Chapter 429： Winter in Wilhelmshaven (Part 1)

The winter of 1919 was particularly difficult. The bitter cold weather and hungry stomachs made people look forward to the future. So when the New Year in 1920 came, not many Germans felt any breath of the New Year.

In this cold winter, a job is a gift from God to many people, and Berne has a deep understanding of this. He is walking in the vast factory area of ​​the Royal William Shipyard. In the busy shipyard in the past, no one can be seen for half a day. Only from time to time, allied personnel in military uniforms are seen coming in and out. Bern turned a blind eye to them and went straight to the area where he worked.

Pushing open the door of a factory building beside the dock, he walked directly in. There are piles of shipbuilding equipment such as brackets, anchor chain wheels, brakes, winches, sprockets, gearboxes, and various water pumps. These are the indispensable equipment for building a sea-going vessel, and Berne is one of the personnel responsible for the care and maintenance of these equipment.

When he walked in here, several colleagues were already here.

"Bern, you came a lot late today."

A colleague greeted him.

Bern explained to his colleagues in a potato-flavored tone: "No way, I just paid the salary yesterday and I need to buy some potatoes and firewood. My family stopped the day before yesterday."

Hearing Berne’s explanation, my colleagues didn’t say anything. Everyone knew what was happening in Bern’s house. There are three children in the family and his wife is also frail and sick. The family counts on him to work to support the family. No one can accuse a husband of such a heavy burden.

Several people started to check the condition of these equipment immediately after chatting for a few words, and at this moment a colleague mysteriously whispered: "We can't do this job for long."

"what?"

"Crack."

All the colleagues stared at the speaker, and the ruler and other items in Bern's hand were scattered all over the floor.

At this time, a leading colleague said: "Charlor, do you know what you are talking about?"

After one person spoke, others also said it. "Charole, you can't be kidding about this kind of thing."

Unemployment, for them now, this is simply a disaster. Everyone who looks at the idlers in Wilhelmshaven now knows that these people are hungry and dirty. They carry only a little clothing with them, find a place where no one is on the roadside bridge and sleep for a while. Many people can't see the sun the next day. Every day, many of these people's bodies are transported outside the city for burial.

No one of them wants to live this kind of life. Even though the job is only enough to make ends meet, they are much better than those people, at least they have a house to live in and have food to eat.

Seeing everyone accusing himself, this colleague named Charlotte was also anxious. He said directly: "Do you think I don't want this anymore? I want it too."

At this time, Bern stopped what other colleagues wanted to say. He stepped forward and patted Charlotte on the shoulder and said: "I believe you won't take this kind of thing, then where did you hear this news."

What Berne said attracted everyone's attention and wanted to hear what Charlotte said.

"Because I forgot yesterday that I didn't take the things in the factory, so when I returned to the factory, I overheard two Allied troops stationed on the field talking and talking. They said that because our shipyard is a royal property, it should be the main person responsible for starting the war. The assets of Emperor Wilhelm will be compensated to the Allied Powers."

The content of Charlotte’s words immediately drew other colleagues’ rebuttals: “Even if they are compensated, the shipyard can’t move. They always need people to work at the shipyard. Do we fire people who are familiar with the shipyard and find newbies? Nothing."

Faced with a rebuttal, Charlotte immediately continued: "I thought the same at the time, but after listening to them, they wanted to see if anyone took over the shipyard equipment. If no one took over, they would dismantle them all. Shall we continue to work on the shipyard?"

What Charlotte said silenced everyone present. They were all people familiar with shipbuilding. How would they build ships without equipment?

A colleague talked about the many treasured shipyard equipment. "I remember that the shipyard has only installed a 320-ton gantry crane less than a year ago, as well as large hydraulic presses. It is very difficult to relocate these equipment."

"When installing the hydraulic press, I took someone to do it for a week before installing it. But what's the use? These people from the Allied Powers are completely planning to tear down our factory."

A colleague said angrily what was in his heart.

Another colleague said what everyone cares most about. "If the shipyard is moved, what shall we do?"

Yeah, don't mention anything else now, the most important thing is to ensure that you can live.

"Should we organize a demonstration by shipyard employees, asking them not to move out of the shipyard."

A colleague said what he thought was feasible.

"This won't work. Do you think these people from the Allies will take care of us? And they have a regiment of French garrisons outside the city. We have only a few people now."

Another colleague refuted what he said.

Demonstrations are not acceptable. Not to mention that there are only a few hundred people in the shipyard. When there were tens of thousands of people before, the people of these Allied nations would not be soft when suppressed. In the war, there were millions of casualties on both sides, and there were French troops outside the city. Don't forget that the French currently have a feud with them. I believe they will not let this opportunity pass.

"Otherwise we will find the city government and let the state buy the shipyard so that we can continue to work."

One idea didn't work, my colleague put forward another opinion.

"Where did the government get the money to buy the shipyard, the shipyard has invested tens of millions of marks."

The Mark they were talking about was not the mark like scrap paper now but the gold mark before the outbreak of the war, which can actually be exchanged for gold from the bank. Now the city government can't even control those who have lost their jobs. Where will they invest money to buy the shipyard, and they still have no money.

The colleague couldn't help but said, "Neither this will work, that won't work, are we just waiting like this?"

"Otherwise, what can we do? If you expect someone to buy the shipyard from the Allied powers, someone will be willing."

Seeing that they were all like headless flies, the colleague suddenly asked Berne. "Bern, what do you say we should do?"

After thinking about it for a while, Berne said in a slow tone: "I don't know, but there will always be a way. There will always be a way."

After Berne finished speaking, he picked up the tools and walked towards the equipment. Today's work has not been completed, so we must continue to do things.

After seeing Berne leave, Charlotte looked at him sympathetically and said: "Among us, Berne is the most stressed. Don't embarrass him."