Kronen Zeitung
Der Weg nach vorn!
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School Reform in the rural alpine countryside and Infrastructure
Christopher has given both time and effort into passing the Nations first large scale and comprehensive Education Reform. It was vital,however mainly that it would indirectly allow greater working hours at arms and munitions factories by increasing the time Children spend at school and thus decrease the amount of time parents . Overall the plan received support due to its common goals and methods, though naturally many disagreed with the overall intent by the StaatsKanzler
In a nutshell a few of the changes :
- Lengthening of School hours from 8 to 12 hours, these shall be spread as follows : 6 hours of school work > one hour of lunch > one hour of either sports or club activities > 4 hours of school work. This effectively represents both four hours less that Parents or Nannies need to be at home and four hours of additional work for teachers where they shall receive full pay for the extra hours and thus increase their overall incomes by staggering amounts. To offset the lengthened hours post war for Teachers the school week shall be reduced from 5 days to 4, which will still result in an increase from 40 hours of school a week per student to 48 hours a week. In exchange for this extra day off per week, the Interior Ministry shall take over education on this final 5th day, to be coined Primary Citizens Education in which the Interior Ministry will conduct trips to Old folks homes, Hospitals and Veterans associations to instill greater respect and obedience within them. Students above the age of 14 will further be taken along on army days, where they will explore military equipment and be taught firearm safety and useful skills such as basic automobile engineering or carpentry.
- Education shall become a universal necessity, however in practice the introduction to less fortunate areas is estimated to take until around 1936. To spur on this long introductory period the Ministry of Education has been greenlit to hire additional staff, and has been promised greater funding if post-war it focuses on hiring and training Veterans to become both Teachers and Administrative staff.
- Parents who wish their Children to have additional job-focused education at a young age may choose from one of the three Armed Forces Scout Organizations to conduct weekend activities. These Scout Groups respectively teach skills related to both the Army Navy and Air Force, and as such later in life branch out to a multitude of jobs related to them in the civilian sector. Examples are Administration, Engineering on Aircraft Ships and Vehicles, Cooking as well as naturally military skills. A further bonus for parents worried about the success of their Children is that these Scout Organizations possess both male and female wings, who conduct joint outings to foster good relations and potential relationships especially among the older participants.
- Schools shall be permitted relatively free choice of contents for each classes, though schools may not conduct any less than two hours of sport in any given day (these two hours include the one hour of sport at lunchtime) and shall be inspected quarterly for obesity and other indicators of a poor physical education. Army instructors both current and former shall be used to conduct said inspections, being hired to conduct them in their own school districts as either a full-time or part time occupation depending on their preference.
- Students will be required to stand every morning to sing the National Anthem and salute the Eidelweisser Flag, which must be present in every Educational Building.
- To protect against violence, each school shall be assigned two armed Interior Ministry Guards along with a short-wave radio. These men would be tasked with investigating armed assault or abuse on school property and to protect against negative influences from outside of the Building. Armed with the mentioned radio they will be able to call both the local garrisons and police forces for assistance. Adults found to be loitering un school grounds before and after school is in session shall be investigated for their intentions. Students shall be constantly reminded that any action taken against them can be shared with these Officers, as they can take immediate action to both protect the victim and seize the perpetrator. Essentially making these two Officers Security guards, Security Advisers, Policemen and Detectives all in one it is the aim of the Government to make them prized occupations post-war with the return of over a hundred thousand battle-trained Veterans.
- School lunches shall no longer be an item that parents must pay half of the cost for, instead the Government shall adopt the full cost and in exchange be able to dictate the full dietary intake of Children at schools. This is a non-negotiable rule to ensure that all Children at schools are properly fed no matter their race creed or gender. It has been the case in the past that native Children were not issued any food at all due to parents being unable to pay, this rule in effect removes this entirely.
Improvement of rural alpine infrastructure:
- Construction of permanent mechanical water wells in all Towns and Villages throughout Eidelweiss, in locations where wells already exist these shall be replaced by the more modern and efficient types
- Construction of Town & Village Halls in all localities across the Nation, where ones already exist but are considered inferior in quality they shall be replaced by the new construction. These new Buildings shall be connected to the newly constructed water wells to provide piped fresh water access.
