The Rise of the Third Reich

"There will be no president in Germany in 1938?" Litvinov glanced at Kollontai, "Madam, do you mean that the Hohenzollern dynasty may be restored?"

"There is a great possibility!" Kollontai said, "The Junker nobles are all royalists. Hessmann is one of them, and of course he is also a royalist."

She paused and then said: "The EU idea proposed by Hirschmann is very similar to the United States of Europe proposed by the German Emperor. Before the World War, many German politicians fantasized about establishing a Europe with only a single customs organization. 'Fighting against the United States on the other side of the ocean. Isn't this what Hersman proposed as an EU?

Of course, from a practical perspective, it was impossible to integrate all European countries, excluding the Soviet Union, into the European Union. Britain, France and Italy would not consider joining. The Germans may only be able to pursue a commonwealth that includes all the territories of the original German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, plus the Baltic States, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Norway, and perhaps the Polish Federation. Form a mini-EU. "

"It's roughly the Holy Roman Empire plus the Kalmar Union (a union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)."

Litvinov adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and said thoughtfully: "By merging the Hohenzollern dynasty and the Habsburg dynasty through dynastic marriage, annexing Austria and uniting Czechoslovakia and Hungary will become very special. It’s easy, and Croatia, to which Yugoslavia belongs, will also be shaken... Madam, your analysis makes sense. This is probably the route the Germans take to realize their EU ideals.”

The People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union picked up the coffee cup placed on the table and took a sip. "This is also a situation we must try our best to avoid." He smiled faintly. "We cannot let our German friends get it too easily. Want something.”

Kollontai laughed. "They cannot relax. They are destroyers of the existing order in Europe. Throughout history, all destroyers of order will face many difficulties... because the defenders of the old order will do everything possible to stop it." She put away her smile, "Actually, We are also destroyers!"

Litvinov smiled and said: "But we are calmer than the Germans... Because our system has huge advantages, time is on our side. Let the Germans destroy it first. , we just took advantage of the opportunity to develop - the Germans' misbehavior has made the international situation favorable, and now we have to be a defender of the European balance of power - when the Germans lose their composure and use force, our opportunity will be coming."

Before 1931, the biggest "villain" in Europe was definitely the Red Soviet Union. It is the country with the largest area, the most population and the richest resources in Europe. It practices deviant Bolshevism and is industrializing at a rapid pace, which makes the old imperialists of Britain and France shudder.

And now, the biggest "villain" in Europe seems to have become Germany - at least in the eyes of the French, it is already Germany! Although the Notre Dame de Blancs government in France does not dare to use military means to attack Germany, it does not mean that they will not use diplomatic means to piece together an anti-German alliance.

The Red Soviet Union had long seen through the minds of the French, so before the German army entered the Rhineland, they proposed the concept of "European collective security." It was hoped that a "Collective Security Treaty" could be signed that would include the Soviet Union, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Finland, the Baltic Republics and France. In return, France signed the Franco-Soviet Mutual Assistance Treaty with the Soviet Union. At the same time, France supported the Soviet Union's joining the League of Nations and becoming a permanent member.

Such a proposal is tantamount to giving timely help to the French!

…

"Haha, you are an admiral now! Ludwig, how do you feel?"

Schleicher patted the epaulette with two general stars on Hessmann's shoulder - this is the military rank of "Second General" or "General of the Arms" or "General of the Arms" of the German Wehrmacht. The lieutenant general of the German Wehrmacht has only one star, and the shoulder insignia of the major general is bare without stars. As for the lieutenant generals above, there are three levels: service general/second-level general/service general, first-level general/general, and marshal. However, the rank of marshal of the National Defense Force has not been awarded yet. Therefore, among active military personnel, the highest military rank is general/general.

Currently there are only three generals in the army: Defense Minister Schleicher, Deputy Defense Minister Blomberg and Chief of General Staff Hamerstein. Hessmann received the rank of infantry general on November 13, 1932, but his position remained unchanged. He was still deputy chief of staff - equivalent to the first director of munitions in the past, and in today's Germany He is the third most powerful figure in the National Defense Forces. Second only to Generals Schleicher and Hammerstein.

