< World War II - Our Fatherland (1) >
May 10, 1940
Berlin, Northern Germany, Army General Staff Headquarters After sending a reply to Spain's leader, Franco, agreeing to a secret eting.
General Hamrstein, who had sided with the working-level officials alongside General Witzleben since the beginning of the New Governnt, resigned after the invasion of Poland due to deteriorating health.
As the man who supported Witzleben when he opposed the opinion to eliminate
during the military governnt's coup conspiracy, it was quite a personal sha.
I wondered why he, who was next in rank to Rundstedt, was unknown in modern tis, but it seems it was because he withdrew from the battlefield early.
In any case, with his retirent, we had to pick a new commander for an Army Group. The Italian front forces are currently divided into three large Army Groups.
First is the Rundstedt Army Group, led by Gerd von Rundstedt. As the most senior officer of the current Wehrmacht, it's natural for him to lead an Army Group.
Under his command are Erwin Roml and General Oswald Lutz.
Second is the Bock Army Group, led by Fedor von Bock.
As he is the next most senior after Rundstedt, this is also natural. He commands General Günther von Kluge and General Heinz Guderian.
The problem is who to entrust with the third Army Group that General Hamrstein had been in charge of.
"Suitable candidates are General Johannes Blaskowitz and General Georg von Küchler."
At the words of Army Chief of Staff Manstein, the Army's Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb, gave an imdiate answer without even hesitating.
"Let's go with Blaskowitz."
Wow, how resolute.
He didn't hesitate for a single second.
Field Marshal Leeb's gaze turned to Minister of Defense Ludwig Beck, and he too nodded.
"I agree. Küchler was a person who actively agreed with Hitler's racism, and in the end, he remained in East Prussia until the very end, only surrendering after Hitler's defeat.
On the other hand, Blaskowitz has the rit of having the 8th Army surrender—"
"Ahem, ahem, respected Your Excellency, Field Marshal. That rit was mine…"
Ah, there goes Manstein again…
Ludwig Beck looked at Manstein with an utterly pathetic gaze, then corrected him.
"…he has the rit of helping Manstein make the 8th Army surrender."
I wonder if Beck, who still cherished him and had him pegged as his successor Chief of Staff, was a great man, or if he only saw Manstein's ability…
As I was idly thinking that, the gazes of the three n turned to .
Huh? Why are you looking at ?
"If that is the military's opinion, then I have no objections."
I may be a Vice Minister in the New Governnt, but a re lieutenant colonel trying to act smart and butt in would only make for a bad public image, so why are they so keen on hearing my opinion?
In fact, for our governnt, Küchler, who straddled the line of being a pro-Nazi figure, was quite distasteful, so if the military voluntarily filtered him out, I'm grateful.
The problem is that Küchler is also a fairly senior general, and one with a number of followers who acknowledge his ability…
"Co to think of it, will General Küchler not be deployed to the front?"
The Siegfried Line is held by Witzleben and General Model, and while most general officers are deployed to the Italian front, Küchler was still stationed in the territory gained from Poland.
"He will continue to be in charge of public security managent in West Prussia and Posen, as well as defending the Polish border."
Hearing Field Marshal Leeb's indifferent reply, I felt inwardly fed up.
He's a figure worthy of commanding an Army Group, yet they're openly ostracizing him, telling him not to achieve any rits, huh?
Küchler was already a general with severe racism, and I had to run around frantically monitoring things, afraid that so unpleasant incident might occur between the expulsion of the Poles and the settlent of the Jews.
"I see…"
Honestly, I feel this might be a bit of an excessive check, but it's not my place to presumptuously interfere in the political maneuvering between the high-ranking military officials.
In any case, since the military is independently catering to the tastes of the Fourth Reich, I should consider it fortunate.
"The deploynt of the new Panzer IVs needs to happen quickly."
Field Marshal Leeb muttered with a slightly impatient expression.
After hearing about the T-34s and KV-1s from the photos and the shock they caused in Poland, the army high command began to strongly support the main gun replacent as if they had never opposed it.
Rather, the problem is that the very people who had opposed it are now getting impatient.
"It's still in the developnt stage, Your Excellency, Field Marshal. For now, we've reinforced the armor as an urgent asure, so I would be grateful if you could give us a little ti."
"Hmph, the Vice Minister's and the Minister of Defense's logistics managent is excellent. I'll trust you."
"Thank you.
Then I will understand that the 3rd Army Group will be commanded by General Blaskowitz."