- Construction of minor Clinics in all localities greater than 1,000 individuals, and where already present a complete interior reconstruction to take place
- Construction of Government owned Bathhouses in all localities greater than 1,000 Individuals, with a focus on post usage water reconstitution via irrigation (Bath water can be safely reutilized in farming without treatment unlike sewage). Entrance fees to consist of two pence per entrant to offset costs (equal to 0.84 pence in 2021, example calculation being) which would equal 20 pounds per 1,000 entrants (or 870 pounds in 2021).
- Construction of proper and more modern sanitation facilities to prevent the spread of disease
- Construction of a minimum of two Government owned water fountains per town and village, each to be inscribed with 'This Fountain was constructed on the command of Christopher . Water dispensed from these fountains shall be free of charge as a service by the Government.
- Construction of Water Towers where possible or underground Water Tanks for water storage during possible droughts to mitigate possible drought impact.
- Construction ofa Dam on the Danube River in order to create Lake with a water capacity of 173,41 million cubic meters, with planned introduction of native fish species.
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Remilitarization
Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Hirtenberger Patronenfabrik, Eidelweisser Waffenfabriksgesellschaft (EWG), Eidel-Daimler. All were giants within their own industries in Eidelweiss, from the production of tanks to rifles , to sustain the future offensives / defemsives of Eidelweiss . The wider Eidelwesser defense industry was largely dominated and monopolized by several massive conglomerates who had been in the business for decades, producing arms for the State . For these companies, what mattered was profit. The gradual army expansion was turning them a massive, massive profit, and as such, despite qualms from its internal departments, the companies continued selling to their largest collective buyer: The Eidelweisser Armed Forces
| New companies, much less so new individuals, in the Eidelweisser defense industry were uncommon. Competition was non-existent as the army sought to purchase weapons only from these major conglomerates, as they were trusted, reliable and secure. New companies and persons still had to be 'tested out', . However, some people were insane enough to attempt to mount an assault on the Eidelweisser defense industry, with the goal of penetrating it and cutting out his own slice of the pie. One of those men was Oscar Schroder a Eidelweisser businessman who previously dabbled in aircraft production and computer technology, as well as codebreaking. |
| Schroder was an affluent, wealthy man, married, but no children. He was not a member of the SDP but did not condemn them either, for his own safety. His father, a wealthy engineer, was his main inspiration to enter business. He hopped to and fro in his early years, funding various projects including the Steirischer Löwe prototype . Once the civil strife began with the reds, he scaled down his investments to protect his wealth, and remained under the radar, slowly collecting allies and friends within the G Government and across the country's private industry. He partnered and befriended military commanders, most prominently General Witzleben with whom he was close. He secured the support of businessmen, investors, and local government officials. In late 1934, he began promising something 'massive', gathering tens of millions of Schilings worth of investments. |
| In October , after many months of delays and a lot of angry investors, Schroder revealed his newfound purchase. A massive amount of 'forgotten factories' that had been simply abandoned and left to rot through the course of the republic for a wide array of reasons. The procurement of these factories dug into his wallet, but he believed that he would be able to turn a profit producing all sorts of things for the war effort, from pots and pans to steel for Eidelweisser's vehicles and Panzers. His investors were scared off, as the civil strife was seemingly coming to an end already, loosing him about 20% of his initial funding. This left him to source funds from his own pocket. |
| These so-called 'forgotten factories' weren't demolished, merely damaged, dirty or unfinished. Otherwise, they were capable of operating with renovations. They had been abandoned by companies who had forgotten to demolish them, to the benefit of Schroder. He sought to enter the defense market despite warnings from his close friends, who called it impossible. He did it anyway. Bringing in skilled workers and special individuals (besondere personen), or people hiding and seeking protection from persecution, he sought to make his mark in the defense industry. Schroder-Werke (Schroder Works) was born.
Having only a minor coastline, the Admiralty has set in motion plans to both expand the existing Naval Installations in the area as well as complete the installation of Fortifications . Being the heart of the yet to from Eidelweisser Navy a good defense was always promoted, however previously it was argued that the Navy itself could provide the majority of the needed defense. The motive of the creation of these defenses was not solely to defend from the sea however, as the planned batteries due to the low terrain in the area would be able to traverse a full 360 degrees and thus provide protection against in-land attack as well.
