257

Episode 257: Tug of war (10)

Even leaving aside the issues of Iceland and Greenland, there were many, many ways for the three countries to clash.

"$100 billion in compensation? "100 billion dollars is not the name of anyone's dog. Isn't this too much?"

"Germany received only a portion of the compensation promised in the peace treaty signed in 1940. There was an opinion that the original compensation owed by Britain should be included, but the President dismissed it. "But you can't pay compensation?"

"Give up all your colonies. "This is absolutely unacceptable."

"If Britain loses this war anyway, it will be strained to pay reparations, so will there be any money left to maintain its colonies? And the military would be limited to 100,000, so how could they protect that large colony? "Unless they try to rule by arming the police instead of the military."

Morris was concerned that Britain's American colonies, including the West Indies and Guiana, would fall into German hands and become the tip of a spear aimed at the United States.

It is also a problem that Iceland and Greenland are taken into the hands of Denmark and, in fact, Germany, but a German military base is set up in the West Indies, which is closer to American territory than these two?

It would have been better to continue the war, but it was a condition that could never be accepted.

"There seems to be some misunderstanding, but Germany has no intention of making Britain's colonies its own. "It will be distributed appropriately to the Axis Alliance and member countries according to their contribution to the war."

"That's it, isn't it? "Don't obscure the point."

"The UK has said it will remain a permanently neutral country, so of course importing weapons from other countries is prohibited. Weapon development also requires permission from Germany."

"So, from where are we, Britain, supposed to import weapons to defend our country?"

"Isn't there Germany?"

"Your country is willing to sell weapons to Britain, which once fought against its own country."

"Why not? Right now, Germany is also selling weapons to its once main enemy, France. "And we can't keep our eyes open and watch a neutral country import weapons from the United States, can we?"

"I really… … ."

"And we demand that members of the Free French government, including de Gaulle, be arrested and handed over to Germany. They are outright traitors to Germany's ally France. "Of course, rather than handling them in Germany, we will hand them over to France and have them tried by the French."

"Are you now telling us to betray and sell out our allies?"

From number one to ten, the three countries clashed sharply on almost every agenda.

Eden argued that a post-war vote should be held in Northern Ireland to decide which country the Northern Irish will belong to, while Ribbentrop countered by saying that Northern Ireland has long been the land of the Irish.

Morris strongly argued that the German army could be safe only if it were stationed in southern England, while Ribbentrop objected, saying that Britain's ports were not limited to southern England.

Both Eden and Morris were strongly opposed to the idea of extraditing Churchill and key cabinet members.

Ribbentrop also predicted that Britain and the United States would never accept these conditions.

"Wouldn't we be at ease if we at least make sure they can't interfere in politics again? Even if we end the war now, if Churchill or someone with similar tendencies comes to power and starts another war, history will repeat itself forever."

"That sounds like a statement that Germany will control even British politics."

"I will not deny that Germany won the war, but the war is not completely over. "I hope you take note of this."

Negotiations continued after resting and eating, but there was no progress in the conversation until the sun set.

As the clock ticked closer to 8 p.m., the three eventually reached the same conclusion.

Negotiation is impossible.

Talking further here would just be a waste of time.

However, Ethan and Maurice never stood up first.

Since the situation was urgent not for Germany but for Britain and the United States, the two could not give up their last hope even though they already knew that negotiation was impossible.

Expecting Germany to bend its will and bow its head.

But that didn't happen.

"Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do. "I think it would be meaningless to talk more, so I'll just get up."

Following the Führer's instructions, Ribbentrop stood up instead of lowering his head.

The first and final meeting held between Britain, the United States, and Germany ended in collapse.

***

In Manchester, which had become a huge cemetery due to the war, the Polish army generously burned its last flames.

"I'm having dinner in hell tonight!"

"Fight, comrades. "This is the graveyard of us and the Germans."

"Even if I die, I can kill at least one more German bastard and die! Only then will I have the courage to see my comrades who left before me!"

After the fall of Poland and then France, the free Polish government in exile moved to England and fought desperately to help England when the German army landed in England.

The Free Polish Army fought the German Army more fiercely than the British Army.

Even the British army calmly laid down their weapons and surrendered when they thought there was no longer any hope, whereas the Free Polish Army fought until the end even when their escape route was blocked.

"Those bastards. Why on earth are we fighting so stubbornly? "Are you possessed by a ghost?"

"They are Polish."

"I know. But why are we fighting like that?"

The Free Polish Army's will to fight embarrassed not only its allies but also its enemy, the Germans.

Although the Free Polish Army was inferior to the German army in all aspects of manpower and equipment, most Polish soldiers fought like demons, regardless of their inferior equipment.

