November 28, 1939
Northern Germany, Berlin, outskirts The outskirts of Berlin had beco a hellish battlefield where bullets rained down and the roar of tanks echoed without end.
“Charge, charge!”
Soldiers who found courage watching their comrades charge ahead saw them turned into lumps of at, and beca prey for the machine guns before they could even turn.
Their courage devolved into recklessness, becoming a line of corpses strewn across the cold ground.
“Damn it, you sons of bitches! You shoot your own compatriots for a criminal regi!”
“Shut up, you traitor bastards! Sieg Heil!”
Engaged in a fierce urban warfare among the buildings, the soldiers of the New Governnt and the Nazis scread, cursed, and burned with unrestrained hatred.
Only the beginning had been difficult; as casualties mounted, it took but a mont for them to lose all hesitation in killing one another.
“Commander, the casualties are too high.
We are being pushed back continuously!”
The National Defense Force was storming Berlin from all directions.
The outskirts of Berlin had already been occupied by the National Defense Force from all sides, and the Nazi army was doing nothing more than forcing losses on them and delaying their advance.
The 10th Army Commander, Walther von Reichenau, responded resolutely despite the report from his Chief of Staff, Friedrich Paulus.
“Rather than hand Berlin over to a bunch of idiots who don't even understand the Führer's true ideals, we will fight for the Führer to the last man!”
Friedrich Paulus bit his lip.
He had wanted to surrender after hearing the broadcast from his close friend Walther Model, but Reichenau always kept him by his side as a close aide, and having missed the opportunity, he had been dragged this far.
Paulus shook his head.
He turned away from the enraged Reichenau, who was glaring only at the map, and muttered softly as he left.
“What a senseless death this is, all for the likes of the Bohemian Corporal.”
-
December 1, 1939
Northern Germany, Potsdam, a city southwest of Berlin - National Defense Force Northern Army Headquarters (Forward Base)
Tyrol, which had been on the verge of being completely overrun by the Italian Army's general offensive, was barely saved as the Luftwaffe, having flown to Frankfurt, regrouped and joined the battle, and the Bohemian front army, freed after the surrender of the 14th Army, departed as reinforcents, leaving only so public order maintenance troops behind.
After the withdrawal from Berlin, where more than half of the 10th Army had surrendered.
With the exposure of Italy's bombing of Tyrol, the Prince's death, and the order to bomb Frankfurt that was given to the Luftwaffe, more people escaped from Berlin and surrendered to the National Defense Force.
Yet, those who remained with the Nazis were desperately defending Berlin.
We tried everything we could, using all sorts of ans and thods like broadcasting nonstop and scattering flyers, to make more of them surrender.
But even then, we couldn't make everyone surrender.
“The casualties, how many did you say?”
“The total count so far is 27,323, Vice Minister.”
I bit my lip upon hearing the report from the Chief of the General Staff, Erich von Manstein.
The Battle of Berlin, which began on November 25, had already produced tens of thousands of casualties in just six days.
If our side, which is conducting an encirclent offensive with overwhelming military force, has that many casualties, how many are there in total when you include the enemy and the civilians unlucky enough to be caught in the crossfire?
The Nazis were openly conducting a defensive battle, ambushing from every building in the urban area of Berlin.
But it's not like the Nazis evacuated the civilians beforehand, and we couldn't just rain artillery bombardnt or bombing on Berlin, where civilians were also trapped.
It wasn't like Stalingrad where we could just wipe out entire buildings with flathrowers, and with them waging urban warfare using their own people as hostages, the sacrifices were piling up like a snowdrift.
Those damn Nazi bastards are truly vile.
“Why, for bastards like those…”
Although it was unavoidable, I am, in fact, one of the main instigators of this civil war.
I started it knowing there would be sacrifices, but still, the weight of it is too heavy.
What are they fighting for, those who are dying while throwing away their lives for the Nazi Regi? Just what is it that makes them go that far?