It's a relief that the trust I've built up over ti is helpful at monts like this.
After a crushing defeat in the last offensive, we were reorganizing our forces while waiting for the deadline on the ultimatum Britain sent to France.
Unless France is full of madn, there will be so change in the situation, whether they withdraw that great Hawk's Legion or do sothing else.
At least, it was certain that ramming into them now wouldn't break through.
While waiting, there was no choice but to equip ourselves with new Panzer IVs and wait for the dium self-propelled guns currently under developnt.
"You are always working hard, Mr. Vice Minister, Mr.
Minister! The governnt's deep interest and steadfast support for the military is always admired, and we are doing our utmost in loyalty!"
"Thank you, Mr. Chief of Staff. The governnt is well aware of your hard work, so please don't worry."
"Ooh, as expected, the Fourth Reich acknowledges my devotion! Hahaha!"
Beck didn't even bother to reply, finding it a nuisance, so the role of responding to Manstein, who would follow us out after the conversation was over just to offer flattery, always fell to .
Manstein smiled with great satisfaction upon hearing my reply, but…
Yeah, no. The Chancellor probably only knows your na and position.
But there's no need to tell him that reality.
-
May 16, 1940
Near Frankfurt, Central Germany, Siegfried Line Defense Command Headquarters We received a reply that Franco was dispatching a secret envoy to Germany, but since he's coming secretly, it will take ti as he is traveling by ship.
A war is clearly raging in Europe, but we were having a brief period of rest and reorganization.
The German army, while in a stand-off with the Italian army across the Alps, has halted all military activities and is concentrating on reorganization and munitions production to avoid giving France a justification to use as an excuse.
The Soviet Union, after their main force pulled out, is also in a state of re stand-off with Finland, and on the Polish front, they are reorganizing after suffering great sacrifices.
There are clearly three fronts, but it's a strange situation similar to the Phony War of the original history.
It feels like the calm before the storm, so honestly, I was a little anxious.
Of course, we are only waiting for France's reaction, but in any case, I am spending my busy days as always, running around here and there.
"Welco, Vice Minister."
"You're working hard, General Witzleben."
Witzleben let out a chuckle.
"What for? It's a quiet front."
"How could that be? Because you, General, are guarding the French border without any openings, the military was able to deal with Poland with peace of mind, and now we can concentrate on the Italian front."
Honestly, I felt a bit sorry for General Witzleben, who was only keeping a close watch on the French front, where a fight could break out at any ti.
"Well, it doesn't feel bad to hear you say that."
Next, I turned my gaze to General Model, who was standing beside him.
"General Model."
"Schacht."
General Model smiled brightly at .
At official functions, he also calls
Vice Minister and uses honorifics, but when I asked him to treat
as usual in settings like this, he was subtly pleased.
"I'm always grateful.
And, um. I'm sorry.
Both you generals should be achieving rits on the front lines…"
The two of them were sohow being treated like strategic weapons, reminiscent of the Tirpitz from the original history.
The two n were amazing for having voluntarily taken on the extrely risky operation of covering the withdrawing friendly forces from a position of absolute nurical inferiority and succeeding spectacularly, but for the Fourth Reich, not using the fa they gained in defensive battles…
…the Fourth Reich's circumstances were also quite tight.
The fact that these two were defending the Siegfried Line must have played no small role in breaking France's will to launch a preemptive invasion of Germany.
"Well, isn't there a saying that a soldier is at his best when he's just using up rations?"
Witzleben joked,
"I hear that not only the Vice Minister of the Chancellery but also the 'Schacht-Schacht Gun' are very popular these days. You must be busy."
General Model assaulted
by bringing up sothing I had almost forgotten.
"Cough…"
Why on earth are you calling a perfectly fine 88 (Acht-Acht) Anti-aircraft gun a 'Schacht-Schacht'! Human Schacht and Anti-aircraft gun Schacht? What is that…
"Well, enough with the jokes. The fortification of the Siegfried Line and the training of the military force are thorough. Although our military force is not large, I'm confident we can withstand most attacks."
"Those are very reassuring words."
Witzleben's words gave
a great sense of relief.
The current German army has 2 million n mobilized. Of those, only 600,000 are deployed to the Siegfried Line.
It is estimated that France has furiously reard and mobilized, as well as gathered its colonial troops, to have secured an army of up to about 3 million.
There's no way they'll do nothing with all that, so the possibility of us fighting France in the near future is extrely high.
