I Don’t Need Nazis I Chapter 6:

Italy and the Nationalist faction were disastrously defeated in the Battle of Guadalajara, despite committing more than twice the forces of the Republican faction.

The initial advantage of a surprise attack was unfortunately lost to sleet and fog, and afterward, they were outmaneuvered by Enrique Líster, lost their armored unit, and were routed in surprise by a Republican counter-attack across the river.

I nearly died in the process, but I was promoted to First Lieutenant and grasped the honor of an Iron Cross 1st Class and the position of Company Commander.

My original plan was to accept so disgrace, get a military discharge imdiately, and return to Germany, but now that I was in charge of our company, I had to abandon that plan.

As Captain Kaufmann's successor, I couldn't just abandon Klens and the other company mbers to save my own skin.

If I change my perspective, this place is also a Land of Opportunity.

It's the only place in the Interwar Period, where there are no military rits to be won, that one can earn them and get promoted.

Whatever I do, having a high rank is never a bad thing.

No, since it’s certain that my father, Hjalmar Schacht, will soon be dismissed, I must build my own position sohow.

To do anything in this Age of Madness, I need power.

A re Company Commander who could die on the front line at any mont can't do anything.

-

March 27, 1937

Zaragoza, North-Central Spain With the ambitious offensive prepared by Mussolini and the Italian Army ending in a crushing defeat, the Nationalist faction's High Command gave up on capturing Madrid and switched to a strategy of systematically ousting the Republicans in other regions.

Their targets were the Republican-held provinces in northern Spain: Basque, Cantabria, and Asturias.

Although these three provinces were controlled by the Republican faction, they were cut off from the main Republican forces in the east, which included the central salient of Madrid and Valencia.

And it was decided that a part of the Condor Legion's Luftwaffe would be requisitioned to support the offensive under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Richthofen.

If that had been all, it wouldn't have much to do with , but…

A notice arrived stating that Lieutenant Colonel Richthofen had requisitioned , who had just been discharged from the hospital, to be an interpreter and Army Advisor, so I headed to the Luftwaffe base in Zaragoza to et him.

“Heil Hitler!”

“Heil Hitler. Congratulations on your promotion, First Lieutenant.”

“Thank you, sir!”

Lieutenant Colonel Richthofen, in his early 40s, accepted my salute, offered

a seat with a light smile, and I imdiately sat down.

“Let's get straight to the point.

You must be wondering why a First Lieutenant from the Army has been summoned here, right?”

“..

Yes, I am.”

It would be strange if I weren't curious.

Richthofen nodded at my reply and began to explain simply.

“First, it's an interpreter issue.

Lieutenant General Sperrle will be remaining on the Central Front, so the existing Luftwaffe interpreter officer will also stay here.”

Lieutenant General Hugo Sperrle was the commander of the Condor Legion's Luftwaffe.

That made sense, but why , specifically, for interpretation?

“Well, that's the official reason. The real reason you were called is my request.

It might be a bit sudden, but you will be loyal to the Führer and to Germany, won't you?”

The question was so sudden that a cold sweat ran down my spine. What is this, is he a mind reader? No way.

Why is he asking this? After a mont's thought, I answered simply.

“I am loyal to Germany, Lieutenant Colonel.”

Richthofen stared at , who couldn't bring himself to say he was loyal to the Führer, then smiled and spoke.

“Ah, I'll trust your words, First Lieutenant.

The person we are about to et and the contents of our discussion are top secret, so I trust you will observe that strictly.”

“Yes, sir!”

My question of what on earth he was planning to do that required such an answer was resolved in an instant, thanks to the person Richthofen and I t a short while later.

“Buenas tardes, Se??or Richthofen. (Greetings, Richthofen.

)”

“??Viva Espa??a! Se??or Caudillo. (Long live Spain! Your Excellency the Caudillo.

)”

“Oh, haha. This must be why my generals speak so highly of Se??or Richthofen.”

The man looked a little surprised at Richthofen, who had exchanged greetings in Spanish, but he soon smiled with satisfaction.

The Führer of Nationalist Spain, ‘El Caudillo’ Francisco Franco, is here! I almost spaced out, but I quickly began to interpret.

Franco had brought only one man with him, who appeared to be his guard.

“I would like to get to know Se??or Richthofen better, but my schedule is tight, so I hope you’ll understand if we get straight to the point.

As you've already been inford, this is not an official request from the State of Spain (Estado Espa??ol—the official na of Nationalist Spain). I hope you will treat it as my… hmm, personal request.”

When I translated Franco's words, Richthofen nodded as if he understood and replied.

“Of course, Se??or Caudillo.

The Führer of the Greater German Empire and the Condor Legion are, in the end, providing support to you, Se??or Caudillo, and the secret will be kept.”

Franco gave a smile reminiscent of a snake at Richthofen's reply and then stated his so-called secret order.

