Chapter 99: 99
December 22, 1940
Palace of Versailles, Paris, France
Ribbentrop, who flew to Lisbon on a Ju52, met with Salazar and conveyed his intentions.
In return for allowing Portugal's ports and airports, as well as the Azores and Madeira islands, to be used as air and naval bases, Germany would send advisors and equipment to help modernize the Portuguese military and provide 20,000 tons of steel and fertilizer each year. to Portugal (during World War II, Portugal mainly imported fertilizer and steel from Germany, even though it was pro-British). It would be even better if we formed a military alliance with Germany.
According to Ribbentrop, Salazar was unable to hide his embarrassment upon receiving the request. But he ultimately surrendered to Ribbentrop, more precisely to the military power of the Third Reich.
"What did he say?"
-They said they accepted all of our demands. Instead, it mentioned its relationship with Britain and flatly rejected a military alliance.
"That's enough. "Good job."
Salazar chose an honorable compromise over a deadly resistance.
As someone who had had a hard time persuading Göring and Brauchitsch, who had argued that if Portugal resisted, the Wehrmacht should be sent to Spain and bomb Lisbon, I was more than happy with Salazar's choice. Thanks to this, we were able to avoid unnecessary armed conflict.
After receiving Portugal's submission, I headed to Paris with a light heart. The Palace of Versailles, one of the landmarks that symbolize Paris along with the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, has been used as the headquarters of the German military headquarters in France since France declared its surrender.
"Welcome to the Palace of Versailles, Mr. President."
"Oh, Marshal Blomberg. "It's nice to see you again."
Blomberg was waiting for my arrival at the main gate of the Palace of Versailles.
"Shinsu looks bright. I thought I would be homesick because I was living abroad. "Do you seem to like your life in France?"
"Spending every day at the palace, I feel like Louis XIV, hahaha!"
Compared to the last time we met at the hospital, Blomberg seemed very happy. It seems like you really like life as governor of France (actually).
And one more.
"Nice to meet you, Marshal Pétain."
Field Marshal Henri-Philippe Pétain was shaken, but he held my outstretched hand and shook it.
***
Today's meeting was arranged at Pétain's request.
Before getting into the main topic, Pétain expressed his gratitude to me for the smooth progress in the release of French prisoners of war.
Of the 1.9 million French soldiers taken prisoner by Germany, 1 million have been released to date. Fresh-faced French soldiers in their 20s and 30s had to be mobilized to rebuild cities damaged by air raids, so wounded soldiers who were wasting food and medicine and middle-aged people who had difficulty doing high-intensity labor were released first.
The next order was soldiers from Indochina and African colonies. There was a need to show Germany's good side to countries that would become independent from France in the future, and these colonial soldiers were not absolutely necessary in France, so they were subject to release.
Although many prisoners were released and returned home or remained imprisoned in the camp, there were also prisoners who volunteered for the German army. There were 3,000 prisoners who volunteered for the Wehrmacht and 7,000 prisoners who volunteered for the SS, and they were all purely French, not from Alsace-Lorraine (they were considered German citizens and were immediately released).
"Many French people are grateful for the generosity the Fuhrer has shown towards France. "As a Frenchman myself, I am truly grateful for the mercy shown by the Fuhrer."
"No, hehe. France is Germany's neighbor, and now that the war is over, we should become friends again. "Wouldn't that be a good thing not only for the people of both countries, but also for all of Europe?"
A conversation similar to the well-wishes that relatives usually share on holidays took place, and as the warmth of the tea in front of each person disappeared, Pétain spoke about the main topic he had been putting off.
"Fuhrer, the current state of the French army is beyond words."
"I know."
As you know, the French Navy lost all useful ships to the Crixmarine and was reduced to a third-rate level, and the Army, although in a slightly better situation than the Navy, was in a miserable state compared to before the war.
At the time of signing the armistice agreement, the weapons, equipment, ammunition, and materials confiscated while disarming the French army were taken over by the National Defense Forces, leaving only enough for the French army to use for self-defense. The name is a cuirassier division, but there are many divisions that only have one platoon of tanks, use carriages instead of trucks, and are unable to conduct shooting training due to a lack of ammunition.
Currently, there is only one division in the French army with fully equipped troops and equipment. For an army that prides itself on being the best army in the world, it is at a miserable level.
As if this were not enough, the cost of 400 million francs per day - 100 million dollars in 21st century values - had to be donated to Germany, and since the factories owned by France were now owned by Germany, the rearmament of the French army was bound to be sluggish.
We said we had no intention of banning rearmament, but we did not say we would allow rearmament, so we are strictly complying with the agreement. Knowing that, France has never been able to complain or even protest.
"Do you also know that Japan is now setting its sights on Indochina?"
