The Rise of the Third Reich

I don’t know if it was because Mussolini was unhappy with the Liberator’s Proclamation, but this time the Italian leader did not arrange a grand welcoming ceremony. But this was a good thing for Hessmann and Hitler. Mussolini particularly liked speeches. If there were mass welcoming ceremonies and military parades, he would talk endlessly for hours.

However, Mussolini also gave a banquet to the visiting Hitler and Hersmann at the Palazzo Venezia. The Italian leader was wearing a brown suit and a gray-blue tie. He had a bald head and no hat, and looked like a bank manager. Accompanying him are his beautiful son-in-law Count Ciano and his even more beautiful lover Clara Bettasi. Hessman suddenly discovered that in the original history, most of the people in this luxurious restaurant would have died violently!

"Why didn't Chloe come?" At the beginning of the dinner, Mussolini suddenly asked Hessman's wife Chloe. He was deeply impressed by that beautiful, plump, and noble woman.

"She was pregnant," Hersman said, "which was difficult for her age, so I kept her at home recovering."

Chloe kept her promise and became pregnant again. Although she is an advanced maternal age, considering her physical condition, there is actually no danger, otherwise Hessman would not let her get pregnant again anyway.

"Oh," Mussolini said with a smile, "Congratulations to you." He looked at Hitler again, "Prime Minister, shouldn't it be time for you to consider getting married and having children?"

"When Germany wins the war, I will get married and retire from politics." Hitler said seriously.

It's a pity that historically he only married Eva on the eve of Germany's defeat, Hersman thought sadly.

"I suppose this day will come soon?" Mussolini asked.

"France can be defeated in 6-12 months," Hitler said in a serious, serious tone. "We now have 1,000 heavy bombers (actually not even 100), which can drop 10,000 tons of bombs on Paris each time! If we defeat the British and French fighter forces, the bombing will begin immediately."

Under the operation of the German Strategic Deception Bureau, the whole world (including the vast majority of Germans) now believes that a large-scale ground war will never happen again. Germany would use bombers to defeat France, and then use submarines and planes to cut off Britain's transportation lines, forcing tens of millions of British people to starve.

"It will take 24-36 months to defeat the British. It will be a long and protracted battle." Hersman added, "If the United States does not intervene with force, we will win before 1943. Leader, You'll join us, won't you?"

"Join the war to liberate all mankind?" Mussolini's smile disappeared, revealing an exaggerated and angry expression. Obviously, the Italian leaders still have not figured out that "liberation" is actually a fee-based project.

Hersman shrugged, "Britain and France have so many colonies that need to be liberated. It is impossible to accomplish it with the strength of us and the Soviet Union alone. Therefore, we hope that Italy can also join in this glorious and great cause."

"What about Abyssinia?" Mussolini asked, "Do you also want to liberate the Abyssinian people?"

Hersman looked at Mussolini with a sympathetic look. After a while, he said seriously: "In our understanding and that of Stalin, colonies should be places used to collect wealth rather than consume wealth. It is either a collection place for cheap raw materials, a dumping ground for high-priced industrial products, or it is sparsely populated and fertile, which can accommodate the local surplus population. And you have spent the past few years in Abyssinia. Billions and tens of billions of liras, most of which have been spent on various infrastructure projects.

To be honest, I seriously doubt that you will get a reasonable return on the money you spend there, because Abyssinia is the poorest place in the world, and there is really no money or money. Therefore, Italy's behavior in Abyssinia is definitely not aggression, but selfless help to poor and backward African countries. It is liberating the people of Abyssinia! "

"Yes, yes, yes!" Hitler supported from the side, "Italy is liberating the people of Abyssinia, and the black people there will be forever grateful to Italy for its selflessness and fraternity."

Although this sounds ridiculous, it is indeed true! If Italy could colonize Abunisia for decades, the people of Abunisia would definitely miss Mussolini.

Mussolini frowned, Italy's spending in Abyssinia was indeed quite high! But there’s nothing we can do about it, right? The wealthy territory has long been robbed, leaving Italy with little oil and water.

"I think the people of Egypt and Algeria must be very envious of Abyssinia now and look forward to Italy to liberate them." Hersman said slowly.

Mussolini's expression remained unchanged, as if he had no interest in Hessmann's proposal.

