The Rise of the Third Reich

"Gentlemen, it looks like the Germans are about to attack South America."

Peron's trip to Europe was public, Brazilian President Vargas could smell the smell of gunpowder, and US President Roosevelt would of course know what was going to happen right away.

In fact, even if Peron secretly visited Germany, Roosevelt would know about it, because the United States has been operating in Argentina for many years. Although it cannot control Argentina, it can control every move of the Argentine government.

So at the White House Cabinet meeting on February 10, Roosevelt put aside the ongoing Second Battle of the Hawaiian Islands and talked about the issue of Brazil first.

He said: "Many people know that South America has a distinctive feature. The further south you go, the whiter it becomes, and the further north you go, the fewer pure white people. Brazil is a watershed... pure European white people account for about half. And a large number of them are concentrated in the south. This national situation determines Brazil’s current complicated situation, which is very beneficial to us.”

Compared with Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, Brazil is a complex of contradictions, including land conflicts, ethnic conflicts, north-south conflicts, and language and culture conflicts.

Constrained by racist theories, Brazilian Nazi fans are unable to propose solutions to the main contradictions in Brazilian society - land contradictions and racial contradictions - and cannot speak on behalf of the broadest working people in Brazil. On the contrary, there is a separatist tendency, and they want to separate the wealthy white states in the south of Brazil from Brazil and establish a German-speaking white country.

This stance of the Brazilian Nazis resulted in the narrowness of its own political territory, while the Brazilian left has greater influence because it can provide a picture of how to solve the problem. Therefore, the Vargas government had to consider the position of the country's left when deciding whether to fall to the Axis powers.

"We should provide military assistance to Brazil," Roosevelt considered, "to help the Vargas government defend itself against possible threats from Argentina and Europe."

"Mr. President, it is very possible that the assistance we provide to Vargas will be used to attack our forces in Venezuela in the future."

Army Chief of Staff General Marshall expressed some concern about Roosevelt's proposal, saying: "The Vargas administration has so far appeared to be more pro-German."

"I know," Roosevelt nodded, "but the Brazilian army is not pro-German. Any Brazilian who loves Brazil and wants Brazil to be prosperous and strong will not be pro-German. Because the Germans will only tear Brazil apart." !”

Nazism has many positive meanings for a single race or a country where a single race makes up the majority. But for a diverse country like Brazil, or countries north of Brazil and south of the United States where a few races dominate many races, it is definitely a dose of poison.

Therefore, the Nazi force in Brazil is very small, while there are basically no Nazis in Latin American countries north of Brazil.

Roosevelt smiled and said to Secretary of State Cordell Hull: "So we should let Vargas understand that he cannot fall to Germany now. If he wants to protect himself, the only way is armed neutrality. Brazil can only mobilize its people Only by getting up and arming yourself can you remain neutral, and the United States is willing to provide complete equipment to Brazil because the United States wants Brazil to be neutral.”

"Understood, Mr. President." Hull nodded. He knew that Roosevelt was giving poison to a seriously ill man who was about to die, and Vargas would swallow the poison with a sense of luck!

"But Germany will still invade Brazil!" Roosevelt smiled bitterly and glanced at Director of Strategic Intelligence Donovan.

"Yes, Mr. President." Donovan said, "The Argentine Nazis led by Peron have obtained the support of Germany. According to reliable intelligence, Argentina will soon receive a Kesselring-class aircraft carrier and four 1936 D-type destroyer. Many Spanish veterans who have participated in the European war will join the Argentine Army! In addition, General Falkenhorst has been appointed as the head of the German Military Advisory Group in Argentina.”

Roosevelt turned his attention to William Leahy again.

The admiral said: "Mr. President, the only way to prevent a German invasion is to strengthen the Atlantic Fleet."

"No, don't stop the German invasion," Roosevelt said, "but keep Germany mired in Brazil!"

"I understand, Mr. President."

Brazil is a large country. Except for the southern and coastal areas, it is an underdeveloped area with complex terrain and weak infrastructure. Modern armies cannot exert their power there and can easily fall into the quagmire of jungle warfare.

Moreover, most of the white Brazilians who speak Portuguese love their motherland. Like the people of color in Brazil, they will regard Germany and Argentina supported by Germany as invaders.

As long as the United States has the determination and ability to continue providing assistance, it is conceivable that Germany and Argentina will get into trouble in Brazil.

…

"Nicholas, first of all we don't have to think about taking over the whole of Brazil."

Hirschmann had returned to Berlin from Berchtesgaden at this time, and was in the General Staff of Zossen with General Nicholas von Falkenhorst who had come from Guyana, and with General Nicholas von Falkenhorst who had come from Brest. Marshal Kesselring, and Admiral Canaris, who was preparing to serve as the governor of the Brazilian occupation zone, talked.

