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Since it was time to eat, we decided to fill our bellies first and then discuss the rest of the agenda.
Anyway, I was eating all kinds of rare dishes at the Presidential Residence, so the dinner at the White House didn't particularly impress me. These were things I often ate on a regular basis.
"I heard that the President especially likes American cuisine."
"This was top secret, but I don't know when it was discovered."
Strictly speaking, I don't particularly like American cuisine, but I also like American cuisine.
"ha ha ha. Does it suit your taste?"
"I feel like I'm getting fat because I'm getting hit so hard."
The cooking skills of the White House chefs were excellent. To a degree that was comparable to that of the chefs at the Presidential Residence.
Still, because they were native dishes, they were a little different from the ones I ate in Germany. Should I say they were greasier and less spicy (but that's also because I eat spicy food).
There were many dishes I had never tried in Germany. Roast turkey, clam chowder, ice cream topped with caviar, etc.
However, these are things you can eat well in Germany, but I haven't tried them because I'm not interested in them.
The roast turkey was warm, but too thick, and the clam chowder was ok. The caviar was much fishier and saltier than I expected. I understood why it was put on ice cream.
In addition to the colorful and greasy dishes, cocktails made with a special recipe unique to the White House (I don't know if this is real) were also served, and the taste was... … To be honest, Lemonade was much better.
It doesn't taste that horrible, but it doesn't suit my taste.
After the dinner, we spent some time digesting food, and then the meeting resumed. We talked about what we couldn't say in the previous meeting.
"What do you think about South America?"
Dewey's question. As you know, South America is no different from America's backyard, and the United States declared the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, publicly declaring that South America was its territory.
However, at that time, the United States was a weak country with only third-rate national power, so it was completely ignored, but 100 years later, no one has ever thought of touching South America. The same is true now.
"I understand that the whole world recognizes America's priority over South America. Of course, Germany too."
"okay."
Dewey nodded, but there was still a hint of meaning in his eyes. What?
"Recently, there have been frequent reports of many disturbing movements in South America."
ah. That's why.
We have no intention of starting a war with the United States just to put a little needle on South America, but we also have no intention of turning away customers who approach us to sell us weapons, so we do some business.
Chile, Uruguay, and Bolivia, not to mention Argentina, purchased German-made weapons and equipped their armies.
German military instructors went to South America to teach them how to use weapons, and exchanges are still ongoing.
In the eyes of the United States, all of this will only be seen as Germany setting its sights on South America, which it considers its home.
"I understand what you mean."
What Dewey wanted was nothing grand. Just for us to acknowledge that South America is their own country.
"There seems to be some misunderstanding, but Germany has no intention of extending its reach to South America."
"Hoo?"
no. Isn't it obvious based on common sense?
I have no intention of going to war with you? They just sold some weapons. Of course, from the U.S. perspective, selling those weapons would be very unpleasant, but it really has no other meaning for us.
Our generals may be dreaming of grand ambitions of turning South America on Germany's side to oppose the United States, but I really have no intention of going to war with the United States.
Although it has a lot of resources and a large land area, it doesn't even have a basic sense of economics, so it has no intention of risking the fate of the United States and the country to take advantage of a place where it is common to ruin the economy and stage coups.
Selling weapons is just an idea to make some money. And they didn't sell that many.
If the weapons that the United States distributed to South American countries for free are more than the weapons we have sold so far, it will not be much.
Dewey smiled when I made this clear.
"I think it was a good idea to invite the President here. If I had known you were such an honest person, I would have met you sooner."
"It was nothing. Rather, we would have invited the president."
***
Let me tell you in advance, we did not just make concessions on the South American issue.
It's not in the US, but it's in Germany. Dewey, perhaps aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons, promised that he would not touch the mere sale of weapons.
The military advisory group said they would think about it for a while, but would tolerate this as long as the appropriate size was maintained.
It would be a bit different if a suspicious base was built in South America, if a military advisor instigated a coup to overthrow the regime, or if one of the South American countries joined the Axis powers.
When I finished the meeting and returned to my accommodation, I was completely exhausted.
"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. President."
"Please come inside quickly."
"Yes, you had a hard time."
Göring greeted me, rubbing his palms. Hess also stood next to Göring and bowed his head.