“In this Northern Front campaign, I hope the Condor Legion will inflict as much ‘collateral damage’ as possible.”

What did this man just say? For a mont, I forgot I was interpreting and paused.

Franco looked at , smirked, and added.

“Ah, was that a difficult expression to translate? I don't know my German well, so what I an is, it would be good if there were, as much as possible, ‘unavoidable,’ ‘many,’ ‘civilian casualties.

’”

As I stood there blankly for a mont, Richthofen patted my back as if to soothe , and only then did I co to my senses and interpret.

“He requests that we cause as many accidental bombings of civilians as possible in this operation.”

Hearing this, Richthofen paused for a mont but then asked back.

“It's not a difficult task, but isn't the north a place where forces rose up in support of the Nationalist faction before being suppressed?”

No, you're saying it's not a difficult task?

“So are, but the north is the domain of Carlists… anachronistic royalists and separatists.

There are also circumstances suggesting they’ve colluded with General Mola, who covets my position, and they are also accused of cooperating with the commies after they were suppressed. So, I need to let them know in advance that it's foolish to go against , who has such a fine friend as Germany.”

Franco said this with a faint smile. A leader who smiles while requesting the bombing of his own civilians.

This is insane. But I couldn't not relay his words, and Richthofen, upon hearing them, replied coolly.

“Ah, I see. I understand.

Since it's 'accidental bombing,' it will be difficult to do it openly, but we will try to inflict enough damage to send them a clear ssage.”

“Thank you, Se??or Richthofen.

The devotion of Germany and the Condor Legion will be rembered as an eternal friendship by the State of Spain.”

Franco spouted such words with a pleasant smile.

But that man won't join the Axis powers until the end of World War II.

Even at the mont of Germany's defeat, he'll be too busy executing countless of his own people, branding them as political criminals and commies.

Captain Kaufmann, what did the other company mbers die for here?

-

After Franco left, Richthofen and I boarded a transport aircraft to move to a newly constructed airfield near the Basque region.

Even in the early days of World War II, the Allied Forces and the Soviet Union only launched from prepared airbases, but the German Military was already testing a doctrine of constructing temporary airfields near the front lines, allowing for rapid rotation between air wings to maintain air superiority and conduct close air support.

This was Richthofen's work.

“You seed surprised, but you did well, First Lieutenant.

Don't think too deeply about it. You've read Clausewitz's On War, I presu? War is the continuation of politics by other ans.

We are soldiers, and if we obey orders, the high-ranking people will take care of politics. The Führer ordered us to cooperate actively with Franco, and we just need to follow.”

As a soldier, absolute obedience to orders and carrying them out sounds like the right attitude at first glance. But it is precisely that attitude that will cause World War II to inflict the most horrific sacrifices in all of world history.

At the hands of our German Military.

“But indiscriminate bombing of civilians with no will to resist is a war cri, Lieutenant Colonel.”

Richthofen paused for a mont at my words, then burst into laughter.

“Haha, hahaha—First Lieutenant.

A war cri is sothing the victors ultimately decide according to their convenience. The most important thing for us soldiers is to be loyal to the state and follow its orders.

And right now, the Führer who leads our Great Germany has no interest in so-called ‘war cris.’”

I suppose so.

Of course Hitler has no interest in such things. But will you still say that, Richthofen, after committing unnecessary war cris, turning even the residents of occupied territory who could have been allies into enemies, and fighting a war of attrition to the end, only to be defeated?

As I kept my mouth shut, Richthofen looked at my expression, chuckled, and opened his mouth.

“You wondered why I brought you of all people.”

“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.”

“I heard you've been selected as an admission candidate for this year's class at the War Academy.”

“Ah!”

Just as only officers from the Military Academy can aim to beco generals in Korea, in Germany, only those who complete the course at the War Academy and earn the qualification to be called a General Staff officer can beco generals.

However, unlike Korea's Military Academy, where one graduates and then serves as an officer, Germany's War Academy admits and educates proven personnel who have already served in the military and built a certain level of career.

There are very special cases like the famous Erwin Roml, who beca a Field Marshal without going through the General Staff course, but in reality, Roml was on bad terms with other General Staff-graduate generals throughout the war.

So, completing the General Staff course ans one is a future general.

“Well, don't get too excited just yet.

The competition among the candidates is fierce.”

“Yes, I am aware.”

Only about one in ten candidates selected for the War Academy are actually granted admission, so it wasn't sothing I didn't know.

But more important than that is that the War Academy is in Berlin.

When this Spanish Civil War ends, it will be just before World War II. If I return to Germany then, I'll have far too little ti to do anything, but if I return to Berlin first to enter the War Academy, it's a different story.

It's not about whether I beco a General Staff officer or not, it's that I can get a chance to do sothing before World War II breaks out!

“But you have a noticeable track record, so if you continue to perform well, the possibility is high. Your unit is on standby due to heavy losses in the last battle, so take this opportunity to observe the Luftwaffe's operations and submit a proper report.

