< World War II - Our Fatherland (4) >
May 23, 1940
Berlin, Northern Germany
“The 3rd Army's movents are suspicious, you say?”
I felt a sigh about to escape as I asked Oster, the Deputy Director of the Abwehr.
I was already on edge because of France, who knows what they'll pull, and now there was unrest on the ho front too.
“Yes, Vice-Chancellor. We don't know the specifics yet, but there have been frequent etings between generals, and we've detected signs of them trying to win over junior commanders.”
This was a situation I had worried about to so extent ever since the military leadership deliberately ostracized the 3rd Army, but it becos a problem if it goes beyond simple dissatisfaction.
No matter how I thought about it, I was anxious, so I've been monitoring the 3rd Army's movents, but at this rate, I can't focus on France.
But I don't get it. What can they possibly do now?
With threats from Italy in the south, France in the west, and the Soviet Union in the east, do they want to cause trouble and see Germany fall to ruin?
With the military governnt coup d'état having already failed, even if the Junkers lack common sense, isn't this going too far?
“I don't know what they're trying to do, but they're still part of the Army, so we'll need to secure evidence to deal with them.”
“Understood. Whew, we're busy.”
Major General Hans Oster's forehead was also deeply wrinkled. The Abwehr played a significant role in the coup d'état, but their workload was so imnse it felt excessive.
I suppose it's a good thing they have the manpower, having consolidated Germany's disorganized intelligence organizations into the Abwehr.
Major General Oster swept a hand over his wide, clearly balding forehead, and my gaze involuntarily grew pitiful.
The Major General flinched at my gaze and replied, as if making an excuse.
“What is it? There's still plenty left.”
Ah, hair loss that can do this even to the most motivated hero of the Black Orchestra era. Stress is indeed harmful.
I should be careful too.
“…You're always going through so much hardship, Major General.”
“Not as much as you…”
Oster glanced at my full head of hair and looked wronged. Hey, comparing a Major General in his 50s to
is a bit much, isn't it?
-
May 24, 1940
Paris, the 'City of Light,' capital of France Having completely lost face by succumbing to Arican and British pressure to recall the Hawk Corps dispatched to Italy and halting oil sales to them, La Rocque was hearing good news for the first ti in a while.
“It seems the ghost of the Nazis has made a move, has it?”
“Yes, Your Excellency the Pri Minister. It's reported that Heinrich Himmler in Italy has successfully contacted and won over the 3rd Army within Germany.”
At Foreign Minister Paul Baudouin's words, La Rocque gave a triumphant smile.
Of course, France is destined for greatness.
It was true I was inwardly anxious about the German situation, so it would be perfect if they could firmly draw their attention away.
“Good, very good.
This will be a great help to our plan.”
“But Pri Minister, do you really intend to respond and help them?”
But to Pétain's worried question, La Rocque said with a smirk.
“Of course not. Italy and we will just give them a little push from behind to get the job done.”
It's hard to expect, by common sense, that the Germans who have already experienced a civil war would now respond to a rebellion started in the na of the Nazis.
“Well, that fellow Mussolini might seriously believe he can sponsor the Nazis and bring Germany under Italy's sphere of influence.”
But it was a plan dood to fail anyway. As for La Rocque, it was enough that Germany would fall into chaos from the riots of malcontents who had lost their vested interests.
“Our plan is in its final stages. The Hawk Corps may have withdrawn earlier than planned, but that ans we have more precious armored units to mobilize for our plan, so it's not bad.”
Pétain's face grew slightly uncomfortable, but La Rocque, engrossed in his own plan, ignored him.
“When can the Richelieu be committed to the operation?”
“It will be commissioned in early June, so considering minimal training, it can be deployed by mid-June, Pri Minister.”
To the answer from the Commander-in-Chief of the French Navy, Fran??ois Darlan, La Rocque smiled with satisfaction.
The state-of-the-art battleship Richelieu, the essence of the French Navy, had its schedule accelerated with a poured-in budget for this operation, and thus held high expectations.
It was built to counter the German and Italian navies, but it seems it was destined to be used in an unexpected place.
“Aircraft production and training are also on schedule, Pri Minister.”
“Excellent, absolutely excellent.”
