Episode 18: The Next Objective
France surrendered to Germany, just as in the original history.
Just before the surrender, the French government declared Paris an open city, and the German army marched through the Arc de Triomphe into the heart of Paris.
Amidst the cheerful music of the military band, the German troops strode proudly through the streets of Paris without hesitation.
Meanwhile, the defeated Parisian citizens watched in silence as the occupiers of the "City of Light" passed by.
German soldiers hung Hakenkreuz flags throughout Paris, signaling that the city had completely fallen into German hands.
In place of the French tricolor hung the German Hakenkreuz flag, and the people passed beneath it in silence.
Appointed as the new Prime Minister of France, the hero of the Great War, Philippe Pétain, had to meet with Hitler, who was visiting Paris, and sign a humiliating armistice agreement.
While one was the hero who had led his country to victory in the war, the other had been a mere corporal during the First World War.
But now their positions had completely reversed—one as the prime minister of a defeated nation, the other as the leader of a victorious one.
Truly, it was an irony of history that could not be more astonishing.
Going further, Hitler chose the Forest of Compiègne, where Germany had signed the surrender agreement at the end of the First World War, as the site for the negotiations. And he had the railway car, in which the armistice had been signed, brought from its museum to the Forest of Compiègne. All for the sake of perfect revenge for the previous war.
As the leaders of Germany and France emerged from the railway car after concluding the armistice, the waiting German military band played the Badenweiler March, Hitler's favorite piece.
There could be no revenge more perfect than this.
And there could be no humiliation more complete.
The German people welcomed Hitler back from securing France's surrender with cheers and bouquets.
Every citizen of Berlin flooded in to see him, and the police and stormtroopers were sweating to hold back the crowds surging to catch a glimpse of Hitler.
In just six years since taking power, not only had he raised a poor defeated nation back to a level where it could wage war again, but he had even brought the military great power France to its knees. Hitler was truly regarded as the savior sent by God for Germany.
***
"German air truly is the best. France was better than I thought, but still, it can't compare to Germany."
"Hahahaha...."
The meeting held at the Führer's residence began with light jokes and laughter.
Hitler was in a very good mood. So were his close aides and staff officers.
Having toppled France, their old nemesis, what was there left to fear?
They had achieved the most perfect victory in German history and shocked the entire world. Every obstacle blocking their path had been cleared away or shattered to pieces.
Who could possibly stop them?
Filled with confidence, Hitler now chose his next target.
On a massive table taking up a fifth of the conference room, a map of Europe, with Britain in particular, was laid out neatly.
The German Führer's gaze naturally turned toward Britain on the map.
Immediately after securing France's surrender, Hitler proposed peace to Churchill.
For civilized nations that must lead Europe in the future to wage war against one another is a great sin against humanity. Is not the outcome of this battle already decided? So why not quietly conclude a peace treaty and achieve coexistence and peace?
But the reply that came back was not particularly hopeful.
Go to hell.
Churchill rejected Hitler's proposal outright. He declared that they would continue fighting instead of signing a peace treaty.
"It truly is laughable. Their army is completely smashed, and all they have left is their navy and air force—what do they have to be so arrogant about?"
"Would the very man who created Gallipoli back down?"
At Göring's joke, the conference room was soon flooded with laughter. Even the army and navy generals, who were on bad terms with Göring, laughed sincerely this time.
"Hahaha, now that you mention it, that's right. Yes, Churchill had Gallipoli. Now I understand. With his head that stubborn, there's no way he could read the situation properly."
Having stopped laughing, Hitler turned his gaze back to the map. Since Churchill had rejected peace, his next target was now set.
It was Britain itself.
"Churchill, that old pig has rejected our proposal, so now we must teach him a painful lesson, must we not?"
"That's correct, my Führer. If you give the order, our Luftwaffe will sortie and shoot down every single plane those John Bulls have."