Airfields and Army Infrastructure have begun to be constructed on Trieste, Koper and Piran.In total to be constructed there would be :
- 24x 4.7 Inch Turrets arranged in 4x dual turrets mounted on concrete Bunkers with a maximum range of 15.5km
- 16x 4.7 Inch Turrets arranged in 2x dual turrets mounted on concrete Bunkers with a maximum range of 15.5km
- 16x 8 Inch Turrets arranged in 2x dual turrets mounted on concrete Bunkers with a maximum range of 28km
- 56x 3.7 Inch AA Guns along with 112x 40mm Bofors AA guns entrenched with sandbag reinforcement and associated basic radar+fire control equipment
- Expansion of the Naval Zone within Port which will include two Destroyer-sized Drydocks , a single large scale Drydock secondarily for Cargo Ships. Shall additionally include several Cargo and Administrative Buildings and mountings for a total of 32x twin 20mm oerlikon AA-guns.
- Creation of triple Barbed Wire Fences (three consecutive fences with space in-between to prevent use of ladders) surrounding the entire territory to include Guard Towers at intervals of 150 meters
- Modernization and expansion of Hangars on the two respective Aerodromes with more reinforced constructs (such as soil-covered shell type hangars) to increase the total number of Aircraft complement from 96 to 120 .
The Gebirgejäger i, drawn from Eidelweisser's mountainous regions for the army's alpine divisions and tended to be of superior quality. In addition to being well trained for mountain warfare, they were expert in the handling of pack artillery. The alpine divisions differed from a standard infantry division in that each regiment had its own artillery, engineering, and ancillary services associated with the regiment on a permanent basis. This made each regiment of an alpine division relatively self-supporting and capable of independent action.By design, an alpine division consisted of a divisional headquarters, two Alpine regiments, a mountain artillery regiment, a mixed engineer battalion, a chemical warfare company, two reserve Alpine battalions, and divisional services. The divisional headquarters included an anti-tank platoon. Each Alpine regiment included a headquarters company, with a platoon of flamethrowers. Each regiment also included three Alpine battalions and the service support units assigned. At full strength, the firepower for an Alpine regiment was 27 heavy machine guns, 81 light machine guns, 27 45 mm mortars, 12 81 mm mortars, and 27 flamethrowers. The mountain artillery regiment was split between the two infantry regiments. Each regiment was provided with a battalion of 75 mm howitzers, which were transported on pack animals.
The army would hold war exercises in the lower Eidelweisser plain on a well planned schedule basis and the last inferences were as follows.In offensive operations the infantry formations were used to attack more or less simultaneously across a large portion of the front so as to pin the enemy forces ahead of them and draw attention to themselves, while the mobile formations were concentrated to attack only narrow sectors of the front, breaking through to the enemy rear and surrounding him. Some infantry formations followed in the path of the mobile formations, mopping-up, widening the corridor manufactured by the breakthrough attack and solidifying the ring surrounding the enemy formations left behind, and then gradually destroying them in concentric attacks. One of the most significant problems bedeviling Eidelweisser offensives and initially alarming senior commanders was the gap created between the fast moving "fast formations" and the following infantry, as the infantry were considered a prerequisite for protecting the "fast formations" flanks and rear and enabling supply columns carrying fuel, petrol, and ammunition to reach them.
In defensive operations the infantry formations were deployed across the front to hold the main defense line and the mobile formations were concentrated in a small number of locations from where they launched focused counterattacks against enemy forces who had broken through the infantry defense belt.These results would be replayed over different circ*mstances and theoughhouly studied my general staff theorists.
