The Rise of the Third Reich

"Are we going to support Italy in the League of Nations to turn Abyssinia into a colony?" On the special train returning to Berlin from Warsaw, German Foreign Minister Neureiter raised objections to the verbal agreement reached by Hersmann and Mussolini.

"This would make Germany the target of international criticism, and I highly doubt the Soviet Union would support us on this issue."

Hersman shook his head, "No, we cannot support Italy's colonization of Abyssinia... What we want to push is just a resolution that allows Abyssinia to pay reparations to Italy and limit the Abyssinian armed forces. This is very important to Abyssinia." It is beneficial for the people of Abyssinia, because Emperor Haile Selassie cannot implement a dictatorship without the army, and Abyssinia will become a democratic country. I think these can also be included in the resolution of the League of Nations.”

If a dictatorial monarch does not have enough troops to maintain his rule, his country can become a democratic country. What is the reason?

Hessman paused, and then said: "We should also clearly express our opposition to Italy's attempt to colonize Abyssinia. Moreover, we should also take a clear-cut stand against colonialism."

"Against colonialism?" Adolf Hitler, who had been reading the draft of the "German-Austrian Friendship and Mutual Assistance Agreement", suddenly raised his head, "Ludwig, this is the theory of the Bolsheviks!"

"Mr. Chancellor," Hessmann said to Hitler, "although we and the Bolsheviks both oppose colonialism, our positions are different. The Bolsheviks opposed colonialism based on the interests of the colonial nations. Our National Socialism is based on the interests of the colonial nations. and opposed colonialism in the interest of the European people.”

"Based on the interests of the European people?" Adolf Hitler seemed to have heard a joke. "It is in the interests of the European people to obtain raw materials and markets from underdeveloped continents."

"It can be obtained through trade," Hersman shrugged, spreading his hands. "And not all underdeveloped areas have rich and cheap resources and huge markets waiting for us. For example, Abyssinia has nothing Good thing, otherwise it would have been occupied long ago.”

He shook his head, "Actually, I sympathize with the Italians rather than the Abyssinians... Those fools are still cheering for Mussolini's stupid policies, and they don't even know that Italy will serve Abyssinian people in the future." How much does West Asia pay?”

Historically, fortunately Mussolini lost the World War, otherwise the Italians would have continued to throw lira into the bottomless pit of Abyssinia... This is completely stupid behavior!

"So we in Germany cannot and should not do such stupid things!"

Hersman smiled and said: "While we are supporting Italy in the League of Nations, we should make it clear to the world that we are 'Europe first and oppose colonization'. Europeans should take care of their own affairs first and build Europe well." , Unite well, this is the key to Europe's leadership in the world. As for the colonies in continents outside Europe, the 'ownerless' ones may as well regard them as the second and third Europe, and the 'owned' ones should let them make their own decisions, and Europe provides them. Limited help and guidance in exchange for a certain degree of market opening will be enough.”

What he said about "owners" and "ownerless" refers to the situation of the indigenous people. Colonies such as Canada and Australia, where indigenous peoples are few or have been eliminated, can become the second or third Europe. But we must also be careful not to let it become the second United States or the third United States...

In places like India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, where the indigenous inhabitants are dozens or hundreds of times more numerous than the local Europeans, there is no need to establish direct rule.

Abyssinia is such a poor place, with limited resources, barren land, and low value for development. There are also many indigenous people and the level of development is not low. It is more difficult to conquer. After conquering, not only will there be no oil and water, but you will also have to spend money on development and construction.

"Such anti-colonialism..." Adolf Hitler rolled his eyes, "Then should we publish some kind of white paper or manifesto to tell the world about this anti-colonial stance?"

"Of course," Hirschmann said, "we now have to make clear Germany's position: Europe first, national self-determination and opposition to colonialism."

Hessmann had carefully thought about the art of "packaging" of the two major imperialisms, the United States and the Soviet Union, so he also wanted to "package" Germany so that the people of the world could not always regard Germany as a fascist invader.

Moreover, Hersman felt that Germany in this time and space was not an aggressor, but a progressive force capable of leading Europe and the world.

"I can understand that Europe is number one, that is also necessary!" Adolf Hitler said, "Europe is the homeland of the Aryan nation and a sacred land."

Of course Hitler's ideas included the theory of "Aryan superiority", but under the influence of the Army Policy Council and the National Socialist International, two "sources of National Socialist thought," Germany's racist ideas were not as serious as they had been historically.