Field Marshal Erich Raeder and the other navy admirals watched Göring thumping his chest and boasting with displeased expressions.
But to strike Britain, they had to eliminate the RAF first, as Göring said—the biggest obstacle. Only by securing air supremacy could they do anything—whether landing in Britain or dragging them to the negotiating table.
"Indeed. To conquer Britain, we must sweep away their air force and navy entirely. Then, if we land in Britain and seize London, the English will be shocked and beg for peace. Just like the French!"
Hitler smiled, recalling the despair-filled faces of the French he had seen during his visit to Paris last month.
Now Britain would be the same.
If Britain fell as well, then all of Western Europe would be in German hands.
Then they would concentrate their forces and attack the Soviet Union.
How long could those Russian Communists, who were struggling against tiny Finland, hold out against the invincible German army?
At most, three months would be the limit.
Before Christmas next year, the war would end, and Hitler himself would remain forever as the greatest conqueror in German—no, world history.
As he was indulging in fantasies, dreaming of a rosy future, a familiar voice cut in to tackle him.
"But my Führer, I have something to say."
Hitler raised his head and looked at the owner of the voice. Not only him, but everyone in the conference room turned their gaze in that direction.
But the owner of the voice did not cower in the slightest under everyone's gaze. On the contrary, he held his head high proudly.
"Hmm, General Guderian. Speak."
"Thank you, my Führer. Forgive my impertinence, but with our current military strength, it is impossible to strike Britain immediately. I beg you to reconsider your decision."
The conference room buzzed at Guderian's "bombshell."
Immediately, Göring reprimanded Guderian in an irritated voice.
"What is the meaning of this, General? Saying it is impossible to strike Britain—are you insulting our Luftwaffe? Withdraw that statement at once!"
"Field Marshal Göring, I did not say this to insult the Luftwaffe. I am simply stating the facts!"
"Facts? Those words themselves are an insult to the Luftwaffe!"
"Field Marshal, you must look at reality instead of chasing ideals! For the sake of your subordinates, if nothing else!"
"What?"
As if he had expected this, Guderian rebutted Göring's words and stood his ground firmly.
In an instant, an awkward atmosphere swept through the conference hall.
Unable to watch any longer, Hitler personally stepped in to mediate their fight.
"Enough, enough! What kind of behavior is this from educated gentlemen!"
At Hitler's sharp rebuke, Göring fell silent. His face was still full of dissatisfaction, but he wore an expression of helplessly enduring it because it was the Führer's order.
Hitler had not forgotten that Guderian had disobeyed his order to halt the advance and regroup, continuing to press forward instead. At that time, Göring and Colonel-General Gerd von Rundstedt had flown into a rage, insisting that Guderian must be court-martialed for disobeying the Führer's order.
Hitler also had not viewed Guderian favorably for defying his order, but Commander-in-Chief of the Army Walter von Brauchitsch and Chief of the General Staff Franz Halder had desperately defended him. Then came news of Guderian's victory—he had annihilated 200,000 Allied troops surrounded at Dunkirk—and Hitler withdrew the proposal to court-martial Guderian.
Although there was a somewhat arbitrary aspect to him, Hitler had no choice but to continue trusting him, as he was loyal and had consistently achieved outstanding results.
"One must at least hear a man out to the end. General Guderian, continue."
"Yes. Unfortunately, with our current air force and navy, it is difficult to guarantee victory against Britain's navy and air force, which boast of being the strongest in the world."
Göring bristled again at Guderian's words, but with Hitler right in front of him, he had no choice but to hold back for the moment.
The navy admirals too were maintaining their composure. That was because they knew better than anyone that the German navy was weaker than the British navy.
Guderian calmly continued speaking.
"Therefore, if we attempt to conquer Britain rashly in our current state, the likelihood is very high that we will suffer great damage instead. Thus, we should postpone the invasion of the British mainland and concentrate on attacking the assets the British possess."
"Assets the British possess... do you mean India? Unfortunately, India is quite far away?"