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Creation of intelligence apparatus COVERT
The foreign service would be called as EFI .The primary mandate of the EFI was foreign reconnaissance which included political, military, economic and technological intelligence-gathering. Among its other duties were activities against foreign intelligence agencies by means of infiltrating their operations, preparing acts of sabotage, as well as the so-called "Active Measures" distributing false intelligence in the "Operational Sector.The EFI had 21 sections (Abteilungen) and five task forces (Arbeitsgruppen). In addition, there was the Headquarters of the EFI (Stab der EFI) and the Sector for Science and Technology (Sektor Wissenschaft und Technik) (S, responsible for technological espionage, whose responsibilities were spread across sections. In a sense the Main Directorate was a secret service within the secret service with an autonomy within the EFI (similar to that enjoyed by the First Chief Directorate within the IRL KGB or the Directorate of Operations within the CIA). The EFI had its own budget and its own enterprises, which not only provided cover employment for its operatives, but also contributed finances from their business activities to the upkeep of the service. The Main Directorate also handled its own counterintelligence. This was an exclusive prerogative of the EFI within the Republic, but while the Main Division I handled this mission within the Army and the Border Troops, the Main Division VII handled the Ministry of the Interior and thePolice, the Main Division XX handled espionage penetration attempts within the Eidelweiss state apparatus and the Main Division II handled counterintelligence among the public in general, counterespionage within the EFI was handled exclusively by its organic Division A IX. Initially, the "EFI College", disguised as the Zentralschule der Gesellschaft für Sport und Technik Edkar André ("Edkar André Main College of the Society for Sports and Vocational Training"), was headquartered in Marschegg. Starting in 1934, it was incrementally absorbed into the Juristische Hochschule located in G
Linz, initially as a vocational training school. The training department would have the following
Educational Dept. A: Training for political operatives. Dean: Lieutenant Helmut Eck. 4 courses includingMilitary training, politics, and history.
Educational Dept. B: "Special Operations" and methodology of service work. Dean: Lieutenant Horst Klugow. 5 courses, including Operative Psychology, Security and Law, as well as foreign residency training.
Educational Dept. F: College of Foreign Languages. Dean: Lieutenant Manfred Fröhlich. Responsible for the language training for missions abroad, as well as interpreter-training.
to be continued........
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New Constitution
The new constitution was by the determination to promote world peace as an equal partner in a united Europe, the Eidelweisser people, in the exercise of their constituent ower, have adopted this Constitution
(1) Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.
(2) The Eidelweisser people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world.
(A.2.1) Every person shall have the right to free development of his personality insofar as he does not violate the rights of others or offend against the constitutional order or the moral law.
(A.2.2.) Every person shall have the right to life and physical integrity. Freedom of the person shall be inviolable. These rights may be interfered with only pursuant to a law.
(A.3.3.) No person shall be favored or disfavored because of sex, parentage, race, language, homeland and origin, faith or religious or political opinions. No person shall be disfavored because of disability.
(A.5.1.) Every person shall have the right to freely express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing and pictures to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessibly sources. Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasting and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.
(A.9.1.) All Eidelweisser shall have the right to form societies and other associations.
(A.10.1) The privacy of correspondence, posts and telecommunications shall be inviolable.
(A.20.1-4) The Eidelweisser is a democratic and social state. All state authority is derived from the people. It shall be exercised by the people through elections and other votes and through specific legislative, executive and judicial bodies. The legislature shall be bound by the constitutional order, the executive and the judiciary by law and justice. All shall have the right to resist any person seeking to abolish this constitutional order if no other remedy is available.
(A.26.1) Acts tending to and undertaken with the intend to disturb the peaceful relations between nations, especially to prepare for a war of aggression, shall be unconstitutional. They shall be criminalized.
(A.26.2) Weapons designed for warfare may be manufactured, transported or marketed only with permission of the Government. Details shall be regulated by a federal law.
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The Burgeoning Wine Industry
After the great war, Eidelweiss became the third largest wine-producing country in the world. Yet the development and innovation continued: Lenz Moser created a high training system for vines, which he featured for the first time in vineyards in Rohrendorf, near Krems. The vines were hoisted on wire trellises, and this in turn allowed for practical machine treatment. This modern practice made its journey around the world, after a severe frost. Nevertheless, the wine boom continued and, in fact, even seemed unstoppable - particularly as wine tourism in the Wachau area and around Lake Neusiedl (Neusiedlersee) began to develop. Further success was being experienced in the Christopher promulgated in the establishment of Eidelweiss of a new wine law, which, compared to those in the rest of Europe, was extremely strict as well as highly exemplary. It also constituted the basis for a rapid Eidelweisser wine revival, assisted by innovations from the younger generation of wine-growers who were gradually taking over their family wine estate responsibilities. These young wine makers began taking educational trips to wineries around the world, exchanging knowledge and experiences, and learning about new wine production technologies. All of this went hand in hand with an increased awareness of quality in the work conducted in the vineyards, plus the growing interest in wine by consumers. With new grape varieties arousing curiosity, traditional varieties being resurrected, and red wines gaining renown in a country long dominated by its white wines, it became very clear: the Eidelweisser wine miracle had begun. Not only did the world take notice of Eidelweisser wine, but numerous awards confirmed the top quality paired with the individuality of the wines produced by Eidelweisser wine-growers.