According to history, Japan pressured Vichy France in September and stationed Japanese troops in northern French Indochina. However, since Germany and Japan are not allies here, the Japanese military has not yet advanced into Indochina.
"Sure. "They say that every day, Japanese aircraft invade Indochina airspace."
I had no idea what Pétain wanted to say when he asked to meet with me.
"The troops and equipment stationed in Indochina alone cannot protect Indochina from the Japanese army. To protect Indochina, troops and equipment must be increased, but this is impossible in its current state. So, please, please return some of the equipment to arm the French army."
"Huh, Marshal Pétain. "Are you saying that?"
As soon as Pétain finished speaking, Blomberg snorted as if he didn't find it funny.
"We, Germany, showed mercy to your country, a defeated country, with great generosity. Rearmament was allowed and there were no restrictions on troops. However, rather than being grateful, France is just trying to take advantage of the Fuehrer's mercy. "In the future, we will request that the ships handed over to our Navy be returned as well."
"Calm down, Marshal."
After calming Blomberg down, I turned to Pétain.
"You really can't just ask for a favor and be done with it, right? "Don't you have more to say later?"
Pétain nodded to my question. also. Although he was later criticized as a traitor and all, Pétain was a person who knew the basics of what real politics were. He is not so stupid as to simply rely on his opponent's mercy and ask for a favor.
"If the Fuhrer accepts my request, France will send troops to help Germany if Germany is attacked by another country."
"hmm."
Blomberg was still staring at Pétain with an expression that said, 'What is this old man going to say again?' Pétain continued his speech, paying no heed to Blomberg's gaze.
"We will even allow Germany to use French North Africa, West Africa, and the Pacific and Indian Ocean colonies as military bases, and if Germany requests it, we will dispatch French workers. Up to 500,000."
"Is that all?"
Blomberg asked.
"exactly."
"Marshal Pétain. "We have something to discuss, so let's take a break and then meet again."
Before Blomberg could say anything, I sent Pétain out of the room.
"Mr. President, do you really believe what that old man says?"
"I don't completely believe it. But I also don't think it's a lie."
"Mr. President. It may be rude, but some in the military are saying that the President is treating the French too leniently. Moreover, if the equipment confiscated by our military is returned to France, there is a risk that an unexpected situation may arise. "Please think again."
Blomberg seemed already convinced that I would grant Pétain's request. I don't know what the French may think, but compared to history, it is true that I have shown some mercy to France. Only Alsace-Lorraine was taken away, the territory and colonies were left intact, and rearmament was not prohibited. Some generals, remembering how harsh the Treaty of Versailles had been, complained that it had left too much to France.
If, as Blomberg said, even the weapons were handed over to the French army, discontent within the military might grow even greater. However, it may not reach the level of being a threat to the regime, but it is never a good thing for the military to keep making noise.
"If anyone hears this, it will seem like I am blatantly taking the side of the French. Of course, I believe that in order to establish a new order (Neuordnung) that will lead Europe in the future, France must also be brought in as an ally of Germany, but I also have no intention of only giving in to what the French want. "If the other side asks for something, we should get something in return."
"also. "By the way, do you have anything in mind?"
"For now, the prisoners in Germany are sufficient, so there is no need to ask for additional workers. Still, it would be a good idea to document it in case something goes wrong. They might say something else later.
And the weapons, ammunition, equipment, and materials that will be used to rearmament the French army will be provided to us by selecting the worst-conditioned items captured by our troops, and in return, we will receive gold bars, resources, and agricultural products held by France. It's nice for the French to be able to arm an army to defend their colonies, and it's nice for us to be able to enrich our treasury while at the same time instilling in the French the perception that we are benevolent. "Isn't this a sufficiently satisfactory deal?"
"Hmm, it's not really a bad idea, but… . But you still don't know, do you? "If the French army revolts as soon as we hand over the equipment back-"
Oh, well, that's because I said that wouldn't happen. If they had the guts to do that, would they have surrendered after 4 weeks?
"The French are weak, but they are not stupid. You faced us head-on and lost when our armament, strength, and morale were all at their peak. Are you willing to fight us again under much worse circumstances? In times like this, it would be more helpful for Germany's future to act like a benevolent person and reduce the hostility of the French even a little."
As a side note, I also give Japan some shit.
Towards the end of the war, the Japanese army was widely perceived as an idiot army that did all kinds of bizarre things and could only do massacres and suicide attacks, but in the southern operation, it overcame its numerical inferiority through strategies that caught the opponent off guard, quick response, and active improvisation. and took control of all of Southeast Asia.
Unless Leclerc and Rafale are brought from France in the 21st century, there is no way they can stop the Japanese army's southern operation, no matter how strong the French military is in Indochina.