"You can join after France is defeated!" Hitler offered conditions. "If France is defeated, Algeria will be liberated. Italy should liberate them, and the Egyptian people also have the need to be liberated. Considering that Egypt and Algeria are both The homeland of the Roman Empire, Italy, which inherited the Roman heritage, also has the obligation to recover it.”

"Oh, that's right." The Italian leader's face looked much better.

In exchange for Algeria's participation in the war, the Germans' terms were quite favorable - Mussolini would not regard Egypt as Germany's bid. Because the Germans asked Italy to join after the defeat of France. If France were defeated, Algeria would naturally be land at Germany's disposal. And Egypt is now a British protectorate. If Italy wants to get there, it must defeat the British!

"Okay, I can consider your conditions." Mussolini nodded and said.

Hitler and Hersmann looked at each other, and Hersmann said: "Leader, we also have requirements for Italy."

"Request?" Mussolini thought for a moment, "What do you want?"

"We want Italy to be prepared!" Hersman said. "First of all, Italy must reserve at least enough oil to be used for a year in wartime; secondly, Italy must form a military force that can complete air superiority and counterattack in the Mediterranean. A tactical air force capable of conducting ship attacks and attacking ground forces; third, Italy should establish an African Corps consisting of an armored division and a motorized infantry division that can fight in desert areas. The Corps is equipped with Tanks and armored vehicles must meet Germany's requirements. If Italy cannot produce them, Germany can provide them; fourth, Italy must complete the above three preparations before July 1940. "

…

Mussolini fully agreed to the conditions proposed by Hessmann, but considering the efficiency of the Italians, 50% would be considered good. But even if Italy is still a bowl of noodles as it has been in history, Hersman is not worried about future battlefields in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Because the British Empire was not a particularly troublesome character. The reason why it was not defeated in history was entirely because Hitler did not find Britain's destiny.

What really worries Hersman now is of course the United States, the beacon of freedom on the other side of the ocean!

When Hessmann left Berlin, he knew that there must be something happening behind the large gathering of British merchant ships in New York - such a grand event was naturally for the German agents to see.

"Marshal, urgent message from headquarters!" After leaving the Palazzo Venezia and returning to the German Embassy in Rome, Hersmann's adjutant, Major Schnet, brought an urgent message from the General Staff.

Hessmann took the copy of the telegram and read it as he walked. When he walked into the room where he was staying, his brows were already knitted together.

"Ludwig," Hitler also came in. Seeing Hessmann's frown, he asked, "What happened on the front line?"

"The submarine spotted an American warship escorting a British fleet in the Atlantic Ocean!"

"What?" Hitler took a breath, "The United States intervened?"

"I think so!" Hessmann snorted softly, "Sooner than expected!"

Historically, the United States had to wait until France was defeated before secretly escorting Britain. It was only after the promulgation of the Atlantic Charter (war had not yet been declared) that the United States openly conducted escort activities.

"Did the submarine attack?" Hitler asked.

"No," Hersman said. "The Navy has long expected such a situation, so every submarine captain and first mate knows how to respond and will not provoke a conflict."

How to deal with it without provoking conflict? Of course, I took photos to collect evidence and then left in despair. Now is not the time to break up with the United States. Until Germany defeats Britain and controls the large oil fields in the Middle East, it must avoid a war with the United States.

"Ludwig, it seems that President Roosevelt is the puppet of the American Jewish financial oligarchs!" Hitler walked around the room with his hands behind his back, looking a little nervous. "He will definitely drag the United States into the war against Germany step by step!"

"He will," Hersman said, "but isolationism still prevails in the United States, and it will not go to war in the short term." He thought for a moment, "If we don't break up with the Soviet Union, the United States will take the initiative to initiate a war. The possibility is extremely low.”

"But we still have to consider the possibility of confrontation with the United States!" Hitler looked at Hersmann, "Is Japan an ally that can contain the power of the United States?"

"I think so!" Hessman nodded. "The Japanese navy is very powerful, and it is indeed a force that can be relied on." He thought for a moment, "If we defeat France, Japan may join the war."

"Do they dare to confront the United States?" Adolf Hitler asked.

Hessman thought for a while and said: "We won't confront the United States immediately, but we will eventually get there."