Sylvenije winemaking tradition is one of the oldest on earth. Indeed, Sylvenije Lands saw the introduction of Illyrian and Celtic viticulture long before the practice was widespread in Western Europe, and today the territory exports tens of millions of vrhunsko bottles of white wine among other varieties. Sprawling vineyards guarded by klopotcitraditional windmill-like bird-scarerscoat of diverse and productive winemaking regions, each contributing its own practices and specialties. Altogether, though, Sylvenije wine was meticulously made and considered to be premium quality: ordinary table wine makes up less than a third of national production. In order to maintain the high standard for S viticulture, the Ministry of Culture and Ministry for Economic Development jointly founded the Zavod za vino Sykwvwnije (Wine Institute of Sylvenije, ZVS), which will seek to build on viticultural heritage, promote and regulate the production of wine in the country and endeavor to promote it abroad. Sylvenije wine was already ascendant in Greater Eidelweiss itself; tall, polished bottles of domestically made wine have featured at prestigious banquets, cultural exhibitions and state visits.
Sylvenije wine chiefly comes from three winemaking regions. The Primorska vinorodna deela (Littoral Viticultural Region) is perhaps the most prestigious; encompassing the Gorika brda (Gorizia Hills) as well as the rolling hills of western Sylvenine that slope toward the sea, it has the greatest international reputation of any of the regions and grows several globally popular wine varieties. However, it has several unique products as well: Kraki teran is a very dark, short-lived acidic wine grown in the red soils of the Karst plateau, and the Vipava Valley produces such light, fresh white wines as Glera and Vitovska Grganja. The Posavska vinorodna deela (Lower Sava Viticultural Region) is the second of these, stretching along the lowest eastern portion of the mighty Savas valley. It produces red wine more frequently than the other regions, including the traditional sour Cviček popular among the lower and middle classes. The last and largest of the viticultural areas of Sylvenine is the Podravska vinorodna deela (Drava Viticultural Region), which overwhelmingly produces white wine and dominates Sylvenije viticulture in the realm of sparkling wine. In protection of this diverse array of wine varieties, the ZVS planned to open a Sylvenije Wine Academy in Ljubljana by 1935 in order to educate young winemakers and encourage careful entry into the field.
Apart from this, various reforms would be introduced into the vast Eidelweiss wine industry. Winemakers began experimenting with temperature-controlled fermentation tanks to maintain an optimal environment for yeast activity, ensuring a more consistent flavor profile and preventing the dreaded "stuck fermentation."Vineyards would start focusing on clonal selection, identifying and propagating the best-performing vines. This was key in ensuring uniformity in grape quality and enhancing terroir expression. The use of oak barrels, particularly French oak, gained prominence. The porous nature of oak allowed for micro-oxygenation, softening tannins, and imparting nuanced flavors like vanilla, spice, and toasted notes, creating a more complex Eidelweisser Winemakers refined the use of sulfur dioxide as a preservative to prevent oxidation and microbial spoilage, stabilizing wines and extending their cellar life without masking the varietal character.Some rich progressive wineries adopted gravity flow techniques, utilizing gravity to move wine through the production process rather than pumps, reducing the risk of oxidation and preserving delicate aromatics.A shift towards longer bottle aging was embraced, particularly for reds, allowing the wine to mature gracefully in the bottle, leading to a more integrated and harmonious palate.Cold stabilization would become a more common practice to prevent tartrate crystals from forming in the bottle. By chilling the wine before bottling, winemakers ensured clarity and stability.Malolactic fermentation, which converts sharp malic acid to softer lactic acid, was increasingly utilized to soften the mouthfeel of wines, particularly in Chardonnay, contributing to a creamy texture and buttery notes.