"Do you think you had a good conversation with the President of the United States?"
"It's not like you're someone you can't communicate with."
Dewey and I were each given our own territory and agreed on which areas should not be touched and which areas should be left neutral.
And in order to avoid the world being ruined again by World War III, I resolved to keep today's promise.
There is some doubt as to whether this promise will be strictly kept, but since neither of them wants a third world war, it will stop where it is appropriate.
There were many constructive discussions other than simply drawing a line on the map and defining this as my district and that as your district.
From economic cooperation to joint research to eradicate various diseases afflicting humanity.
Dewey also agreed with me on this point, and the conversation took place in a very gentle atmosphere.
What we both focused on was polio.
There are many scary diseases in the world, but if you were to pick the most scary disease in the 1940s, polio would be number one.
Unlike its name, polio, this disease can be contracted even after adulthood and leaves extremely fatal aftereffects on the human body, so it was no exaggeration to say that the whole world was suffering from the fear of polio.
Roosevelt, who himself was a victim of polio, established the National Polio Foundation in 1938 and devoted a huge amount of money to developing a polio vaccine, which was continued for future generations.
Even though Roosevelt is a very annoying person from my perspective, I can praise him for this one thing.
When brilliant German scientists suggested that polio research could be made much more advanced if they joined forces, Dewey readily agreed.
We decided to discuss this in more detail later.
"Anyway, these days, I feel like I'm getting older. "My body isn't what it used to be."
"W-what are you saying! "Your Excellency the President is yet to correct it. Is it okay for you to say such weak words already?"
"That's right, Mr. President! The German people only have their eyes set on Mr. Führer."
It was really the same thing, but the two guys must have been thinking differently and were flattering.
I've felt this before, but my body is definitely not what it used to be.
Even though I exercised hard every day and even had a personal coach, I felt like my body was getting heavier, as if I couldn't lie about my age. Even though my weight was the same as before.
These days, even doing simple gymnastics has been difficult. My joints creak, my teeth ache when I drink cold water, and I quickly run out of breath even if I run just a little bit.
I miss my body so much when I was young. Ah, youth.
"So, what do you mean?"
"yes."
"If this thing goes well, I guess I'll have to think about retirement soon."
"… … ????"
"Uh, did you say retirement…?" … ?"
"okay. retirement."
I wish I had worked for 13 years. If I have made a poor country rich, won a war, and finally completely conquered Europe and turned it into a great power comparable to the United States, I think I have done my job.
What more do you want here?
Just when I was about to say that it was time for me to relax, Göring and Hess both hit their heads on the floor at the same time, without even knowing who went first.
I hit it so hard that I could hear a thumping sound.
"Mr. President! "What do you mean!"
"Still, Germany still needs you, Mr. Führer!"
"Please stop talking!"
"Please take it away!"
Lift your head up, fuck you.
I was all taken aback by the sudden uproar. What did these guys eat wrong? But these two guys didn't seem to want to raise their heads until I retracted what I said earlier.
It was truly awe-inspiring to see the so-called powerful figures in Germany, who had the power to knock down flying birds, bowing their heads and begging for the order to be revoked like subjects in a historical drama set in the Joseon Dynasty.
But these guys were serious. They were genuinely afraid of me retiring.
Unbeknownst to Hess, Goering was begging for my retirement to be reversed even though he had been nominated as the next Fuhrer.
"Okay, raise your head. What kind of noise is this late at night? "Stop being self-respectful."
"We will not move from this state until the Fuhrer says he will accept our request!"
Hess hit the floor with his forehead to prove that what he said was sincere. Even though there was thick carpeting, it must have been quite a shock.
Then Goering also hit his head as if he would not be defeated.
"Mr. President. "There is no one in Germany who can take the place of His Excellency the Führer. Who will lead Germany and Europe if not for His Excellency the Führer?"
"Goering. You are there, right? If you are, I'm sure-"
"I'm not ready yet. So please! please!"
Goering said. He says he's not ready yet, so I need to stay in this position for at least 10 more years.
20 years is not the name of anyone's child. I've been doing it for 13 years now, but 20 years. I'm so upset.
"I did everything I had to do. "Isn't that what you think?"