Unlike the original history, where the air force was largely neglected and what they had was poorly operated, France's aircraft easily exceeded 3,000 and were being mass-produced at a trendous rate.
Under the Pri Minister's demand to present every idea that could make Britain surrender, the brains of France had squeezed out an unprecedented joint land-sea-air offensive, which was being steadily prepared.
“Pri Minister Halifax's decision once again preserves the peace of our ti…”
La Rocque read the headline aloud, looking down at the British daily, The Tis, with cold eyes.
In the end, it was a defeat in the diplomatic war against Germany, but this wasn't bad in its own way. The British bastards were now completely off their guard, believing France was still under their control.
Since they were an enemy with no chance of winning in a frontal assault, the key to victory would be to thrust a sharply prepared blow into their opening.
La Rocque smiled brightly and, looking at the high command who still seed sowhat unconvinced, opened his mouth.
“Don't worry too much. The preparations are perfect, and the enemy is as complacent as they can be.
Toppling Britain ans we can rule Europe, and then Germany will have no choice but to surrender to us.”
Of course, for La Rocque who spoke these words, there was the calculation that if he faltered here, it would an nothing less than the collapse of his administration.
Although La Rocque's position was shaken by this diplomatic defeat, it was a fact that the military budget had been massively invested under his governnt.
So, the leaders of each branch of the military nodded, albeit with unconvinced faces.
At least Germany was preoccupied with the Soviet Union, and thankfully, they were on the verge of chaos thanks to the Nazi remnants.
“France will either beco great or be ruined.
There are only two options. And of course, we will beco great.”
La Rocque declared as if making a vow to himself. The die was cast anyway.
For France, which had built up an unaffordable army by amassing astronomical debt, the option to stop now did not exist.
“Your Excellency the Pri Minister.
The Japanese Foreign Minister, Shigenori Tōgō, has arrived.”
La Rocque smiled brightly at his aide's words.
“Ah, a precious guest has arrived.”
Surely, how could they possibly lose after preparing this much?
-
May 25, 1940
Berlin, Northern Germany
“Does my hair look okay today?”
I asked while diligently combing my hair in the mirror, and Claudia answered with a completely dumbfounded expression.
“You seem more excited than when you go on a date with .”
“No, of course not.
Naturally, my beloved wife is my top priority.”
Claudia's gaze shifted to the frad photograph on my desk.
A picture of
with General Model and Michael. A picture she took when General Model was promoted.
“…With a face like a boy in his first love. Well, I'll let it slide.”
I gave a bitter smile and kissed her, who looked unconvinced.
“I'm off.”
“Be safe.”
A eting requested by General Model, my ntor and a man I respect.
Honestly, can I help but be excited?
…That feeling was shattered less than an hour after eting him.
“Ahem, ahem.
General Model?”
“What is it, Schacht?”
I narrowed my eyes at General Model, who answered so nonchalantly, and then glanced at the building where he had parked the car.
Then, with my eyes narrowing further, I looked back at General Model.
“Is this the place you said you wanted to co to together?”
“This is it.”
At General Model's reply, I glanced at the building before
again and opened my mouth.
“It's a prison, isn't it?”
“It is a prison.”
I suppressed a sigh that threatened to burst out.
Even if he is my ntor, I'm the one at fault for following him without asking any questions…
A high governnt official showing up unannounced naturally threw the prison into an uproar, thinking it was a surprise inspection.
I completely overlooked the fact that General Model has absolutely no interest in politics.
I can just picture my father's rotten smile.
“Hmm, it's a familiar routine for , so I didn't expect it to cause such a commotion.
My apologies.”
General Model looked at
with a look of new realization.
For so reason, I felt he might only now be realizing that I'm a high governnt official.
“Ah, not at all, General Model.
Thanks to you, it's good to see the prison's condition with my own eyes. Haha…”
Those weren't entirely empty words.
Having greatly utilized the atrocities of the Nazi concentration camps to bring down the Nazi regi, the very first public project we undertook as soon as we took power was to dismantle them.
After that, we built more 'humane' prisons and incarcerated the original violent criminals and the collaborators of the Nazi regi.
This was the first ti I had visited in person, but at a glance, the prison was being kept reasonably clean.