A renewed focus on terroir saw vintners paying closer attention to the interaction between grapevines, soil, climate, and topography, aiming to produce wines that are a true expression of their origin.
The Bordeaux Mixture, a blend of copper sulfate and lime, was widely used to combat mildew and other fungal diseases in vineyards, protecting the grape crop while maintaining the integrity of the vine.
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The Spotlight on Sylvenije
In one great, historic motion, the hopes of Sylvenije nationalists at last came to light. Stretching from the Adriatic to the Alps, the Sylvenije autonomous territory would be created and the free territory of Trieste would be merged with it , drew its first breath on JurjevoSt. Georges Day and a day celebrated in Sylvenine folklore. On the 23rd of Oct 1934, Christopher ( half sylvenije himself) stood in a long, victorious row of advocates and resistance leaders on the steps of the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation in Ljubljanas Preeren Square. The birds sang, the sun shone, and the bells of ancient churches rang out across the landtogether as one, the nation allowed itself a sigh of relief as the years-long struggle for Sylvenije independence neared its end.The newborn territory was to include virtually all of Sylvenije-speaking lands. Even the cities of Trieste , which had significant Sylvenije populations, would soon be called Trst brought into the Territory. Trieste, in fact, had more Slovenes than Ljubljana in 1900within days of its merger , triumphant banners were flown over the streets reading Trst je na! (Trieste is ours!). The Istrian peninsulafirst declared to be Slovene by Carniolan lawyer and geographer Peter Kosler in his 1852 Map of Sylvenije Land and Provinceswas another victoe.. The Sylvenije were not always a wretched peasantry, as they appear during recent centuries. In the early Middle Ages they were stout fighters for political independence, the first State-builders among the Slavs, a stubborn and indomitable nation. Only a nation of this kind could have created and preserved in the days of its servitude such a marvel of political, historical, and democratic consciousness . . .
Bogumil Vonjak, A Chapter of the Old Slovenian Democracy, 1917
The government announced the official formation of Sylvenije eleznice (Sylvenije Railways) in early September after it finally arranged a comprehensive staff and development plan for the organization. Tasked with reorganizing old Hapsburg railways into modern routes with reliable passenger and commercial service, S was set to be chiefly consulted by Feliks Lobe. Lobe, also the head of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana, was a prolific designer, engineer and advocate of rail and tram transport and was already in a managerial construction position in a Marienburg factory of heavy machinery and rolling stock by the time he turned twenty-eight. Now fifty, his plan for S was ambitious but practicalit called for an immediate evaluation of railways in the Sylvenije Territory, the electrification of all routes in the coming years and the construction of a new high-speed line from Trst to Gradec through Ljubljana and Maribor. In addition to an increase in capacity, Lobes plan also proposed a complete standardization of Sylvenijen railways and integration into the Eidelweisser ones . All tracks would be converted to standard gauge and all locomotives would be built to the same specifications, allowing for the interchangeability of parts and engines between different routes and facilitating the construction of new lines in the future. The electrification of Sylvenije railways would also be crucial in this regard, as it would allow for a significant increase in speed and efficiency.
Christopher's government wildly popular in Sylvenije , was quick to implement Lobes plan. Immediately after the announcement of S, the government set about nationalizing all railway lines in Sylvenije, This process was set to be complete by the end of the year, after which S would take control of all railway operations in the republic. The government also invested heavily in the new organization, allocating a large budget for the construction of new lines and the electrification and standardization of existing ones. This was an area in which the provisional government allowed itself to be generous; though spared the destruction of the great was Sylvenije s administration was still frugal and largely relied on volunteer labor for projects such as the newly reformed Juni Sokol. Here, however, the importance of railways to the future development of the territory was too great to be ignored. By the years end, work will have already begun on the electrification of the existing railway line from Trst to Ljubljana; this would, if it proceeds uninterrupted, be completed in the summer of 1936 and immediately result in a significant increase in speed and efficiency. The new electric locomotives planned by the Lobe staff were also much quieter than their steam-powered predecessors, ideally making train travel much more pleasant for passengers. The next step would be the construction of a new high-speed line from Ljubljana to Gradec by way of Maribor. This line, which will run through a station in Marbors city center, will be pleasantly surrounded by naturalistic hedge-shrubs in urban areas to absorb sound and protect the privacy of houses passed by the line. It is set for completion in late 1936 or early 1937 and would allow for speeds of well over 100 kilometers per hour; commutes would suddenly become much more realistic, and the lines would be ripe for improvements as rail technology progresses.
