Chapter 36: Bmw And Volkswagen Were Both Created By Us
After negotiating the research and development of light machine guns and submachine guns with Bergmann Company, Lelouch’s tasks in Thuringia were basically completed.
Over the next three or four days, he personally assisted Hugo Scheisser in outlining the general technical route, planning the timeline, and completing the procedures for establishing a new Bergmann subsidiary.
The new company was temporarily named “Bergmann Salzburg Industrial Co., Ltd.”, but since this was just the company name, not the brand name, it didn’t need to be too fancy, just like those various company local subsidiaries.
Bergman also asked him why he chose Salzburg, such an Ollie place name. Lelouch casually explained that Salzburg was his hometown, and Bergman didn’t object further.
As for the brand of the new company’s products, there could be more than one in the future. The first one Lelouch thought of was “Volkswagen”, because he knew that in this censored world, he had actually snatched the destiny of many people who didn’t exist.
If he, Lelouch, hadn’t created the “Volkswagen” brand, it would surely have vanished into the river of history.
Of course, Lelouch also considered that the “Volkswagen” brand seemed more suitable for vehicles, with a civilian attribute. For pure killing light weapons, it would be better to create a separate brand in the future.
After the new company was established, Hugo Scheisser quickly produced specific design plans. He promised to deliver a light machine gun prototype within half a month and a submachine gun prototype within one month. Then they began arranging small-scale trial production through machining.
With mid-December as the delivery date, Scheisser guaranteed he could provide 100 new light machine guns and 300~500 submachine guns.
While refining the specific technical plans, Scheisser also mentioned that the key challenge for the submachine gun would be fine-tuning the bolt weight—designing a bolt that wasn’t fully locked and relied entirely on spring inertia for recoil in such a short time would inevitably make it impossible to achieve the perfect weight.
This required extensive slow, meticulous trial and error; rushing it would inevitably result in a bolt that was either too light or too heavy.
If the bolt was too light, it would recoil too easily, exacerbating gas and flame leakage during bullet ignition. If too heavy, it would fail to recoil in time, causing jams during case ejection.
For this issue, Lelouch gave him a reassuring pill to absolve responsibility: since perfect fine-tuning wasn’t possible, the initial version should err on the side of a lighter bolt.
As a military enthusiast, Lelouch was all too familiar with the dangers of an overly heavy and rigid bolt causing jams—the main reason later generations rated the French Army’s Chauchat light machine gun from World War I as the worst gun in history was its overly heavy and rigid recoil mechanism.
The Chauchat even made the entire barrel rigidly recoil with the bolt, just like a recoiling cannon barrel.
The advantage was that the shooter felt less recoil, as the whole barrel recoiled backward to absorb it. But with such a large, heavy recoiling part, it often failed to cycle properly, jamming during case ejection.
Before transmigrating, Lelouch had seen Chauchat test videos on Bilibili; it jammed 4 times after 20 rounds, no wonder every French soldier in World War I called their light machine gun the world’s worst shit.
Lelouch naturally had to avoid this pitfall. Better short range and flame leakage than jams.
Only after taking this reassuring pill did Scheisser fully let loose and accelerate development.
With the end user’s low requirements and forgiveness, his efficiency was sky-high.
……
On November 12, after finishing tasks in Thuringia, Lelouch and Immelmann once again embarked on a flight to the next stop, Munich.
That was the capital of Baria Kingdom, Duke Rupprecht’s home base, and also the headquarters of Siemens Company.
This trip to Munich, Lelouch had a bunch of minor items to find contractors for, and finally needed Siemens Company to solve the lightweight and portable issues with radios—for the Storm Commando Unit, a radio light enough for an assault platoon to carry was the true essence of commando tactics, even more important than light machine guns and submachine guns.
Because only a portable radio could allow frontline troops to precisely report positions and call for artillery support, making the army’s long-range heavy artillery more flexible and efficient in use.
On the plane, Captain Immelmann, who had been staying at the guesthouse these days eating well and doing nothing, seemed a bit reluctant:
“Thuringia was so boring, that little industrial city has no places to tour. You were busy every day, getting so many good things for your Army.”
Lelouch, sitting in the back, smiled at this: “Just back in the country and I let you sleep in, yet you’re complaining. In Munich, you’ll have to find time to teach me driving and flying. And I wasn’t just benefiting the Army in Thuringia; your aviation unit can use them too.
