Chapter 24: 24
Between and Passion (1)
July 18, 1936
In the Second Spanish Republic, where the socialist-oriented Republican faction was in power, the far-right, anti-communist Nationalist faction staged a coup.
It was the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, which is considered a tutorial for World War II.
Mussolini immediately declared support for the Nationalists even though he was at war with Ethiopia.
They haven't even recovered from the damage they suffered in Ethiopia, but they are giving it to others.
Anyway, we have to admit that guy's bravado. Is it a bluff to overcome the flesh? Or is it a bluff to overcome the flesh?
I also decided to dispatch troops and supplies to support the Nationalists.
Dispatching a military advisory group was essential to check the performance of existing weapons and to collect various data necessary for establishing military doctrine and training.
They also ripped out mines and ports in Spain.
"General Sperle."
"Yes, Mr. President."
"I will only trust the general. Go and show the communists the power of the Germanic people."
"I will do my best!"
Major General Hugo Sperle of the Luftwaffe was selected as the commander of the German military advisory group 'Condor Corps', and Colonel Wolfram von Richthofen was selected as Sperle's chief of staff.
In the Army, Colonel Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma was selected as the commander of the 'Immer Combat Group', an army combat unit belonging to the Condor Legion, and was sent to Spain.
Before dispatching the Condor Corps, I argued with the upper echelons of the army. There was a difference of opinion on what equipment to send to Spain.
"Panzer No. 1 is enough, Mr. Fuhrer! There is no need to send Panzer 2."
These damn Junkers shouted loudly, saying that Tank No. 1 was enough to deal with a ragtag group of Spanish Republicans.
It is said that the Republicans, who have a large number of factions but are in fact only at the level of a militia, will be busy running away even if a tank appears on the battlefield.
Where are these guys talking shit? You know I'm from the future, but that's not true at all?
It is true that the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War were largely ragtag. However, the equipment they operated could never be considered second-class as of 1936.
The T-26 and BT-5 light tanks supported by the Soviet Union were overwhelmingly superior to the German-made 1st tank and Italian-made L3 tankettes used by the Nationalists, so the Nationalist tanks were often helplessly destroyed when Soviet-made tanks appeared. .
The machine gun mounted on Tank No. 1 could not destroy enemy tanks, so it was urgently modified to include an Italian-made Breda 20mm machine gun, but it was only a temporary measure and proper combat was virtually impossible.
It was so bad that the Nationalists actively encouraged the capture of enemy tanks, saying they would pay a reward to any soldier who captured a Soviet-made tank.
"The No. 1 tank cannot be used because its armament is too poor. Do you think you can destroy enemy positions or tanks with a machine gun? "They say we have to send Panzer 2!"
Therefore, out of consideration for the safety of the Condor Legion tankers, I argued that the 2nd tank, which was more powerful than the 1st tank, should be sent.
Lutz and Guderian also supported my argument, saying that Panzer 2 should be sent rather than Panzer 1, and in the end, a compromise was reached to send both Panzer 1 and Panzer 2, but only a small amount of Panzer 1.
Okay, I'll skip it this time. Anyway, I will soon be proven right.
Another big event of the year following the Spanish Civil War was the Berlin Olympics.
The first and last Olympics held in Germany under Nazi rule.
In fact, both Hitler and I had a negative stance on hosting the Olympics. It's not that I'm originally not that interested in sports games.
It costs too much money to host the Olympics.
I was in the position of using the money from the Olympics to make more weapons, but surprisingly, there was extreme opposition from those around me.
Göring, Goebbels, and even Himmler, who I thought had no interest in this field, were fiercely opposed to my opinion.
"Mr. President, if we give up on hosting something we decided to do in 1930 due to cost, it will be a worldwide laughingstock."
"you're right. And the Olympics are also a great opportunity to promote the greatness of the Aryan people to the world. "It must be held."
Okay.
In the end, the Olympics were held on August 1, 1936, as history had it.
With tourists, athletes, and reporters from all over the world watching, I recited the Olympic opening speech written by Goebbels.
"Fair competition awakens the best qualities that lie dormant in the human body. It unites athletes with one another in understanding, respect and the spirit of sport.
It also helps to unite nations in the spirit of peace. That is why the Olympic flame must not die."
I feel this every time, but Goebbels, this man, his writing skills are also amazing.
After the opening speech, the Olympics began in earnest.
Although I wanted to lie down on the soft bed and take a nap, I couldn't leave because I was the head of state of the country hosting the Olympics.
Unlike me, who was looking at the stadium with blank eyes, the executives around me looked as excited as children.
Well, unlike the 21st century, where there was endless content to enjoy such as the Internet, TV, and cartoons, the Olympics would have been a huge spectacle in the 20th century, when entertainment was not very developed.
It was a time when not every home had a computer, let alone a television.
Wait, it's the Olympics that have been held for a long time, so I don't know if I'll even be able to see 'that person'.
***
Looking everywhere, all I could see were the hooked cross flags that the Germans called Hakenkreuz.
If the people back home had seen this scene, they would have asked whether Germany is a country that believes in Buddhism. Western nosy people must have been surprised and asked if they knew the teachings of Buddha.
Son Ki-jeong, a 24-year-old colonial youth, walked away with a bitter heart. His best friend Nam Seung-ryong, who followed in his footsteps, also could not hide the sorrowful expression on his face.
When qualification for the Olympics was first confirmed, if only I had realized that this moment would come...
"Kijeong, I still really envy you."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You could at least cover your chest with saplings, but I had nothing."
