The Rise of the Third Reich

In March 1944, while Japan and the United States were fighting an inextricable battle in the Hawaiian Islands, the Soviet Red Army was also preparing for a counterattack that might save the Red Army.

A combat plan codenamed "Red Guard" was urgently formulated in late March.

According to this plan, the Soviet Red Army will launch a counterattack against the German North Route Group before the German army launches a campaign to attack Moscow.

In this counterattack, the Soviet army will make full use of the rain in early April and the mud in April, investing more than 1 million "lightly armored" troops, launching surprise attacks and counterattacks from the forest area in western Kalinin State, using camouflage The internationalist fighters of the German and Polish armies disrupted the German rear.

Troops armed with light and fast BT tanks SU-57 tank destroyers will carry out large-scale outflanks and detours, striving to pass through Kalinin Oblast and cut off in Novgorod Oblast within 5-7 days. Red October Railway Line (Moscow-Petrograd Railway Line), thereby completing the encirclement of the German 6th Armored Group - the purpose of the encirclement was not to annihilate this powerful German Armored Group, but to force the army to fight in the mud Season breaks out in the direction of Petrograd.

Once the German army chooses to break out north, the roads in Russia's muddy season will make them suffer, causing a lot of equipment damage and fuel consumption. In this way, the German army's attack on Moscow would have to be postponed for a few months... These are quite critical months!

"Great, Comrade Pavlov, Comrade Zhukov, you have made a good plan. This is a plan made by genius!"

After Stalin read the battle plan sent by Pavlov and Zhukov, a long-lost smile appeared on his face.

"This is a plan that is sure to succeed!" Stalin took a puff of cigarette and added: "The United States and Japan are now engaged in a decisive battle in the Hawaiian Islands...and Japan will definitely suffer defeat, not only in the Hawaiian Islands, but also in the Hawaiian Islands. Failures occurred in the Dutch East Indies, Malaya, and the Philippine Islands—because the Americans had begun deploying in Australia an ultra-long-range heavy bomber that could destroy Japanese-controlled oil fields and bring Japanese industry to its knees.

In addition, American submarines are also very active. They sank a large number of Japanese cargo ships and oil tankers, and also deployed mines on Japan's main waterways, causing a very heavy blow to Japan's industry.

Therefore, the prospect of Japan's defeat can be expected...The Japanese will be defeated in the near future, and then the United States will join us in going all out to defeat Germany. As long as we can delay 1944, the Soviet Union will be saved! "

Although Roosevelt had now mentally given up on the Soviet Union, Stalin insisted that the Soviet Union could still be saved.

He believed that as long as the Soviet-German war could be delayed until the collapse of Japan, the Soviet Union would have a way to survive.

And it doesn't seem to be difficult to do this. Because of the weather in the Soviet Union, half of the year was either freezing or muddy, making it impossible to fight. If the German army insisted on launching an attack in winter, Stalin really wasn't afraid. The months that can be fought are the 6 months between May and October.

If the "Red Guard" plan succeeds, the German army's siege of Moscow will be postponed for at least three months... This will give a good chance of dragging the defense of Moscow into winter. Everyone knows that "Grandfather Winter is Russia's friend", and it is difficult for Germans to adapt to Russia's harsh cold climate.

"Very good, I approve this plan!" Stalin seemed confident. He took two puffs of cigarette and asked: "By the way, who will be responsible for the infiltration of the 'Red Brigade'?"

"It was Comrade Otto Braun," Zhukov said, "It was Comrade Rokossovsky who recommended him."

"Otto Braun..." Stalin muttered the name in a low voice without any impression. "Where was he from 1934 to 1938?"

1934 to 1938 were the years of the Great Purge, and many comrades of the German Bolshevik Party were wronged. Although these people appear to have no complaints now, who knows what they are thinking in their hearts?

"He worked in China," Pavlov said, "and did not return to the Soviet Union until 1939."

Although the Great Purge was terrifying, there were still people who escaped, and Otto Braun was one lucky person. He worked in China during the years of the Great Purge. Because of work needs, he joined the Chinese Bolshevik Party, so the Great Purge left him out - in fact, he was not important to the Soviet Union, he was just a nobody. , if it’s convenient, send him to a labor camp, but if it’s troublesome, there’s no harm in keeping him.

"What about the others?" Stalin asked again.

He is really worried about the German Red Brigades. Will letting them infiltrate make it easier for them to betray the revolution?

"Please rest assured," Pavlov replied, "Every commander and soldier participating in the infiltration operation will be personally selected by Comrade Rokossovsky to ensure their absolute loyalty to the communist cause."