"Of course, India is Britain's largest colony and their lifeline. India too must eventually fall into Greater Germany's hands, but that is impossible for now. Instead, we must seize the route to India."
"The route to India?"
"Please look at the map, my Führer. Do you see the small island below Italy?"
Hitler bent down and found Italy on the map.
And he stared at the tiny, insignificant little island below it.
The name of the island was Malta.
"The island of Malta? You mean to target this place?"
"Yes, my Führer. Although it is a small island, its importance cannot be underestimated. It is the most important area in the Mediterranean after Gibraltar, and it is an island that Britain must pass through to reach Egypt. Italy knows its importance as well and is currently throwing attacks at it, but the island's defenses are stronger than expected, and they are reportedly having difficulty."
"That's the way with those pasta-eaters. When we were racing toward Paris, those fools were stumbling around unable to even cross the border."
Since the topic had come up, Hitler sneered at the pathetic performance shown by the Italian army. Until the German armored units occupied Paris and secured the French government's surrender, Italy, which called itself a great power, had been blocked by the French border defenders and suffered repeated defeats. Had France's surrender been even slightly delayed, the French defenders might have counterattacked into Italian territory.
"The first phase is to send airborne troops to capture Malta in a joint operation with the Italian army. If possible, the Vichy French Mediterranean fleet must also be mobilized for the operation. Right now, we cannot send our navy to the Mediterranean. After capturing Malta in this manner, we send the army to Italian Libya to attack Egypt together with the Italian army. This is the second phase."
As if he had prepared meticulously in advance, his words flowed without hesitation.
"Phase three is to seize Egypt and block or take control of the Suez Canal. If that happens, we can advance to Palestine and bring Turkey and Iran to our side, and at the same time, Britain, having lost the Suez Canal, will have to go all the way around the Cape of Good Hope to reach India. The costs, of course, and the time required, will become much more severe."
If the operation proceeded as planned, a Mediterranean defensive line capable of putting perfect pressure on Britain would be established.
"Naturally, Britain's grip on India would weaken, and when that happens, it will become much easier to incite rebellion in India. Once India is in danger, Britain will naturally have no choice but to make peace with us in order to protect it."
When Guderian finished his explanation, Hitler was deeply troubled.
Although conquering the British mainland immediately was important, as Guderian said, the navy was certainly inferior to Britain's.
In the case of the air force, Göring had boasted that the Luftwaffe was superior to the RAF, but looking at it calmly, the RAF was at least equal to the German air force.
Even if we generously considered the air force equal to the enemy, how could an invasion of the British mainland be possible when the navy was completely inferior?
Rather, as Guderian suggested, instead of striking the enemy's main stronghold, it might be more effective to gradually apply pressure and drag them to the negotiating table.
Moreover, Guderian had shown boldness in attacking the enemy even to the point of disobeying his orders.
This was clear insubordination, and the mere fact that he had ignored an order from the Führer was enough to have Guderian charged with treason.
He himself must have known that as well.
But Guderian's insubordination had brought Hitler an enormous gift: the annihilation of 200,000 Allied troops.
Who could have predicted it?
That their own forces would achieve such a great victory.
Had it not been for Guderian, or at least had he followed orders, the Allied troops surrounded at Dunkirk would have crossed over to Britain intact.
But Guderian prevented that.
Hitler could not deny the fact that Guderian knew more about military strategy than he, the Führer, did.
"......."
Hitler remained silent for a long time.
A heavy silence descended upon the conference room.
As five minutes passed, then ten, Hitler finally broke the silence and opened his mouth.
Everyone's gaze turned to his mouth and eyes.
"Good, I have decided. Göring!"
"Yes, my Führer!"
"Contact General Student (commander of the German airborne forces) and bring him here. Right now!"
"M-My Führer. Then that means..."
To Göring's question, Hitler nodded with a solemn face.
"Our next target is Malta."