248

Episode 248: Tug of War (1)

June 27, 1943

New Fuhrer's Residence in Berlin, Germany

On the last day of the Vienna conference, after agreeing on the last agenda item and taking a commemorative photo with friendly faces, we returned to Berlin to rest and heard a report that the 9th Army had entered Gloucester.

And today, London has fallen.

Strictly speaking, it was not a complete occupation.

Some British troops are hiding in subway stations and continuing resistance, so it will likely take some time to completely eradicate them.

Rommel, who is currently in London, said that the road leading to the basement of Buckingham Palace was completely blocked by rubble, so sappers were being mobilized to clear a path.

Beyond the rubble are King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

I don't know what their condition is now, but if they can be captured, the war will be over.

However, it is assumed that he is alive and well.

"Where is Churchill?"

"I haven't found it yet."

"Have you left London?"

"It may have been so."

Due to Churchill's personality, he may still be hiding somewhere in London, but the possibility that he escaped long ago cannot be ruled out.

However, it seems unlikely that he would have run away in a situation where the king's life or death was uncertain.

We cannot ignore the possibility that, as Hitler did in actual history, he committed suicide and ordered his subordinates to burn or hide the remains.

Model's 9th Army succeeded in entering Gloucester, but the Cornwall Peninsula in southwestern England is still in British hands.

My position was to leave the Cornwall peninsula as is and move forward, but Brauchitch emphasized that the number of British troops isolated on the Cornwall peninsula was too large to advance while leaving the enemy on the flank, and that at least troops were needed to hold them.

"How about this? "Should we leave the invasion of the Cornwall Peninsula to the Ukrainian and Free Russian forces?"

"You mean the Ukrainian Army and the Free Russian Army?"

"It's not bad. "It would be fair to give Slavic friends a chance to play an active part."

The idea was to use a knife to kill chickens because it was a waste to use a knife to kill cows.

The way to end the war as quickly as possible would be to leave these secondary missions to the allies and concentrate on advancing north.

The transport of National Defense Force troops and equipment to Ireland using ships disguised as Portuguese is nearing completion.

If the Royal Navy were still alive, it would not have been a dream, but as everyone knows, the Royal Navy is still stranded in Scapa Flow, having a war of wits with the friendly fleet.

After the National Defense Forces succeeded in landing in England, the IRA is also running wild like a fish out of water.

They already need more troops, but if they take additional troops from Northern Ireland to stop the enemy from landing on the mainland, the troops stationed in Northern Ireland will be so exhausted that they will have diarrhea.

The U-boat fleet was also continuing its victories day after day against the United States.

On the eastern coast of the United States, large oil tankers were torpedoed once every two days and went to see Yonggung.

The U.S. Navy, which had never fought a proper battle with the German Navy, was unable to respond quickly even when U-boats were openly harassing its coast.

Of course, this is not because the US Navy is in trouble, but it is also because the vast majority of naval power is concentrated in the Pacific.

The image of New York sparkling at night, filmed by U-boats off the East Coast of the United States, was shown in Germany and throughout Europe through Die Deutsche Wochenschau.

Goebbels raised his voice, saying that this video was proof of the power of the U-boat fleet and the incompetence of the U.S. Navy.

"Look, everyone. Even though our U-boat crews were blatantly filming their city on video, the U.S. Navy didn't lift a finger. Will they be able to win against our Navy, which has been strengthened through years of combat?"

The image of an American ship sinking, emitting smoke after being hit by a torpedo, inserted in the next scene of the night view of New York sparkling like a jewel, deeply engraved the bravery and excellence of the German Navy in the audience's minds.

The sight of Air Force bombers dropping bombs over a British city and Army tanks advancing in a row set a fire in the hearts of the German people.

Goebbels' propaganda gained momentum, and recruiting stations were overflowing with people wishing to enlist.

Among them, there were women who lied about their age and enlisted, even though they were not of enlistment age, or who requested to enlist in fighter pilots, bomber crews, and armored branches where women were not assigned in principle.

I cannot help but feel fortunate that there will be no shortage of troops until the end of the war.

"Mr. President. Minister Ribbentrop says he has a matter to report."

"Please stop by."

***

"To Italy?"

"yes. "We have been trying to contact them, saying they will contribute to the expedition to England."

Ribbentrop made no attempt to hide the sneer on his face.

While I was in Vienna, Italy contacted Ribbentrop through Count Ciano and conveyed the King of Italy's proposal.

Italy also officially joined the Axis Alliance and would send troops to conquer Britain, so they asked for a reduction in the compensation to be paid to Germany.

