I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

January 1965. A secret villa.

"You've been running off to Prague quite often lately." Anna sat before the fireplace, a glass of red wine in her hand, her gaze scrutinizing. "Four times in three months."

Werner was organizing his briefcase. He paused when he heard her words.

"It's for work," he said.

"For work?" Anna raised an eyebrow. "Werner, we've known each other for a long time. Do you really think I'd believe an excuse like that?"

Werner turned and looked at her. The firelight from the hearth danced across Anna's face, leaving her expression half in shadow, half in light.

"What do you want to know?"

"What exactly are you doing in Prague?" Anna stood and walked over to him. "Building a way station? Or something else?"

Werner was silent for a few seconds, then pulled Anna down to sit beside him.

"Anna, let me ask you something. Do you think the reforms in the Czech Republic will succeed?"

Anna was taken aback. "Why are you asking me that?"

"Answer me."

Anna thought for a moment, then shook her head. "No. Moscow would never allow it."

"Exactly," Werner said. "So, before Moscow makes its move, I need to be prepared."

"Prepared for what?"

Werner looked into her eyes, his voice low. "Preparing for our future. Anna, this wall won't stand forever. One day, East Germany, West Germany, all of Eastern Europe will change. When that happens, if we don't have enough capital—"

"You want to move assets," Anna interrupted, her tone complicated. "You want to use Prague to transfer money to the West."

Werner didn't deny it.

Anna stared at him for a long time, then suddenly laughed. "Werner, you're truly insane."

"But you won't stop me."

"Why would I stop you?" Anna leaned on his shoulder. "I've known what you've been up to for a long time. Ever since you first made contact with West German intelligence, I knew you were preparing an escape route for yourself."

Werner put his arm around her. "Then why didn't you report me?"

"Because I want to survive, too," Anna said softly. "Werner, I've worked for the Stasi for so many years. I've seen too much. I know this system won't last forever. So, if you can find a way out—" She looked up at him. "Take me with you."

Werner held her tightly and didn't say a word.

Outside the window, snow began to fall.

***************

February 1965. Prague.

Werner arrived in Prague for the fifth time.

This time, he wasn't just here to check on the construction progress of the way station. More importantly, he was here to start stockpiling Czech Crowns and gold.

"Mira, I need you to do me a favor," Werner said in a low voice, sitting in that small tavern.

"What kind of favor?" Mira took a sip of his drink.

"I want to buy Crowns. A large amount of Crowns."

Mira was stunned. "Are you crazy? The Crown's exchange rate is so low right now. Why would you buy them?"

"I have my reasons," Werner said. "You just need to tell me how much you can get."

Mira thought for a moment. "I can probably get two hundred thousand Crowns on the black market, but it will take time."

"Not enough." Werner shook his head. "I want a million."

Mira almost spat out his drink. "A million? Do you have any idea how much money that is?"

"I know." Werner pulled a check from a West German Bank out of his pocket and pushed it in front of Mira. "This is the down payment. I'll pay the rest when you get the goods."

Mira's eyes went wide as he stared at the check.

"Deal," he said, extending his hand.

Werner shook it.

Werner remembered clearly what was written in the history books of 2025: From 1965 to 1967, thanks to the dividends of reform, the Czech Crown appreciated by nearly 30%.

Then, after the Soviet invasion in August 1968, it collapsed overnight.

But if he exchanged the Crowns for gold or West German Marks before July 1968—

He could make a fortune from the turmoil.

And that money would be the capital he and Anna needed for their future escape from East Germany.

"One more thing, Mira," Werner said. "I want to buy gold."

"Gold?" Mira raised an eyebrow. "That won't be easy. Gold transactions are strictly controlled."

"I know," Werner said. "But you can get it, right?"

Mira smiled. "As long as the money's good, I can get anything."

As he walked out of the tavern, snowflakes drifted down onto the streets of Prague.

Werner stood on a street corner, looking at Prague Castle in the distance. The Gothic structure stood tall in the snow, looking especially solemn.

In four years, tanks would roll into this city.

But before that happened, he was going to get everything he could.

************

April 1965, East Berlin. Spring was late to arrive.

Werner sat in his Koko office, three documents spread out on the desk before him.

One was a personnel list from the Central Committee of the Czech Communist Party, another was an analysis report requested by the Stasi, and the third was an intelligence summary prepared for West Germany's BND.

Three documents, three different audiences, but all pointing to the same core issue: Czechoslovakia.

Werner lit a cigarette, narrowing his eyes as he looked at the personnel list.

Many of the names on this list had appeared in the history books of 2025.

Novotny—the conservative leader who was about to lose power.

Dubcek—the rising star of the reformist faction.

And Ota Hicke—the economist, the theoretical founder of the Prague Spring.

It was now April 1965. Dubcek's official rise to power was still more than two years away.

But Werner knew the pieces were already in motion.

He just needed to voice these "predictions" at the right time.

And then watch as the people in both East and West Germany came to regard him as a prophet.

***************

Stasi Headquarters. 3:00 PM.

"Comrade Werner, have a seat." Von Brown pointed to the chair opposite him, a rare smile on his face.

Werner sat down and placed the analysis report on Von Brown's desk. "Comrade Von Brown, here is the analysis of the situation in the Czech Republic that you requested."

Von Brown picked up the report and quickly flipped through a few pages, his brow slowly furrowing. "You think Novotny will step down?"

"It's only a matter of time," Werner said, leaning back in his chair, his voice firm. "Novotny is an old guard from the Stalin era. He's a conservative thinker, unable to keep up with the times. The younger members of the Czech Party have had enough of him."

"Who will replace him?"

"Dubcek." Von Brown was visibly taken aback when Werner said the name.

"Alexander Dubcek?" Von Brown flipped open the report and found the name. "The First Secretary of Slovakia? He's not even a member of the Politburo right now."

"But he will be," Werner said. "Comrade Von Brown, look at the current factional alignment within the Czech Party. The conservatives are led by Novotny, while the reformists are scattered across various departments. Dubcek is an idealist, charismatic, and able to unite people. And—" Werner paused. "He spent time in Moscow, speaks Russian, which makes the Soviets think he's controllable."

Von Brown stared at the report for a long time before looking up. "Werner, how are you so well-informed about the internal situation of the Czech Party?"

Werner had his answer ready. "I've gotten to know some people in Prague. Novak from the foreign trade department, the black market trader Mira, and a few mid-level cadres within the Party. They say all sorts of things after they've had too much to drink."

"Is that all?"

"That's all." Werner spread his hands. "Comrade Von Brown, isn't this what intelligence work is all about? Listening, watching, and analyzing."

Von Brown was silent for a few seconds, then nodded. "Alright. I'll submit your report to the director."

"One more thing." Werner took another document from his briefcase. "This is a list of people within the Czech Party who currently support reform. I've marked their positions, backgrounds, and political leanings. If the Stasi wants to build an intelligence network in Prague, these people are all potential targets."

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