The Rise of the Third Reich

On June 15, 1940, Hitler gave a speech entitled "For the Progress of Europe" at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, explaining Germany's position and the purpose of waging war to the world: to establish a European Community that is united, prosperous, progressive, and will no longer enslave and oppress the people of underdeveloped continents! According to Hitler, Germany's ideal is to unite European countries excluding the Soviet Union and the Roman Empire, and form a huge customs union and monetary union in accordance with the model of the former German Customs Union. Products, capital, and population of various countries can flow freely within the alliance (of course, after the war is over) without any restrictions. The entire European Community will become the world's largest and most prosperous market, and the people of all countries participating in the European Community will benefit from it. Moreover, the borders between the countries participating in the community will not need to be defended at all, because the armies of various countries will no longer be used to defend each other, but to maintain world peace and tranquility. War will disappear forever in Europe, and future Europeans will no longer have to worry about the army of neighboring countries attacking, nor will they be sent to the battlefield by warlike governments to invade a neighboring country. Hitler's speech also put forward unique insights on the colonies ruled by European powers. He believed that European civilization had already occupied a large and vast "no man's land" and did not need to enslave land with ancient civilizations and dense populations.

According to Hitler, European colonization of India, Southeast Asia and China was simply a lie. When Australia, Canada and southern Africa, which are rich and vast lands, are empty and uninhabited, how could Europeans colonize places like India, Southeast Asia and East Asia where the population is about to explode?

In fact, no real colonization took place there! The truth is that 40 million degenerate British people want to enslave hundreds of millions of people in backward areas and deprive them of their only wealth. This is the selfish, greedy and despicable British people who want to be slave owners!

This kind of colonization with the purpose of plunder, exploitation and slavery (Italy's subsidized colonization in Abyssinia is certainly not plunder and slavery, and the nature of European countries' territories in North Africa is also very complicated) should be banned forever and replaced by fair and reasonable trade.

Such a high-sounding speech, plus a "surrender menu" for France to choose. It was enough for the representatives of the countries participating in the conference to spend some time to study it carefully, so the second and third days of the Geneva Peace Conference were arranged to be adjourned.

The German delegation held a small reception at its residence and invited representatives of several countries that were very important to the conference. Cordell Hull and Harry Hopkins of the American delegation both received invitations.

Although the United States was not a member of the League of Nations, its strong national strength and the special relationship between Britain and the United States determined that the United States played an important role in this conference. Moreover, Roosevelt also sent enough officials to attend the conference, which made the German side take it seriously.

Marshal Hersmann was the host of this small reception. At the same time, Hitler and Ribbentrop were talking with Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka Yosuke.

"Mr. Secretary of State, Mr. Minister," Hersmann met with Hull and Hopkins at the reception under the introduction of a German diplomat. After a few pleasantries, he went straight to the point. He asked in fluent English: "What do you think, will Britain seriously consider the very reasonable suggestions made by the leader?"

"Marshal, what do you mean?" Cordell Hull asked back, "Give France the choice of surrender or forming a European Community?"

"It is to abolish the Treaty of Versailles, the Treaty of Saint-Germain, the Treaty of Trianon, the Treaty of Sevres and the Treaty of Lausanne." Hessman smiled and said, "As long as Britain agrees to abolish these unjust treaties, the war can be over."

"Marshal, we don't know what Britain thinks," Cordell Hull said to Hessman in a very serious tone, "but I understand the US position."

"Oh?" Hessman smiled and looked at the US Secretary of State. Hull said: "The US government believes that there should be no topic of abolishing the Treaty of Versailles, the Treaty of Saint-Germain, the Treaty of Trianon, the Treaty of Sevres and the Treaty of Lausanne at the Geneva Peace Conference. Because the abolition or amendment of a treaty should be jointly participated by the contracting parties, but now the British representative did not attend the conference. So the Geneva Peace Conference is only a peace conference between France and Germany."

The US government did not deny the legitimacy of the Pétain government, so Hull could not deny the legitimacy of the "Franco-German Peace Conference."

"And the United States firmly opposes the abolition of the Treaty of Trianon!" Harry Hopkins and Hull exchanged glances. "Because the foundation of the Treaty of Trianon is the principle of national self-determination, it is fair and just and should not be abolished!"

"Is this the position of the US government?" Hersman looked at Cordell Hull and asked.

