124

January 5, 1942

New Fuhrer's Residence in Berlin, Germany

1941 ended and the new year of 1942 dawned.

The German people welcomed the New Year with joy, but the Americans, British, and Chinese did not.

For them, 1942 was the beginning of a long winter.

The Japanese army invaded the Philippines, Malaya, Burma, and Indonesia, and the Allied forces were utterly hopeless against the Japanese army.

In terms of numbers alone, the Allied forces outnumbered the Japanese, but in a situation where both sea control and air superiority were lost, the difference in forces could not have any effect on the situation of the war.

While Japan was devouring Southeast Asia, I was briefed on several issues.

One was to license production of the Panzer IV requested by Spain and to approve arms export requests from the governments of Chile and Ireland, and the other was regarding the Eastern Wall (Ostwall) being built between the German-Soviet border.

As I said before, Germany, which takes anti-communism as its national policy, and the Soviet Union, a communist country, can never get along.

Although they are quiet right now, they will soon show their teeth at each other, and if the confrontation continues, war may eventually break out.

In preparation for war with the Soviet Union, I ordered the construction of a defensive line on the eastern border immediately after the invasion of Poland was completed.

The original plan was to create a defensive line connecting the entire German-Soviet border from Memel to the German-Slovak border, but my grandiose plan quickly ran into difficulties.

Just the cost.

Building the wall as originally planned required significant cost and time.

Of course, our Schacht tackled the issue, and after several discussions, it was decided to install barriers only on important roads instead of the entire border.

Although the scale has been greatly reduced, construction has also been accelerated and 60% of the wall is currently complete.

At this rate, the Eastern Wall will be completed in the spring of 1943.

The last one was Stalin's invitation.

"Stalin? me?"

"Yes, Mr. President. "General Secretary Stalin has sent an invitation to His Excellency the Führer."

Stalin sent me an invitation to Moscow. I remember being dumbfounded for several minutes because the news was so sudden.

"What is the reason?"

"I would like to meet in person with His Excellency the President to discuss the world situation and deepen the friendly relationship between our two countries."

Ribbentrop showed me an invitation signed by Stalin that he had received from the Soviet Ambassador to Germany, Vladimir Georgyevich Dekanozov.

"Why did Stalin suddenly invite me? "I don't know why."

"You didn't ask earlier, did you?"

"No, not that reason. There's definitely something up there. clearly."

There is a possibility that the reason is just what it is on the surface without needing to think deeply, but in that case, there is no need for me to go all the way to Moscow and meet Stalin. I just need to send working-level officials and hold a meeting.

However, seeing as why you called me to Moscow, there is clearly another reason you are hiding.

"I'm sure you didn't call to protest the naming of the next bomber 'Siberia'?"

"Me264 Siberia? "The name Siberia has not yet been passed down to the development team, so it is believed that the Soviets have no way of knowing."

"… .I was just making a joke. "Why are you taking it so seriously?"

"Oh, sorry."

if… . assassination? The country that poses the greatest threat to the Soviet Union right now is by far Germany, and I am the Fuhrer of Germany.

Therefore, for Stalin, there is no one who poses a greater threat to his safety than me.

If you had the chance to kill it, you would want to kill it without mercy. It is possible that the reason they called me to Moscow was to assassinate me.

Of course, if you kill me outright, it is war, so they will try to harm me in a way that is not noticeable.

For example, poisoning food or water, covering the body with a blanket, etc. .

However, this is just the most extreme assumption I can make, and I don't think Stalin will really try to kill me.

However, since Stalin is a human being who can do this, and from Stalin's point of view, there is no one who should or should be killed as much as me, it is not even possible to say that the possibility is zero.

Only Stalin would know the real reason. No matter how hard I rack my brain, I can't figure out anything. There were only two things I could do. To go or not to go.

"What do you think would be best to do?"

"Since Stalin himself sent an invitation, I think it would be better for you to go."

"My thoughts are the same as Marshal Goering's."

"So do i."

When I asked those close to me, the consensus was that it would be right for everyone to go.

Following Ribbentrop, Göring, Himmler, and Keitel, Goebbels also voted in favor of going to Moscow.

"If His Excellency the Führer declines Stalin's invitation, the Soviet Union may think that you have intentionally humiliated them."

"That too."

I even sent out a thoughtful invitation saying I cared, but everyone would be upset if I told them I wouldn't go.

This is the case even between individuals right now, but what about between countries?

