The Rise of the Third Reich

On the evening of March 6, 1941, Italian leader Mussolini and his mistress Clara Bettasi, German Marshal Hersmann and his wife Chloe, boarded the Italian Navy's flagship battleship Veneto together. Escorted by an Italian cruiser and destroyer, it sailed toward Alexandria, Egypt.

Now Rommel's Afrika Korps has advanced to the west bank of the Suez Canal, and Alexandria and Cairo have fallen into the hands of the German-Italian coalition. Mussolini's dream of Caesar finally came true, although this Caesar did not conquer Egypt by his own ability, but relied on the help of German barbarians to drive the British to the east of the Suez Canal.

In addition, there is also good news from Greece. The Germans had broken through the Egyptian and British defenses on the Isthmus of Corinth. The entire Peloponnese Peninsula was under German control, and the remnants of the British-Greek army fled to Crete in embarrassment. After the main force of the British Mediterranean fleet withdrew, this island became an isolated island, and it was only a matter of time before it was occupied.

So Mussolini would soon be the conqueror of Greece!

Although the way he conquered Egypt and Greece was ugly, the victor was not blamed, and he could write history and cover up all the scandals. Mussolini is now a winner smiling from ear to ear.

"Marshal, the descendants of our Roman Empire will never forget your great achievements. In order to thank you for everything you have done for the Roman Empire, I decided to give the Medici Villa to you and rename it the Suez Palace to commemorate your visit to the Roman Empire. Victory on the Mediterranean battlefield."

In a very elegantly decorated ship's restaurant, the Italian dictator generously gave Hessman an expensive villa while drinking wine.

"Prime Minister," Hessman smiled and shook his head, politely declining. "Although I like the Medici Villa very much, I cannot accept such an expensive gift."

"Then..." Mussolini, who had had a few too many drinks, scratched his bald head, and then said to Count Ciano who was accompanying him, "Then turn the Medici Villa into a memorial hall to commemorate Hess. Marshal Mann’s great achievements.”

Mussolini smiled at Hessmann: "You can't control this matter."

Hersman also smiled slightly, in response to Mussolini's kindness. However, he still doubted that the future Roman children would only know how their Mo Taiyang used soldiers like a god, and would not know who he, the German marshal, was.

"Prime Minister," Hessmann took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "according to the agreement reached between you and Mr. Hitler, the area west of the Suez Canal and up to the North African region of Japan is Italy's sphere of influence."

Mussolini nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, yes, the west of Suez belongs to us, and the east belongs to Germany."

"What about the Suez Canal?" Hersman asked.

"The canal? The canal is..." Mussolini thought for a moment, "the canal should be shared by our two countries."

"Shared?" Hersman shook his head. "I think the canal belongs to Europe! Egypt is an African country, so its territory only extends to the west of the canal zone. The entire canal zone, including the Sinai Peninsula, belongs to Germany."

This is nothing to be polite about! The Suez Canal is one of the most important strategic locations in the world, and Germany naturally wants to claim it as its own. Moreover, occupying the Suez Canal and the Sinai Peninsula also has the obvious benefit of permanently dividing the Arab world into two parts, Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula.

In addition, the Sinai Peninsula is a resource-rich region with abundant manganese ore and oil resources. Among them, the Dankah Mountain Oilfield is still under development. Although the output is not very large, it is better than nothing.

"Okay, okay, I agree."

Mussolini and his son-in-law Ciano exchanged glances, and then agreed wholeheartedly - it's okay not to agree. Now Egypt is obtained, but the Sudan next door to Egypt and the Italian East African Empire next to Sudan are still in a mess. . The British refused to leave, and the Italian troops in East Africa were defeated by the British (including Indian Asan and Abyssinian natives) who were far less numerous than them. Without the help of the Germanic barbarians, the Roman Empire still couldn't defeat them.

"The island of Cyprus should also be under direct jurisdiction of Germany." Hersmann then made a new request.

According to his plan, Cyprus and the Sinai Peninsula will be Germany's important support points in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean. These two territories will be Germany's homeland and will be gradually Germanized.

In addition, Hersman also planned to establish two small countries on the east coast of the Mediterranean that belonged to the European Community, the State of Israel and the Republic of Lebanon.

Israel, of course, is dominated by Jews immigrated from Europe and occupies the entire Palestinian area of ​​the Jordan River and the West Bank of the Dead Sea. The Lebanese Republic is dominated by Maronite Christians.

