The Rise of the Third Reich

The "Toulon Raid" that took place on the night of May 12, 1940 turned out to be the last shot of the Battle of France - the battle started by Germany ended with a British sneak attack on France. It is really ironic.

But starting in the early morning of May 13, the Franco-German war that lasted for one month and three days came to an end. The sounds of gunfire, artillery and bomb explosions no longer sounded, and to many people in Europe and around the world it seemed that World War II was coming to an end and that an era of peace would soon be approaching.

However, Hessmann, who received a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on May 15 and officially became Chief of the General Staff (Marshal Hamelstein, the hero of the conquest of France, had been ill and proposed to retire after conquering France. The request was approved by the emperor, and he was also awarded the title of marquis). In the eyes of Marshal, not only is the Second World War still far from over, but the struggle between France and Germany is not really over - it is just that the struggle is partially removed from the battlefield. moved to the negotiating table in Geneva.

"Ludwig, are you really going to Geneva for the peace conference?"

On the morning of the 15th, when Hersman was having breakfast at Zossen's manor, his wife Chloe, who was about to give birth, asked him a little strangely.

"Yes," Hessman looked at his wife apologetically, "I may not be able to be with you when the child is born."

After officially becoming the Chief of General Staff, Hessmann became the hands-off manager and handed over the business of the General Staff to General Manstein, the Second Director of Munitions (Halder was promoted to the First Director of Munitions). But he did not do his job properly and participated in the Geneva peace negotiations.

In fact, the Geneva Peace Conference itself was the result of Hersman's full push - if it were not for his manipulation over the past decade, Germany, Italy, the Soviet Union and Japan would all have withdrawn from the League of Nations. There was naturally no possibility of concluding a European peace treaty within the framework of the League of Nations.

Now, France, a permanent member of the League of Nations, was defeated and surrendered. Among the six heroes of the League of Nations (Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Italy and the Soviet Union), only Britain was still at odds with Germany. The League of Nations was naturally a tool of Germany.

With a tool like the League of Nations that had its own attributes of justice, how could Hessman not make use of it?

"It doesn't matter," Chloe smiled, "It's not my first time giving birth, and you don't know how to deliver a baby."

Chloe paused for a moment, "I just feel strange. You are the chief of general staff. Shouldn't the peace negotiations be the responsibility of the leader and the minister of foreign affairs?"

Hersman shrugged and laughed: "But haven't I, a soldier, always been doing the job of a diplomat? Ever since we went to Russia to help Lenin seize power, I have been a political soldier. And I originally advocated the European Community. Well, I can be regarded as the father of the European Community. I went to Geneva to help the huge baby of the European Community be born. Only I can do this, so I must go to Geneva.”

According to Herschmann's vision, this time the Geneva Peace Conference will not only resolve the issue of the Franco-German Peace Treaty. Moreover, League of Nations resolutions must be used to negate a series of treaties derived from the Paris Peace Conference, in order to find an international legal basis for restoring most of the original international order in the Balkans. Finally, the European Community must move from an idea to a reality.

…

"Prime Minister, I think we must withdraw from the League of Nations."

In the cabinet meeting room at No. 10 Downing Street, Churchill was convening his cabinet members to study issues related to the "Geneva Peace Conference." At the beginning of the meeting, the Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, proposed "withdrawing from the League of Nations."

"Withdraw from the League of Nations?" Winston Churchill smiled, "Why should we withdraw?"

"It is obvious," said Viscount Halifax, "that we cannot recognize the French Government at Tours, the Belgian Government at Brussels, and the Polish Government at Warsaw. But they are all represented at the Palais des Nations in Geneva!"

It cannot be admitted that these three governments can represent France, Belgium and Poland for sure! Not only because Britain now supported the Free French movement, the Belgian government-in-exile, and the Polish government-in-exile, but also because Britain sent planes to bomb the French High Seas Fleet in Toulon on May 12.

This is an act of war! And it was an act of war without the authorization of the British Parliament! If Britain continues to recognize the government led by Pétain as representing France, then there is no doubt that those in Churchill's cabinet are guilty of rebellion and should be arrested by Scotland Yard instead of sitting here deciding the fate of the British Empire.

"But that is not the reason for us to withdraw from the League of Nations," Churchill said with a smile. "It is the representatives of the illegal French, Belgian and Polish governments who should withdraw."

"But how are we going to get them to withdraw?" Viscount Halifax shrugged and said helplessly, "Switzerland is surrounded by German and Italian troops."