Son Ki-jeong, who won the gold medal, was given a sapling, which he used to cover the Japanese flag on his chest. However, Nam Seung-ryong, who won the bronze medal, did not.
"German people are also very stingy. If possible, it would be great if everyone in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place received a seedling. It wouldn't be that expensive. "Isn't that right?"
"That's right."
Of course, they knew full well that the reason for giving saplings only to gold medal winners was not to save on the cost of the saplings. Still, I couldn't help but feel some regret.
The athletes, who had already finished their games, were free from the pressure that was weighing on their shoulders and were busy wandering around the city of Berlin and enjoying sightseeing, another attraction of the Olympics.
Son Ki-jeong and Nam Seung-ryong, who won gold and bronze medals respectively, were fully qualified to tour downtown Berlin, but they had no intention of doing so.
If the flag on their uniforms had not been the Japanese flag, they would have happily toured the German capital, but at this moment, they were nothing more than colonial youth. At least that's what they thought of themselves.
The Japanese Embassy offered to hold a celebration to commemorate their Olympic victory, but the two politely declined.
Until I arrived in Berlin, I was sarcastic and asked why Koreans and not Japanese people came, but I can't believe their attitude changed when they won.
Instead, they headed to a small tofu factory in Berlin.
The owner of the tofu factory was An Jung-geun's cousin, Ahn Bong-geun, who came to Germany to study, married a German woman, and lived in Berlin running a tofu factory.
The workers at the tofu factory were all Koreans.
Makgeolli, tofu, and kimchi were served at the celebration.
It was far from a fancy dinner, but I didn't feel disappointed or disappointed. Although his body was far away from his homeland in Germany, his heart seemed to be at home.
And the next day, something unimaginable happened to them.
"Who are you talking about?"
"Führer Hitler wants to see you."
Not only Son Ki-jeong and Nam Seung-ryong, but even the Japanese interpreter Tamura looked dumbfounded.
It was so unexpected that I could barely turn my head. Who wants to meet us? The German Fuhrer? really?
"Well, is that true?"
Nam Seung-ryong couldn't even express how surprised he was. Tamura nodded her head.
"okay. He also wants to see it as soon as possible. "There is a car sent by the Fuhrer outside the dormitory right now."
Tamura also revealed that the President wanted to meet quietly without telling anyone. It was hard to believe.
The Fuhrer of Germany us? Even if we say that it is gold medalist Son Ki-jeong, what about bronze medalist Nam Seung-ryong? The two still looked at each other's faces, wondering if this was a dream or reality.
"Hurry. "Quickly change your clothes!"
The two changed into the best clothes they had brought and followed Tamura out of the dorm.
Indeed, a car sent by Fuhrer Hitler was waiting for them.
It was a luxury car that was very rare not only in Joseon but also in Japan.
Only the governor of Joseon or the royal family could ride in a car. Son Ki-jeong still doubted whether he was dreaming.
However, the soft feel of the sheet against my palm was real. Is there a dream this vivid?
The SS driver behind the wheel set off for the Fuhrer's residence as soon as all the guests got into the car.
***
"You came. "Heroes of Asia."
I never thought the day would come when I would meet both Son Ki-jeong and Nam Seung-ryong.
From Remarque to Guderian, I've already met people from history books, so there's nothing new, but it was even more impressive because it was the first Korean I met since I became possessed by Hitler.
They have no idea that I am actually from the same country from the future.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Son Ki-jeong."
I first approached with a bright face and offered Son Ki-jeong's hand. Son Ki-jeong took the hand I held out with a puzzled look on his face.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. President."
The interpreter next to me translated what I said into Japanese and told it to Son Ki-jeong, and then translated what Son Ki-jeong said into German and told it to me.
I could understand it without an interpreter, but I left it alone. Because there is no way that the German Führer knows Korean.
"Ah, you are Nam Seung-ryong. Nice to meet you."
"It is an honor, Mr. President."
Nam Seung-ryong also held my hand, half trembling.
"How do you know our names?"
Son Ki-jeong said. They would have never dreamed that someone as high as the German Fuhrer would know their names.
It was even more questionable because the name called when going to receive the medal was a Japanese name, not a Korean real name.
That's because I'm from the same country as you.
...I couldn't say anything and had to cover it up with a plausible excuse.
"If you become the German Fuhrer, you can learn a lot. He can quickly find out what your real name is, where he was born and how he grew up."
I made this up on the spot, but they were surprised that they really believed me. The interpreter was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth.
Actually, it's false.
However, it is impossible to know the real names and family history of young people in the far East overnight. There's no need to do that in the first place.
"Let's get over the trivialities. Anyway, I sincerely congratulate Son Ki-jeong on winning the Olympics. "I also congratulate Nam Seung-ryong."
"thank you."
"You really did a great job. Even I, who don't know anything about sports, know that running a marathon isn't usually difficult. "If it were me, I wouldn't be able to wake up even if I were dead."
"That is too much praise. If you have a strong will like the President, you will be able to do it."
Son Ki-jeong said.
Nam Seung-ryong had a blank face, as if he still couldn't believe this moment. The interpreter looked very surprised, but he did not stop interpreting. He is a man with a strong professional spirit.
"What do you plan to do now when you return to Korea?"
"I think we'll probably just keep doing the same thing."
"Right. Well, a marathon runner should keep running the marathon. Isn't that right, Teacher Nam?"
"Of course."
"really. "Have you both eaten?"
"yes? "Not yet."
"We have precious guests from the Far East, so we can't send them away on an empty stomach. Let's go eat."
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