"As for national self-determination..." Hitler looked at Hersmann.

"All European Germans should live in one state, but that can only be achieved through a referendum." Hessmann said, "Only if the referendum cannot be held, or the results of the referendum cannot be implemented, Germany can Use force."

This is called "distinguishing one's strength from the enemy", and we cannot fight haphazardly, as that will make Germany's allies feel insecure. Moreover, it will be difficult to manage a large amount of Slavic land in the future. It is better to support some agents to rule.

"So how to solve the living space of the Germans?" Hitler immediately asked, "Now there are 80 to 85 million people. This number will exceed 100 million sooner or later. The living space we have is simply not enough!"

"The British Dominion of Canada is good. After we defeat the British, we can establish a 'German Canada' there."

Hessman said with his fingers: "In addition, we can also take Lithuania after defeating Poland, and the Czech Republic will also become a part of Germany, plus Austria, the Baltics, the city of Danzig, the Danzig Corridor, and Alsace. And Lorraine, Luxembourg, and some areas of Belgium (Hersmann hopes to win the Wallonia region)... In this way, we will have a mainland area of ​​more than 800,000 square kilometers.

If possible, I would also like to take Switzerland, but that depends on the will of the Swiss people (referendum). If they are willing to join, Geneva, Switzerland, could become the future capital of the European Community. "

In fact, Hersman does not think that Germany does not need to be too big. An area of ​​850,000 to 900,000 square kilometers is enough - that is the core and richest land in Europe, and it can become the center of Europe. .

Such a Germany is more than 500,000 square kilometers larger than the historically unified Federal Republic of Germany, and its population is expected to reach tens of millions. It is enough to become a strong core of the future European Union.

"What about the Russian land?" Hitler was still a little unwilling. "The rich Ukraine and the oil in the Transcaucasus. Isn't that what we need?"

"The Soviet Union is an opponent that is difficult to defeat!" Hessman squinted his eyes. "If one day we have to fight the Soviet Union, then we should also maximize the efforts to win over the opposition to the Bolsheviks. This may be the case with Ukrainians and Cossacks. power. In return, they should have their own independent country... But I don’t want that to happen.”

"Maybe they are not as powerful as you think," Adolf Hitler shook his head, "Ludwig, do you know the 'Kirov Law'?"

The so-called "Kirov Law" refers to the following changes to the Soviet Criminal Code made by the Soviet Union after the assassination of Kirov, Secretary W of the Leningrad Province, member of the Political Bureau Z, and Secretary Y of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China:

First, all judicial organs should expedite the trials of prisoners accused of crimes of planning or carrying out terrorist acts. Detection of terrorist activity cases shall not exceed ten days.

Second, the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR will not consider applications for amnesty from such criminals. Once a verdict is made, there is no appeal or pardon.

Thirdly, the NKVD should immediately execute such criminals after they are sentenced to death.

After the introduction of the Kirov Laws, mass arrests and executions began to occur within the Soviet Union. As the closest friend of the Soviet Union, Germany naturally knew more about the Soviet Union than other countries. Therefore, Hitler began to look down on the Soviet Union's combat effectiveness.

However, the "Great Purge" has just begun, and only a few hundred thousand people have been arrested, most of whom have some connection to the "Kirov Assassination". This level of arrests was far from damaging the combat effectiveness of the Soviet Red Army.

As the Minister of Equipment of the Soviet Workers' and Peasants' Red Army and Deputy People's Commissar of Defense, Mikhail Nikolayevich Tukhachevsky did not expect that he would become a criminal of the country two years later.

In fact, even Stalin did not think of eradicating this most outstanding general of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army at this time... although Tukhachevsky was once an old subordinate of Trotsky.

"Mikhail Nikolayevich," Stalin called Tukhachevsky's name affectionately in the Kremlin, "have you read the documents sent by the Germans?"

"Comrade General Secretary, I have read it several times." Tukhachevsky frowned. Unlike most of the Red Army's "army-level commanders" (the Soviet Union did not implement a military rank system at this time, and the size of officers was defined according to a certain level), Tukhachevsky was not a political worker, but a professional soldier. The military foundation is very solid. Therefore, after reading the "Summary Report of the "Iron Fist-1935" Military Exercise", I immediately discovered the shortcomings of the Soviet Red Army.