The Korrigsten Massacre

The Korrigsten Massacre was a mafia-orchestrated hit on six employees, including the boss, Simon Hamburg, of the Korrigsten Grain Corporation and three associates, in the town of Korrigsten near Verringen, Königsland. Four men entered with Thompson machine guns, killing all nine present, before fleeing the area. While heavy speculation suggests that the hit was conducted by entrepreneur and mafia boss Wilhelm Moritz, evidence through investigations of his business suggested no such correlation. It was the first conducted and publicised mafia operation in the country, and remains largely unsolved.

Conflicting Businesses
As the 1920 Federal and Presidential Election was underway, there was a major contest of political association between the many different businesses and companies of the country. The Korrigsten Grain Corporation was no exception; the company made it clear that they were supporting the Roessen National Party as they wanted to maintain total control of their grain, rather than have it be redistributed forcefully by the state in case of a potential Gorden Braun presidential victory. As such, they raised prices on their goods in an attempt raise as much funding as possible for Adal Von Sturt's election, and began trying to outbid other businesses in an attempt to gain providence in the country.

The company's owner, Simon Hamburg, thereafter called for "aggressive expansion" and wanted to move the company further into Verringen, rather than in just Korrigsten. This meant he had to deal with business competitors within the city itself. The main target that Simon had to overcome was popular businessman and charitable fatherly figure, Wilhelm Moritz.

The Moritz Corporation had been in place since before the First World War, with Wilhelm's father, Arnold Moritz, starting the company from a young age and Wilhelm taking over when Arnold died in 1918. The Moritz Corporation dealt with security and charity, amassing a private army of its own which was organised similarly to a mafia. It refused for other businesses to take the reigns without Wilhelm's consent. While city governors had control of Verringen politically, Wilhelm Moritz controlled it socially and economically. Simon Hamburg knew that in order to expand his business in Verringen, he would have to wipe away the Moritz Corporation, and most of all, Wilhelm Moritz himself.

The Attempt
Simon Hamburg ordered for one of his associates to "paint Wilhelm's house"; in other words, assassinate him. The assassin was caught attempting to break into Wilhelm's bedroom on the 5th June, 1920. When he was tortured and interrogated in the early hours of the next morning, he confessed he was assigned by Simon Hamburg as a means of expanding the KGC's influence in Verringen without the need for Wilhelm's consent. This, of course, had Wilhelm furious, as simple negotiation would have sufficed. Despite this, Wilhelm still ordered for a retaliation, and scheduled an attack for the 8th June, of which the assassin said was the next time Simon was going to be meeting with his employees and the associates.

Wilhelm hid away in his house and pretended that he had been killed. The assassin was sent back with a note that stated that Wilhelm had been killed. Wracked with guilt, the assassin killed himself that night, but Simon was convinced of the fallacy that the boss was truly dead, and called for the meeting to go ahead as normal.

Split Decisions
On the 7th June, one day before the operation was meant to take place, Wilhelm had doubts and openly called for the plot to be halted, but still refused to show that he was alive. He stated he would wait until after the meeting on the 8th June had been conducted, as to not interfere with the business. This was met with confusion amongst many of his caporegimes and consiglieres, who believed the attack was needed. Wilhelm made it firm that the operation was not to go ahead.

Wilhelm Moritz was a known socialite, and believed the attack would have a negative outcome on the result of the election for the Roessen Red Coalition Party. While there was already speculation that the RRCP was going to receive the most seats in Congress, he believed there was still a chance for Gorden Braun to beat Adal Von Sturt for the Presidency, but believed this operation would openly ruin the RRCP's reputation, being supported by a ruthless mafia leader. His organisation administration complied, and the attack was formally halted.

The Meeting
The six employees of the KGC still met in the warehouse, including Simon Hamburg himself, along with three associates. Simon Hamburg reportedly stated at the meeting that "Wilhelm Moritz is dead!" and chanted that the KGC would be next in line to inherit the power. At that moment, witnesses saw four men dressed in suits and carrying Thompson machine guns enter the warehouse, followed by shouting and gun fire. The four men emerged in blood-soaked suits and ran into hiding as the authorities arrived. All nine attendants of the meeting, including Simon Hamburg, had been killed.

The men wore the same suits as the security detail of the Moritz foundation, leaving many to speculate that Wilhelm Moritz had been involved. Immediately after, however, Wilhelm stated that he did not condone nor order the attack, and had been planning for negotiation with Simon. The attack was described by much of the media as a "mafia-orchestrated massacre".

Unknown Sources
For reasons unknown, the attack still went ahead on the day. There was an unknown source of authority for the attack to continue. Many speculate that Wilhelm needed an excuse to look like the "good guy" officially by calling off the attack, but privately told the four assailants to continue. Others believe that the assailants were not even members of the Moritz foundation, but decided to conduct the attack to blame on Wilhelm. It had been public knowledge within the organisation that Wilhelm wanted Simon dead, but did not want to ruin his reputation as a result.

Despite the notion that Wilhelm did not condone nor order the attack, it further solidified his physical and prestige position in Verringen. Wilhelm Moritz, aka Onkle Moritz, had achieved his political and social power in the city.

Korrigsten Grain Corporation Employees
Simon Hamburg, company director

Justin Kesselman, assistant director

Ole Hammesfahr, company head of security

Eugene Kuemmel, regional manager

Wolfgang Conzelmann, trade and exports manager

Caspar Falck, understudy secretary

Associates
David Eichelbaum, Simon's close friend and political advisor

Eckardt Specht, a hitman for Simon's operations

Yannick Pfeffer, a political activist for the Roessen National Party