A/N: My first Hetalia fic and, consequently, my first time writing Germany. Pre WWII, a hint of blasphemy (because I have poor self control), Nazism, Germany having an existential crisis, and a long-ass note at the end.

It goes without saying that I don't own anything.

Inferno

"They will not insult us!" The Führer exclaims to the cheering crowd of citizens. He holds his right arm angled up in the air and the crowd follows suit. After the applause dies down somewhat, the Führer turns on his heel and steps down from the stage to where a tall man, wearing a black military uniform, stands.

"Ah, Deutschland. . . The people grow excited." The Führer says, pulling his previously discarded hat on.

"Ja, mein Führer." Germany replies simply.

"We will win this time." The Führer says. He places his hand briefly onto Germany's shoulder. "Don't worry."

The nation salutes his leader as the man walks away. Contrary to the order, however, he can't quite fight back the unease simmering in his chest. He knows his people are not ready for another battle. Not so soon after the Great War. They still suffer from the humiliation the Treaty of Versailles put them through. Not to mention the debt; he doubts he'll ever be able to pay back what he owes the Big Three. It's just not humanly possible.

Looking around at the haggard faces of the crowd, Germany feels his gut twist with sorrow and rage. The Treaty has forced them into national poverty and military incompetence. They can't even afford to feed their families or defend themselves from enemy invasion. They've been left completely helpless and at the whims of the League, who do not forgive and never forget.

Germany desperately wants to relieve his people of their suffering, but he knows that there is nothing he can do. It makes his heart ache to see how the once proud decedents of the Aryan race have fallen to the dirt, like beaten mongrels.

The new Führer, Adolf Hitler, seems like he can turn things around though. He's given the German populace hope. He seems like he's willing to do absolutely anything to regain Germany's dignity (and Germany does not miss the irony of relying on one of Austria's own). He's even created his own, very powerful, political party, which he calls the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei. At the last world meeting, Germany had overheard that wretched American schwein nickname it the "Nazi Party" because he said it was otherwise too hard to pronounce.

Germany has his doubts about the "Nazis" and their goals - though he doesn't dare speak them aloud, especially around Prussia. He's attended every one of the Führer's speeches, every meeting, every rally, and even read 'Mein Kampf'. The Führer has made anti-Semitism the pillar of his campaign, along with general animosity towards all non-ethnic Germans. Personally, Germany doesn't believe those ideals will lead them to victory. If anything, they'll push his beloved kinder even further away from redemption, further from a righteous cause. The Heavenly Father's forgiving reach only extends so far.

Germany feels the weight of the Holy Cross hanging from his neck, seeming much too heavy for something so small and delicate. He could swear that it's at least twice the weight of the Eisernes Kreuz he was given by Prussia, back when he'd become an established nation. Germany thinks that it is burdened by the sins of his people as they continue down their dangerous path, their souls darkened by hatred.

His own soul is stained red with their blood.

Sometimes he wishes he could be as carefree as Northern Italy always appears to be. The older nation is completely unfazed by the prospect of war. They had formed an alliance after the Great War and Italy is endlessly confident that Germany will watch his back, so he doesn't let the potential warfare trouble him. And Germany will do everything in his power to protect Italy, should the need arise. But with conflict brewing between himself and the other nations, he doesn't think he has the strength to fight off the world and back up Italy at the same time. Especially if the Soviet Union gets involved. Ever since Russia's new leader rose to power, the Soviets have become even more formidable and Germany simply can not afford to have them as an enemy on the battlefield.

Let alone in politics.

The Führer and his followers adopted Fascism from Italy's boss, and Germany feels a brief - and utterly shameful - pang of resentment towards his friend. If the Führer had never learned of that ideology, Germany might've been on somewhat good terms with Russia. But the Führer is dead set and refuses to acknowledge alternate methodology, and it makes Germany almost wish he could hate his boss but.

But every time he looks at worn faces filled with hope, he knows he will never be able to. Not fully.

Anxiety and regret rip at his heart whenever he looks upon his countrymen. He can't bear the thought of losing any more of them, even if it will restore the pride in their homeland they once felt. It's like losing a piece of himself when even one of them falls and the agony they face in death becomes his own. It also makes him uneasy to attend world meetings these days. He is certain that the other nations know what is happening within his borders and can forsee the upcoming war. They regard him with cold mistrust or thinly veiled contempt, often both, and his blood burns with ire.

In fact, the only nations not related to him who really speak with him anymore are Italy and Japan. But even they are cautious. Germany tries to remember when everything started going wrong but he can't penetrate the haze clouding his mind. The only thing he sees, the only thing he hears, is his kinder dying from starvation and poverty and the cruel hand dealt to them by Fate.

That alone almost makes Germany want to go to war with the world he'd once felt welcomed in.

It almost makes him crave the sight of enemy blood.

A sudden drop of water landing on his forehead brings Germany from his dangerous thoughts. He glances up and is assaulted by another drop of water, then another. Within seconds, rain is pouring over Berlin. People rush to take cover in shops or homes, leaving their nation standing outside by himself.

He finds that the rain helps to clear his mind. He's often been convinced it holds some sort of mystical healing powers, and now is no exception. He finds himself praying that it will cleanse his soul of its growing sins.

Translations:

Führer - Leader

Deutschland - Germany

Ja - Yes

Schwein - Pig

Kinder - Children

Eisernes Kreuz - Iron Cross (the war medallion Germany and Prussia both wear.)

Other Notes:

(please excuse the grossly simplified historical facts)

Great War - Was another name for World War I. It was called the "Great War" because it was the first war in history to impact every nation in some way.

Treaty of Versailles - Was an agreement, of sorts, between America, England, France and Germany. It placed all the blame for WWI on to Germany, reduced their land, charged them with war expenses, and restricted their military.

Big Three - American President Wilson, British Prime Minister George, and French Prime Minister Clemenceau were the leaders of the negotiations for the Treaty of Versailles.

League [of Nations] - An organization that met to discuss diplomatic world matters. It was formed after WWI and later replaced by the United Nations after it failed to prevent WWII.

Aryan - An ancient race of Indo-Iranian people. Was also used to refer to the blonde-hair, blue-eyed ideal features of Nazi Germany.

In reference to the irony of Hitler being Austrian - Austria was excluded from both the North German Confederation and the German Empire, following the Austro-Prussian War (which Prussia won). It just seems kind of ironic that Germany would rely on an Austrian to rebuild the German Empire. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Mein Kampf - Meaning 'My Struggle', was the autobiography Hitler wrote while he was imprisoned after his failed revolution in Munich.

Fascism - A political ideology created by Benito Mussolini in 1919, which was adopted by the Nazi's. Fascism preached racism, anti-Communism, anti-Semitism, love of warfare, etc. It led to confrontation between Germany and the Soviet Union (a Communist power) during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei - National Socialist German Workers' Party, in English, was a political party that Hitler created in the 1919. They practiced Fascist ideals.

Anti-Semitism - The hatred of Jews. :(