292

Episode 292: The End of the Apocalypse (5)

Since gaining independence from Britain, the United States has fought wars with numerous countries. UK, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Germany etc.

The countries that have been at war with the United States so far have acted along the lines of 'common sense.'

If they were defeated in a war, they requested negotiations or surrendered, and although this was not the case for all countries, they generally treated prisoners according to the rules of the time and refrained from committing atrocities.

However, Japan was different from the countries the United States had ever fought against.

Before the war, it had exchanged with countries around the world, including the United States, and committed various atrocities and massacres against prisoners, befitting its reputation as the most developed and civilized country in Asia. In particular, its hatred and hostility toward the United States was beyond imagination. It was level.

The United States was shocked by Japan's strong resistance, which carried out suicide attacks as if it were natural.

Even though the war is being fought outside of Japan's territory, there is still such fierce resistance, and I couldn't even imagine the extent of the resistance when the battlefield was moved to the Japanese mainland.

It was very clear that no matter how much of a military force was mobilized to crush Japan based on its superior national power, the U.S. military would suffer significant damage if it landed on the Japanese mainland.

Therefore, Marshall studied ways to obtain Japan's surrender without directly landing on the Japanese mainland.

The conclusion he reached was to plunge all of Japan into starvation and starve everyone to death.

The Japanese Navy, which had once been strong enough to strike a blow against the U.S. Navy, dominate the Pacific Ocean, and threaten the U.S. West Coast and Australia, was losing its momentum day by day starting with the Battle of Midway, and was now barely able to survive.

Occupy Okinawa and Iwo Jima, use these bases as forward bases for the new heavy bomber B-29, bombard all of Japan, completely destroy various industrial facilities and transportation networks, and mobilize all naval ships to completely blockade the Japanese coast. If we prevent food security by spraying large amounts of herbicides on major agricultural areas, Japan, an island nation, will naturally have to choose between starving to death or surrendering.

While the United States was considering all possible ways to obtain Japan's surrender, Japan was also considering how to end the war with the least amount of damage.

The United States, through Switzerland, offered to give Japan as much leniency as possible if it surrendered calmly even now, but Japan refused and in return conveyed its demands to the United States.

At a minimum, Manchuria, Joseon, and Taiwan will remain Japanese territory, Japan will take care of disarmament of the Japanese military, and Japan will also take charge of punishing war criminals.

The result was continued war.

On the surface, Japan was urging its people to resist by calling for a decisive battle on the mainland and imprisoning 100 million people, but they were not unaware of the fact that the war situation was at its worst.

There is no more invincible imperial army.

The Imperial Army, once thought to be invincible, is now suffering consecutive defeats in China and Southeast Asia, and the Navy, which prided itself on being the best in the world, has also gone downhill starting with Midway.

Still, it was no exaggeration to say that the Navy was barely breathing as the Navy's flagship ships, aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers, which were still considered comparable to the U.S. Navy, were all washed up in Leyte Gulf.

In contrast, in the United States, hot cannons, trucks, and bombers come out of factories every day.

Although they lost face in Europe, that was out of the question as their opponent was the German army, which was a monster outside of standards, and the overall combat power of the U.S. military was far superior to that of the Japanese army.

Is that it? As the connection between the southern occupied territories and the mainland was virtually cut off, Japan was suffering from a shortage of various resources.

From various rare metals to rubber, and oil, the most essential resource for war.

Since there was a shortage of oil, they tried to overcome the oil shortage with oil squeezed from sardines and pine root oil as a last resort, but the effect was minimal.

However, for its minimal effect, pine trees were cut down throughout Japan and Joseon, and people were subsisting on porridge made from soybean paste left over from squeezing out the oil.

"There is no longer any chance of winning this war."

"We must negotiate with the United States before it is too late."

"Manchuria, Joseon, and Taiwan must be protected no matter what."

"But there's no way America would allow that, right?"

Those who are realistic argued that peace negotiations should be held with the United States immediately.

Let us surrender immediately if only the minimum conditions, including the maintenance of the emperor system, are recognized by the United States. Only then can we prevent further unnecessary sacrifices.

But the overwhelming majority of leaders did not think so.

"The empire can still endure more!"

"Joseon, Taiwan, and Manchuria are Japan's lifelines. Let's simply give up on that place! "Are you out of your mind?"

"If we surrender now, the empire will forever be reduced to the dogs of the Americans!"

If you hold on as long as you can and force the enemy to bleed, they will get tired of their efforts and agree to our demands.

Until then, no matter how difficult it is, you must make up your mind and persevere!

Only then will the empire survive and be able to rise again as a great power in Asia!

It was a plan filled with hopeful circuits from head to toe, with no realism at all, but this was the thinking of the Japanese leadership.