As for the hundreds of thousands and millions of MSL living in Palestine, Lebanon and the Sinai Peninsula, they will all be resettled in Iraq. Of course, Hersman will not let Iraq receive so many MSL brothers in vain. In exchange for Iraq receiving these MSLs, oil-rich Kuwait will be incorporated into Iraq and become one of its provinces.

Moreover, the Iraqi government can also occupy a much larger share of the oil fields developed by foreign investment than it did during the British "protection" period. The Iraqi government will receive a large amount of Euromarks every year - Middle East oil will of course be priced and traded in Euromarks.

"Okay, the island of Cyprus can be owned by Germany." The Suez Canal has been given away, and Mussolini will naturally not care about the issue of the island of Cyprus with Germany.

"In addition, I also want to know how Italy will rule Egypt?" Hersman stopped raising new territorial claims, but turned the topic to how to govern the land that has been obtained and will be obtained.

"The King of Italy will also serve as the King of Egypt," Mussolini showed an exaggerated smile. "Italy, Albania, Greece, Egypt, the East African Empire, Libya and Nice will be ruled by one monarch, and they will be completely ruled by one monarch in the future. Merge into the Roman Empire!"

Although Italy has joined the European Customs Union, it is obvious that Mussolini has no interest in joining the European Community. His dream is still to revive the Roman Empire!

"In the future, Italy, Albania, Greece, Egypt, the East African Empire, Libya and Nice will become one country?" Hersman gently turned the wine glass in his hand. "The religious, national, cultural and social development levels of these countries will all be different." They are so different that it would be difficult to integrate them.”

Mussolini seemed to have drunk a little too much. He laughed and waved his hands: "This will not be difficult for our National Fascist Party! We will turn everyone into Romans. It is not difficult at all!"

Is it really not difficult? Hersman frowned slightly and said: "Prime Minister, we should not ignore religious and ethnic differences, especially the differences between Christians and MSL, Europeans and Arabs, whites and blacks!"

"I know, we Italians know what to do!" Mussolini said with a smile. "In the past, we turned a dozen small states into a unified Italy. That was not easy. Now we have to do "It's just an amplified movement for Italian unification, and we have the leadership of the National Fascist Party, so it's bound to succeed."

"Then I wish you success in reviving the Roman Empire," Hessmann raised his glass, "but before toasting, I have a small suggestion."

"You tell me."

Hersman emphasized: "Egyptians are Egyptians, and Arabs are Arabs. If tens of millions of residents from North Africa to the Persian Gulf all believe in one God, speak the same Arabic language, and identify themselves as Arabs. Then In the future, our two countries...the Roman Empire and the European Community will face endless troubles in the Middle East and North Africa! Maybe in 100 years, there will be neither the Roman Empire nor the European Community in the Middle East and North Africa, only one. The Arab Empire!”

…

After dinner, Hersman and his wife Chloe returned to the cabin where they lived - the original cabin of the Italian Navy Fleet Commander, including an office, reception room, conference room, bedroom and bathroom. Next to it was the staff cabin for Hessmann's adjutants and guards. When Hessmann walked into the outermost reception room with his wife on his arm, his adjutant, Colonel Schnetz, was already waiting for him with a copy of the latest telegram received.

"Honey, I have to take care of some official business." Hersman sent Chloe to take a sea bath first (there is no fresh water bath on the Veneto), and then entered the office with Schnetz.

"Marshal, the Soviet Red Army has entered the Khorasan region of Iran and the Kunduz region of Afghanistan."

"Just entered the Khorasan area?"

"Yes."

"Tell Marshal Guderian not to conflict with them." Hessmann ordered.

Colonel Schnetz immediately took out his notebook and wrote down Hessman's order. Then he reported: "Iraq's Prime Minister Rashid Ali Kelani has arrived in Alexandria on our plane."

Hersman nodded. Rashid Ali Kelani was the leader of the pro-German faction in Iraq. When the German army entered Iraq, he also launched a coup in Baghdad and overthrew the pro-British faction Nuri Said. , now went to Alexandria to pay homage to the dock.

"Any more news?" Hersman asked again.

"Colonel Schellenberg sent a telegram from the cruise ship Gothenburg. He has arrived safely in the Port of Liverpool, England."

Colonel Schellenberg's full name is Val T. Schellenberg. He is a senior agent of the Central Security Service. He is now going to England to meet an important figure on Hessmann's order.