"This is the position of the US government!" Hull replied, "We will make a public statement later, strongly opposing the abolition of the Treaty of Trianon."

The strong opposition to the abolition of the Treaty of Trianon was of course politically calculated. Before leaving the United States, Harry Hopkins, who was in charge of the presidential election campaign, carefully studied the changes in American opinion polls after France's defeat.

Before France's defeat, isolationism had an overwhelming advantage, and American public opinion was overwhelmingly opposed to the government's involvement in European affairs. Roosevelt's re-election prospects were therefore in great danger. He would face the star of the Republican Party, Dewey, who advocated non-interference.

However, after France's defeat, public opinion and public opinion in the United States were changing. Although most people still opposed the United States' participation in the war, more and more people believed that the government should increase aid to Britain.

Therefore, Harry Hopkins suggested making a public statement opposing the abolition of the Treaty of Trianon and supporting the territorial and sovereign integrity of Yugoslavia - this was to show voters that Roosevelt opposed Germany's expansionist ambitions.

Of course, the nature of opposition to the Treaty of Trianon and opposition to the Treaties of Versailles and Saint-Germain are different in the eyes of American voters. Because the "Treaty of Trianon" was a trap for Hungary and had no direct relationship with Germany.

Therefore, in the eyes of American voters (what Roosevelt needs to care about now is votes), it is not a big deal for the government to go against Germany on this issue, at least it will not trigger a war with Germany.

"Then, based on the principle of national self-determination, we will hold referendums in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Banat and Transylvania to decide which areas belong to the Croatian-Hungarian Federation and which areas belong to Yugoslavia and Romania." Hess Mann looked at Hull, "Will the United States still object to this?"

"The U.S. government opposes the abolition of the Treaty of Trianon, and the U.S. government believes that the territorial and sovereign integrity of Yugoslavia is sacred and inviolable!" Harry Hopkins strengthened his tone.

He knew what the referendum would do. The Slovenes, Croats, Bosnian Croats (Croats), and the MSL did not want to stay in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia dominated by the Serbs. If the Roosevelt administration supported this referendum, it would most likely be viewed by voters as supporting Germany.

Hearing this statement, Hersman laughed dumbly. He certainly knew what would happen to American public opinion after France's defeat. But this is something he cannot interfere with, because what can guide American public opinion is public opinion controlled by Wall Street consortium. Even the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Central Security Bureau is powerless on this issue - this is not a question of who has the bigger fists, but who has more money. In this era, who can make more money than Wall Street?

Hirschman knew very well that American public opinion and public opinion would soon change, guided by Wall Street money.

It is inevitable that the United States will enter the world war stage! The question is only when the United States will join this bloody war for world supremacy.

Hessman said coldly: "Okay, then you can object... The United States is the world's first-class power, and of course it has the right to say 'no' to Germany. But I hope you will not go to Yugoslavia to deliver too many messages. Misinformation led them to believe that the United States would provide unrealistic support to Yugoslavia. This misunderstanding did not do the Serbians in Yugoslavia any good."

Of course it is impossible for Yugoslavia to resist the German attack!

If the Yugoslav government is willing to accept the League of Nations ruling, then Hersman would not mind letting them keep most of Bosnia (the Croat settlement will be ceded to Croatia-Hungary) and part of Macedonia from Bulgaria (because Bulgaria still wants to remain neutral) . If Yugoslavia openly resists League of Nations resolutions at the instigation of the United States and Britain. Then Hessmann didn't mind using force - anyway, he had no plan to break into Moscow before the winter of 1941, and he was not afraid of wasting a month or two.

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"Leader, what the Japanese Empire looks forward to is an alliance in which Germany, Japan, Italy and the Soviet Union participate at the same time. Of course, the premise is that Japan's lifeline in the East Asian continent is fully guaranteed!"

Adolf Hitler and Ribbentrop were meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka at this time. What they want to talk about is Japan's joining the German-Italian Alliance. However, the Japanese Foreign Minister made a request that made Hitler feel a little embarrassed - the Japanese hoped that the Soviet Union could join the alliance, and they also wanted to reach an agreement with the Soviet Union on the division of interests in the East Asian continent.

Hitler and Ribbentrop looked at each other, and Ribbentrop asked: "Why do you want to become allies with the Soviet Union?"

Matsuoka Yosuke glanced at Adolf Hitler, and then said seriously: "Because of the United States!"