Who knows? The superiors might like it.”

“Yes, Lieutenant Colonel.

I will keep that in mind.”

This was incredibly important to , but at the sa ti, it was a sowhat unexpected favor.

Hermann G??ring, the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, is proceeding with the Four Year Plan, a state-controlled economic policy. This is a plan that clearly opposes the representative of free-market economics, my father, Hjalmar Schacht.

In fact, Hjalmar Schacht will soon be dismissed, pushed out by G??ring, whose position in the Nazi Party is solid. So, from the Luftwaffe's perspective, I'm the son of a political enemy.

So why go to the trouble?

“Why, is it unexpected?”

“With all due respect, yes, it is, Lieutenant Colonel.”

Richthofen patted my shoulder and answered.

“Whatever the circumstances of the high-ranking people, politics is their job, isn't it? While we're suffering together in this faraway foreign land, it's also a superior's job to support a promising up-and-cor.”

“Is that so, sir.”

At my ambiguous reply, Richthofen chuckled and added.

“Ah, well, that's the polite way of putting it.

Major Beckers recomnded you, and after eting you myself, I saw no problem, so I accepted. And this is just my personal opinion.

I can trust that my personal opinion will stay in your head, can't I, First Lieutenant?”

“Yes, of course, Lieutenant Colonel!”

“The Luftwaffe is a nascent military. We are at the stage where we must now prove our value, but in the Army, there are many who want to treat us as a subordinate group.

His Excellency Commander G??ring is furious about this and tries to protect our independence from the Army, but I don't think it's a problem that can be solved through confrontation.”

Indeed, during World War II, G??ring's obsession with the Air Force was severely pathological and a major culprit in drastically reducing the German military's strength, but on the other hand, the Army so strongly pushed for the so-called ‘subjugation by the Army’ of the Air Force that such an attitude seed to have its reasons.

“I believe that in modern warfare, the combined arms cooperation between the Army and the Air Force will be the most important factor. But that shouldn't be all the Air Force is.

Nevertheless, the Wehrmacht, especially the Army, still has many conservatives, and they want the Air Force's role to be faithfully confined to supporting the Army.”

In the end, with G??ring trying to only look out for the Air Force, the prideful Army that looked down on other branches, and the marginalized Navy, Germany was increasingly unable to properly utilize its capabilities, with the SS's Waffen-SS joining the Wehrmacht's dissonant trio.

And the supre leader who should have coordinated all this only added more confusion.

So, the role Richthofen expects of

is…

“In this Northern Front campaign, I will fully demonstrate the potential and value of the Luftwaffe.

If possible, you should report this to the higher-ups in a positive light, and if you get into the War Academy, I hope you will improve the perceptions of the officers who will be your batchmates, those who will be responsible for Germany's future.”

Even though he says that, I think a Lieutenant Colonel is well aware that a single company-grade officer cannot play a major role right away.

He's probably trying to consistently create cases like .

“Haha, well, don't feel too burdened.

I'm not your direct superior anyway, rank aside, so I'm just hoping you'd consider our grievances a little. And while you're at it, I'd appreciate it if you could teach

so Spanish while we're together.

It's so frustrating not being able to communicate.”

Was it said that Richthofen was almost the only officer dispatched to the Condor Legion who tried to learn Spanish?

That's why Spanish officers didn't particularly like the arrogant German officers dispatched to the Condor Legion, but Richthofen, who was approachable, tried to discuss things with the Spanish officers, and tried to learn Spanish, was quite popular.

“I understand, Lieutenant Colonel. I will do my best.”

He may be a man who can say he feels great watching cities and civilians burn, but he was a person who was seriously thinking and working hard for the future of the Luftwaffe and the Wehrmacht.

Well, that must be why the Luftwaffe officers missed him so much when Richthofen retired due to health problems.

They must have thought things would have been better if he were there, instead of the drug-addled G??ring who was ruining the Air Force.

Most Germans caught up in World War II would be like that.

They believed in their governnt and did their best in their respective positions, but because it was a madman's criminal regi, they beca war criminals and were left as the losers of the era.

Except for a few who actively participated, they would have had to tacitly approve of or cooperate with war cris for their own self-preservation, or they would be swayed by the Nazi regi's lies and have to bear the guilt of an astronomical event of tens of millions of deaths.

And the main culprits like Hitler or Goebbels would just escape through suicide.

People like Richthofen are certainly problematic individuals who can commit war cris without hesitation, but depending on the governnt handling them, they could have remained as just sowhat radical patriots… yes, like Arica's Curtis LeMay, for example.

Knowing all this, could I possibly stay sane if I just ran away to save myself, only to watch a Europe and Germany left with nothing but countless deaths and ruins?

But if I can get to Berlin before World War II breaks out, I might be able to prevent such a catastrophe.