If the schedule doesn't fit, you can adjust the schedule, and since it's not an exhibition and there's nothing special to do, you can't even make the excuse that you're busy.

Refusing an invitation even though you clearly know that is a matter so serious that you can't say anything even if the other country takes it as a provocation.

"Yes, I've always wanted to go to Moscow at least once, so I guess I'll have to use this opportunity."

***

January 6, 1942

USSR Moscow Kremlin Palace

After hearing Molotov's report that Germany's Hitler had accepted his invitation to Moscow, Stalin sank into his chair.

"We need to discuss details such as visit schedule-"

"Let your comrade take care of that. "I'm tired, so please go out."

"Excuse me, Comrade Secretary. Let's go now. Rest in peace."

As Stalin waved his hand in annoyance, Molotov hurried out of the office.

You say you're the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, but you act arrogantly in front of me, but you act like a rat in front of me.

No matter how close he was, Stalin was appalled every time he saw Molotov's pitiful appearance.

Molotov faithfully followed everything Stalin said, even to the point of pretending to die, but the more Molotov was loyal to him, the more insignificant Stalin regarded him.

Although it was Stalin himself who ousted the previous People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Maxim Litvinov, and placed Molotov in his place, Stalin thought that Molotov was too short and weak to be the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs.

To Stalin, who was pathologically suspicious of everything and even distanced himself from his own family, people like Molotov were nothing more than parts of a machine that could be replaced at any time.

Now I'm getting a bit annoyed just by looking at your face. Should I just purge it?

Since people like Molotov were the worst, Stalin would not have regretted even if he immediately ordered Beria to purge Molotov.

no. Still, he's trying to survive somehow, so you should see him at least once.

There is no need to keep it alive, but on the other hand, there is no need to kill it either.

And wouldn't it be strange in Germany if Hitler accepted his invitation and suddenly purged Molotov?

The idea of inviting Hitler to Moscow came purely from Stalin's head.

No one was surprised by Stalin's words that he would meet Hitler in person for talks.

Even Beria, who was accustomed to torturing people without blinking an eye, was so shocked by Stalin's words that he stuttered and asked why.

Stalin snorted as if his aides' questions were meaningless.

"Do you need me to explain it all to you? "I don't know when my comrades started looking for reasons for what I say."

Stalin's associates fell silent due to the threat they felt in his words. What Stalin said was law in the Soviet Union.

Those who had forgotten that fact even for a moment trembled, worried that they might have caught Stalin's attention.

There was only one reason why Stalin invited Hitler to Moscow.

It's about confronting him directly and finding out what his true intentions are. That was the reason why Hitler was encouraged to invite Moscow.

It was impossible to determine exactly what kind of person Hitler was based solely on rumors and reports from lesser associates.

Stalin was convinced that the best way to evaluate a person was to meet him or her directly.

Although he was the first to propose it, it remained to be seen whether Hitler would respond to the proposal.

However, when Hitler obediently accepted the invitation, Stalin was embarrassed.

In Stalin's view, Hitler was a man of the same class as him.

A person who rarely shows his true feelings to others and is completely good at disguising himself.

Stalin expected that Hitler, who had received his invitation, would not respond immediately but would hesitate and then reply abruptly at a time when everyone would forget him.

But I never thought I would receive a reply so quickly. Going one step further, Hitler even responded that he had already been invited and that he hoped to meet as soon as possible.

Could it be that he thought Hitler was too difficult? In fact, isn't he a much simpler and more straightforward person than Hitler thought?

… ...No, no, no. Is that possible? If Hitler had really been a simple man, he would not have risen to the position of Führer, let alone conquered Europe.

There is clearly a hidden meaning in his reluctant acceptance of the invitation.

Perhaps this too was a sophisticated ploy to confuse Stalin.

If Stalin thought of Hitler, he was certainly a worthy human being.

Scary guy. Stalin took a bottle of scotch from the closet and poured it into a glass.

It makes sense to avoid alcohol when you need a high level of concentration like now, but if I didn't drink alcohol, I couldn't control my body tremors.

Stalin poured scotch into the glass until it overflowed and then drank it in one go.

After waiting for a while until I was sober, I rang the bell and called Tymoshenko and Zhukov.

"Did you call me, Comrade Secretary?"

Defense Minister Tymoshenko and Zhukov, who had been appointed Chief of the Soviet Army's General Staff to replace Shaposhnikov, who had stepped down from his position due to health issues, stood side by side in front of Stalin.

"What do you think I called you for?"

