The railway from Wilhelmshaven to Berlin was filled with the sound of military trains. Over eighteen thousand officers and soldiers from the Imperial Navy's 1st Marine Division, along with their equipment, boarded five special trains and made their way from Wilhelmshaven to Berlin.
Their orders were clear: a rebellion had erupted in Berlin, and the life of His Majesty the Emperor was under threat. Their mission was to secure the surrounding transportation routes upon arrival in Berlin, seize the railway station, and await reinforcements from the 9th Corps.
In the first-class carriage of one of the military trains, a young commander was deep in the strategic deployment. This was Major General Alexander Linsingen, the commander of the 1st Marine Division.
As the first Marine division ever formed by the Navy, the 1st Marine Division was equipped with the finest resources and subjected to the most rigorous training. As a result, it was the most formidable of the five Marine divisions. Though it was part of the Navy, its equipment rivaled that of the army's main infantry divisions. Moreover, the division was also equipped with an armored battalion, boasting more than twenty tanks.
"General, according to the intelligence we have received, the rebels have evidently gained full control of Berlin. The Imperial Palace and other key transportation hubs in the city have already fallen into their hands. Most concerning is that His Majesty the Emperor and other important figures are likely already taken hostage by the rebels. If we launch an attack hastily, we fear the rebels might harm the hostages," one of his staff officers reported.
"For now, we know little about the rebels' actual strength or their plans. The Crown Prince is on his way back to Berlin. Once he arrives, we will follow his orders directly. In the meantime, we will secure the outer positions of Berlin and the railway station," Major General Linsingen replied.
He held great respect for Prince QinTian, who had proposed the creation of the Marine Corps. Were it not for the establishment of the Marine Corps, Linsingen would likely still be serving as a mere colonel. It was this very creation that had earned him a promotion. Originally, he had thought that after completing the invasion of Britain, another promotion might come his way. But now, the opportunity had come much sooner than expected. Before even setting foot on British soil, he was already poised to earn a battle commendation.
Linsingen was not worried in the slightest about the rebels occupying Berlin. While the Imperial Guard was touted as the army's most elite unit, in truth, it had not seen any combat for many years. Without the tempering of battle, what could they truly claim as "elite"? Furthermore, their equipment was outdated. Without the pressing need for real combat, their military hardware had naturally not been updated as frequently as that of the frontline combat units.
Thanks to the well-developed rail network, the 1st Marine Division reached Berlin in just one day. However, because the Imperial Guard had set up roadblocks, they could not enter the city directly. The trains stopped at a small station some ten kilometers from Berlin.
"Disembark immediately, prepare within the hour, and march on to Berlin!" Major General Linsingen commanded.
"Yes, General," the officers of the 1st Marine Division replied, as they disembarked. The soldiers filed out of the carriages and began to form ranks, while various types of equipment were unloaded from the trains. Count von Tirpitz had already stationed a large number of trucks nearby, ready for use.
By 7 AM, the 1st Marine Division began its assault on Berlin.
Despite the significant number of Imperial Guards stationed in Berlin, they were scattered across various locations. Faced with the aggressive assault of the 1st Marine Division, they were unable to mount any meaningful resistance due to the haste with which they had to respond.
The real fighting broke out around Berlin's railway station. The Imperial Guard had stationed two battalions there, fully aware that if the station fell, reinforcements loyal to Prince QinTian could easily arrive via train.
In an effort to minimize damage to the station, the 1st Marine Division refrained from using heavy artillery in their assault. After all, though Berlin had been occupied by the rebels, many innocent civilians still lived within the city.
As soon as the sound of gunfire echoed through the streets, panic spread among the citizens of Berlin.
"Rat-a-tat-tat!"
Heavy machine guns opened fire as the Imperial Guards stationed at the barricades outside the railway station unleashed a torrent of bullets to repel the Marine Division's advance.
However, as soon as Major General Linsingen decisively committed the armored battalion to the fray, the Imperial Guard's defenses crumbled. The Imperial Guard, lacking tanks and anti-tank weapons, stood little chance against the Marine Division's armored vehicles. After all, if Berlin, deep within the heart of the Empire, was vulnerable to an armored assault, it was clear that Germany's defeat was imminent. In such a case, there would be little need to equip the army with anti-tank weapons.
This, however, was disastrous news for those behind the rebellion.
The Imperial Guards stationed at the railway station could only hold out for half an hour before collapsing under the relentless attack of the 1st Marine Division. Most of the guardsmen from the two battalions surrendered, while a few others fled.
On the railway line from Königsberg to Berlin, civilian trains had ceased running, replaced by military trains. General von Hindenburg, commander of the 9th Corps, was leading an infantry division and an armored division toward Berlin.
At that moment, General von Hindenburg wore a grim expression. The rebellion in Berlin at such a critical juncture had caught him completely off guard. However, he now found himself firmly aligned with Prince QinTian. His fate was tied to that of the Prince, and so he could not allow the rebellion to succeed, lest the position of the Crown Prince be threatened. Upon receiving the order from Prince QinTian, he immediately summoned his troops and prepared to march toward Berlin.
"Commander, the 1st Marine Division has sent word that they have secured the railway station and cleared the obstacles along the line. We can now proceed directly to the station," one of his staff officers reported.
General von Hindenburg nodded. "Good. Prepare the forces accordingly."
"By the way, when will His Highness the Crown Prince return to Berlin?" he asked.
"Commander, His Highness has already departed from France and is expected to return to Berlin by tomorrow."
"Very well. Once we arrive in Berlin, we will encircle the city and await the Crown Prince's arrival to receive further orders," General von Hindenburg replied.
"Yes, Commander," the officer replied.
After the 8th Armored Division and 101st Infantry Division of the 9th Corps arrived in Berlin, they joined forces with the 1st Marine Division, surrounding the city. All of the rebel forces were trapped inside.