The experimental light machine guns and submachine guns I had Bergmann Company make this time all have cooling structure issues and will need revisions later. But using these ‘defective products’ as air force versions, mounting them on your reconnaissance aircraft or hand-holding them in the sky, couldn’t be more suitable…”
Immelmann wasn’t having it upon hearing this: “So our aviation unit gets the defective products?!”
Lelouch: “What do you know! There’s no such thing as garbage in the world, only resources in the wrong place. These two guns have poor environmental compatibility on the ground, only usable in wet or cold conditions, but in air combat, it doesn’t matter—think how much wind there is when flying? Air cooling efficiency is countless times better than on the ground!
So even the crappiest cooling barrel machine gun will dissipate heat perfectly in the sky! I’d say, if planning for air combat, customize machine guns that minimize cooling structure weight, super compact and lightweight! Especially since aircraft payload is precious, go to extremes here.”
Lelouch’s words finally energized Immelmann unusually; thinking along those lines, it really made sense.
Historically, most armies’ aviation machine guns in World War I weren’t specialized; air force wasn’t professional then, so they just used ground machine guns, ignoring redundant cooling.
Someone like Lelouch who precisely grasped the tech need of “fast flight in the sky means big wind, no need for great cooling” and proposed specialization, with targeted tweaks, could achieve twice the results with half the effort!
For example, other countries’ same-weight aircraft might only carry one machine gun. With aviation-specialized lightweight versions, maybe double to two! That’s a qualitative firepower boost.
Immelmann knew his stuff and grew more excited, his admiration for Lelouch intensifying.
Immelmann sincerely said: “You’re something else, kid. I’m totally convinced now. Sigh, I used to think I was underutilized seeing you rise from NCO to captain so fast. Now I see you absolutely deserve it! In a few months, maybe field officer. For future aviation unit development, I need more of your guidance.”
Lelouch: “We’re brothers, no need to be polite. In two months, your aviation unit might see real combat. That enemy reconnaissance aircraft you shot down before—wasn’t reported for military merit, right? Enemies still don’t know we’ve tried air combat?”
Immelmann: “No report, I know priorities. Exposing prematurely before mastery only alerts the enemy. For the battle situation, I’d rather delay personal merit—that day after, within a week I got another chance to kill a French Army reconnaissance pilot with a C96 Mauser pistol.
His plane crashed too, but over our controlled area, so enemies won’t find the body or wreckage; they’ll think it was an accident. I strictly followed you, no provoking or fighting over enemy territory.”
Lelouch was very satisfied, a bit impressed: “You’re pretty patient. That’s two kills already, yet willing to be an unsung hero. Rest assured, when the Battle of Ypres starts, you’ll rack up merits galore, promote with interest all at once. I never let brothers lose out.”
Immelmann: “No empty talk. Since you’re giving ideas for the aviation unit, I won’t rip you off—previously 3,000 marks for flying and driving lessons, now total 1,000 marks. But after your light machine gun and submachine gun prototypes are ready, give me one of each to test in the sky.”
Lelouch: “Deal.”
One light machine gun and one submachine gun wouldn’t cost 2,000 marks. Plus, for brothers and early air combat tactics and feel break-in, it’s official business; the duke would approve.
With automatic weapons for air combat settled, the plane arrived in Munich.
Immelmann landed steadily; Munich’s facilities were much better than Thuringia’s, with a BMW sedan already waiting at the airport—previously this company was called BFW, mainly producing aviation engines.
But after Lelouch casually suggested to His Highness the Duke that since the company would expand beyond aircraft engines, it should rename.
The duke agreed and hinted to founders Mark Fritz and Karl Rap; they accepted, so days ago it officially renamed to BMW, i.e., Baria Engine Factory.
From this angle, Lelouch contributed to the birth of the BMW brand.
Immelmann circled the new car with great interest, observing it several times.
The bodywork was decent, decorations luxurious; engine power unknown until driven.
“How much for this car?” Immelmann always liked operating machinery and was eager to try the new one.
The Baria Royal Family steward who came to greet them calmly replied: “This car isn’t for public sale yet, just trial production for royal family and Army Group leadership.
But next door, the 4th Army Group’s Duke of Württemberg uses local Stuttgart brand Mercedes-Benz, similar spec sells for over 20,000 marks.”
Mercedes-Benz had been making cars for over 30 years; BMW was newborn, no comparison in heritage.
Immelmann was secretly stunned: “20,000 marks? At captain’s 400-mark salary, it’d take 50 months to afford!”