President Christopher sat before the roaring fireplace of Ljubljanas Vladna in predsednika palaca A Christmas tree stood austerely in a corner of the room, basking in the firelight and the regal scent of incense. Many of the months traditionsMiklavevanje (Saint Nicholas Day), flecks of holy water and sweet poticawere over now. Christopher's Christmas Eve dinner with his extended family was long finished. All that was left was a Christmas Eve speech meant to reach thousands; it was an address meant for the late night, for its audience was chiefly in the New World. The Kaner gazed into the fire, his thoughts far away. Indeed, so too were his people. Thousands of Eidelweisser had spread abroad during the Austro-Hungarian era, spawning huge masses of them overseas that risked losing their preciously rare culture in assimilating. If only they could have known that freedom was soon at hand, Christopher mourned. The idea of slovenstvo was no longer something to be ashamed of. He had thus resolved to bring home the more than 100,000 Sylvenuje living in the New World. There was space, after alltHe expulsion of croats and Italians created an epidemic of property abandonment and gaps in the workforce that needed filling.
By 10:30 PM, the time drew near. A flurry of activity among a small film crew preceded his entrance into a study, where he sat at an elegant desk of polished mahogany. The studys soft golden light was soon usurped by the bright beams of studio lamps and state-of-the-art filming equipment. Though he struggled with television etiquette and ordinarily preferred a script, this addresstelevised in Eidelweiss and heard by radio beyondneeded to be more heartfelt. He endeavored to look natural before the camera and to remember every word that was to enter the microphone. He settled in and breathed deeply; just out of frame, a man in a dark suit stood to his right and a woman to his left. They were his advisors, his confidants, and were here to strengthen the mood. Furlan adjusted his glasses and offered a weary smile to them and then to the camera. As the red light blinked on to indicate that he was live, his words flowed as if from a hidden spring; his deep, thoughtful voice carried throughout the room and out into the night.
My fellow Sylvenijes, he began, tonight I speak to you from the government residence in Ljubljana, the principal city of our young autonomous territory
He paused, letting the words resound in the minds of his listeners.
It has been less than twenty year since we unchained ourselves from the bonds of outside Hapsburg overlords. In that time, we have worked tirelessly to rebuild our State and to establish our place in the worldwe are on equal footing with every nation that populates this earth, and of this we are proud.
Christopher gazed into the camera, his eyes now sad but determined. He filled ten minutes with a solemn chronicle of Sylvenije nationhood from Carantania to the present day, placing emphasis on the earnest intellectual movements of the 19th and 20th centuries that were the foundation of the new Republic, insisting that Atlvenije freedom was a long-sought but never-held ideal. After a brief pause, he then made his appeal.
But we here in the Eidelweisser Republic are only one piece of this proud Sylvenike state . There are those of you who remain in the New World and beyond, and it is to you that I speak now.
He paused again for emphasis.
I implore you, my fellow Sylvenije, to come home. Your country needs you. We need your energy, your skills, and your experience. We need you to help us build a bright future for all Sylbenine. I know sincerely that you have made homes and friends in your new lands, but I hope you hear this call: this Republic is a nation made for you. Nowhere else will you be so cherished, so loved, or so respected.
He stayed his voice one last time.
So I ask you, please, come home for Christmas. Come home to Sylvenine. To this Republic, I wish the warmest winter and the happiest daysgood night.