Guderian and Kesselring were promoted on the same day as Hessmann. The former was promoted to general of armored forces and also appointed director of armored forces. The latter was promoted to aviation general and became the first commander-in-chief of the German Wehrmacht Air Force.

The promotions of the three military generals were completed in the ceremonial hall of the Ministry of Defense, and the Minister of Defense, General Schleicher, personally wore epaulettes for them. Hessmann was the most junior of the three and therefore the last to wear the rank of general in the service.

"It's a great responsibility," Hessmann turned and looked at the shoulder straps - infantry general! One step further is the Army General. "But let's find a place to have dinner now. I'll treat you. Or you can go to my house. Chloe just hired a chef who can cook French cuisine."

"French food is good, I like it very much," Guderian said with a humorous smile, "Although I don't like France, I have to admit that this country still has many good things, French food is one of them. In addition, their tanks are also great, the best in the world, and I, the director of armored forces, only have some children's toys in my hands."

"But you will use those "toys" to teach the French a lesson in the future." Hersmann said, "Heinz, I know you have a way."

"Is there a way?" Guderian shrugged and spread his hands, "Why don't I know?"

"I know!" Kesselring took over the topic with a smile, "Use airplanes to bomb... In the future, the army may only need to defend behind the Siegfried Line. The victory or defeat of the world war will be decided in the air."

"Douhet's point of view," Guderian said, "but I believe more in Charles de Gaulle's "Building a Professional Army" and Fuller's "Armored Warfare". By the way, Ludwig, that Fuller seems to be your admirer."

John Frederick Fuller was a "national socialist". After retiring from the British Army, he got close to a British National Socialist organization called the "New Great Britain Alliance". And he seemed to have read many of Hirschman's works, accepted the view of currency war, and agreed that the Great Depression was a conspiracy of Jewish financial oligarchs - in fact, Hirschman's view is being "verified" by facts.

In the US presidential election that is about to end, Franklin Roosevelt, who is leading in the polls, proposed the "New Deal" plan. And some of the content of Roosevelt's New Deal was confirmed by the book "The Great Depression - The Conspiracy of Jewish Financial Elites".

"Rare wise people," Hirschman said as he walked to the parking lot of the Ministry of Defense building with three generals, "most of the British are confused. Their success came too early and too easily, and they did not realize the importance of nationalism. In fact, Britain is not an empire dominated by nationalism, which has brought them and Europe a heavy lesson!"

When he said this, his expression was already a little solemn. It was not because of Britain's confusion, but because Hitler always thought about Britain's continental policy from the standpoint of "British nationalists". This made Hitler have the fantasy of "not fighting a world war" or "being able to rule the world with Britain".

And it was not only Hitler who had this fantasy, even many people in the German Wehrmacht did not realize this.

"General!"

At this moment, a young captain - Schleicher's adjutant - trotted to Hessmann and others.

"The Chancellery called, the cabinet wants to hold an emergency meeting."

"Emergency meeting?" Schleicher and Hessmann looked at each other - after the Wehrmacht entered the Rhineland, Germany resumed its low profile and did not do anything out of the ordinary. The situation in Europe seemed to have returned to calm, except for the frequent exchanges between the Soviet Union and France...

"What happened?" Schleicher asked.

"French Prime Minister Courbon and Soviet Foreign Affairs People's Commissar Litvinov have just issued a joint statement: they hope to sign a security guarantee convention involving multiple Eastern and Central European countries to maintain peace in Eastern and Central Europe!"

"It seems that I can't eat your French food anymore." Schleicher looked at Hersman and said with some regret, "The French and the Soviets are really good at making trouble."

"Let's go to the Chancellery together," Hersman said, "We must seriously consider whether to join this convention."

This is probably the "Eastern Pact" in history. Stasi agents have been closely following the exchanges between France and the Soviet Union for several months. Naturally, they have also heard a lot of news in this regard. It can be said that Hersman has basically grasped the general content of the convention.

"Join?" Schleicher was stunned, "Ludwig, you are not kidding, right? This convention is aimed at us!"

"Haha," Hersman laughed, "Who said: White Poland must be eliminated? The French want to use the Soviet Union to contain us? This is really the biggest joke in the world!" He pondered for a while, "So my opinion is to join in exchange for France's recognition of the legitimacy of our recovery of the Rhineland and the restoration of compulsory military service."