German Red Prince

Moreover, in North Africa, the Ottomans and the French Republic are fighting a war that the whole world is watching. Both countries have sent military observer missions, which Thorne sees as walking money.

"Hello sir, please show your relevant identification."

To prepare for any potential incidents, Thorne went to great lengths to ensure security. In addition to the police and urban management officers, the Stasi, Gestapo, Alpha Group, and Flagstaff were all involved in the operation.

This event also served as a test for Thorne's intelligence organization, essentially an "academic exam" to assess their learning and training over the past period.

Some of them were responsible for security, while others disguised themselves as ordinary people and mingled in the crowd to observe any unusual activity and prevent any sudden incidents from occurring.

"of course."

Arnold Fink took out his identification from his pocket and showed it to the Gestapo officers at the checkpoint.

"Arnold Fink, specially invited by the Kingdom of the Rhine."

"Welcome to the Kingdom's Grand Parade." After confirming that everything was correct, the Gestapo returned the credentials to Arnold Fink.

"This person accompanied me to watch the military parade. The invitation said that someone could accompany me, is that alright?"

“Of course, no problem, but she also needs to be checked.” Gestapo reassured everyone, “Please rest assured, this is not directed at you; we must ensure that no accidents occur during this parade.”

“I understand, thank you for your trouble, sir.” Arnold smiled at the soldier and then walked to the checkpoint.

The Gestapo saluted Arnold, then continued checking the invited guests who were about to enter.

“Who are these people?” Leni Riefenstahl asked Arnold.

“How would I know? You’ll have to ask that prince of the Kingdom of the Rhine.” Arnold looked helpless. He had attended military parades in the Kingdom of the Rhine before, but this time it felt very different because he also saw some famous directors or screenwriters from Germany and other countries.

The men responsible for inspecting them were dressed in all-black uniforms, and the white skulls on their caps made them seem even more mysterious. I had never heard of such a unit in the Rhineland.

Compared to these guys in black uniforms, another group of inspectors appeared much milder; they wore gray uniforms and were responsible for checking the documents of foreign visitors.

Riefenstahl noticed that these people's uniforms were somewhat different from those of the current military.

Compared to the current uniforms of the German army, their uniforms look more aesthetically pleasing and refined.

Although it's military uniform, it would definitely be a hot item in the fashion world, which piqued Leni Riefenstahl's interest. She now really wanted to know who created this mysterious unit.

"Fortunately, they didn't confiscate our cameras."

After the inspection, Riefenstahl followed Arnold into the room and then picked up his camera to take pictures. The scene was very well set up.

Riefenstahl was quite excited. This was no military parade; it was clearly an artistic feast. He wondered how much money Rhine had spent on this parade.

Only the chief director of the parade, Thorne, can answer this question: How much did it cost? Thorne alone threw in over 500,000 marks, and that's just for the filming costs, not to mention other miscellaneous expenses.

The film invited many famous figures from the arts, such as Fritz Lang, the director of last year's hit film "Metropolis," and assistant director Slatan Dudo.

However, they were not invited to watch the parade; Thorne invited them to provide guidance on the photography for the parade.

Thorne invited these prominent figures from the arts to generate buzz for the parade, ensuring it would have a significant impact, and also to show them the creative process behind the world's first sound film.

For various reasons, "The Jazz Singer," which was supposed to be the world's first sound film, was never created.

So at least for now, the film industry is still dominated by silent films, and today Thorne is going to complete the creation of the world's first sound film in Mainz.

This was a challenge for Fritz and everyone involved in the filming, but Fritz was very happy to accept the challenge.

The previous year, he directed "Metropolis," which was a huge success. Now he has been invited to participate in directing the world's first sound film. If he can succeed this time, his status in film history will be unshakable.

Fritz initially declined the invitation because he had just finished filming the Metropolitan Museum of Art and wanted to take a break.

However, Thorne then sent him several scripts, and Fritz rushed from Berlin to Frankfurt overnight after reading them. He had never seen a film script with such a novel subject matter.

Thorne personally received Fritz, who had come from Berlin, and had a two-hour conversation with him. After the conversation, Fritz readily joined the newly established Frankfurt Film Studio.

The specific content of the conversation is unknown, and Fritz kept it strictly confidential. He went on to create many classic films, but in interviews, he did not reveal the details of the conversation, only saying that his work was inspired by that day's discussion.

With the involvement of these renowned directors, Thorne felt very confident about the filming process. Although it was a challenging task, Thorne believed in the directors' abilities. The previous rehearsals had gone well, and he expected the actual performance to be just as good.

Before filming, Fritz asked Thorne what the documentary should be called.

Thorne thought for a while and then gave the title "Triumph of the Will".

Chapter 151 Hemingway's European Trip

"I'm sorry, sir, you cannot enter the venue."

A Stasi in uniform stopped a young reporter who was trying to enter.

"Wasn't it said that journalists from all over the world were welcome to attend this parade? Why can't I go in?"

The young man even argued with the Stasi inspector. He had rushed here as soon as he heard the news, but by the time he arrived, the parade was about to begin.

