said with a polite, but reserved, nod. He then turned around and returned to the main embassy building.
Harold stood there for a couple of moments more before, he too, turned and walked away. He had obviously hoped that Wernher von Braun’s brother would have been more enthusiastic about conveying his message and offer of employment to the rocket scientist. But Harold also understood that the situation between Nazi Germany and the rest of Europe was already on the decline.
Harold got back into the taxi that he had paid to wait on him. He then told the driver to take him back to the hotel where Harold and his family had been staying. He immediately went to their hotel room and began to look over his historical notes again. A couple of hours later, Dorothy and the children also returned to the room.
“Hello, Harold. How did that mysterious meeting of yours go?” A curious and yet concerned Dorothy asked after seeing Harold’s expression. He appeared to be disappointed, much as he had been after his journey to Romania.
“I don’t know yet. Wernher’s brother seemed friendly enough to be willing to talk to me. But I just couldn’t tell for sure if Sigismund would really talk to his brother on my behalf. But you know that I had to try.”
“All that we can do is pray for the best.” Dorothy said while giving her husband a hug and kiss.
“Thank you, Dorothy. I trust that you and the kids had a very good time touring through Paris? There is certainly a lot to see here.”
“We certainly did. The Eiffel Tower and the Arc d’Triumph were incredible to see in person. We also went and did a little Christmas shopping alongThe Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Don’t worry. We didn’t spend too much money there.” Dorothy laughed.
“That’s good. If you bought something that couldn’t be brought back on our Cavalier, you would probably not see if for months. It would have to be shipped back to Derby on a slow cargo ship.”
“I don’t think that we have to worry about that. I mostly bought clothing for our children and a few things for myself.
So what will we be doing next, Sweetheart?”
“We need to leave for London soon. I have more meetings scheduled with Churchill as well as the heads of several of the companies that we have been doing business with in England. The Cavalier will already be there waiting on us by the time that we arrive. It has a scheduled layover of three weeks in England before we fly back home aboard her.”
“Wel
l, Sweetheart. Before we leave for England, there was this little restaurant that I saw off of thedes Champs-Élyséesthat I really want to go to dinner with you tonight.”
“Alright, Dorothy. But you know that we are going to have to bring the kids along. We don’t have anyone here to play babysitter for them, I’m afraid.” Harold said with a smile.
A few days later, Harold and his family were on a ferry leaving from Calais, France to go to England.
Chartwell House
Westerham, Kent, England January 6, 1936
“Good afternoon, Mister Churchill.” Harold told Winston Churchill after the latter opened his front door. Harold and his family had just gotten into England a few days before. But Harold was anxious to get started.
“Please, Harold. Do call me, Winston. We have known each other for years now, even if most of our conversations have been via private telegraphs that your barrister has handed to me in person.”
“Alright. Winston, it is. I have been traveling for business and thought that I would make a personal visit while I was here in England. That whole business with the National Socialists in Germany is becoming rather worrisome, I fear.”
“I know. This Hitler fellow has quite the gift for inflaming the German masses. He has already started to unilaterally abrogate the Treaty of Versailles as well. I wish that more people here would open their eyes to the threat that Hitler poses to Europe and elsewhere.”
“Yes, I am afraid that German rearmament and the reemergence of radical German militarism are also proceeding at a rapid pace as well. Of course, the Soviets are no better morally. They have brutally conquered millions of people to form their Communist state. Now, they send agents throughout the world to foment Communist revolutions. The Chinese Nationalists are being hard pressed fighting against both the Chinese Communists and the Japanese even if there is a temporary alliance in place with the Communists. I am afraid that the Japanese will soon come for the various colonies in Southeast Asia, the Southwest Pacific and even we in Australia.”
“Perhaps we should let Hitler have his way in the east? Then we let him and Stalin beat each other to a bloody pulp.”
“That would seem to be an ideal solution except for the Poles and other countries in between Germany and the Soviets. However, it is certain that Hitler also has plans in the West as well. He has certainly not forgotten the role that the French had in humiliating and crippling Germany at Versailles. Hitler and his people will want a full measure of retribution for that humiliation. I do not believe for a moment that the Maginot Line will stop the Germans if they put their mind to invading and conquering the whole of France and the Low Counties.”
“We do still have the Royal Navy. Even with those new pocket battleships like theGraf Spee, the German Navy doesn’t stand a chance against our ships.” Churchill confidently declared.
“For now, that is true, Winston. But the Germans have been known to pull a surprise or two out of their hat. You also know that the Germans have a well-earned reputation for building excellent warships. This was evidenced by the performance of German Imperial warships at Jutland during the Great War.
German raiders on the high seas can spread the Royal Navy out so thinly that you cannot possibly cover all of the trade routes with capital ships to stop them. If the Germans were to gain allies with substantial naval forces of their own, the Royal Navy’s superiority could be challenged. Then there is the issue of the U-boats. If Germany could build them before, they could certainly build new and improved submarines at this point at well.”
“Yes, Harold. I have to agree. But money is still tight at the Exchequer. Your suggestion to me at our first meeting to convert the remainingHawkinsclass cruisers into light aircraft carriers has certainly paid off for the Navy’s carrier force. They now have four more flight decks to operate their aircraft from.