At this point, I and Ribbentrop would have thought the same thing.

If we leave aside for a moment the fact that the Italian army's combat power is worse than that of the French army, which is famous for being 6 weeks in the world and 4 weeks here, it is a reasonable suggestion.

However, the problem was that the king did not stop there and committed suicide.

"You want Malta, Egypt, Sudan and Somaliland handed over to Italy? "Are these bastards still out of their minds?"

I'm so shocked that I can't even speak.

Are they such great beings that they even ask for colonial cession as compensation forgiveness is not enough?

Italy's problem was not Mussolini alone. How can the king win the war when he has such a poor grasp of reality?

"You can also just ignore it. What would you like to do?"

"Tell me if this makes sense based on common sense. Pathetic bastards. "I still can't believe that these guys are descendants of the Roman Empire."

Vittorio Emanuele III's Circuit of Hope was thrown into the trash can in less than five minutes.

You have to say things that make sense based on common sense. Just because you say it out loud doesn't mean everything makes sense.

"Is this all there is to say? "Okay then-"

"No, Mr. President. "There is still one more left."

"what is that?"

"News from South America."

If it's South America, it's the United States and Bari?

Haven't exchanges with South America been almost cut off since the second war with England broke out?

Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, the entire American continent has been actively cooperating with the United States' war effort.

Right now, all North American countries, including Mexico, Cuba, Panama, Costa Rica, and El Salvador, have declared war on Japan, and South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile are also providing their ports to the United States or exporting oil and food.

In other words, South America is said to be neutral, but in reality it is no different from an allied country, but it contacted us.

"South America is a place where the United States has a strong influence, but it has also maintained a close relationship with Germany since before the war. "Although Britain and the United States were at war with Germany, they could only express it outwardly, but they did not take a particularly hostile stance toward Germany."

"I know that. But what is news from South America?"

"Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay have proposed technical cooperation. "It seems they decided that now is the right time to cooperate with Germany, as America's surveillance has become negligent."

Three countries, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, have secretly requested to send engineers to provide the technical skills needed to strengthen their national defense capabilities.

Promising to cheaply export resources such as various minerals and food that Germany needed after the war and to provide various benefits to German companies.

"It is impossible to openly import weapons due to realistic conditions, so you are asking for technical cooperation?"

"Isn't this a golden opportunity to raise Germany's voice in South America?"

Of course, there is a risk of further provoking the United States, but the United States and Germany are officially at war anyway.

And if the United States does not move when it is in turmoil like it is now, Germany may have an opportunity to expand its influence on the American continent.

"Bolivia and Paraguay were also found to be interested in technological cooperation. "Local diplomats are conducting secret negotiations."

Chile and Uruguay wanted to increase their air power, and Argentina wanted new weapons for its air force and army.

In particular, Argentina showed a strong obsession with strengthening its army, and although its neighbors Brazil and Chile both received arms donations from the United States, Argentina was excluded from the United States' arms donations.

The Argentine military's only armored vehicles are tankettes, which are almost useless in modern warfare, while Chile has the M3 Stuart and Brazil has the M4 Sherman.

Brazil's concentration of its armored forces on the border with Argentina further fueled the Argentine government's anxiety.

"Even if we can't turn South America into an Axis country, there's nothing wrong with making it friendly to Germany. good. "You take charge and proceed smoothly."

"Just leave it to us, Mr. President!"

***

June 28, 1943

glasgow england

"Are you awake, Mr Prime Minister?"

A doctor in a white coat asked Churchill, who had barely opened his eyes.

Churchill came to his senses and found himself lying on a bed wearing a hospital gown.

Soon, faces he knew well came into the hospital room to see him come to his senses.

"Your Excellency, I'm glad you're safe."

"Atley? No, what on earth is this… … ."

Looking at Attlee and Eden sweating at him, Churchill suddenly had a terrible imagination.

No way, no way-

"Where are we? "I don't think it's London."

"… … ."

"… … Glasgow. "Isn't that right?"

"Your Excellency, first of all, be calm-"

Churchill felt like his eyesight was turning dark.

Oh my god.

"I, I should have died in London. That way, at least the name of the Churchill family would not be tarnished. But, but… … !"

Churchill, who was spitting out words as if in a fit, felt his head pounding.

He gasped as the pain felt like his head was being tightened with a chain. The doctor in charge quickly rushed over and checked Churchill's condition.

Fortunately, there was no major problem with Churchill's body. He was just overly excited. The doctor administered tranquilizers.

