The Rise of the Third Reich

The Middle East has always been a focus of Germany's diplomatic and intelligence activities. As early as before and after World War I, Germany had spread good relations in the Middle East through its exchanges with the Turkish Empire and the Kingdom of Persia and had many friends. During the interwar period, although Germany generally shrank in the Middle East, pro-German forces continued to grow due to the British Empire's domineering behavior. After Germany's re-emergence, Germany once again became the savior hoped for by several major Middle Eastern powers in this era. However, Turkey, Germany's ally in the last world war, never expected its old friend Germany to come to the rescue.

Because now Turkey has completely drawn a clear line with the previous Ottoman Empire, and it no longer has the imperial ambitions of the past.

In the completely Western-style Prime Minister's Office in Ankara, when Prime Minister Refik Saidam of the Republic of Turkey heard German Ambassador von Papen ask about Turkey's request, he just smiled bitterly and said: "Mr. Ambassador, our Republic of Turkey is not the Ottoman Empire." Empire, we are just a peaceful medium-sized country, a nation-state belonging to the Turks, and we have no claims to territory outside the Turkish borders.”

Franz von Papen, who served in the Turkish army during World War I and knew Kemal personally, was not surprised by the Turkish Prime Minister's answer. Because what Prime Minister Saidam said was the teaching of Kemal, the founding father of the Republic of Turkey.

According to von Papen, Kemal had completely given up on the Ottoman Empire, Great Turkism, YSL religion, etc., and only wanted to preserve the last survival for the Turkish nation living on the Anatolian Plateau. space. But it’s good for Turkey’s leaders to think this way, so that they will not cause trouble for Germany’s actions in the Middle East.

"Then can our German troops and aircraft transit through Turkey?" Von Papen looked at the Turkish Prime Minister and asked in a low voice.

"Transit is possible," the Turkish Prime Minister replied, "but Turkish territory cannot be used as a starting point for attacks on third countries, because Turkey will still remain neutral."

His position had actually been discussed with the British Ambassador to Turkey. The current situation makes it clear that it is unrealistic for Türkiye to prevent the German troops from crossing the border. Moreover, in order to prevent the invasion of the Soviet Union, Turkey had to rely on Germany's protection. How could it possibly fall out with Germany?

But it is okay for Turkey not to join the German-Italian-Japanese axis, because all Germany wants is to take advantage of it. To get troops into Iran and Iraq. Moreover, under the current situation, the German army's entry into Iran and Iraq was not to oppose Britain, but to prevent the Soviet Union from moving south. This is not harmful to Turkey, so there is no need to stop it.

Von Papen raised his wrist to check the time, and then said: "In about three hours, 30 Junkers and 12 Fokker Zeros will land at Ankara Airport and refuel. After that, every two There will be the same number of planes landing at Ankara Airport every hour. Is there any problem?”

"No problem," the Turkish Prime Minister replied with a smile. "We will provide aviation gasoline for your planes. We have enough reserves."

Germany's 22nd Airborne Division has about 12,000 people, all of whom are flown to Iran. If Ju52 is used, about 1,000 sorties are needed. According to the plan, 180 sorties will be flown every day (360 sorties come and go), and all of them can be in place within 6 days.

"In addition, we also need to transport troops from the Balkans to Iraq and Iran through Turkish railways and roads." Von Papen then made another request.

The airlifted troops can only provide emergency relief. If the Soviet Union really wants to attack Iran, it cannot rely on 12,000 infantry. Armored divisions and motorized infantry divisions must be transported to Iran, and the air force must be deployed in Iran.

"No problem," Turkish Prime Minister Refik Saidam promised. "Your troops and weapons and equipment can pass peacefully through our territory." He then added, "But you cannot set out from our territory to attack others."

The German army's entry into Iran was not considered an attack, because Iran's King Reza Khan was very pro-German and had long wanted to invite the Germans in. Although the Kingdom of Iraq is controlled by the pro-British faction, the situation is over now. The most that the pro-British faction can do is burn the oil fields and escape. How dare you really fight the Germans?

"Okay, no problem!" Fon Papen nodded and left with satisfaction. After sending the German ambassador out of the Prime Minister's Office, Refik Saidam returned to his office and called the British Embassy...

…

"Mr Prime Minister, as I left Whitehall Street I received a telegram from the Embassy in Turkey that the Germans will begin airlifting ground troops to Iran this afternoon."

