212 Chapter 290 Defense

When it came to Huaxia, Wilhelm truly envied the assimilation ability of Huaxia. Since the collapse of the Later Tang, the weak Song Dynasty faced the Khitan in the north. Except for a western branch that migrated away, a large number of Khitan people were sinicized. Subsequently, the sinicization extended to the Jurchens (Jin people), followed by the Mongols and Manchus. Almost without exception, almost everyone who had oppressed the descendants of Yan Huang eventually became a member of Huaxia. Even the Jews, who claimed to be the most difficult to assimilate, were absorbed by Huaxia in the identity of "Blue-hat Huihui."

In contrast, the mustached one in the original timeline proudly held the banner of Germanicism and pure Aryanism. Instead of implementing assimilation policies, they carried out extensive looting, especially in the eastern occupied areas. They plundered everything that could be dismantled, from machinery to food and vegetables. They even left no factories or wheels untouched, behaving like bandits. Even in Ukraine, the European granary, due to Germany's excessive and crazy looting, a "no-food zone" appeared in their rear, causing a large number of Soviet people to die of hunger. Those who survived could only get food that barely met their basic needs.

At the same time, the Germans implemented a slave labor policy in the occupied areas, forcibly capturing young men and women everywhere, even those aged 10 to 14 were not spared. They were used to work in places that required a large labor force, such as repairing warehouses, building fortifications, constructing roads, and establishing airports, or to replace German workers so that the latter could join the army for combat.

Under such brutal rule, it would be strange if the locals did not rise up in resistance.

Wilhelm knew that compared to suppressing with a firm hand, a policy of pacification was the superior strategy. Starting phased construction of livelihoods and economies in the occupied areas would alleviate the local residents' life pressures, gradually winning their hearts. Even if oppression was necessary, it should only target a small part of troublemakers.

"Dr. Goebbels, I am reminded of the Roman Empire more than a thousand years ago and its invincible Roman legions. The Romans had no natural advantages to exploit, no vast deserts to protect themselves, no herds of horses. Our ancestors even ridiculed them as the 'Little Italy' dwarfs. The only thing they could rely on was their advanced tactics and equipment, well-trained soldiers, and advanced military concepts, similar to what Germany possesses."

Goebbels smiled slightly. "Your Highness, I believe that under your leadership, Germany will also forge a millennium empire."

"A millennium empire..." He would be satisfied if he could live to be 100 years old. Being able to see humanity establish bases on the moon and set up outpost stations for space exploration in his lifetime was already satisfactory. He wondered whether Tesla's anti-gravity engine would succeed. If it did, would he witness humanity colonizing the moon and even conquering Mars?

"Your Highness, we have arrived." While Wilhelm was lost in his chaotic thoughts, Anna's soft reminder brought him back to reality.

The location where the German-French armistice agreement was signed was the Paris City Hall.

The Paris City Hall is located on the north bank of the Seine River in the center of Paris, just north of Notre-Dame Cathedral. After the original building was burned down in May 1871, it was rebuilt in 1882 by Ballu and Deperthes. This building had been a significant political venue for France in several historical events during the Middle Ages, the era of the bourgeois revolution, and the 1871 Paris Commune period. Now, the Paris City Hall once again fulfilled its mission, witnessing a historic moment.

Objectively speaking, the Paris City Hall could indeed be called a masterpiece of art. The exterior architecture maintained the style of the Renaissance, while the interior decoration featured the artistic characteristics of the 19th century.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Wilhelm had just stepped out of the car when the reporters, who had been waiting for a long time, raised their cameras, and the flashlights, resembling large spoons, sparkled with puffs of white smoke.

Looking at this highly nostalgic gadget, Wilhelm couldn't help but recall the story of Empress Dowager Cixi.

According to records, Cixi might have been the first person in Huaxia to be frightened by flash powder. In 1903, returning from studying in France, Yuxun Ling became the court photographer for Empress Dowager Cixi. He brought back the most advanced set of photographic equipment in the world at that time from France, including flash powder. During the first time he took a photo for Empress Dowager Cixi, the flash powder scared her so much that she repeatedly exclaimed, "This must be a foreigner's sorcery, capturing the soul of the grieving family!"

A dignified supreme ruler of a powerful nation was actually frightened to the point of losing her composure by a seemingly ordinary camera, contributing to the policy of closing the country. This incident was truly misleading for the nation.

The bulbs of these flashlights were disposable, requiring a replacement after each flash. Under Wilhelm's guidance, several German camera companies were already researching the use of high-pressure discharge luminescence principles for reusable flashes. It wouldn't be long before they could replace these booming flashlights.

"Hail House of Hohenzollern!" Standing tall on both sides of the corridor steps, the ceremonial soldiers, holding Mauser 98k rifles with white gloves, stood at attention, and the raised right hands formed an arch on both sides of Wilhelm.

Wilhelm walked up the steps slowly, each step making the French officials waiting at the end tremble with anxiety.

The people in the hall had already divided into two groups: one side led by Field Marshal Rundstedt of Germany, and the other, of course, led by Marshal Pétain of the French Vichy government.

"Hail House of Hohenzollern!"

Wilhelm raised his forearm slightly, returned a salute, and walked up to Pétain. "Marshal Pétain, I've heard of your name for a long time. I've always wanted to meet this hero of France from the last war, but I didn't expect it to be under these circumstances."

Marshal Pétain extended his hand somewhat awkwardly, showing a self-deprecating smile. "Your Highness, you flatter me. I'm not worthy of the title 'hero' now. Nowadays, I am just seen as a traitor by others."

Wilhelm raised an eyebrow slightly, turned around after the greeting, and spontaneously delivered an impromptu speech to the reporters.

"I've recently heard some people criticize Marshal Pétain for being cowardly and afraid of death, calling him a traitor and the like.

This is somewhat ridiculous. As the victorious commander in the last war's horrific Battle of Verdun, with nearly a million casualties, do you think Marshal Pétain is afraid of death? No, I believe the Marshal is not afraid of death because he was a brave man in his early military service, an outstanding general during the last war era.

Now, Marshal Pétain is already 83 years old. If he were afraid of death, he could have silently surrendered like everyone else. He didn't need to stand up as the head of this government, being pointed at and called a traitor.

When he took over the position of prime minister, the only thing he could do was surrender! Was it under his command that the first powerful country of Europe, France, fell into a quagmire? Certainly not! It was those Renaults, Gamelins, and de Gaulles, these incompetent people who doomed France; I don't even know how that Mr. de Gaulle has the face to go abroad and incite the French people to die.

Marshal Pétain saved Paris from the scourge of war, preserved France from becoming a devastated land in the heart of the war, and saved the generation of French youth who should have enlisted from escaping death on the battlefield... Yet, all this, in return, is the indelible infamy that Marshal Pétain must carry at the age of 83!

There is a saying, 'The person who knows you best is often not a friend, but your opponent.' In my view, Marshal Pétain is fulfilling the responsibility of a true old gentleman while bearing the weight that France cannot bear! He is undoubtedly a hero of France! At the same time, he is a gentleman with a strong sense of responsibility, worthy of respect!"

This impassioned and brilliant defense stirred continuous applause throughout the audience, even Marshal Pétain couldn't help but straighten his spine.