After a while Churchill, calmer than before - but still in despair - said:

"His Majesty the King and the Queen are still in London, and I am lying comfortably on the bed like this."

"dismissal. Take heart. "The war is not over yet."

Attlee said.

"But what will the people think of me? Who would believe and follow me, who not only cannot keep my word, but who has left His Majesty in limbo?"

Churchill lowered his head as if he had nothing more to say.

"… … We will announce to the public that His Excellency was injured in an enemy bombing raid and was forced to be transported to the rear. "The people will understand if they know that it was not your Excellency's intention to leave London."

"… … ."

Attlee thought to himself that perhaps he would hand over the Prime Ministership to him and tender his resignation.

You might say that it would be better to elect a new prime minister since the people will not trust and follow a prime minister who could not keep his word... … .

"I understand. "I'm going to organize my thoughts, so everyone, please leave."

Churchill's recovery was much faster than Attlee expected. His face was still full of worry, but he was no longer in the same state of infinite despair as before.

Did he put his all into acting, even if just for a moment, to keep his current position?

Or is it a feeling of responsibility to lead this war to victory? Attlee was confused.

"I hope the people will forgive me for this incompetence. If not… … "Attlee, I think it would be a good idea for you to be Prime Minister."

I wish I had said this first. Attlee said with regret.

Even though I didn't know what the truth was, I still felt like my conscience remained.

"Let's go and judge it then. "Please rest assured first."

"How far did the German army advance?"

Instead of responding to Attlee's words to calm down, Churchill looked at Brooke, who was among the people who had come to check on his condition, and said,

"The enemy's main force is still in London, and has advanced as far west as Gloucester. "This has left the Cornwall peninsula isolated."

Brooke gestured, and two ensigns came holding a sign board showing the battle lines.

The area from Dover to London was completely occupied by the Germans, and a long red line from Portsmouth to Gloucester separated England from the Cornwall peninsula.

Montgomery, who retreated to Oxford under Brooke's instructions, recovered his troops and barely formed a defensive line.

The German Air Force was bombing Oxford every day and pounding the British army's defenses, but Montgomery was holding on somehow.

"It's not all bad news though."

"So you have some good news? "What news is that?"

"American troops arrived early this morning."

The reinforcements that Roosevelt had promised to Churchill had finally arrived in Britain.

***

There were many twists and turns before the U.S. Army troops arrived on the island of Britain.

With the revelations about the Tuskegee syphilis experiment and the Pearl Harbor attack throwing the entire United States into chaos, there was talk here and there that dispatching troops to Europe might have to be postponed.

But Roosevelt was adamant.

Even in the midst of confusion due to the protests that broke out across the country, he sincerely urged Marshall that there should be no disruption in the dispatch of ground troops to Europe.

So the U.S. Army soldiers boarded a transport ship bound for England and headed to Europe as planned.

Until they arrived in England, U-boats persistently targeted American transport ships.

The escort destroyers and the British Navy's armed fishing boats desperately protected the transport ships from U-boat attacks, but one transport ship was torpedoed and sank in the waters near Iceland.

There was another attack while en route from Iceland to England. One transport ship was torpedoed, but miraculously avoided sinking.

When they finally entered the port, the soldiers, who had been anxious throughout the voyage, shouted hurray.

"I'm glad I don't have to become a water demon anymore. Adjutant, isn't it?"

"Yes, Your Excellency."

Lieutenant General George S. Patton put a cigar in his mouth as he watched war materials being unloaded by cranes at the port and soldiers moving in line.

Without him saying anything, the deputy took out a lighter and lit a cigar.

Before the declaration of war against Germany, Patton's rank was major general.

When it was decided to dispatch to Europe after the declaration of war against Germany, Patton was promoted to temporary lieutenant general and appointed commander of the US 2nd Corps.

And he was the first to be dispatched as the vanguard of the American troops heading to Europe.

"aide. "Do you know why we came here?"

"Isn't it to defeat the German army?"

"that's right. But look at those bastards."

"Didn't you hear me clearly?"

Where Patton's index finger pointed, there were soldiers who had crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the same ship as him.

The soldiers were grateful that they had safely crossed the Atlantic, and whistled as they saw the women in the welcome group gathered at the port to welcome them.

"People who have never experienced a real fight are already hooked. "Don't you think there's a problem?"

"ah… … "Maybe it's because I don't have any experience yet."

The adjutant, knowing Patton's violent personality, was careful to choose his words so as not to offend him as much as possible.

"Experience, experience… … Yes, that's right. "If you play around with Jerry, you will gain experience."