Kurt von Schleicher is one of the main antagonists in Kaiserreich: Legacy of the Wletkrieg. He is a German politician who is now serving as the current Minister of War and potential Reich Chancellor.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Kurt Ferdinand Friedrich Hermann von Schleicher was born on April 7, 1882 in Brandenburg an der Havel, in the heart of Prussia, into a noble family with a long military tradition. His father, Hermann Friedrich Ferdinand von Schleicher, was a career Prussian officer, while his mother, Magdalena Heyn, came from a wealthy East Prussian shipping family. He grew up with his older sister Thusnelda and younger brother Ludwig-Ferdinand in an atmosphere steeped in discipline, patriotism and devotion to service to the German Empire. From a young age, Kurt displayed a keen intelligence, a talent for strategy and a pragmatic personality that contrasted with the rigidity of many of his aristocratic contemporaries.
In 1896, at the age of 14, he entered the Hauptkadettenanstalt in Lichterfelde, near Berlin, a prestigious military academy that trained the future officers of the Prussian elite. There he stood out for his analytical skills and ability to forge alliances, forging lasting friendships with figures such as Oskar von Hindenburg, son of the future Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, and Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord, who would later become a key ally. In 1900, after graduating, he was commissioned as a Leutnant (lieutenant) in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, where his professionalism and charisma earned him the respect of his superiors.
Between 1906 and 1909, Schleicher served as adjutant of his regiment's rifle battalion, demonstrating exceptional organizational skills. Promoted to Oberleutnant in 1909, he was selected to study at the Prussian Military Academy, where he met Franz von Papen, another young officer with whom he would share a complex relationship in the future. During this period, Schleicher became interested in the connections between the military and politics, influenced by Wilhelm Groener, an instructor who advocated greater integration between the armed forces and civil society. After graduating in 1913, he was assigned to the General Staff in the Railway Department, a position that, although technical, allowed him to become familiar with military logistics and to establish contacts with influential officers such as Wilhelm Groener, who became his mentor.
Weltkrieg[]
When the Weltkrieg broke out in 1914, Schleicher with the rank of Hauptmann (captain), obtained in December 1913, was assigned to the General Staff in the Oberste Heeresleitung (OHL, Supreme Army Command), under the leadership of Erich von Falkenhayn and, later, Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff. His initial role focused on the coordination of supplies for the frontline forces, a crucial task in a war of attrition that demanded impeccable logistics. Schleicher demonstrated an exceptional ability to mediate between the needs of the front and the limitations of the rear, earning the confidence of Groener, who recommended him for tasks of greater responsibility.
In 1916, during the Battle of Verdun, Schleicher drafted a memorandum denouncing the excessive profits of industrialists during the war, advocating state intervention to limit speculation and improve workers' conditions. This document, which circulated in Berlin political circles, won him the unexpected backing of the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD) and positioned him as an officer with a modern outlook, although his intention was more pragmatic than ideological: to ensure internal stability to sustain the war effort. His stance put him at odds with Ludendorff, who viewed with suspicion any criticism of the military establishment, resulting in a brief transfer to the army press department in 1917.
However, Groener's arrival at the Kriegsamt (Supreme War Office) in November 1916 allowed Schleicher to return to an active role. As Groener's deputy, he participated in the management of the war economy, negotiating directly with union leaders to prevent strikes and ensure armament production. These experiences reinforced his belief in the need for close cooperation between the army, government and civil society, an idea that would shape his later career. During the final offensive of 1919, known as the Frühjahrsoffensive, Schleicher coordinated key logistical tasks that facilitated the German advance toward Paris, contributing to the German Empire's victory in the Weltkrieg. His performance earned him the Iron Cross Second Class and recognition as a staff officer of great potential.
Postwar/Interwar Period[]
After the victory in the Weltkrieg and the signing of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, which consolidated German hegemony in Europe, Schleicher found himself in a triumphant German Empire but facing new challenges. Promoted to Major, he was assigned to the Ministry of Defense, where he worked under Groener, now Minister of Defense (1920-1923). His main task was to strengthen relations between the army and the civilian government, a mission complicated by tensions between the monarchy, the Junker aristocracy and the political parties in the Reichstag. Schleicher was noted for his ability to navigate these troubled waters, using his network of contacts and his talent for intrigue.