He said: “In the northern Amazon basin, except for the estuary area, there is no need to occupy other areas.

Second, we don’t need the support of big Brazilian landowners who only speak Portuguese. After the situation was generally under control, land reform was implemented in Brazil to realize land to the tiller.

Third, consider dividing Brazil into three parts to form a Portuguese-speaking white country; a German-speaking white country and an Indian country. The northern part of Brazil should be divided between Indians, mixed race people, and black people, so that they can establish their own countries. "

Roosevelt's quagmire strategy was actually not unfamiliar to Hersman at all - similar quagmires were something the United States often fell into in another time and space.

The reason why the United States has fallen into the quagmire, in the current view of Hersman, is not only that it is not ruthless enough, but also that it is dragging its feet and always fantasizing about letting the "democratic forces" of all parties in the occupied territories use "democratic" methods to solve various problems. A complicated problem.

Hersman was unwilling to make the same mistake in Brazil. Therefore, he planned to cut the knot quickly after occupying most of the territory in Brazil, implement the division of fields, divisions of crops, and division of countries, completely dismantling Brazil into three countries, and at the same time, he also solved the two main problems that have plagued Brazilian society for hundreds of years. Lose.

"German-speaking countries can join the South American Federation headed by Argentina," Hersman continued to talk about his plans. "Portuguese-speaking countries can consider handing it over to Dr. Salazar, if he has a way to get people in the Portuguese-speaking areas to support returning to Portugal. , then the Portuguese-speaking areas of Brazil can join the European Community together with Portugal. As for the Indian-origin countries... let them find their own way to manage it.”

"Marshal of the Empire," Canaris asked after listening to Hersman's words, considering them carefully, "after all, we are an occupying force in Brazil. It may be difficult to win over people's hearts by adopting a land reform policy. It will intensify conflicts.”

Land reform is undoubtedly a powerful tool for civil strife, but it is not easy to use in a national war. Therefore, Germany did not implement land reform on its own on the battlefield of the Soviet Union. Instead, the Russian Empress, who had a righteous reputation, issued the "Agrarian Reform Decree."

In Brazil, even in the southern region where Germans and Italians live together (in fact, non-Germans and Italians still account for the majority of the population), the land reform policy will intensify the "Germans, Italians, and Portuguese-speaking people who identify with Brazil." "Brazilian" opposition - because Germans and Italians are latecomers, they do not own much land, and they are self-employed farmers, so they are not included in the land reform.

Hersman waved his hand and said: "No, no, no, we cannot put ourselves in a position of occupation and aggression. We are here to help the Brazilian people realize national socialism, and land reform is to solve the obstacles that hinder Brazil's economic development and the path to national socialism." The biggest obstacle to national socialism. On the one hand, the splitting up of Brazil is to purify the race, and on the other hand, it is of course to help the non-white races in Brazil realize national socialism. It is better to intensify the contradictions than the short-term pain. This is not good for us. The problem just needs to be suppressed!”

Germany is now dominated by a "generation of fierce men". Although it is still a bit difficult to suppress the fighting nation Russia, dealing with the lazy Brazilians is definitely not a problem. Therefore, Hessman believes that some things that offend people should be completed as soon as possible.

When the four of them were having a small meeting behind closed doors, Hessmann's adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Horst Pipe, a former armored soldier, suddenly shouted a report, then opened the door and walked in.

"Marshal of the Empire, urgent report from the Central Security Service and Military Intelligence." After giving Hersman a German salute, Lieutenant Colonel Pipe handed the two handwritten reports to Hersman.

"Oh," Hessman took the report and looked at it, "Brazil is mobilizing...it seems Vargas has heard some rumors." Then his brows suddenly frowned.

Marshal Kesselring noticed Hessmann's expression, so he asked: "Ludwig, what happened?"

"A Chilean-flagged spy ship reported that the Americans had probably captured Midway," Hersman said.

"Midway Island?" Canaris was born in the navy, so he knew the general situation of Midway Island. "It was a small island, right? The Japanese may have found it difficult to defend, so they gave up on their own initiative."

"But there is a large military airport on Midway." Hersman remembered that during the Battle of Midway during World War II, the United States sent B-17s from Midway to bomb the Japanese fleet.

"Are you worried about the Americans deploying long-range bombers at Midway?" Kesselin asked.

"No, I'm worried that the Americans will transfer long-range bombers to Australia through Midway Island!" Hersman looked at Kesselring, "Those high-altitude, high-speed large aircraft that serve as reconnaissance aircraft in the Atlantic Ocean!"