Is it fanaticism for the Nazi Regi? A grudge against the New Governnt? Or are they simply following orders?
“Ahem, ahem.
Vice Minister. That warm heart of yours that cares for the soldiers is worthy of respect, but the current casualties are very low compared to what was predicted in the Civil War Plan.”
Thanks to Manstein trying to humor
even in a situation like this, a hollow laugh escaped .
General Witzleben, who was next to , also placed a hand on my shoulder and added.
“That's right. If not for the dia war you and your people waged, the number of casualties would have been in a different digit.
In the end, blood must be shed to end the civil war. It’s good to have a sense of responsibility, but you don't need to agonize over things beyond your control.”
“…Thank you.”
Just how bad must my expression have been for these high-ranking Generals to act like this.
How embarrassing. I tried to manage my expression and glared at the operation map.
Berlin was surrounded on all sides, and the outskirts had almost entirely fallen into our grasp. At this rate, Berlin wouldn't last more than a week, even if it held out for long.
But during that desperate week, how large a mountain of corpses would have to be piled up? How wretched a state must the capital of Germany fall into?
The desperate Battle of Berlin that Nazi Germany fought against the Soviet Army in the original history was being reenacted as a civil war between Germans.
My finger, which had been pointing at the operation map, moved toward the territory of Poland.
“Poland…”
The Soviet Union declared a counterattack against Finland, citing a reason reminiscent of the Nazi's Gleiwitz radio station attack—that Finland had shelled its territory. It was the opening of the Winter War.
Imdiately after, we consulted with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and proposed a non-aggression treaty to Poland once again, conveying our intention to discuss cooperation against the Soviet threat.
The military is still hostile toward Poland, but they didn't oppose the idea of a non-aggression treaty while the civil war was not yet over and we were at war with Italy.
Unlike the last ti when they rejected it in a single day, this ti, Poland responded that they would discuss it.
I don't know if it's because the threat from the Soviet Union has beco tangible, or because our civil war with the Nazis is ending faster than expected.
How will Poland, which has yet to make a move, act? I hope it’s in a positive direction.
“Once the civil war is over and we've dealt with those Italian bastards, we'll have to get Danzig and the Corridor back from those arrogant Polish bastards, won't we?”
Manstein, having misinterpreted my finger pointing at Poland, said it as if it were a matter of course.
“We have no intention of being hostile to Poland, at least not for now.”
Danzig.
That damn Danzig. As the land that connects the mainland to Prussia, the spiritual hotown of the Junkers, it's true that it's a land too precious for Germany to give up.
But to get that damn land, how many Germans had fallen, and how much was lost compared to what was coveted?
“We need ti to recover from the damage of the civil war and the war with Italy, and we do not wish to fight a nation that can serve as a bulwark against the Soviet Union during that ti.”
“Hmph, that's true, Vice Minister.”
Even as he said that, Manstein didn't fully hide his dissatisfied expression. It's not just Manstein; most of the German military, with its many mbers from the Junker class, probably thinks the sa way.
Of course, I too would want to reclaim Danzig if the opportunity arose. Anyone who knows German history, any German, would yearn for it.
But there are too many variables for us to just go ahead and secure Danzig and the Corridor. Having already been on a precarious tightrope walk, I don't want to throw any more gambles.
And to harbor the futile delusion of receiving Danzig through diplomatic negotiations with Poland is hopeless, due to its geopolitical importance as Poland's only passageway to the sea.
“For now, let's focus on the Nazis and Italy.”
Of course, I say this, but I wasn't just going to stop at postponing the war with Poland for practical reasons; I was contemplating how to make cooperation with Poland a reality.
How much happier would the German people be, how much would their quality of life improve, just by taking the Danzig Corridor?
Among the Germans who would go to the front and die, there would be more who would never even get to see the Danzig Corridor in their lifeti, and the Polish people are, after all, human too.