In 1920, during an attempted uprising by units of the People's Maritime Division in Berlin, Schleicher acted as liaison between the Chancellor and the Minister of Defense, Gustav Noske, coordinating the suppression of the mutiny. This episode reinforced his reputation as a man capable of resolving crises effectively, although it also earned him criticism for his willingness to use force against civilians. Between 1920 and 1923, Schleicher oversaw the reorganization of the Freikorps, paramilitary units that protected the Empire's eastern borders, especially in East Prussia, against possible Polish incursions. His support for these forces reflected his vision of an army integrated with popular elements, although their brutality generated controversy.
The Black Monday crisis of 1925, an economic collapse that shook the Berlin stock exchange, marked a turning point for Schleicher. Frustrated by the government's tepid response and the growing influence of the SPD, he began to articulate a more authoritarian vision for Germany, inspired by his experience during the Weltkrieg. He believed that the Empire needed strong leadership to unify the nation in the face of internal (socialism) and external (the French Commune) threats. In 1926, he was promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel) and assigned to the General Staff, where he worked with Hans von Seeckt on the modernization of the Heer, although his differences with Seeckt over the role of the army in politics led him to maneuver to replace him with Groener in 1927.
Amassing Influence[]
The 1920s and early 1930s was the period in which Schleicher consolidated his power behind the scenes, becoming one of the most influential figures in the German Empire. After Seeckt's departure, Schleicher assumed control of the Ministeramt, an office created under Groener to coordinate relations between the army, the government and the political parties. From this post, he wove a web of espionage and leaks that allowed him to manipulate public opinion and put pressure on his rivals. His ability to operate in the shadows earned him the nickname “gray eminence” among Berlin's political circles.
In 1929, promoted to Generalmajor, Schleicher became close to Crown Prince Wilhelm, the future Wilhelm III, cultivating a relationship that would give him influence over the monarchy. He also forged alliances with industrialists such as Alfred Hugenberg and conservative politicians such as Franz von Papen, whom he saw as a manipulable ally. His vision for Germany, known as the Wehrstaat (military state), proposed a society organized around the army, with a planned economy and an authoritarian government that would integrate the working classes without yielding to the democratic demands of the SPD. This idea, although controversial, gained adherents among officers who feared the decline of the Empire after Black Monday.
In 1931, Schleicher was appointed Prussia's Minister of War, a post which, although traditionally administrative, he transformed into a platform of power. From there, he pushed for reforms to modernize the Heer, including the professionalization of the Luftstreitkräfte as an independent branch and the adoption of mobile warfare tactics inspired by the Weltkrieg. His influence grew during the Lubahn Lake crisis in October 1934, when he maneuvered to remove the chief of the General Staff, Otto von Below, replacing him with his ally Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord. He also played a key role in the appointment of Herbert von Dirksen as Imperial Chancellor, consolidating his control over military and civilian policy.
Minister of War[]
As Prussian Minister of War, a position he held in 1936 and retained for years to come, Schleicher positioned himself as the architect of the German Empire's preparation for a Second Weltkrieg. His vision transformed the ministry into a power center rivaling the Chancellor himself. Aware of the threat of the French Commune and the Union of Britain, Schleicher advocated massive militarization, overseeing the construction of the Hindenburg Line on the western border and the expansion of the Kaiserliche Marine to challenge the syndicalist Royal Navy.
Schleicher implemented the Polizeiaufgabengesetz, a law that integrated police forces into the military structure, creating a national militia that reinforced the government's control over the population. He also promoted collaboration with the military-industrial complex, securing contracts for companies such as Krupp and Siemens, which revitalized the economy but generated criticism for favoritism. His relationship with the SPD, although tense, was pragmatic: he allowed certain labor reforms to avoid strikes, but repressed any attempt at socialist radicalization.
Politically, Schleicher became a direct rival of Franz von Papen, whom he considered weak and indecisive. In 1937, during the Reichstag elections, Schleicher maneuvered to weaken the parliamentary coalitions, positioning himself as a “Kaiser-loyal” alternative to political instability. His closeness to Wilhelm III, after the death of Wilhelm II in 1941, allowed him to consolidate his influence, although his ambition to centralize power in an authoritarian regime generated resistance among the traditional conservatives and the SPD. In 1945, with the Empire on the brink of a new global conflict, Schleicher remained a polarizing figure, admired for his cunning but feared for his willingness to sacrifice democracy in the name of national security.
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