Stalin always liked to ask questions before explaining.

Every time he asked a question, his subordinates became nervous. I am afraid that if I give the wrong answer, I will offend him or be perceived as incompetent.

Stalin's subordinates were nervous every time they were asked questions by him, but the two were different. Zhukov said.

"Isn't it because of Germany?"

"That's right."

When I told him the correct answer, Stalin laughed as if it was quite the answer. From the moment Stalin's office door opened, the two smelled the faint smell of scotch wafting through the room.

When alcohol was involved, Stalin became more capricious than usual, but at the same time, he also became more lenient.

If you answer well, you will be able to get through this time safely.

"The reason I called my comrades was to check how far the establishment of 'Operation Uranus' has progressed."

***

The plan to visit Moscow went smoothly.

Göring remained in Germany as he had to succeed to the position of Führer upon my death, and instead, Hess, who was nominally third in line, decided to accompany me to Moscow.

In addition to Hess, 20 people were selected, including Guderian, Ribbentrop, interpreter Schmidt, and attending physician Dr. Werner Haase.

Before heading to Moscow, I called the people who would be traveling with me to Moscow and gave them some precautions.

"The Russians must have spies and wiretaps everywhere we stay. So, never, ever talk about state secrets."

It is a famous story that during the Yalta Conference, the Soviet Union installed a large number of wiretaps in the accommodations where the American and British negotiators stayed, stealing various confidential information and using it to their advantage during the conference. The Soviet Union calmly committed such a thing even against its allies, so how could it be appalling to us, a potential enemy?

When West German President Konrad Adenauer went to the Soviet Union for a meeting with Nikita Khrushchev, he brought all his belongings, including his car, telephone, and desk, with him from West Germany to avoid being bugged.

Since it has already been mentioned, Adenauer is currently serving as mayor in Posen.

Like Remarque, he made several anti-Nazi remarks in private, so Himmler and Heydrich suggested his arrest, but instead of arresting him, I entrusted him with the reconstruction of Posen.

Since there was no Holocaust and political parties other than the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party were left as they were rather than disbanded, he became a little obedient, and considering his ability to neatly develop the city of Cologne, he was too precious a person to be executed or sent to a concentration camp.

Adenauer probably realized that I didn't think too badly of him, so he accepted the offer, and as a result, Posen was able to be transformed into a gorgeous city.

Considering that Himmler and Heydrich have been quiet so far, it seems like they are paying more attention to what they say these days.

"So, if you really have news that needs to be delivered urgently, you must deliver it by letter so that the Soviet Union cannot hear it. It may be a little inconvenient, but considering what happens if state secrets are handed over to communists, think of it as a cheap price. "Do you have any objections?"

No objection. Everyone agrees.

Since there were no objections, I was about to end it, but Hess, who had been silent, raised his hand and asked to speak.

"Hess, is there anything else you want to say?"

"Mr. President. "If the problem is that the Soviets are eavesdropping on our conversations, wouldn't it be possible for us to leak disinformation to them?"

"… ..!"

Okay, why didn't I think of this simple thing before? Everyone was only thinking of ways to avoid Soviet wiretapping, but had no idea of how to take advantage of it.

The Soviets will certainly not think that we were already eavesdropping on their conversations.

That means there is a very good chance that everything we say will be taken as fact!

"Hess, you are a genius! I just can't get over this. "Everyone, please give us a round of applause."

When everyone, including me, responded with thunderous applause, Hess blushed as if he were embarrassed.

I immediately called Nowokes and explained Hess' plan.

Nowokes, who was quick-witted, responded that he would immediately prepare the necessary materials.

As the agreed date with the Soviet Union for my trip to Moscow approached, I felt nervous and excited at the same time.

What if the Soviets are really playing a prank on me? However, I couldn't say that I wouldn't eat the food they served, and in the end, I had no choice but to hope that they wouldn't play with the food.

On the one hand, I felt strangely excited at the thought of visiting the Soviet Union for the first time in my life and meeting Stalin in person.

It is no longer surprising that we have already met all the historical figures, but we have never met Stalin, including all the previous regressions.

Since I don't know Russian and Stalin doesn't speak German, it would be impossible for us to have a conversation alone, but it would still be possible to observe each other and have a conversation at close range.

How will Stalin react when he meets me? And what should I ask him when I meet him? I couldn't sleep because of all these worries.

January 16, 1942,

I boarded the private plane with a mixture of worries and expectations about the uncertain future.