"This is wrong!" Churchill had already taken out a cigar and said while lighting it. "The headquarters of the League of Nations is under the threat of force from Germany and Italy, which will seriously affect the super-sovereign status of the League of Nations. League of Nations The headquarters should be moved to a safe area away from the threat of force from Germany and Italy.”

The first choice for the "safe area" that Churchill referred to was Canada, or it could be the United States...if the United States was willing to abandon isolationism and join the League of Nations.

"Mr. Prime Minister," Halifax asked thoughtfully, "I assume you mean to establish another League of Nations?"

“Not a new one,” Churchill corrected, “but a restoration of the legitimacy of the League of Nations.”

Viscount Halifax asked: "Who will join this restored League of Nations?"

"Countries all over the world that love peace and believe in justice will join." Churchill held a cigarette in his mouth and clasped his short, thick fingers and said, "Free France, the Belgian government in exile, the Luxembourg government in exile, the Polish government in exile, the Czechoslovak government in exile, The Republic of Iceland, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and the governments of all countries participating in the Commonwealth, as well as countries willing to maintain good relations with the United Kingdom and the United States, will join this truly just international alliance."

He thought for a while, "We should unite some countries that are willing to reestablish the League of Nations as soon as possible and jointly announce a statement denying the legitimacy of the illegal Geneva fake League of Nations controlled by Germany.

In addition, various international courts and arbitration tribunals established in The Hague, Netherlands, should also be moved as soon as possible to places away from the German threat. Only in this way can the international legal system be ensured not to be controlled by Germany. "

"But there are still many countries in the world..." Viscount Halifax asked hesitantly, "If all countries are unwilling to join the legal League of Nations, what should we do?"

This is a problem. The League of Nations cannot be a Commonwealth country in addition to the government-in-exile, right?

"There will be many countries joining us," Churchill said calmly, taking a puff of cigarette. "As long as the British Empire still rules the oceans, there will be many countries following us. And the United States will also support us on this issue. For this, I Fully confident.”

"Mr. Prime Minister," Viscount Halifax finally asked, "should the Soviet Union and Japan be among those countries that follow us?"

Hearing about the Soviet Union and Japan, even Churchill, who was as rough as Churchill, couldn't help but get a headache. Not long ago, Britain had just ordered France to bomb the Soviet Union's Batumi refinery! Now they are clamoring every day for France and Britain to compensate the Soviet Union for all its losses...

Japan began to attack French Indochina on May 13, and called the invasion liberation.

Although Germany and the Soviet Union had issued the "Liberator's Proclamation" long ago, they only shouted slogans and did not actually liberate anyone. However, Japan is implementing this "Liberator's Proclamation", and the "liberation" of French Indochina is likely to become the first domino to fall.

Separatism in Burma, Malaya, India, and the Dutch East Indies might be encouraged if Japan's invasion of French Indochina was acquiesced in order to win them over to the "legitimate alliance."

Churchill thought for a while and then said to Viscount Halifax: "Viscount, it is necessary for you to conduct a global tour. The first stop is the United States, then Japan and the Soviet Union... I think Japan's expansion requirements should be met, But their expansion direction cannot be Southeast Asia. Likewise, the Soviet Union's sphere of influence and border security in the east must be guaranteed so that they can develop westward and conflict with Germany.

Therefore, we and the United States must induce Japan to withdraw from French Indochina and then advance westward. At the same time, it helped the Soviet Union and Japan divide their spheres of influence on the East Asian continent. At the same time, both the Soviet Union and Japan should boycott the Geneva Peace Conference. "

…

"Comrade General Secretary, German leader Hitler told Comrade Kollontai yesterday that the issue of French compensation for the Soviet Union can be discussed at the Geneva Peace Conference. At the same time, Germany also believes that the Treaty of Bessarabia is illegal, but the Bessarabia region The current situation must also be considered, and it would be best if the Soviet Union and Romania could resolve the issue through friendly negotiations. Hitler also held the same position on the Finnish issue.

In addition, Hitler also hopes that we can sign a "non-aggression treaty" with Japan and ensure that their traditional interests on the East Asian continent are not violated..."

Just as Churchill was preparing to send his foreign minister to visit the Soviet Union, Stalin, the fatherly leader of the Soviet Union, was listening to Molotov report on new developments in diplomatic work in the Kremlin.

The Soviet Union's current foreign work focuses on three things: 1. Victory in ending the Soviet-Finnish War; 2. Recovering the Bessarabia region; 3. Signing the "Mutual Non-Aggression Agreement" with Japan - of course it is not a premise of sitting back and watching Japan's massive westward expansion signed a contract with Japan, and the purpose of signing the contract with Japan was not to go west and fight Germany, but to expand to the Balkans and the Middle East...