However, even if it is impossible to stop it, I think it is possible to delay it. At best, one or two weeks will be the limit, but as the Japanese military's damage increases, the Allied damage will decrease. If that happens, the Pacific War will end a little earlier.
Instead of accepting the request, I told Pétain about the price France would have to pay. There is no need to go into detail, as Ribbentrop and Schacht will take care of the details.
After hearing the conditions, Pétain hesitated as if he was worried, but soon agreed. That's why Indochina was an important colony for France. France, which could not afford to lose Algeria and Vietnam even if it gave up all its other colonies, had to wage war for nearly 20 years even after the end of World War II due to its anachronistic ideas and greed.
It looks like it won't be much different here.
***
December 24, 1940
German-French border
After concluding the meeting with Pétain, the next day he met and had a meal with German soldiers stationed in France.
In order to reflect on the lives of soldiers, we had instructed them in advance to bring the usual barracks food, but dishes that could not be considered a soldier's diet were served.
Even though Christmas Baumkuchen (a donut-shaped cake baked by pouring batter on an iron stick and rotating it) and Stollen (a type of cake eaten at Christmas in Germany) appeared, one roasted quail per soldier. Isn't it too much of a show-off to have 5 Rolladen in it?
I remember when I was a private, I saw the miracle of the Chinese menu changing from fried chicken to boiled pork just because the brigade commander was visiting. The twist was that the brigade commander had a company dinner the day before at a bossam restaurant.
"Is this really your usual diet? "You didn't prepare anything special just because I was coming?"
"It's just because it's Christmas time, there's a special meal!"
"Why do things happen between people you know? I know everything because I also served as a soldier. Be honest. "I have no intention of saying anything about this."
No matter how many times I asked the question, the nurse's answer was the same. Because it is Christmas season, a special meal is served, and it was never added to the menu just because the President came... .
Yes, this is the military. I was not unaware of the hardships faced by feeding centers. They say the President is coming. Seriously, just serve the food you normally eat. I knew what I would hear later. Good things are good, so let's just move on.
"What's your name, private?"
While eating, I spoke to the private sitting next to me. I'm sorry for interrupting your precious meal time, but you look very familiar to me.
"Oh, it's Otto Carius! "Mr. President!"
no wonder! It's definitely the first time I've seen them today, but they seem strangely familiar! Even though the world is small, it is still too small.
Otto Karius, one of the three German tank aces along with Michael Wittmann and Kurt Knispel, destroyed more than 150 tanks by the end of the war, and his memoir, 'Tiger in the Mud', is a famous book that every person in the military should read at least once. am. Of course I read it too.
I never thought I would meet someone like that here. I stared at Carius, amazed at the meeting brought about by the coincidence of history.
Karius' hand holding the fork trembled, as if he was burdened by my gaze. There's no way I'm going to miss out on food because the President, and not just anyone else, is looking at me.
"Oh my, I'm sorry for talking to you while you were eating. "As I get older, I have more questions."
"No, Mr. President! "I am truly honored that the President spoke to me!"
"You don't have to raise your voice. "My ears are falling."
"sorry!"
"I even have to apologize. "By the way, I told you to lower your voice."
"All right."
"The name is Otto Carius… . What is your position? "Is it infantry?"
"Yes that's right."
It's just like I read in the book. Before Karius became famous as a tank commander, he was an ordinary rifleman who enlisted as an infantryman. He heard that he had a hard time because he was small and weak.
"I am an infantryman myself, so I know how difficult it is. Especially for someone as small and petite as you. So, are you thinking of applying to the armored branch? "I think you would be better suited as a tank soldier than an infantryman."
"Are you serious?! Go, thank you!"
Karius was visibly happy. He was originally interested in mechanical engineering, so he applied for the anti-tank branch, but was rejected because the TO was full, so he became an infantryman.
"But I was waiting because I heard that they would soon be selecting applicants to transfer to the armored branch."
"Good. I'll tell your company commander. "Just try hard."
After finishing my schedule in France, I headed to America. By the time the train reached the French-German border, I was drowsy.
"I guess I should go to sleep soon. "Please turn off the light."
"I understand, Mr. President. "Sleep comfortably."
After Krause turned off the light and went out, I lay down on the bed. I told Krause that he could wake me up at any time if something needed to be reported right away, but that I would hear about everything else in the morning, so I can sleep soundly.
When you open your eyes, you will have arrived in Berlin... .
***
"Krause. "Is the President sleeping?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Krause responded to the yordle that appeared with a telegram in his hand, taking an unmoving stance.
"Is it important? "The Fuhrer has told me to wake him up if something needs to be reported right away."
The yordle glanced at the telegram in his hand. Yordle, pondering the meaning of the telegram's contents, shook his head.
"no. I don't think that's necessary. "I will report to you tomorrow morning."
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