"… .."
"I'm old now, and I want to rest in peace now. How long should I work? So hurry-"
"It's not possible! "Mr. President!"
"There is only one person who can lead Germany, His Excellency the Fuhrer!"
Oh really.
After a long argument that lasted an hour and 40 minutes, it was decided that I would continue as President for the time being.
Göring and Hess barely raised their heads and there were blue bruises on their foreheads, but they didn't care at all, probably relieved that they had prevented my retirement.
I'm going to be amazed, really.
***
The uproar did not end here.
When I returned to Berlin after the meeting in the United States, the rumor had already spread to Germany, and everyone asked to meet with me.
Anyway, they seem like a bunch of mouthy guys.
"Mr. President! Please, please, please don't retire!"
"Your Excellency the Führer has a duty to lead Germany!"
"No one can replace His Excellency the Fuhrer!"
"Even if Frederick the Great and Chancellor Bismarck are resurrected, they will say the same thing as us!"
"Please let us! Don't abandon Germany!"
Throw away what you have to throw away, you guys. You should also overdo it in moderation.
I didn't say I was retiring, I just said I was thinking about it, but the whole fuss was going on, so I was really curious about what would happen if I even announced to the public that I was retiring.
However, I couldn't do it because I was afraid that if I really did that, I would have a heart attack or lead the entire nation to bow down in front of the official residence and pray.
I couldn't do anything, so I had to repeat what I had said to Goering and Hess to Goebbels, Himmler, Keitel, Brauchitch, etc. I felt like a parrot. A parrot of extremely high status.
That's how I ended up in this position, partly by choice. Of course, my pleasant retirement life was pushed back that much.
Rotten.
***
While the outcome of the meeting with the German Führer was being discussed in Washington and a black comedy was unfolding in Berlin,
In Tokyo, the fate of war criminals was decided.
"-Therefore, the defendant is sentenced to death."
All of the key war criminals were sentenced to death.
Among the war criminals sentenced to death was Emperor Hirohito.
Even he, who was said to be a descendant of the sun god Amaterasu and reigned as a living god in Japan, closed his eyes and lowered his head when he was sentenced to death.
The moment the death sentence was handed down against him, a thought suddenly crossed Hirohito's mind.
What if he had put a stop to the military's rampage?
Or if he had opposed war with the United States.
Wouldn't Japan look different now?
But even if I regretted it now, nothing had changed. The bitterness lingering in my mouth only doubled.
Isoroku Yamamoto, the person who carried out the Pearl Harbor attack, and Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo and Mamoru Shigemitsu were sentenced to 25, 20, and 10 years in prison, respectively.
Only a few people, like Yamamoto and Togo, escaped the death penalty and life imprisonment. Those who were not indicted in actual history, like Nobusuke Kishi, were also indicted and punished in large numbers.
Among the military figures, only Renya Mutaguchi was sentenced to a light sentence of two years in prison, and Shumei Okawa, an extreme right-wing thinker who had a direct influence on the Japanese imperialist faction, was acquitted and released.
In this way, only a handful of people escaped punishment or received very light sentences.
The trial was that much thorough and strict.
Not only soldiers and officials, but also businessmen who cooperated with the war were arrested and tried on charges of inciting and supporting a war of aggression.
It was acknowledged that they did not directly lead the war, so they were not sentenced to death or life imprisonment, but the conglomerates that were their core were divided into pieces.
Various war weapons used by Japan during the war were confiscated and dismantled, buried at sea, or distributed as part of compensation to newly independent countries.
In order to deal with the mines that Japan had spread throughout the sea during the war, some personnel of the Japanese Navy were assigned to minesweeping units and went around to remove the mines that they had spread in the sea or to kill Japanese soldiers and Japanese residents in Southeast Asia and China who had not yet returned to their home countries. It was in charge of transporting it to Japan.
All of them were scheduled to be disbanded as soon as their mission was over.
In the future, Japan would never have an army unless the United States collapsed.
The Allied Powers, led by the United States, decided to turn Japan into a lamb that had no military and therefore no power to protect itself and had to be protected and monitored forever, and they had enough power to put that plan into practice.
The arrogant sun eventually fell forever on its own.
The sun will never rise again.