The Rise of the Third Reich

"That's the problem," Hitler smiled movingly at Stalin. "That's exactly why we're meeting in Oslo. Both of our socialist countries need help from the other. Without the Soviet Union, we couldn't get Czechoslovakia. And without Germany and the Soviet Union were also unable to recover the lands occupied by Poland."

Hersmann translated all of Hitler's original words into Russian, and then added his own words: "As long as the Soviet Union and Germany can cooperate sincerely, we will both get what we want."

In fact, the premise that Hitler had little interest in Poland was that Poland was sufficiently pro-German. But Hirschman knew that this premise actually did not exist. Poland has always been a friend of France, not of Germany. This is the foundation of Poland's founding. Piłsudski can only fine-tune it, but cannot completely change it. Moreover, Piłsudski is old and will not live long. Can he still expect his successor, who is far less prestigious than him, to solve the problems that he cannot solve now?

Therefore, the final battle between Pod and Germany is inevitable! Moreover, if we don’t overthrow Poland, can we safely attack France in the future? Therefore, it is a question of whether to swallow Poland, not whether to fight or not.

"Cooperation?" Stalin asked with interest, "How to cooperate?"

The Soviet leaders suddenly found themselves in a disadvantaged position in the "Soviet-German cooperation". Because right-bank Ukraine must be recovered, and to recover right-bank Ukraine, the Soviet Union must go to war with Poland. And Poland is an ally of Britain and France. Unless the Soviet Union and Germany take action together, the Soviet Union has little chance of winning.

"Before we could lay claim to Czechoslovakia, you provoked an armed conflict in Right Bank Ukraine." Hitler made his demands.

According to the General Staff's plan (actually Hessmann's plan), Germany should attack Austria when Italy attacks Ethiopia or when civil war breaks out in Spain. This ensured that Italy was on Germany's side. After capturing Austria, Germany will look for opportunities to attack Czechoslovakia. At this time, the Soviet Union needs to cooperate to create a local war in right-bank Ukraine.

"Is this to allow the Soviet Union to attract imperialist firepower?" Stalin immediately expressed his objection.

"It's just a local war. It won't trigger a large-scale conflict. As long as the Soviet Union is unwilling to escalate the situation."

Hersman shrugged and said indifferently: "The Soviet Union and Poland had many disputed territories, and small-scale exchanges of fire often occurred in the 1920s."

Stalin actually knew this. The current national policy of Britain and France is not to want to fight!

As long as the Soviet Union adopts a local war policy and only starts a war over a disputed territory, Britain and France will never get involved - it is always difficult to tell who fired first and who had premeditation in such territorial disputes. If Britain and France would get involved in the Soviet-Polish conflict because of a small territorial dispute, it would be equivalent to giving Piłsudski a blank check that could provoke a world war at any time.

"If you did nothing after successfully annexing Czechoslovakia, wouldn't the Soviet Union be bleeding on the Soviet-Polish border in vain?" Stalin asked coldly.

"Is it possible for a German Empire that has annexed Austria, Czechoslovakia, and the Baltic Republics to do nothing?" Hessmann asked with a sneer. "Comrade Stalin, you should know the concept of European balance of power, right?"

800,000 square kilometers, with a population of more than 90 million and nearly 100 million (there are more than 80 million Germans in person), and the industrial strength is far ahead of Britain and France - in this time and space, Germany's industrial strength is stronger than in history, and then merged Czechoslovakia and Austria, which inherited most of the heavy industry from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, had industrial strength comparable to that of Britain and France combined.

Under this situation, Europe can be said to be on the verge of war. If it is not careful, the world war will break out again.

"Moreover," Hessman looked at the great leader of the Soviet Union, "Comrade Stalin, you should understand the fighting power of the Soviet-German alliance! The combined population, workers and military power of our two countries can easily overwhelm Britain and France. By then, as long as If you want to fight, why should we not fight?”

Stalin frowned, "You mean, the Soviet Union will join Germany in going to war with Britain and France?"

"It depends on Britain and France, maybe they will abandon Poland," Hersman laughed, "and you can take back right-bank Ukraine without any difficulty."

"That is to say, neither of our two countries need to take the initiative to declare war on Britain and France," Stalin looked at Hessmann and Hitler, "Is this what you mean?"

Sure enough, he is very cunning!

Hersmann and Hitler looked at each other. Hitler said: "Then leave the choice of declaring war to Britain and France... However, the Soviet Union must declare war on Poland, otherwise Germany will not follow suit."