We're not madn like those Nazi bastards who would grind up and kill all the Slavs, calling them Unternsch (inferior species).
A rich country and a strong military are good.
But when even a Germany that lost imnse territory and manpower after its defeat in World War II had the potential to rise to the ranks of a leading European nation, do we really have to gamble with the lives of our people as the stakes?
“Anyway, for now, we must hasten the end of the civil war as much as possible.”
My gaze returned to Berlin.
Countless blue flags are advancing toward the center, little by little, every mont, but it is too slow.
With Poland's next move unknown and only corpses and ruins piling up, I was feeling anxious.
I have to deal with those damn Nazi bastards quickly, sohow.
But in the end, now that we've passed the stage of a dia war and reached a bloody battle, all I could do was trust the Generals of the military.
-
When the Air Force Chief of Staff, Jeschonnek, who had been left all alone, tied up at an air force base, reported that Richthofen and the Air Force frontline personnel had gathered every single airplane and surrendered, Hitler was enraged and dismissed both G??ring and Jeschonnek from their positions.
Not that it mattered, what aning was there for an Air Force Commander and Chief of Staff without an air force? Besides Kurt Student's paratroopers who were engaged in the defense of Berlin and the now-aningless administrative generals, there was nothing left in the Air Force.
The tragic news for the Nazis did not end there. As Prince Wilhelm fell in battle and the entire region of Tyrol was set ablaze by the Italian Army's bombing, a large-scale riot broke out in eastern Austria, which had been under Nazi control.
Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Josef Bürkel, and other key Nazi personnel in Austria were dragged out and beaten to death by the residents when they tried to stop it.
The Austrians who drove the Nazis out of the east chose Leopold Figl as their representative, and Figl had the entire region of Austria join the New Governnt on the condition that a referendum would be held on whether to remain with Germany after the war.
Three months since the outbreak of the civil war, and a re fifteen days since the New Governnt's departure ceremony.
As the surrounding nations were unable to hide their horror at the unexpectedly rapid developnts of the German Civil War, no one could now deny that the destruction of the once-mighty Nazi Germany was imminent.
The National Socialist German Workers' Party. The Nazis, even themselves.
-
December 3, 1939
Northern Germany, Berlin, New Reich Chancellery (Neue Reichskanzlei)
A dark night.
From the Führer's Residence, which was suprely grand but so empty it looked shabby, the music of Richard Wagner, Die istersinger von Nürnberg (The Master-Singer), was resonating.
Amid the orchestral lody coming from the gramophone, the sound of tank bombardnt from far away occasionally mixed in like discord.
Hitler stood before the desk in his office with his arms spread wide, so imrsed in the music as if he himself were the conductor of the orchestra.
Doctor Goebbels and Erwin Roml watched the leader of Nazi Germany from opposite sides.
Act 1.
As the music depicting the escalation of conflict and the protagonist's despair ca to an end, Hitler lowered his outstretched arms and looked back at Doctor Goebbels, who had been his loyal servant and mouthpiece for so long.
“We've been together a long ti, haven't we, Doctor?”
Whether he sensed the end, or whether he had montarily escaped the pain and aftereffects of the drugs and returned to his true self.
Hitler, who was privately known to be a friendly and affectionate person, looked at Doctor Goebbels with a rare, simple smile.
“Yes, The Führer.
…We have walked a very long road together.”
Goebbels replied, looking at him with a moved expression, as if to engrave that image of the Führer deep in his eyes.
No other conversation followed between the two.
Act 2.
As the performance depicting the frustrated protagonist's failed attempt to escape with his lover continued for a long while, Doctor Goebbels quietly watched Hitler and then opened his mouth.
“The Führer.
How about escaping, even now.”
“I miss the beer hall.”
Instead of answering Goebbels, Hitler murmured quietly, and as Act 3 began, he turned his gaze to Roml.
“General Roml.”
“The Führer.”