They haven't been defeated yet. Even though defeat is inevitable, we can fight desperately and end the war on the most favorable terms.

If we replace all 100 million people in the mainland, North Korea, and Taiwan.

That's why Japan stubbornly held on.

They used up promising talents as kamikazes, forced the people to survive on porridge and soybean paste, and even exported every single grain of rice.

***

January 30, 1944

New Fuhrer's Residence in Berlin, Germany

"Wow, I don't know how long it's been since this happened."

"Have you been okay so far?"

I smiled brightly and held Dairi's hand.

As Central Asia became independent due to the defeat of the Soviet Union, exchanges through land routes between Germany and China, which had been cut off for a while, could be restarted.

In addition, it was now possible to continue exchanges through Central Asia, a neutral country, without the need to worry about the Soviet Union.

This means that you no longer need to worry about what mischief the Soviet Union will play on the train going from Germany to China.

"President Chiang Kai-shek has asked me to convey his sincere congratulations on your great victory over the Soviet Union."

Dai Li delivered Chiang Kai-shek's personal letter to me and at the same time showed me a special gift that Chiang Kai-shek had prepared.

"Hoo, this is… … ."

The special gift Chiang Kai-shek prepared was a sword.

The scabbard alone, engraved with a dragon ascending to heaven with the Yeouiju in its mouth, seemed like it would be worth a lot of money.

According to Dairi, he gathered the best sword craftsmen in China and started making them after the end of the First German War.

"The name of the sword is 'Germanic Sword.' "It symbolizes the victory that the Führer and the German people achieved in the crusade against the Bolsheviks."

"Thank you very much. "This is the first time in my life that I have received such a rare gift."

I kissed the scabbard as a sign of gratitude and handed it over to Goering, who was looking at the sword with wonder in the world.

Immediately after the welcome event was over, Dairi and I immediately had a frank conversation. As expected, Chiang Kai-shek sent Dai Li to me to request support from Germany.

"Isn't your country already receiving support from the United States? "There would be no need to go all the way to Germany."

"That's true, but the resistance of the Japanese enemies is usually not at an easy level. And from what we found out, Japan has no intention of surrendering. Even if the United States lands on the Japanese mainland, they plan to send every last citizen to the battlefield to protect their power."

Although history has changed 180 degrees, there are some things that have not changed.

That's Japan.

Japan's near-mad resistance was the same in this world as well.

Even when pushed back to the Philippines and Iwo Jima, Japan was still stubbornly resisting, declaring that it would not stop the war until its demands were met.

In this world, the Manhattan Project never took place and - most likely - the Soviet Union collapsed.

In other words, the two factors that had a decisive influence on Japan's surrender - the dropping of the atomic bomb and the Soviet Union's participation in the war against Japan - have evaporated, so it is unclear how far Japan will resist.

"The war will end next year or the year after at the latest… … Until then, countless Chinese citizens will die and suffer."

"Maybe so."

"But if Germany also participates in the war against Japan, wouldn't Japan, which is calling for resistance, also feel a more direct sense of crisis?"

"So, what you're saying is that if we come forward, Japan may realize more directly the reality it faces and change its mind?"

"That's right."

Even though Japan sensed defeat since 1944, it was a decisive operation and had been preparing for crazy things like imprisoning 100 million guns. The reason why Japan decided to surrender early - from their own perspective - was due to the Soviet Union entering the war and negotiating with the Allied Powers under the mediation of the Soviet Union. I heard that the hope circuit was shattered.

Since the Soviet Union has been destroyed here, there will be no option to negotiate with the Allies using the Soviet Union as a mediator... … Chiang Kai-shek and Dai Li's argument was that Germany was the only one left, so if we entered the war, they might come to their senses.

"That's persuasive. But I don't know if that's a viable strategy."

A look of confusion spread from Dairi's eyes at my words.

"If Japan thinks of us as a mediator, as Dairi claims, Germany's participation in the war will be a great help in breaking Japan's will to resist, but if not, it won't be of much use, right? And I don't think the United States will be happy about our participation in the war."

The United States and Germany were at war with each other until a few months ago.

If I declare participation in the war against Japan, German-Americans and American parents who sent their children to the battlefield may welcome it, but the White House will undoubtedly be wary.

I am convinced that Germany entered the war to increase its influence in the Far East.

That said, the United States will not make the crazy choice of strengthening with Japan to keep us in check, but it is obvious that it will engage in various sabotage efforts to somehow prevent us from entering the war.

"I won't deny it."

Dairi obediently acknowledged the loopholes I pointed out, but did not give up hope until the end.

Appealing to me that Germany's participation in the war could save the fate of millions of Chinese people from the abyss of death.

"I understand. Still, this is not an issue that can be decided right away, so I think we need to think about it a bit. Since you have already arrived in Germany, please rest well while you are here. "I will also show you around Berlin."