"Rather, because they aren't engaged in combat, their training level is even higher. I've trained them ticulously to respond swiftly in an ergency, so you can have high expectations."
Training by General Model… He's a really harsh by-the-book commander and definitely not a man of empty words.
Witzleben and General Model weren't just idly sitting around because they were deployed to a front without combat; they were definitely forging the military force they were in charge of into an elite one.
I'm sure this will beco a huge asset, whenever that may be.
"Haha. It reminds
of Spain, General."
In the Condor Legion, General Model would jump up every morning and take us for a run around the parade ground…
Klens would whine every day that he was about to pass out.
General Model smiled brightly, perhaps thinking the sa thing.
"I'll be counting on you in the future. Then I'll be on my way, General Witzleben."
"Go safely, Vice Minister.
It's been a while, so feel free to leave your post for a mont, Chief of Staff."
General Witzleben casually sent us off, and I walked down the road with General Model.
Neither of us particularly opened our mouths, but the silence was closer to comfort than discomfort. I'd never feel this way with the talkative Manstein.
After walking for a while, General Model opened his mouth.
"Your facial expression has beco firm. It's much better to see."
"Yes, because the ti for deliberation has passed."
General Model smiled brightly at my words and raised his hand.
Ah, another slap on the back!
I flinched reflexively, but General Model just patted my shoulder lightly so it wouldn't hurt.
"Even from here, I hear plenty of talk about how you, Schacht, are doing so much and trying so hard."
General Model spoke calmly, but there was sothing captivating about his intense gaze from behind the monocle.
"You're going through a lot. However.
I won't tell you to take it easy. If soldiers are a general's children, then the people are a politician's children.
No parent leaves their child in danger. Right?"
The words from the man who had essentially sent
to Berlin, who had given
the start to get this far, were not a reward for my hard work.
But to , who knows what attitude he had and what kind of life he led in the original history, his words demanding devotion ca across as heavier and more passionate than any reward.
For him, who had tried to lead his subordinates and hold out as firmly as possible even in the most difficult situations, I wanted to make the Germany of this world, at least, a country worthy of his protection.
"I will keep that in mind, General. …Although I'm still a bit young to be playing the parent."
"Haha, this fellow."
When I added that playfully on purpose, General Model rcilessly slapped my back again with a thwack.
"Ughhhk…"
"By the way, any good news? You even skipped the wedding ceremony, yet there's no news from you and your pretty bride."
"Haha, I've been busy, so not yet…"
The truth is, if Claudia were to get pregnant, I feel like I'd die buried under work, and she, still young and ambitious about her career, also agreed, so we're being careful with contraception, but…
"My, my, just a good-for-nothing pretty boy, are you?"
I was a little worried about how General Model, a devout Lutheran, would react to a married couple using contraception, so I just gave a vague answer.
"Do you see Michael these days?"
"Yes, General. That friend will be getting his General Staff insignia by the end of this year."
Captain Roger Michael, a peer from the War Academy recomnded by General Model, was working at the Berlin General Staff Headquarters while following the War Academy's curriculum.
I t up with him and Klens for a drink just a little while ago.
That bastard Klens vented his resentnt to , asking why a high-ranking governnt official like him was sent to the very front line, and I had to give the explanation that I didn't interfere with the military and that the military had made that deploynt.
To think I'm friends with a guy who thinks being a high-ranking governnt official ans he can run the country as he pleases. How unfair.
"If things had gone as they were supposed to, you would have been finishing the General Staff course too."
"Haha… I'm sorry."
It's a bit awkward to say sothing like, "I gave up on the General Staff to save Germany," but I had no regrets.
As we were talking about this and that, we arrived at the waiting car.
"Well then, I'll see you next ti, General."
As I said my goodbyes, General Model smiled brightly and opened his mouth.
"Schacht. Can you spare so ti on the 25th?"
"The 25th… is that next Saturday?"
"Yes."
"Understood."
General Model looked a little surprised at my imdiate answer.
"Is the Vice Minister of the Chancellery not busy?"
"I am, but it's not often that the General asks
to make ti for sothing."
I have to make ti even if I don't have it.
I don't know what it's for, but there's enough trust between us that I don't need to ask.
We looked at each other and smiled gently.
"I asked because there's a place I want to go with you. Thank you."
"Yes, then I'll contact you the day before."
"Alright, travel safely."
A date request from General Model, of all people.
Oh my god. I love it.
It's thrilling.
If I boast about this to Claudia, will she look at
with eyes that say, 'My husband's condition is getting stranger by the day'?
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