Munich and a Dangerous Conversation
Bowmore and Goebbels sat quietly, waiting for Hitler's telegram. It was obvious to them that the Munich Agreement would turn out to their favour, Chamberlain wouldn't pick a fight, Mussolini was already closer to Hitler than any other Head of State and the French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier couldn't and woudn't prove to be a problem. Everyone wanted to prevent a large-scale war. But it was still nerve-racking for Goebbels to wait for the telegram.
Hitler had already started a small war against Czechoslovakia to gain territory, the Sudetenland, where most of the people were ethnic Germans. Although this would be a loss for the small country, the Germans rested assured knowing that the United Kingdom, France and Italy would not object; they were all to afraid of a war. And nobody wants war. So on the 29th of September 1938 they met in Munich to sign the Munich Agreement.
What Goebbels and Hitler knew, and President Bowmore knew (although in his case he hadn't been let in on the information but simply knew it from various history reports he'd read), there were Czechoslovakian representatives in Munich on that day, but they didn't go to the Führerbau; they were excluded from the agreement. So close yet so far. How an annexation of such a big part of Czechoslovakia could be agreed on legally, without anyone from Czechoslovakia present was a mystery to President Bowmore. But then again, so many agreements were made over the heads of the people that it would effect, and that hadn't changed, not even 90 years later.
They revieced the Telegram in the early morning, with the comment that Hitler and Chamberlain had also signed a further agreement to secure peace between the two countries. They would iron over their differences through discussion and not conflict.
Overall the Munich Agreement was a huge sucess for Germany; though it hurt Hitler's pride. He hadn't wanted to consult the other statesmen before fully launching his operation. Since the majority of people in the Sudetenland were Germans, he felt it his right and duty to liberate them.
"Zum Glück. (Thank God)." Goebbels said. "I was almost afraid it would take them forever or something would come in between." He let out a relieved sigh. "I'm proud to say that since we have Adolf it's been a row of victories for Germany...." He thoughtfully toyed with his water glass. Twirling it in circles on the table. "What do you think about Germany now? As an American?" There was a gleam in his eyes, not unlike the lights Hitler's sometimes held. This man wasn't equally powerfull but almost equally dangerous. As a President, Bowmore feared one type of people the most; the ones who were die-hard for their ideology. Just like Hitler and Goebbels. It was impossible to change their mind, to bring them to reason.
"I think Germany can be," he tried to word his opinion carefully, he wanted to sound honest but didn't want to offend the Reichspropagandaleiter, "...proud of the way it pulled itself back up to it's feet after the first world war." He realized he'd slipped up after saying 'first' but he didn't worry too much. "I'm simply a bit...unsure if all the territorial claims will be able to be resolved as easily as this one was...I'm afraid it will often come to small-scale wars and perhaps," he contemplated for a second before speaking his mind, "perhaps it will eventually lead to a second world war."
"What you're saying is quite possible." Goebbels agreed. "I'm don't think we'll be able to avoid war much longer. But, that doesn't really matter, our army is strong." He seemed very sure about it to the American.
"I have no doubt about that...." Bowmore murmured. "But..." His sentence fell short. What was he supposed to say? That Germany would lose, and pull fascist Italy down with it, that Hitler would commit suicide and Mussolini be shot? That their great empire would collapse and Germany would eventually be divided? He couldn't say any of it, and he also didn't feel in the right to.
"But what?" Goebbels asked gently, as if he was trying to spoon the words out of his counterparts mouth.
"I'm simply very against the idea of war."
"Nobody loves war, Alistair." Goebbels answered. "And everybody loves freedom. But sometimes war is the only way to gain back lost freedom." He smiled an almost sad smile, as if he were remembering things in the past, things that caused him great pain. "And as you probably know, most of Germany is behind us. We don't lie to our people, we tell them the truth. And they agree with us. Everyone knows, and I'm sure you'll know this too, you being an American," for the first time Bowmore felt that his nationality was used as an insult by the German politician, "that things have been decided without Germany. That is wrong in every way, to put it frankly."
"Well," he started slowly, "if you're so against matters being decided over people's heads, then why exclude Czechoslovakia from the Munich Agreement?" His question made Goebbels laugh. For a second Alistair didn't know if the German had understood him wrong or had thought it to be a joke, but then the Reichspropagandaleiter resumed his composure and shook his head slightly.
"Alistair, Adolf and I are responisble for the well-being of Germany, not every country in the world. And, I assure you, had we done it the American way, much more of Czechoslovakia would not be ruined." And with that said he stood up, still laughing to himself. "Would you like a cup of tea?" He asked, immediately switching from convinced national socialist to polite host.
"I'll have a cup of tea, thank you." Alistair agreed. Goebbels rung the secretary inside to have her fetch too cups of tea. Hadn't Monica said the same thing to him? That he was responsible for America and not for the rest of the world?