For them, who had already lost their homeland due to the German invasion and fled to the faraway land of England, England was their last bastion.

Although Iceland and Canada remain, Iceland is Danish territory, so it was not known whether it would be returned to Denmark after the war, and Canada was not in Europe.

The thought that this might be the last battlefield against the German army in Europe, and the thought that it was the only opportunity to take revenge on the aggressor German army, led the Polish army to rush to the battlefield.

Major General Stanisław Sosabowski, commander of the Free Polish Army's 1st Independent Airborne Brigade, received instructions from his superiors to escape from Manchester before the retreat route was cut off, but he refused and remained with his men, saying he could not escape alone, leaving only his men in limbo.

There were no officers of higher rank in Manchester at this time, so he was in effect commander of all Allied forces defending Manchester.

How would post-war Britons accept the fact that the soldiers defending Britain's major cities were Polish, not British?

Sosabovsky was sure that the British would not be happy about this.

But Poles will feel proud that Polish soldiers defended their famous British city.

Sosabowski decided to fight until the end for the sake of future Polish people who will live with that pride.

If he surrendered or decided to retreat at the last moment, wouldn't it be a disgrace to Poland's name?

"Our descendants will definitely be proud of us."

"You have said this a hundred times, Your Excellency."

After giving the final order to the Polish troops in Manchester to let the wounded soldiers escape and those who could fight to the last to cover the retreat of our wounded soldiers and allies, Sosabowski put on a helmet on his head and picked up an American-made Thompson submachine gun.

It was doubtful whether Poland would exist for his descendants to live in, but he still wanted to believe that it existed.

Before we knew it, the German army had advanced right in front of Manchester Cathedral.

The barricades built by Free Polish Army soldiers in collaboration with Manchester citizens were shattered by a single bombardment or impact from a German tank.

When enemy tanks advanced through the barricades, Polish troops hidden on the flanks fired bazookas or PIATs.

Or, they threw anti-tank grenades or Molotov cocktails aimed at the engine room from the windows or rooftops of high-rise buildings that the tank's main gun could not reach.

In this way, the Free Polish Army has so far destroyed 12 German tanks.

The German army broke through the Polish army's defense line one by one by bringing in the Brumbear, a tank dedicated to urban warfare, and shelling high-rise buildings.

The Broombear, which first appeared in the Battle of Warsaw and caused shock and fear to the Polish army, faced the Polish army again in Manchester.

Every time a 15cm grenade hit, the buildings collapsed like sand castles.

No matter how strong a building was made of poured concrete, it would easily collapse if hit by a few 15cm grenades.

In addition, the Goliath, an unmanned explosive weapon developed by Germany, was also deployed and the Allied forces that were resisting inside the building were completely blown away.

The Goliart, which is about the size of a human body, is packed with about 100 kg of explosives, so it can blow up a building without a trace. The enemy's resistance is so strong that the Goliart can't get to the places where engineers can't approach, and where tanks can't enter due to its location. was put in.

The soldiers, who were confused at first because they did not know what Goliat was for, soon realized its danger and started shooting like crazy when it appeared.

However, this soon exposed their position to the enemy, and the Germans, who figured out the enemy's location, brought an anti-tank gun and drove a shell into the window where the bullets were flying.

However, if I hid, I was going to be attacked by Goliath, so I was going to go crazy and jump around.

-Quaaang!!

Brumbear's 15cm cannon burst into flames, and the building where British soldiers were firing machine guns from the rooftop collapsed.

Tanks and infantry stopped moving until the dust from the collapsed building settled.

In that short period of time, Sosabovsky moved with his adjutant and several soldiers to the optimal location to launch the PIAT.

The PIAT, an anti-tank weapon developed by the British, had enough power to pierce the Tiger's frontal armor from the front, but it was not difficult to use and was compared to a bazooka, so it was an object that many complained about in many ways.

The only thing better than a bazooka was that there was no aftereffects or firing light, so there was less risk of exposing the location.

"Be mindful. "You have to hit it with just one shot."

"All right!"

The sergeant holding the PIAT took a prone shooting stance.

Eventually, when the dust cleared and the tank moved, he concentrated his mind. Sosabovsky and his soldiers, who were watching, also swallowed dry saliva.

With a bang, the heavy warhead flew toward Broom Bear in a gentle curve in the air.

The warhead hit directly into the side of the Broom Bear and mercilessly tore up the crew inside.

"We caught the monster!"

Although it did not result in an explosion, Brumbear lost its crew and was put out of action. The boss, who had succeeded in silencing the monster, clenched his fists.