As the music continued, depicting the frustrated protagonist getting help from a collaborator, overcoming his difficulties, and preparing a song full of hope, Hitler opened his mouth, looking at Roml with an endlessly gentle face.
“You saved my life. Thank you for staying by my side until the end, even though things have co to this.”
“I was only fulfilling my duty as a soldier and the Head of Security.”
Roml's expression was more troubled than proud, but Hitler slowly approached and took both of Roml's hands.
“Thank you again, General. …Now, do as you wish.”
“…I understand, The Führer.”
Goebbels, watching the scene from behind, slowly lowered his eyes.
Act 3, Scene 5. As the drama reached its climax and the performance depicting the protagonist's wonderful song continued, Hitler released Roml's hands, turned away, and opened his mouth in a low voice.
“Wagner's Music will last forever. So will National Socialism.”
Doctor Goebbels finally had the rims of his eyes redden, and he approached his ssiah, saying.
“In the hearts of true Germans, you too will live on forever, The Führer.”
Hitler smiled, looking at his loyal subject with warm eyes.
As the piece concluded with a magnificent orchestral performance praising the greatness and eternity of German art, Hitler muttered in a voice as cold as the opposite of the look he gave his loyal servant.
“But those who do not deserve to remain must disappear.”
As soon as the music ended, the door to the Führer's office burst open, and Chief of the General Staff Franz Halder entered.
Hitler had thought of dismissing him as well, but had no choice but to keep him, as he was the only one left among the few remaining generals who could serve as Chief of the General Staff.
“The Führer.
We can't hold on any longer! Three days at most! We need a decision!”
It was a rude act to just barge in, but Hitler clapped his hands—clap, clap, clap—without any sign of displeasure.
“You've co at the perfect ti, Chief of the General Staff.”
“Y-yes?”
Even Franz Halder himself, who had co with the intention of killing the Führer to save his own skin if necessary, was flustered, but Hitler gave orders naturally.
“There are still those arrested for treason.”
“Y-yes, there are, The Führer.”
Rundstedt, Hoepner, Lepp, and others.
Those who had been arrested for arousing the Führer's suspicion or for insubordination were still imprisoned.
“Execute them all.
And all the prisoners in the police station too. No stain must be left on this Germany.”
“What? F-Führer, that's…”
“Yes, of course it is. God gave
the great mission to lead Germany, and those who failed to recognize it do not deserve to remain for eternity.”
Hitler, muttering as if possessed, looked at Halder with gleaming eyes, making one wonder if he was the sa gentle and simple person from just a mont ago, and gave an additional order.
“Blow up the Reichstag.
And the Brandenburg Gate. They are a heritage that traitors don't deserve.
Blow up this residence too, it's no longer needed.”
Franz Halder, overwheld by Hitler's madness, was deathly pale and couldn't say a word.
“I will never leave Berlin. I will be buried here with my residence and remain the eternal leader of Germany!”
As Hitler turned and shouted that—
“The Führer!”
Goebbels diving towards the Führer's back was almost simultaneous.
A gunshot rang out.
“Doctor!”
“My Führer, my ssiah, this disloyalty of going first…”
Goebbels, shot in the chest instead of the Führer, couldn't finish his words and his head dropped.
Hitler glared at Halder with bloodshot eyes.
“How dare you—”
“I-it wasn't …”
But Franz Halder's hands were empty.
Hitler's face went blank for a mont, then he stiffly turned his face.
The Führer's gaze went to the pistol in Erwin Roml's hand.
“G-General Roml. Why you? Why?”
Roml glanced at the completely frozen Halder, then opened his mouth to Hitler.
“I am deeply sorry, The Führer. You told
to do as I wished.”
As he spoke, Roml's slightly trembling expression fird up completely.
“If I must betray either Germany or you.”
Now completely calm, he opened his mouth with firm resolve.
“I will betray you.”
“Roml—!”
The Führer's angry roar was cut off by a gunshot.
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