"Thank you for your favor, Mr. President."

I need to think about this.

***

"I don't think it's a bad choice."

"!?"

I couldn't help but be surprised by Schacht's remarks.

Is this the Schacht I know? If it were a normal Shacht, it would definitely be normal to say the opposite first, right?

Could it be that he is an alien spy wearing the shell of Schacht?

When I stared at him, seeing the complete opposite of his previous appearance, Schacht shrugged his shoulders.

"Why are you doing that?"

"I thought the minister would definitely be against it."

"Of course, we are absolutely against sending the National Defense Forces to the Far East without any compensation. But if I get a decent financial reward, I'm all for it. Even so, there was an overflow of ammunition and equipment mass-produced during the war, so I was wondering where I could sell it."

While Schacht unexpectedly declared his approval, Keitel also responded favorably.

"If done well, this could be a good opportunity to expand German influence in the Far East."

"If we had an invincible defense force, we would immediately crush the Japanese who eat raw fish."

Leder went one step further and proposed that if Japan's surrender could be obtained, Japan could be turned into a pro-German puppet state against the United States and at the same time used as a forward base for advancing into the Pacific.

It certainly seems like turning Japan into a pro-German puppet state could be a good card to put pressure on the United States in both the Atlantic and Pacific.

But that can't be possible.

Aside from being realistic, if we tried to occupy Japan first, wouldn't the United States go crazy right away?

Therefore, it was decided that Leder's opinion was not heard.

The military's response was generally favorable, but the Foreign Ministry's response was so-so.

Although they were not opposed to participating in the war itself, their position was, 'Is there even a need for that?'

"The people already think the war is over, so they will not be very happy about sending the National Defense Forces to a distant battlefield in Asia."

"Considering postwar diplomacy with Asian countries, I don't think it would be a wise choice to incur Japan's resentment."

"Why don't we just sell weapons to the Chinese for money, rather than sending troops? "I think that would be best."

"That too."

Accepting Ribbentrop's opinion, I suggested to Dairi that it would be better to buy weapons instead of sending troops to the National Defense Force for now.

As expected, Dairi, who had expected Germany's direct participation in the war, seemed somewhat unsatisfied, but did not refuse.

The current American weapons will be sufficient to deal with the Japanese army, but German-made equipment, reputed to be the world's strongest, will still be desired.

Just as the secret talks between Germany and China were about to end with the sale of murder weapons made with Germany's superior technology to China,

Something unexpected happened.

"Who came?"

"This is Shigenori Togo, Excellency the President."

Togo, former Japanese ambassador to Germany and current Japanese Foreign Minister, visited Germany.

With a secret proposal from the Japanese government.

***

Japan refused to surrender and agreed to fight until the end, but unable to give up any hope of peace negotiations, Japan looked for a country to mediate between itself and the Allied Powers.

It can't be just any country. Switzerland is a neutral or weak country, so there is no way the United States could pretend to hear it.

The Soviet Union collapsed and the country was cut in half, so let's pass it on.

It must be a neutral country and at the same time a country with a strong national power that even the United States cannot carelessly ignore.

"also… … ."

"Only Germany."

Even though their proposal to form a Japan-German alliance and jointly resist the United States was rejected, Japan could not give up its lingering attachment to Germany.

Hidden behind this was the secret that Foreign Minister Ribbentrop had appropriately modified Hitler's words that he would consider an alliance if all of Japan's colonies were transferred to Germany.

"Even if the relationship is not as good as it used to be, weren't the Empire and Germany once countries that supported each other?"

"That is correct."

"I am proposing to Germany to take charge of mediation between the Empire and the United States."

Although the alliance proposal was rejected, Germany's reaction might be different if it were an offer to mediate the peace negotiations.

Isn't Germany a status comparable to the ancient Roman Empire, which defeated Britain and the Soviet Union and unified all of Europe?

"But there's no way Germany will take over mediation on its own, right?"

"So, we must prepare a proposal that will pique the interest of Fuhrer Hitler."

"This is roughly… … ."

"Hmm. Still, there is pride in the empire, but this is-"

"If we lose to the British and Americans, there will be nothing left in the empire. Wouldn't it be better than that?"

"If the war continues like this, the empire will not be able to endure. "It is better to avoid the worst outcome, even if it means bowing down to Germany."

"… … "I can't help it."

"Then who should I send?"

Two people were nominated. Shigenori Togo, former ambassador to Germany, and Hiroshi Oshima, a graduate of the Japanese Military Academy who studied abroad in Germany and had experience as an attaché at the German Embassy.

They both were fluent in German and had one thing in common: being one of the best German masters in Japan.

"but yet-"

"Wouldn't it be better to know Fuhrer Hitler?"

"Then it is decided."

Shigenori Dogo.

Decision to go to Germany.