However, the bullet flew right away and hit the sergeant between the eyes.

The Germans quickly realized the location of the Polish ambush group and opened fire. Sosabovsky and his soldiers did not give in and responded actively.

The officer, who was shouting something while holding a Walther P38 while looking back at the soldiers, was hit by a bullet fired by Sosabovsky and fell to the ground. But Sosabovsky did not feel joy.

The only thought on his mind was regret for not carrying enough magazines.

"dismissal! I will provide cover. Escape!"

shouted Sosabovsky's adjutant.

They were outnumbered and outgunned by the German soldiers who were charging at them with assault rifles. If they continued like this, they would be unable to avoid annihilation.

Sosabovsky was about to say something, but then he tapped the adjutant's shoulder and turned around. He didn't want to run away, but to survive a little longer and fight the enemy.

As soon as Sosabovsky and the two soldiers turned to leave, a grenade flew out and shattered the adjutant's body. Small pieces of meat flew out in all directions, staining the surrounding area with red stains.

Sosabowski was running, stepping on brick pieces that had once been the walls of a restaurant, when he encountered German soldiers approaching from the opposite direction.

A German sergeant fired an MP38 and turned the two soldiers in front of Sosabowski into a beehive.

And just as he was about to shoot Sosabovsky, he ran out of bullets.

As the enemy soldier panicked and reached for his spare magazine, Sosabovsky's Thompson opened fire.

"Kyahak."

Seeing that the enemy had fallen, Sosabovsky threw Thompson, who was out of bullets, on the floor and took out his great sword.

And then he rushed towards the young-faced German soldier.

The German soldiers also hurriedly raised their guns as Sosabovsky rushed at them. But Sosabowski was faster.

Just before the enemy pulled the trigger, Sosabowski's blade cut the German soldier's carotid artery.

Blood spurted out like a fountain and the body lost its balance and fell over.

Sosabovsky, covered in blood sprayed by the enemy, had his entire body stained red like a devil from hell.

But he didn't care and reached for the fallen enemy's assault rifle.

But before he could raise the gun, a bullet flew out and hit his side. Sosabovsky felt terrible pain as the bullet hit his body and ripped through his intestines.

"Damn it, this bastard killed Müller!"

"Get lost!"

Three or four brisk German soldiers rushed at Sosabowski, who was bleeding. They were enraged at the sight of his fallen comrade and beat Sosabovsky with field shovels and buttstocks.

Sosabovsky's head was crushed by the butt of the gun, blood splattered and his white skull exposed.

Soon the blade of the field shovel flew in, shattering his skull and scattering brain fluid everywhere.

Even after Sosabowski's death, the Free Polish Army's resistance continued for nearly two hours.

After the last Free Polish soldier fell to a bullet, no more guns rang out in Manchester.

Although buildings damaged by the impact of the battle eventually collapsed and unexploded ordnance exploded later, it was generally quiet.

In this way, Manchester, a large city in England, fell into the hands of the German army.

***

News of the breakdown of negotiations and the fall of Manchester was simultaneously delivered from Portugal's Ribbentrop, and three minutes later, news that Liverpool had also been captured.

I didn't have high expectations for the negotiations, so I didn't feel disappointed. Anyway, our army is on a roll right now.

As a result, half of England was in German hands.

In addition, because Britain devoted a significant amount of troops to Manchester and Liverpool, only a small number of troops were left to protect cities such as Leeds, York, and Blackpool located above them.

"Now all I have to do is drive to Glasgow in one go!"

"Tommies and Yankees are helpless before the invincible Wehrmacht."

"Victory is not far away!!"

The atmosphere at the Presidential Residence was festive every day.

While advancing from the Strait of Dover to Manchester, the friendly forces also shed considerable blood due to the resistance of the British army, but troops and materials that more than made up for this were still being delivered to England from France and Belgium.

On the other hand, Britain lost a large number of troops and materials due to repeated defeats, and the morale of the troops was also unsatisfactory.

The idea of completely occupying Britain and ending the war within August was no longer an exaggeration, but was becoming a reality.

"Buckingham Palace and Westminster Palace have been completely destroyed, so the question is where to hold the victory party. "If I had known this would happen, I would have left one of the two behind."

"Do not worry. "Windsor Castle still remains."

"Oh, really? That's a good thing. "Wouldn't it seem a bit low-class to hold a sacred ceremony commemorating the conquest of England in a hotel?"

"You are right!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha!!"

While everyone was busy laughing and picturing a rosy future, Günshe came into the conference room with new news.

I was about to ask which city was captured this time, but Günshe's expression didn't look good.

"Mr. President. Marshal Rommel just... … ."