Wilhelm Goertzmann is the incumbent Führer of the Greater Nazi Reich, after overthrowing Heinrich Himmler in a putsch organized with the help of American Reichsmarschall John Smith.
Biography[]
Background[]
Goertzmann’s early life remains shrouded in mystery, including whether he was born before or after the Nazi rise to power in 1933. At some point—likely during the Second World War—he joined the Schutzstaffel (SS), quickly ascending its ranks. After the war, he held a command in Belgrade, where he honed his skills in navigating the ruthless internal and external politics of the Nazi Empire. These skills were employed to suppress resistance cells in the region. Upon learning of several resistance leaders amassing support for a rebellion against the Nazi occupiers, Goertzmann devised a cunning strategy. He created a false resistance cell to lure and eliminate the real leaders, ultimately capturing and executing them. This decisive action earned him the favor of Heinrich Himmler, the Reichsführer of the SS.
At some point during or after the war, Goertzmann married a woman named Ingrid, who remained in Germany while he served abroad.
Season Four[]
Goertzmann makes his first appearance meeting John Smith in his office. He conveys Berlin’s discontent over an American governing Nazi America and exhibits thinly veiled hostility toward Smith in private. Ambitious and calculating, Goertzmann positions himself as a loyal subordinate to both Smith and Himmler while covertly seeking to supplant Smith, who had fallen out of favor for failing to effectively address the growing insurgency in America.
By 1965, tensions grew in the Greater Nazi Reich intensified, prompting Goertzmann to plot a coup. He allied with ARBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who had previously attempted to undermine Smith alongside ex-Governor George Rockwell. Sharing a mutual disdain for Smith, Goertzmann and Hoover found common ground. With Smith’s prior authorization for a widespread wiretapping operation across Nazi America, Hoover exploited the surveillance network to gather incriminating evidence against Smith and his family. This evidence ultimately led to Smith’s summons to Berlin to answer to Nazi High Command regarding his family’s alleged treasonous activities.
During Smith’s time in Berlin, Goertzmann attended a Nazi High Command meeting on plans to invade the Western States, territory. a meeting from which Smith was deliberately excluded. He briefly greeted Smith before returning to the conference. Later, during Smith’s interrogation by Nazi High Command, Goertzmann observed with interest as Smith passionately argued that “only an American can rule America.” Realizing Smith’s potential as a political ally, Goertzmann privately offered him support despite the growing opposition orchestrated by Hoover.
After Himmler summoned Smith, Goertzmann proposed to the High Command that Smith should continue leading Nazi America. However, his suggestion was rejected, with Hoover and General Adolf Eichmann among those opposing Smith. Seeing no alternative, Goertzmann mobilized SS officers loyal to him, assassinating the entire High Command and capturing Hoover.
In the aftermath of Himmler’s assassination by Smith, Goertzmann welcomed Smith and mockingly derided his now-deceased colleagues for their lack of vision. As a gesture of loyalty, Goertzmann presented Hoover as a captive to Smith, offering him his SS dagger. Smith accepted the gift and used it to execute Hoover.
With his rivals eliminated, Goertzmann assumed the role of Führer. Keeping his pact with Smith, he granted the newly promoted Reichsführer complete independent over America. In a final act of mutual respect, the two leaders saluted each other before returning to their respective countries to consolidate power.
Goertzmann maintained a firm grip over the Greater Nazi Reich, but his ultimate fate—and that of the GNR—remains unknown following Smith’s death and the subsequent collapse of Nazi America.
Appearance & Personality[]
Goertzmann is a pragmatic opportunist. He is an effective secret policeman and also has a talent for the political arena. He also has a flair for manipulation, firstly plotting against John Smith but then managing to direct the plot against Himmler and Hoover. Like most Nazis, he cares very little about how much (or whose) blood is spilled to achieve his goals.
Notes & Trivia[]
- He may have possibly been inspired by Martin Heusmann's putsch and Heinrich Himmler's rise to power, which possibly led to Goertzmann's putsch against Himmler and his Nazi loyalists.
Appearances[]
| Season Four | ||||
| "Hexagram 64" Absent |
"Every Door Out..." Absent |
"The Box" Absent |
"Happy Trails" Appears |
"Mauvaise Foi" Absent |
| "All Serious Daring" Absent |
"No Masters But Ourselves" Absent |
"Hitler Has Only Got One Ball" Appears |
"For Want of a Nail" Appears |
"Fire from the Gods" Absent |