…

Comrade Otto Braun, who was absolutely loyal to the cause of communism, was kissing his wife Lillian Braun goodbye at Yaroslavsky Railway Station in Moscow. Lillian Braun is Braun's second wife. The two met in China and got married in 1939.

Soon after, the two arrived in the Soviet Union together. Their peaceful life in the Soviet Union was not broken by the outbreak of the world revolution until 1942.

At that time, he had rich military experience, was relatively reliable politically, and was of the right age (Braun was born in 1900 and was 42 years old when the world revolution broke out, which was really the age to start a career), so he was selected as the leader of the German Red Brigade. brigadier. Prepare to join the Soviet Red Army in marching into Berlin with great vigor and high spirits.

Unfortunately, this backfired and the world revolution now turned into the Great Patriotic War. The status of the German Red Brigade was suddenly embarrassing. Germany could not go back, unless it was a traitor and went to the German concentration camps (of course there were concentration camps, where German internationalist fighters and socialist white leftists were imprisoned) for labor reform.

It seems that it is useless for the Soviet Union to keep a bunch of Germans here. Sooner or later they will be consumed as cannon fodder.

And the day of becoming cannon fodder has obviously come!

Including Otto Braun, more than thirty German (Austrian) internationalist fighters wearing Soviet-style military uniforms bid farewell to their families at Yaroslavsky Railway Station today - from Yaroslavsky Train All trains from this station go to Siberia!

According to the orders of Rokossovsky and German Bolshevik Party leader Thälmann: all Red Brigade commanders, soldiers and political cadres must send their families to Chelyabinsk in Siberia.

Commanders, soldiers and political cadres without family members are not allowed to participate in "Operation Red Star" (referring to the operation to penetrate behind enemy lines). They will be dispersed and organized into ordinary Red Army troops to participate in the counterattack against the German invaders - with Live and blood prove your loyalty to the cause of communism!

In other words, only those who have family members who can act as hostages are eligible to participate in Operation Red Star, a narrow escape mission. Without family members to serve as hostages, he could only participate in a life-threatening frontal offensive to head-on the defense lines of the German 6th Armored Army.

…

"Dear Ludwig, it's so nice to meet you."

"Me too, dear Olga."

When Otto Braun kissed his wife goodbye, in the Peter Palace in Petrograd, Imperial Marshal Hersmann was kissing the Empress of Russia - a kiss on the face. Chloe was also queuing up to kiss the Empress.

"I heard that you will soon be the distinguished prince and duke?" After the queen kissed Chloe, she talked to the Hessmanns and walked towards the front of the luxurious Peter Palace.

When visiting Petersburg, the Hersmanns would still stay at the Russian Imperial Palace as usual.

"His Majesty the Emperor wants to make me Duke of Rastenburg and Prince of the German Empire after we regain Moscow." Hessmann replied.

The matter of conferring Duke and Prince on Hessmann was actually part of a conspiracy!

However, the target of the conspiracy was not Hessmann, but German Chancellor Adolf Hitler. This conspiracy was hatched by Schleicher, who persuaded Kaiser Wilhelm III to confer as dukes and princes several soldiers and politicians who had made special contributions to the German Empire after the "victory over the Soviet Union" (marked by the capture of Moscow).

Apart from Hessmann and Schleicher, the one who is eligible for the title is of course Adolf Hitler!

Is it a conspiracy to create dukes and princes for Hitler?

That's right, it's a conspiracy! This is a conspiracy with European characteristics. Because there is a natural gap between the Workers' Party and figures like dukes and princes. It was no problem for Hersmann and Schleicher to be appointed as Junker noble officers. They did not need the votes of the workers anyway.

But once Hitler became the distinguished Prince Adolf von Hitler, Duke of Linz, then Hitler would no longer be "one of his own" of the German working class.

"Let me tell you a secret," Queen Olga did not go into the discussion further, but shifted the topic to Russia. "I will soon be conferring several very important figures as dukes."

"Oh?" Hessman nodded, "Have you negotiated with all of them?"

"All people", of course, refers to those who have just become Marshals of the Soviet Union and Heroes of the Soviet Union.

"Not all," the Empress said, "have always existed, such as my father, my mother, my sisters and my brother, who valued their faith above all else."

Her words sounded a bit strange, but Hersman knew the reason - Tsar Nicholas II and his family (except Olga) were canonized as saints by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Sergei I of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Olga compared those people who refused to surrender to the Tsarist Russian regime and were ready to devote themselves to the cause of communism to Orthodox saints.