Cabinet Room, 10 Downing Street, London. The Italian plane did not come during the day because the British Spitfires had been flying very hard in the past few days, and the Italians had suffered a lot of losses. Therefore, Prime Minister Churchill could once again hold wartime cabinet meetings in the more comfortable Prime Minister's residence in Downing Street. As soon as the meeting began, Foreign Secretary Eden brought him bad news.

"How's it going in Iran?" Churchill was smoking a cigar, looking nonchalant.

Because he has received reports that all oil field facilities in the Khuzestan oil-producing area in southern Iran have been blown up. In Kirkuk, Iraq, the BP oil field was also completely destroyed!

Although it is not difficult for the Germans to restore the oil field with their skills, it will still take about 12 months. Moreover, the Suez Canal will also be blocked by sunken ships, and the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman will also be blocked by the British Eastern Fleet. It is not easy for the Germans to open up sea routes. As long as the sea routes cannot be opened, Iranian oil will not be able to be transported.

So before that, the Germans could at most dig some oil in Kirkuk - there was a pipeline from Kirkuk's oil fields to Mosul, and in 1940 they completed a 520-kilometer railway from Mosul to Aleppo. This railway is now a concern of Churchill, and he has also ordered it to be blown up. But how can it be possible to blow up all the 520 kilometers of railway? At most, they would blow up a few bridges, and the Germans would be able to repair them in a month or two.

Eden then told Churchill: "Reza Khan has mobilized troops to station in Tehran and implemented martial law in Tehran."

"This Reza Khan must have defected to the Germans. He was originally a pro-German faction!" Churchill took a puff of his cigar. "But it was obviously a huge mistake for the Germans to airlift their troops to Tehran. This would irritate Stalin!"

"But Stalin will not go to war with Germany because of this," Anthony Eden shook his head. "The Soviet Union's position is very clear. They require the United States to join the war first."

"But now Baku, Grozny, Batumi and other places are under the threat of German aircraft." Churchill smiled a little gloatingly and said, "The only basis of trust between the two villains, Germany and the Soviet Union, is It no longer exists, and it will only be a matter of time before they start fighting. What we have to do now is to find ways to get them to fight sooner.”

"But what can we do?" Anthony Aiden asked.

"Why is there no way?" Churchill smiled strangely, "If we make secret peace with the Germans... it is very possible, isn't it? The Duke of Windsor also proposed a decent peace plan."

The ministers in the conference room and the present Chief of Staff Sir Dill and First Sea Lord Sir Pound all showed somewhat complicated expressions when they heard Fatty Qiu's words.

After the Battle of the Mediterranean was over, the British Empire was basically coming to an end. At this time, it stands to reason that we should seek an outcome in which we surrender and lose half our lives... Moreover, there is not much hatred between Britain and Germany. The German Emperor and the British King are still very close relatives.

Therefore, after the overall situation of the Mediterranean campaign was decided, many voices of peace advocates appeared in the UK. The most representative of them is the former king and current Governor of the Bahamas, the Duke of Windsor.

The Duke wrote to his brother George VI in late February, saying that he wanted to be a matchmaker for Princess Elizabeth, and the target was Prince Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Christoph of Germany. ——He is the grandson of Emperor Wilhelm and the fourth son of Crown Prince Wilhelm.

Princess Elizabeth is the heir to the British throne and the future Queen Elizabeth II!

If the match goes through, the British throne will transfer to the Hohenzollern dynasty. Britain and Germany also changed from cousins ​​to brothers.

"In addition, do you know who the wife of Prince Louis Ferdinand, the heir to Crown Prince William, is?" Churchill asked himself, and then answered, "His wife is Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna. She is the niece of Empress Olga who has taken refuge in Switzerland, and the father of the Grand Duchess is the most qualified person to inherit the Russian throne after Empress Olga. If Empress Olga, who has never been married and has no heir, appoints Kira Kirillo. Grand Duchess Fna is the heir. So what will Comrade Stalin think? "

"Prime Minister, Stalin is not someone who is easily fooled." Foreign Minister Eden shook his head and said, "And the current German emperor has no real power. The power is in the hands of Hitler's government and the General Staff led by Field Marshal Hersmann. And Hitler He and Hersmann had a very good relationship with Stalin, especially since Marshal Hessmann was one of the leaders of the Russian August Revolution.”

Churchill took another puff of his cigar, smiled and said: "Actually, our intelligence department has been in contact with the Germans... As far as I know, the person in charge of the peace talks in Germany is Hitler's cronies, regardless of whether Minister Rudolf Hess ”