It took considerable negotiations during the London Naval Conference to keep aircraft carriers under ten thousand tons from being counted against our overall treaty limits. But these carriers are working out well, although flight deck and hangar sizes continue to be a troublesome issues for the flyers. TheHawkinsconversions simply don’t support nearly as many aircraft as aCourageousor Glorious, I’m afraid. I must admit though, suggesting the conversion idea to the First Sea Lord has raised my stock considerably within the Admiralty as well as other influential circles.
The new replacement battleship program is proving to be extremely expensive however. The damned fools tried to convince everyone building new battleships into reducing the caliber of main armament to only fourteen-inch guns. Of course, no one else will adhere to such restrictions in the long run, will they?” A frustrated Churchill explained.
“Of course, they won’t. That is why I argued against it in my correspondence with you. Such restrictions would mean that you would have to design an entirely new gun and turret system. It is quite doubtful that even your naval architects would be able to squeeze the desired amount of firepower while maintaining adequate protection and speed. I am basing my opinion on the Admiralty’s continued focus on a ship design armed with twelve fourteen-inch guns. It amazes me that the Admiralty thinks that it can build a ship with that armament while maintaining an acceptable speed and level of armored protection. Of course, there is an alternative.” Harold replied.
“What do you propose as the alternative, my friend?”
“Build the new battleships, but arm them with fifteen-inch guns instead. I’m sure that your naval architects already have a number of proposed designs utilizing the fifteen-inch gun, perhaps even in triple turrets like what HMSRodneyandNelsonemploy.”
“Yes. I know what you are saying, Harold. The standard fifteen-inch gun that has been successfully used on over a dozen of our capital ships. But we will need more than eight guns if we are going to have an advantage over the ships that the French and Italians are constructing.”
“Then use three triple turrets in the same basic hull form that has already been designed for the King George Vclass. It should not be a terribly difficult proposition with the Royal Navy’s experience with triple turrets onRodneyandNelson. A derivative design could be produced for a triple fifteen-inch gun turret without too much difficulty, I’m sure. If the Americans can design a fast battleship with sixteen-inch guns in a similar configuration, we can build one using proven fifteen-inch guns on theKing George Vclass hull.”
In fact, Harold had already had available the blueprints for a perfectly viable design of a triple fifteen-inch gun turret from his own naval architects after he had requested it over a year earlier. He intended to present it to his other contacts in the Admiralty at the first opportunity, but he needed Churchill’s support to ensure acceptance of the design.
Both Harold Cavill and Winston Churchill were also fully aware of the J3 design proposal for a fast battleship armed with nine fifteen-inch guns that had recently been developed. However, Churchill was completely unaware that Harold knew so many details of this highly classified battleship design. Harold also knew about the Mark II version of the British fifteen-inch gun with lighter weight and superior performance than the original gun. It had already been developed but had never been fielded in Harold’s original timeline.
How could he? But information on the J3 design was among the millions of historical and technical data files that Harold had brought back through the temporal portal on his portable computer. If theKing George Vhull could not be quickly modified to use triple fifteen-inch guns, then it would be a relatively simple matter to use a modified version of the J3 design instead.
“So you would like for me to argue for that, Harold?” Winston asked between drinks of whisky and puffs on his Havana.
“Yes….and a few other things.”
“Such as?”
“Standardizing the secondary gun for all capital warships on the new 4.5-inch dual purpose gun.”
“You are not asking for much, are you Harold?” Churchill asked in a slightly sarcastic manner.
But England are also spending unnecessary funds developing a larger gun for the secondary armament of theKing George Vclass battleships. I propose that the Royal Navy use the same 4.5-inch high angle gun system for all of these ships. Your naval architects could easily fit five of the lighter gun turrets on each side for the same space and weight as four turrets of the larger gun as well.”
“I know that there has always been a concern with the Admiralty about having a sufficiently powerful secondary armament for our capital ships. That was why HMSTigerwas armed with six-inch secondary guns as versus the four-inch guns that previous battle cruisers used. Will the 4.5-inch gun be adequate to fend off a destroyer or light cruiser attempting to close for a torpedo attack?” Churchill noted.
“My naval architects and other experts say that it is. The weight of the individual shell fired is more than made up for by the sheer volume of fire by the more numerous and faster firing guns of the BD Mark II turrets. I happen to trust their judgement. But more importantly, it will provide a superior performance against attacking aircraft. That, my friend, is the threat of the future. Besides, how many of our current ships are armed with that proposed large caliber secondary gun? The answer is none. We already have the lighter gun under production. All that is necessary is to increase production of the existing BD Mark II gun mount design.
With the funds that the Admiralty can save through standardization with the fifteen-inch main battery guns and the Below Deck BD Mark II dual purpose gun mounts, it can afford to refit HMS Repulse, HMSHood, HMSTigerand all of the unmodifiedQueen Elizabethclass battleships with thoroughly modernized secondary armaments along with all of the newKing George Vclass battleships. I’m sure that you already are aware of the armor shortcomings onHood. Can we really afford not to fully modernize the largest capital ship in the Royal Navy?