“All the reporters have already registered in advance. I’m sorry, but the parade is about to begin, so you can’t go in.” The Stasi looked very sorry. “You can wait for next time, and we will definitely welcome you then.”

"I rushed here as soon as I heard the news. You know how far the United States is from Germany. I was delayed on the way here for quite a while, and I don't know how long it will be before the next military parade. I'm not only a journalist, but also a writer."

Hemingway took out his own manuscript from his bag. His original plan was to go to Frankfurt to make notes and then head to Mainz to find some material for the novel he was writing.

But plans can't keep up with changes. His ship ran into trouble and was delayed for several days. By the time he arrived, the military parade was about to begin.

"I'm here because of the novel I'm currently working on, and I hope you can make an exception for me."

"I'm really sorry, you don't have proof, so you can't go in." Seeing that Hemingway was still unwilling to give up, the Stasi signaled to the surrounding security guards, trying to persuade him to leave.

What happened here?

As more and more people gathered around, Thomas walked over. The Stasi were responsible for receiving and inspecting foreign guests. The foreign guests were more diverse and difficult to inspect, making their work much more challenging than that of the Gestapo.

So even though the Stasi were much more experienced than the Gestapo, Thomas was not at ease and had to be present to supervise and deal with any emergencies.

Thomas saw a crowd gathered here from afar and was worried that an accident might happen because of the crowd, so he came over to deal with it himself.

Upon seeing Thomas approach, the Stasi immediately stood at attention and saluted, then recounted what had happened. After listening, Thomas nodded and waved to the security personnel around him to disperse the onlookers, because if people gathered together, it would be difficult to control casualties in the event of an accident.

The Stasi had already begun their operations months before the parade. When Mainz was chosen as the location for the parade, about three thousand Stasi members and more than two thousand non-Stasi personnel entered the city that day, and nearly two thousand Gestapo personnel also arrived.

Thomas was personally appointed by Thorne as the security commissioner for this parade, to work with the Kingdom's security department. Just two years ago, he was a lowly soldier who had been rolling around in trenches with Thorne, so he was under a lot of pressure and had to do many things personally.

"Sir, I'm very sorry, but you cannot enter without proper identification. However, you are welcome to visit other parts of the Rhine. The kingdom warmly welcomes tourists from all over the world."

This person was clearly the head of these prosecutors, and seeing that he had refused, Hemingway knew that he would probably have to leave empty-handed this time.

He sighed and was about to leave, but then suddenly seemed to remember something and took out a card and handed it to Thomas.

“When I was in the United States, I met a Rhine man in a bar. He gave me a great creative inspiration, and that’s how we met.”

He said I was very welcome to visit the Rhineland and that if I encountered any problems, I should show him this business card. May I ask if this will allow me to enter?

Thomas took the business card and looked at it. He immediately recognized it as Thorne's, because the identity information on it was written by the Stasi.

Do you have any other impression of that gentleman?

"He was very young and very easy-going. He gave me a great creative inspiration, but because we only met once, I don't remember it very clearly."

Hemingway recalled that he had only spoken with Thorne for less than five minutes, so he could only recall what Thorne looked like.

"Welcome to Rhine. You may now enter."

After hearing Hemingway's description, Thomas immediately wrote him a statement, knowing that Thorne wouldn't just give his business card to a stranger.

Thorne seemed to meet everyone with a purpose, like Heydrich, who immediately assigned him to work for the Stasi, as if he knew what Thorne was supposed to do.

Thorne seems to see and think further than others, and he can predict things very accurately. Thomas even suspects that their encounter with Thorne in the trenches was pre-planned.

Moreover, on several occasions after listening to the Stasi's reports, Thorne would look at the calendar and say that it was too late, and he didn't know what Thorne was thinking.

But Thomas was certain that everything Thorne did was to create a better Rhineland, otherwise he wouldn't have been killing so many people in Darmstadt.

The Stasi and Gestapo prisons still hold those people arrested back then, and they've all been tortured to the point of near death. In Thorne's words, they're spending the rest of their lives paying for the sins they committed in the first half.

"Sir, you may enter the venue now, but we still need to check your belongings. Please don't mind."

“Of course.” Hemingway took out the items he had brought with him and let the inspector check them. Another inspector told Hemingway to stand up straight with his arms outstretched, and then used a strange machine in his hand to scan his body.

"What is this?" Hemingway asked, looking at the machine with some curiosity.

"This is a metal detector. We scan people entering the premises to prevent them from carrying dangerous items."

Indeed, Thorne even brought out a metal detector to ensure the parade could proceed safely. As the person in charge, he had to worry about everything to ensure that everything went smoothly, otherwise all his efforts would be in vain.

Hemingway was even more excited about the parade after hearing the introduction. He hadn't expected the security to be so tight. He thought the parade would be very interesting.

Now, due to the economic recession, the United States is in a very depressed atmosphere. Influenced by isolationism, the United States is observing everything in the Old World from the sidelines in the New World, watching the outbreak and end of the Great War with indifference.

During that period, they called Europeans "crazy European barbarians" and themselves "civilized American gentlemen." They were proud of their ability to remain calm in that crazy era, but what followed was the rise of the German economy and the decline of the United States.