In the concentration camps of the Nazi regi, people were either worked to death or just died, but the prisons of the Fourth Reich at least only enforced labor that wouldn't harm one's health.
It's ironic, but the very people who created the horrors of the concentration camps are now, thanks to us, living sowhat like human beings.
But my brief relief upon seeing the prison was short-lived.
I started to suspect that maybe General Model was doing this because he was upset with
about sothing.
“It's been a while, Dietrich Schacht… Vice-Chancellor.”
I was face to face with Walther von Brauchitsch, General Model's ntor and the forr Commander-in-Chief of the Army in Nazi Germany.
No, what is this…
I was expecting a heartwarming mont with General Model, but the reality is I'm facing my ntor's old ntor.
“You're looking very well.”
Brauchitsch spoke nonchalantly, but I felt extrely uncomfortable in this situation.
What is this? Why do I feel like a ho-wrecker who stole General Model away from Brauchitsch?
An embarrassnt, as if eting my lover's ex-boyfriend, gripped my entire body.
“Oh, it's been a long ti.”
Honestly, I was at a loss for what to say, so I just stuck to being moderately courteous. Brauchitsch looked at
with an understanding expression, then turned his gaze to General Model.
“Thank you for not forgetting
in this state, for looking after , and for granting my request.”
“Not at all, Senior.
It is only my duty.”
General Model bowed his head to Brauchitsch with undiminished respect.
It seems General Model has been continuously looking after Brauchitsch, who was imprisoned after his trial.
Indeed, Brauchitsch's complexion, for a man in prison, didn't look bad at all.
Brauchitsch looked for a mont at General Model, who still called him Senior, before turning his gaze back to .
“By the looks of it, you followed him without even knowing you were coming to see , didn't you?”
“…That is correct.”
Brauchitsch gave a slight smile at my answer.
“I'm not a general or anything anymore.
Just a pathetic example of a man punished for his greed and collusion with power. A successful politician of the new Germany shouldn't find
so difficult to be around.”
He was apparently on the verge of fighting to the last for Hitler with the Southern Army Group, but was captured when the group collapsed due to General Model's broadcast.
Perhaps thanks to General Model, he was captured before he could do anything, maybe even getting a shorter sentence.
His face now looked at ease, as if he had let everything go.
“You are soone my ntor respects.
This is a matter beyond rank. I am also well aware that you prevented the Nazis' influence from reaching
when my father was expelled from the Cabinet.”
“Haha, you have a good mory, my friend.”
He was an undeniable pro-Nazi figure, but one way or another, he was soone who treated General Model well, and the fact that he protected , a connection of Model's, even when my father fell out of favor with Hitler, ultimately helped my position in the new governnt.
Brauchitsch gave a bitter smile and was silent for a mont, then looked at
and began to speak.
“I bought the Führer's favor by divorcing my first wife to marry a new one who was a fanatical Nazi, and I had a great many people around .”
Brauchitsch was looking at , but he seed to be seeing sothing beyond .
“But when I ended up like this and my wife committed suicide, saying she would follow the Führer, the only one who visits
consistently without any selfish motive is the very sa wretched junior who betrayed .”
At Brauchitsch's words, General Model lowered his eyes slightly but did not open his mouth.
“The power I coveted so much was truly nothing.
And the regi I believed in and followed…”
Brauchitsch stopped mid-sentence and lowered his gaze. Only after a mont's pause did his mouth open again.
“At first, I was just resentful and felt empty. But only after losing everything did my blurry vision start to clear.”
Brauchitsch raised his head, looked at
intently, and asked.
“You and the Fourth Reich are ultimately working for the fatherland, aren't you?”
“Of course.”
Brauchitsch let out a small sigh at my answer and glanced at Model.
“I don't know you well, but I trust my junior's judgnt.
Well, he is the junior who stabbed
in the back, though.”
“Ahem.
I am also the junior who continues to visit you, Senior.”
Seeing General Model make excuses like that, I felt a cynical laugh about to burst out, as it felt just like my relationship with General Model.
Brauchitsch seed to hesitate for a mont, then opened his mouth.
“Küchler is trying to stage a coup with the 3rd Army and the Nazi remnants.
Himmler's confidant, Schellenberg, is in Germany right now.”
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