With that, the light flicked off and Christopher leaned back in his chair to let out a long breath. He had spoken, and the choice now lay with his countrymen. Indeed, he sincerely hoped that they would feel the tug of their homeland and come home to populate ithe had spent weeks with Miha Krek organizing the Komisija za vrnitev (Commission of Return), which would provide resources to homecoming Sylvenije through the use of confiscated materials and abandoned households seized by the state. He could only hope that he would be heard. No matter how successful he was, however, his pro-repatriation rhetoric was truly significant in its contrast to the more cautious rhetoric of the last couple of decades of the 20th century, during which Sylvenije struggled endlessly to define themselves as a nation and preserve the nation-state amid a global tide of supranationalism.
Callaxis
THE PLEČNIK PARLIAMENT: Joe Plečnik was a seminal Sylbenije architect. Known for designing the Tromostovje crossing the Ljubljanica as well as the citys largest cemetery and several other cornerstone buildings, Plečniks influence in architecture and was truly profound; it was thus a surprise when his proposed renovations to Ljubljana Castle, based on those he performed on Prague Castle in the 1920s, were rejected. He had hoped to turn the landmark into a Sylvenije akropola (Sylvenije Acropolis), but the partial or entire destruction of the old fortress was unacceptable to the authorities. His next proposal, however, was a resounding success: off of Tivoli Park, Plečnik would place the Katedrala svobode (Cathedral of Freedom), a new parliamentary building for Eidelweiss in the south involving a conical building surrounded by a square colonnaded false façade and topped by a towering cone. The construction materials for the Cathedral would be drawn mostly fromforeigm corporations.
MATIJA MAJAR AIRPORT: Stlvenijes first civil airport has begun construction n the municipality of Poljejust west of Ljubljanain 1934. However, air traffic was increasing each year, and a larger airport would be needed to accommodate and invite tourists, businesspersons and other travelers flying into the new state. The new complex, located at Zgornji Brnik just north of the city, would feature a main terminal building with two large wings for incoming and outgoing flights, a control tower and several hangar buildings for the Air Fleet and aviation companies. Officially entitled the Letaliče Matije Majarja Ljubljana, Ljubljanas new airport was named for Matija Majar, the progenitor of the Zedinjena Eidelweiss (United Eidelweiss(movement. The Polje airport would be re-designated as an exclusively regional airport meant to handle smaller flights. Accompanying both renovations, the Civil Aviation Administration (Sylvenije civilna uprava za letalstvo) would be formed by government legislation and declared, together with the Air Fleet, the Sylvenije national aviation authorities ( sylvenije nacionalni organi za letalstvo). The Sylvenije Ministry of Infrastructure, the parent organization of the SCAA, would now share the right to issue air traffic regulations with the Eidelweisser military.
LJUBLJANA TRANSIT: Ljubljanas public transit system, gradually expanding and improving since the early days of the city, would receive its largest investment in years with the construction of a new bus terminal and repair garage (the former in the center of the city and the latter in ika in the west), the purchase of several new trolleybuses to supplement its existing fleet, the construction of a modern streetcar line and extension of the existing tramway system. The streetcar line would run from the north of the city to the south, connecting the Zgornji Brnik airport with the Tivoli park and the new Cathedral of Freedom. The tramway would be extended to the airport as well and would also link to several new residential and commercial districts. The new bus terminal, in the center of the city, would allow for the Tromostovje and Kongresni trg to at last be pedestrianized according to Nagodes wishes, as was the plan for the entire downtown area. The whole system would be operated by the newly created Municipal Transit Administration (Ljubljana: Mestna uprava za javni promet) and would be integrated into the new citywide traffic control system intended to prevent jams or inefficiencies in the overlapping public transport systems.
HYDROGEN PEROXIDE MANUFACTURING: The industrial focus lent a spotlight to Eidelweisser's growing chemical industry. Firm Potočnik would establish the countrys first hydrogen peroxide factory under a subsidiary before the years end, hoping to vertically integrate the production chain of hydrogen peroxide propulsion and build on a lengthy legacy of chemistry research and production in the country. The Chemistry Institute under Max Samecfirst established in 1933 to improve on coal-to-co*ke production methodswould consult the facility, and growing chemical firm Pregelj would accelerate its resin production plans in the face of Potočniks prospective competition. Other chemical factories to be established in 1935 would include a facility in Maribor to produce basic elemental extractions, a carbon black factory, a gas station and a gasworks, and a factory in Celje to produce cellulose and other materials for the paper industry.