"We declare war together so that we can intimidate Britain and France." Stalin said.

The great leader of the Soviet Union was well aware that his country had geopolitical advantages. It was far away from the core of Europe, too large in area, and its climate was too cold. It is a behemoth that cannot be defeated.

But Germany can be defeated. Britain and France have already defeated Germany once!

Therefore, Stalin felt that Britain and France were likely to acquiesce to the Soviet Union's takeover of Right Bank Ukraine, Western Ukraine, and Western Belarus. At the same time, it fought a bloody battle with Germany.

Hersmann and Hitler exchanged glances, and then said very firmly: "It's acceptable! This time we will defeat Britain and France!" He looked at the expressionless Stalin, and then said, "But we have a condition."

"What conditions?" Stalin asked.

"Spain!" said Hersman.

"Spain?" Stalin was stunned, "You want to invade Spain?"

"No, we are going to fight in Spain!" Hessman said.

"Who are you fighting with?" Stalin still didn't understand. Germany and Spain are not bordering each other at all, and Hessmann doesn't even intend to occupy the wealthy Poland, so why would he want Spain, a remote country?

"With you!" said Herschmann, "a war between National Socialism, Fascism and Marxism!"

"But we are comrades!" Stalin said in a very surprised tone. “We are all socialists, how can we kill each other?”

"This is a show!" Hersman laughed. "It's to confuse the enemy and make them think that the Soviet Union and Germany are enemies rather than brothers... Comrade Stalin, I know you have agents there, and we also have agents in Spain. Comrade. Our people and your people will fight sooner or later, right?"

A republican revolution broke out in Spain in 1931 and established a democratic country of gun + vote. It's a bit similar to Austria after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but Austria is a small game compared to Spain. Spain's left and right factions have far stronger armed forces than the Austrian Three Parties, and their violence is more brutal.

Moreover, the revolutionary line of the Spanish Communist Party was also more radical. After the founding of the Republic in 1931, a series of land reforms were implemented! They also implemented disarmament, closed military academies (disarmament and closure of military academies showed that the reform was not supported by the military), restricted religious groups from preaching, and other actions to forcefully suppress Catholicism.

Its radicalness is almost comparable to the revolutionary government in southern China in this time and space! However, the revolutionary government in southern China was a government with a powerful revolutionary army, and its main targets were the weak landlords and gentry.

While the Spanish Republicans attacked the landlords, they also targeted the powerful Spanish army and the Catholic Church.

Therefore, the struggle between the revolutionary and counter-revolutionary forces in Spain was very fierce. The left and right forces grew rapidly in the struggle, and the center quickly disappeared. Moreover, the left and right factions are evenly matched, and no one has the power to extinguish the other at once. A situation like that in Germany where Junkers + Nazis firmly control the regime will never happen in Spain.

Therefore, all discerning European politicians could have predicted the outbreak of civil war in 1933.

In addition, both the left and right factions in Spain are supported by European powers. Behind the right wing are Italy and Germany. Although fascism and national socialism are not exactly the same path, they can be united after all. Behind the Leftists was naturally the Soviet Union and the Third International. Stalin was no less motivated to interfere in Spain than Mussolini.

Hersman actually didn't have much of a good impression of the Spanish right wing. He knew that Franco was at both ends of the world in World War II - if Spain was willing to join the axis, Germany could seize Gibraltar and blockade a corner of the Mediterranean. Entrance. In this way, the situation in the battlefields of North Africa and the Mediterranean will be greatly improved.

Therefore, Hessmann did not want to create a bigger "hook" for Spain's right wing. He just wanted to co-act with Stalin in a bitter trick in Spain. Of course, the "bitter meat" must be Spain.

Moreover, the Spanish battlefield is also a good place to test various new weapons and tactics. Let German officers and soldiers practice their skills there first, so that it will be easier to fight against Britain, France and Poland in the future.

"Okay," Stalin thought for a while, nodded with a smile, "It's settled, we will put on a good show in Spain to show Britain and France. But... our cooperation must continue!"

Hitler took over the topic at this time, "Yes! Cooperation is cooperation, and war is war!"

Hersman looked at his watch and said: "Mr. Prime Minister, Comrade General Secretary, the time is almost up, and we have almost finished talking. Now it is time to receive the Nobel Peace Prize... This is what you two deserve." "

Hitler stood up, nodded and said: "Yes, this is what Comrade Stalin and I deserve. We have broken our hearts for peace in Europe. And we will win a thousand years of peace and prosperity for Europe! In the future, all Europeans will thank us!"