Lelouch sighed too, but not at the price: “Empire’s industrial products are indeed top-notch, but industrial efficiency lags. Mark, you might not know, just before war, across the ocean in Ugly Country, Henry Ford dropped a similar power and payload sedan to just over 1,000 ugly dollars, about 5,000 marks.
Meaning our one car’s cost, Ugly Country makes four. And they’re improving production lines; if we do nothing, future productivity gap widens.”
The royal steward clearly didn’t know industry outside, shocked: “Ugly Country’s industrial junk that cheap? Can a 5,000-mark car even run? Just an engine carrying a shell?”
Lelouch didn’t want to debate now, just shook his head helplessly.
Meanwhile, Immelmann got in, familiarized quickly, then drove Lelouch to the Baria Royal Family estate to settle in, visiting Siemens Company next day.
Subsequent days in Baria, Lelouch’s living standards improved greatly.
No more plane hopping; Immelmann drove the BMW prototype everywhere.
Daily fine food and luxury rides.
His Highness the Duke was generous; learning Lelouch handled Thuringia efficiently, he called to grant the BMW to Lelouch personally.
A 20,000-mark gift, given freely.
Grateful for the recognition, Lelouch pushed Siemens harder on radio lightweighting.
As the duke’s representative, he got a personal meeting with Hermann von Siemens, Munich head. But tech discussions were mainly with project manager and engineers; details omitted.
After all, Siemens Company dwarfed Bergmann, with massive civilian business; the boss was busy.
Hermann von Siemens was third generation; grandfather Werner von Siemens founder, father Arnold second gen now elderly in Berlin. Munich ops to third-gen family member; typical family business.
Siemens engineers initially found Captain Lelouch’s request unbelievable—the current FU08 low-power radio was only 70 kg, quite usable; one pack mule could carry it.
Current signal companies still highly mule-dependent, enough pack animals.
But Lelouch thought further: he needed radios infantry could backpack for fast maneuver in rough terrain.
He knew short-term electronic components or battery lightweighting impossible.
So his approach was simple and crude—original radios were integrated, not for individual carry, batteries inside. Thus, he had Siemens quickly make separated battery pack and radio body versions.
Siemens engineers calculated, then gave bad news: “Split design needs extra insulation, connection cables; structure complicates, total weight increases a few kg.”
Lelouch was direct: “Total weight increase fine, I want single-piece weight down! Worst case, split among soldiers, carry less weapons/ammo, but who carries 70 kg alone?”
Siemens engineers responded fast; after overtime, produced plan: total weight up to 75 kg from 70, but split in three: radio body 25 kg, battery pack in two 25-kg blocks.
Radio endurance halved, but swap used batteries for spares directly.
Plus, the 5 kg wasn’t wasted: extra cables, plus waterproof parts and shock-absorbing rubber pads for harsh field conditions.
Lelouch was satisfied; worst case, add one signal NCO per platoon, platoon leader/deputy and NCO carry radio and batteries,
Other 4 squads’ 60 regular soldiers carry combat weapons.
Officers carrying radio/batteries just take Mauser 20-round pistol, two grenades for self-defense; rest load freed for comms gear.
Seeing the final plan, Lelouch inwardly ranted:
Damn 1914 lead-acid battery energy density sucks!
Two 25-kg packs for a tens-of-watts radio!
Modern phones gaming at dozens of watts, yet battery weighs ounces.
……
Siemens issues not quick fixes.
Lelouch figured at least half-month in Munich, maybe trip to Nuremberg also in Baria.
While Siemens engineers worked, he learned driving and flying from Immelmann.
Pre-transmigration, Lelouch drove C1 class, including manual.
But 1914 manual cars totally different; under Immelmann’s intense training, took 3-5 days to learn driving, over ten more for basic flying.
Meanwhile, he squeezed in visits with duke-approved budget and royal stewards to scout suppliers for lower-tech gear.
Like steel helmets months before French Army, or better camouflage uniforms, basic tear gas masks.
Even German Army’s long military boots unfit for future Ypres Salient—too muddy, waist-deep water around Ypres; long boots can’t keep water out, instead trap it, rotting feet into “trench foot”, a type of athlete’s foot.
Lelouch preferred procuring short-upper high-wear thick-sole athletic shoes for soldiers, plus leather gaiters, better than long boots. Ideally like modern work safety shoes, sturdy and durable.
Among these, only steel helmets slightly tricky; others, any Munich clothing factory could handle, nothing worth detailing.
