Re: Blood and Iron

Chapter 141: Volkswagen Type I

 n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Over the years, Bruno had made his best attempts to take advantage of his reincarnation in every way possible. Since as early as 1901, Bruno had begun investing in a wide variety of industries and fields across the world's foremost powers.

To put it simply, he owned the land, resources, and means of production, either in part or totality, to produce just about anything his mind could conceive on this earth.

As a result of this, Bruno's wealth would soon, in the coming decades, begin to match that of those legendary figures who had built their fortunes in the previous century such as John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie.

While not quite on their level at the moment, Bruno was certainly not hurting for money. And was free to invest as he saw fit. Because of this, he had invested heavily in the automotive industry both in the United States and the German Reich.

Bruno had little interference in the matters of corporations such as Ford Motors, GMC, and all the other major American automotive corporations that would become global names in the distant future. Rather, his means as a shareholder were simply to acquire wealth for the future when these companies peaked in value.

But on the German side, he had been busy working towards a single end. As far back as 1905, Bruno had acquired significant shares in the two largest German Automotive Corporations of the era. Daimler, Motors Corporation, and Benz & Cie. He compelled the two that year to merge under the banner of Daimler-Benz. Something that would not normally occur until 1926 without his interference.

The result of this merger was that the price of automobiles in the German Reich, which were until very recently hand crafted, and sold exclusively to the wealthy elites of society, began to drop as the two biggest manufacturers of automobiles in the German Reich consolidated their assets and personnel into one major company.

However, that simply wasn't good enough for Bruno, as the idea of the middle class, or even the lower-class obtaining automobiles, was still the fever dream of a madman. Luckily for the hardworking people of the German Reich, Bruno had long since begun making preparations towards this "fantasy."

Having acquired the land to build a brand-new state-of-the-art automobile factory as far back as 1903, Bruno had been in his own spare time setting up a corporation meant to bring to the market the world's first mass-produced automobile. One designed to be sold to the masses, rather than the wealthy elite.

If Daimler-Benz automobiles were a luxury that only the rich could afford. Then Bruno's new corporation would be producing cars for the average man and his family. Which was perhaps why he had stolen a name for this company from his past life.

As a result of Bruno's interference in this new timeline. Something rather miraculous occurred. In the year 1907, Volkswagen had produced its first automobile, the Volkswagen Type 1. It was marketed to the middle class, who were all astounded not only by the affordable price tag but also by the revolutionary and "futuristic" design.

Normally, had the timeline progressed as it was fated to, without Bruno's interference, Henry Ford would a year from now revolutionize the automotive industry by introducing new production methods such as the assembly line to bring down costs of his vehicles. Making them affordable for the middle class and forever changing the landscape of transportation within the world.

However, Bruno had already long since planned to usurp this achievement in the annals of human history, instead of having established the Volkswagen corporation for this very purpose. He had more recently decided to interfere with military logistics by designing a truck towards this end. But the civilian market had been a goal of his for many years now.

Hence, Bruno was currently standing in his Volkswagen factory gazing upon the final product, as it was brought to life by the many laborers in his employ. What he was staring at wasn't the most beautiful car to ever grace the earth, nor was it the most luxurious. In fact, it was a rather simple automobile by the standards of the era it was from.

However, when compared to everything else on the market in 1907, other than perhaps the latest models produced and sold by Daimler-Benz, it was beyond revolutionary in design. Bruno placed his hand on the black paint of the vehicle and wore a proud smile.

Not only had his efforts in establishing this corporation come to pass, but the efforts of every man in his employ had done so as well. From the lowest factory worker, to the mid-level marketing agents, to the highest corporate executive who largely ran the company in Bruno's stead.

Everything had progressed smoothly, until today. A mass-produced automobile for the masses had been manufactured. It was the first of many to come off the assembly line today. And shockingly enough, as Bruno turned around to congratulate the factory workers on their exemplary accomplishment, they handed him the keys to the ignition.

The factory foreman stood with a wide smile on his average face, as he told Bruno that the first Type I to ever come off of the assembly line was his to own. Something that almost warmed Bruno's otherwise ice-cold heart.

"Sir, the workers and I have been talking it through. And we even discussed it with the executives. What you are looking at is your vision come into life. Everyone here at the Volkswagen company thinks you should be the one to own this vehicle. Would you honor us by accepting this gift?"

Technically speaking, until every single one of these cars sold, they were Bruno's property. But the thought was quite the gift itself. And since Bruno would soon own an estate that could house many vehicles in its massive garage, Bruno saw no reason to decline the heartwarming offer.

In fact, he placed his hand on the foreman's shoulder and thanked the man, as well as his workers, before assuring them they would all be proud owners of Volkswagen automobiles soon enough.

"Thank you. It is truly an exceptional gift. In fact, I was already planning to give you all the first vehicles to come off the line. Your hard work has made my vision manifest, and I would be nothing but ungrateful not to reward you all for your efforts! In addition to this, I will be handing out generous bonuses to each of you for all of your efforts that have seen this dream of ours become a reality!

Here, at Volkswagen, you can all have a career you can be proud of. Because this company, and all of your labor, will change the German Reich for the better. It is the dawn of a new era, and you are all pioneers along with me for the journey!"

Bruno would, of course, live up to his promise, giving out very generous bonuses to the workers, especially once the sales came flooding in. They would all have very long and prosperous careers at the Volkswagen Corporation, which was officially under Bruno's sole

ownership.

Soon enough, the Type I Beetle would be flooding the streets of every major German City. As Bruno had single-handedly revolutionized the automotive industry. Not only by bringing down costs via ownership of every facet of production, but also by introducing assembly lines, something which Henry Ford would have otherwise become known for in the following

year.

Naturally, this major shift in transportation did not take away from the other means of transportation, but it did in fact increase the need for oil production. Which would in turn also play into Bruno's profits as oil and natural gas from lands he owned in German Kamerun, and the Russian Empire would soon begin flooding into the German Reich. Either by sea, railway, or of course by pipeline. All of which Bruno had already begun investing in. The dawn of the age of oil had only truly just begun as a result of Bruno's efforts. And the full fruit of which would be revealed on the battlefield when the time for the Great

War to begin finally arrived.

Bruno could only now sit back and admire how all of his efforts were converging together to support his interests. Still, he would not grow complacent. To do so would bring ruin upon himself, his family, and the fatherland.

One must remain ever vigilant, and perhaps even the slightest bit paranoid, if they were in Bruno's shoes. Enemies lurked around every corner, and it would take only the slightest slip up to end his life, and in doing so, revert the course of fate back to its natural progression. Something which Bruno could never allow, for if he did so, then all of his efforts up to this point would have been for nought. And if that were to occur, then what was the purpose of his reincarnation, if not simply God mocking him for even bothering to try?