The Rise of German empire

"Your Royal Highness, now that we are partners, I truly wish to understand how you plan to compete with Mauser and Rheinmetall in terms of small arms? You know, Mauser's Mauser 1898 rifle is the German Army's standard issue." Gustav Krupp asked, his curiosity piqued.

For a long time, Mauser and Rheinmetall have dominated the small arms market for the German Army. Many companies had attempted to challenge them, but none had succeeded. Even Krupp, as large as it was in heavy arms, couldn't match their strength in the light weapons sector.

"Of course, Mr. Krupp. I never hide anything from my partners," Oscar replied with a smile, knowing full well that Gustav Krupp was skeptical about whether Deutsche Arms could really challenge Mauser and Rheinmetall. After all, these were formidable competitors, and the road ahead would be difficult.

Oscar set his briefcase aside and took out a stack of design blueprints. These were the weapons and equipment he had personally designed, with the key specifications clearly marked.

Gustav Krupp peered at the designs, his eyes widening in astonishment.

"I believe the firepower of our current infantry squads is too weak. Although the army is equipped with the MG08 heavy machine gun, it weighs 69 kilograms and requires multiple men to carry it. It cannot effectively support infantry on the frontlines. Thus, our army requires lighter and more powerful squad firepower. This weapon, which I call a light machine gun, is designed to be carried by infantry squads," Oscar explained.

The light machine gun, though based on the Czech design, was simple and reliable, perfect for mass production. While it wasn't the most advanced machine gun, its utility would be unrivaled, especially in combat scenarios where infantry units needed enhanced support fire.

"Each infantry squad equipped with a machine gun? That would make our army's firepower overwhelming!" Gustav Krupp gasped, imagining the effect of such a shift in tactical doctrine.

"Exactly," Oscar nodded, "A light machine gun in every squad will dramatically increase our offensive and defensive capabilities. With strong firepower, our forces can inflict maximum casualties on the enemy at minimal cost."

Oscar recalled the brutal trench warfare of World War I, where machine guns were the ultimate tool for dominating the battlefield. The importance of firepower was clear—whether attacking or defending, machine guns were the key to victory.

Gustav flipped to the next design page, and his eyes locked onto the new weapon—a larger, more menacing machine gun.

"This is the general-purpose machine gun," Oscar continued. "It's lighter than the MG08 by nearly two-thirds, but its firepower is even stronger. Although it's still too heavy for individual infantrymen, a dedicated machine gun team can carry it, and it will be able to provide support during infantry assaults."

The design mirrored the MG34, a machine gun that would become a cornerstone of German infantry tactics in future conflicts. Oscar knew that if Deutsche Arms could manufacture such a weapon, it would quickly replace the obsolete MG08 across the army, bringing in a massive order.

Gustav Krupp's eyes gleamed with excitement. The potential of these two machine guns alone meant Deutsche Arms would be a key player in the arms industry, particularly if they could secure the army's contracts.

Next came designs for rifles—a semi-automatic rifle and a sniper rifle. The Mauser 1898 was a solid weapon, but its rate of fire was too slow for modern warfare. Oscar's designs aimed to change that by offering infantry superior firepower.

"Imagine the impact of semi-automatic rifles in every squad," Oscar mused. "The rate of fire would give our troops an undeniable advantage, especially when facing entrenched enemies. As for snipers, their ability to eliminate key targets—like officers and machine gunners—will be invaluable. The sniper rifle will become a weapon of choice for precision kills."

Oscar also introduced designs for mortars and grenades. Mortars, although not a new concept, had not been fully embraced or developed by the German Army. The designs for 60mm light mortars, 81mm medium mortars, and 120mm heavy mortars would significantly enhance the army's ability to provide support fire in trench warfare.

A new innovation was a portable grenade launcher—a smaller, lighter mortar designed to be carried by a single soldier. Oscar believed that equipping every infantry squad with such a weapon would make the German Army's firepower even more overwhelming.

Gustav Krupp's admiration for Oscar grew with each page he turned. Oscar's ability to innovate was unquestionable, and his designs demonstrated an acute understanding of what would make a modern army unstoppable. The sheer firepower these weapons would bring to the battlefield would make the German infantry formidable, capable of overwhelming any opposition with sheer force.

"With these weapons, the German Army's firepower will be unmatched," Gustav said, looking at Oscar with a new sense of awe. "Deutsche Arms will become a giant in the arms industry, and with your expertise, we will succeed."

Oscar smiled confidently. "This is just the beginning. With Krupp's technological resources and Deutsche Arms' strategic position, we will revolutionize warfare and secure Germany's future."

Gustav Krupp knew that this partnership, based on Oscar's vision and Krupp's manufacturing capabilities, would not only bring wealth and power to both sides, but it would reshape the future of military technology. The road ahead was filled with potential, and they were just getting started.