The harsh reality has left Americans bewildered. The social divisions and chaos in various places have led many Americans to reflect on their situation, and they are collectively expressing disappointment and dissatisfaction with the development of American society.

Germany's period of rapid growth seems to have passed, and Europe is now mired in the unique sense of uncertainty characteristic of this economic downturn. Taking advantage of this military parade, Hemingway decided to visit various European countries, and if possible, he would also like to visit the communes.

Many countries in the world now recognize the French Commune, but the United States has always been lukewarm towards it and has not recognized its legitimacy. The American journalists who went to the Commune this time were not American citizens.

This mysterious country intrigued him greatly. What could have caused the United States, separated by an ocean, to be so hostile towards it? The relationship between the US and France had been relatively good before, so why did things change once he arrived at the commune?

Furthermore, what magic does the ideology of the commune possess that allows it to exert such a great influence in the world, even across an ocean, reaching several countries in the Americas?

Americans are confused because the traditional values ​​of this generation are no longer suitable for the world that has changed dramatically since the war, but they cannot find new rules of conduct.

They believe that only reality is truth, but reality is cruel. So they can only act according to their instincts and senses, trying their best to rebel against their previous ideals and values, and expressing their dissatisfaction with reality through rebellious thoughts and behaviors.

As a member of the "Lost Generation," Hemingway was deeply affected by it and desperately wanted to change his situation; he needed to find a direction.

He wanted to see how people in Europe solve problems, which was one of the purposes of his trip to Europe, because it wasn't just arrogant Americans who were confused.

Chapter 152 Sponsorship

With two hours to go before the official start time, the invited spectators have been arriving one after another, and the stands are filled with reporters and photographers from various countries.

The weather is nice today. It's not raining, the wind isn't strong, and the temperature is much higher than usual.

Everyone was gazing at the far end of the square, where more than 10,000 soldiers, about to be reviewed, were ready.

Everyone is now waiting for the countdown to end so the parade can begin. The major newspapers are also eager to see how the Kingdom of Rhine will hold this grand parade and what surprises it will bring them.

Although it was called a military parade, it was more like a special performance. It wasn't very military in nature, but it was very commercial. Thorne invited celebrities to attend in order to leverage their influence to promote his products.

Based on the principle of sharing profits, Thorne even sought out sponsors because he simply couldn't afford the expenses on his own.

With more social celebrities invited, the popularity naturally increases, and once the popularity rises, Rhine products can go global.

Bullets are not selling, please help us. Rifles are not selling, please help us. As long as this military parade can revitalize the Rhine's economy, then everything we have to do will be worthwhile.

Of course, Thorne would not forget the original purpose of this event. The main purpose of this parade was to deter the French Commune and prevent it from threatening the kingdom's national security.

As a martial nation, the German army boasts world-class military quality and capabilities, so they certainly delivered a substantial feast.

The training the soldiers have been doing these past few months is no mere show; it's guaranteed to be a feast for the eyes of the audience.

"Fanta, the choice of a new generation."

The salespeople on site were promoting their soft drinks to the audience. Thorne, as one of the sponsors, naturally had to promote his products as well. It would be a shame not to do something about such a great marketing opportunity.

Fanta was the official and only beverage designated for this military parade, and staff and spectators alike could enjoy this German carbonated drink.

Because many of the invited audience members are from abroad, Fanta has a great chance to take this opportunity to go beyond Germany and reach the world.

This can also be considered a way to promote German national enterprises. Thorne thought that Fanta would be able to hold onto the European market and compete with Coca-Cola.

Thorne's products only account for a small portion; the kingdom's industrial giants are the core. Because the Kingdom of Rhine is holding a military parade this time, the countries are most concerned about the kingdom's military forces.

If this parade is successful, the kingdom is likely to receive a large number of orders from around the world.

Products from all the kingdom's major companies will be showcased at this parade. With the current economic downturn and the increasing losses of these companies, they are even more eager for orders than Thorne. Thorne's sponsorship is simply insignificant compared to theirs.

"Madam, please try our newest orange-flavored soda."

"Sir, would you like to try some German-style soda?"

The staff were enthusiastically promoting the drinks, as many famous figures from the art world were attending the event, making them natural advertisements.

Of course, KFC couldn't be left out either. The bright red KFC sign was very eye-catching at the scene and attracted many people to buy it. Some journalists from abroad were very satisfied with this convenient and quick food.

Because these people come from smaller newspapers with limited budgets, they try to save money wherever possible, so convenient food like this is perfect. Even though it's not Crazy Thursday, they're still delivering coffee.

The Rheinische Zeitung reporters were diligently taking photos on site, knowing how much profit Thorne would gain when these pictures appeared in the newspaper after the parade.

"Give me a bottle of Fanta."

Riefenstahl told the salesman that the parade was a real treat for her; the setup was perfect, and unlike previous parades, this one was more down-to-earth.

Compared to Prussia's military parades, which were only for the royal family and the army and simply demonstrated the army's authority, this parade was more like a performance for the people.