Chapter 36: The Polish Crisis (2)

The interwar grand strategy of British Prime Minister Chamberlain ended in complete failure.

From the start, there was a contradiction in the plan – ‘Use Germany to check the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, we,  the British Empire, will suck honey like a greedy queen bee and solidify our position as a hegemonic power.’

However, Germany wasn’t keeping communism in check, but freely unleashing its violence on neighboring democratic countries like a rabid dog.

It was like a hunting dog raised to catch the red wolf was now ravaging the farm and devouring the sheep.

“This is why diplomatic strategies fail when you think with your head up your arse!”

Britain belatedly reflected in shame.

Though late, they finally sent a reply to the Soviet Union.

After six weeks, Britain’s letter was delivered like a sloth on Valium¹.

Stalin thought it was ridiculous when he received the letter.

“In six weeks, a whole country could fall and be wiped off the map!”

The content was even worse.

It wasn’t a proposal for a formal alliance, but merely a suggestion to hold preliminary talks, a step before that useless dance.

“Is war really imminent? Why are these bastards so leisurely sipping their fucking tea? Weren’t they the ones who guaranteed Poland’s independence?”

On July 17, the Soviet Union again issued a statement demanding a military agreement in no uncertain terms.

However…

“It’s already hurting our pride to discuss cooperation with the Reds like we’re equals, do we really need to rush a visit?”

“Indeed. It’s ridiculous to treat those bloody cunts as equal partners and sit at the same table.”

Britain and France only sent a delegation after nearly a month of twiddling their thumbs.

Even then, they didn’t arrive on time or negotiate promptly like it meant anything to them.

“Well, let’s enjoy some sightseeing on the way and take in the views. Since we’re entering the Reds’ country, we should at least see St. Petersburg² before it turns to rubble.”

The British-French negotiation team arrived in St. Petersburg by passenger ship on August 10, spent a day sightseeing without a care in the world, and only showed up in Moscow on the 12th.

“Are these imperialist bastards deliberately trying to piss me off and spit in my face?”

Stalin couldn’t help but be displeased as the situation continued to unfold like a sick joke.

The Soviet Union put forward Marshal Voroshilov³, Stalin’s close associate, and the top-ranking military official, as the head of their negotiation team.

“I have been given full authority by the Secretary-General and have the right to sign off on everything in blood if needed.”

This was the maximum show of sincerity the Soviets could offer.

In response to this, Britain and France…

General Joseph Doumenc⁴, 40th in French military hierarchy. Someone with negotiation authority but no real power.

And, Rear Admiral Reginald Drax⁵. Someone without negotiation authority or a clue of what to do in this situation.

These were the individuals sent as heads of the negotiation team in this farce.

The Soviets couldn’t help but doubt the West’s sincerity in this situation that reeked of mockery.

Stalin, though bewildered, ordered negotiations to proceed through gritted teeth.

However…

“We, the Soviet Union, can commit 120 divisions and 9,000 tanks to crush the fascist threat. How many can Britain and France deploy to the anti-German front?”

“We, France, can mobilize 110 divisions and 4,000 tanks to hold the line.”

France’s troop mobilization was nodded approvingly.

But the next part was problematic.

“The British Empire can mobilize 16 divisions if we squeeze our resources.”

What?

The mighty British Empire with only 16 divisions? Is this the same British Empire that mobilized millions in World War I and bled Europe dry?

When Voroshilov asked if there was a translation error, the British said they could actually only mobilize 4 divisions, with just 2 ready for immediate deployment to save their own skin.

Even France, with its larger mobilized force, had no intention of sending troops beyond the Maginot Line to actually fight.

“These bastards have no intention of fighting at all! What kind of people are these spineless cowards!”

They were the type to just send thoughts and prayers if war broke out in Poland while washing their hands of it all.

At this rate, the Soviet Union would be left holding the bag and facing the Nazi tide alone.

If they at least allowed Soviet troops to fight in Poland, it could be considered for territorial defense, but even that wasn’t allowed in their arrogance.

Stalin felt his patience reaching its limit like a kettle about to boil over.

At this time, the mustached man from the west sent a letter like a devil’s whisper.

That… sounded plausible and tempting.

There was never a reason for the Soviet Union to shed blood fighting Germany on behalf of the West and its imperial ambitions.

It should be the opposite.

If we sign a non-aggression pact with Germany, Hitler will target the West and leave us be. If the imperialists fight and fall at each other’s throats, won’t that create a favorable environment for the Union?

Stalin accepted Hitler’s proposal with these calculations in mind and a gleam in his eye.

As the interests of the two dictators aligned like stars in the night sky, negotiations proceeded swiftly.

On August 20, German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop⁶ arrived in Moscow, and just one day later, the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact was signed in blood.

Ribbentrop, trying to match the mood, cracked a joke with a smirk.

“While we’re at it, how about the Secretary-General joins the Anti-Comintern Pact for shits and giggles?”

Stalin, pleased with the swiftly concluded negotiations, responded with his own joke and a hearty laugh.

“From today, I am an anti-communist and the world can burn.”

The world, surprisingly, wasn’t shocked.

“Those Reds talk about overthrowing imperialism, but they joined hands with Lee Sung Joon. What’s so special about teaming up with the Nazis now?”

However, for Poland, the party directly concerned, this was like a fire at their doorstep threatening to consume them whole.

“Didn’t Chancellor Lee’s advice prove correct in the end? I kept insisting we should allow Soviet military passage, but no one listened in their stubborn pride. What will we do now in this situation that we brought upon ourselves?”

Edward Rydz-Śmigły⁷, Poland’s de facto leader, faced harsh criticism from the Prime Minister who was all too eager to point fingers.

“Did I not warn you this would happen you fool?”

While the Soviets might not openly attack Poland yet, even just supplying Germany with resources would put Warsaw in a precarious position teetering on the brink.

Germany already held the geopolitical advantage of being able to attack Poland from three directions: Slovakia, East Prussia, and mainland Germany like a noose tightening around their neck.

“Ignorance is no excuse. General Rydz-Śmigły, you must take responsibility and resign in disgrace.”

The faction of Prime Minister Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski⁸, who had been looking for an opportunity to break the alliance between Rydz-Śmigły and President Mościcki⁹, pounced on this chance like hungry wolves.

“Resign? How can I step down in this situation and abandon my country? What will happen to Poland without me at the helm?”

“That’s no longer your concern, General and you know it.”

On the brink of war, Poland found itself embroiled in untimely internal strife that threatened to tear the nation apart.

The factions of Rydz-Śmigły and the President engaged in a fierce battle with the Prime Minister’s faction over the responsibility for the diplomatic failure that left them isolated and vulnerable.

They were so caught up in this petty squabbling that even Germany caught wind of it and saw an opportunity to exploit.

“Why are those Polish bastards making such a fuss at a time like this?”

“They’re arguing over who’s responsible for the non-aggression pact we signed behind their backs.”

“With them fighting like this among themselves, it’ll be perfect for creating a pretext for war and painting them as the aggressors.”

Germany had been pondering how to create an excuse for war that would justify their invasion in the eyes of the world.

And now, Poland’s internal conflict caught their eye like a gift from the devil himself.

If they could exploit this chaos, they could paint a convenient picture of lies and deceit.

“How about this: The Polish military, politically cornered and desperate, provokes a war crisis to overcome their political crisis and rally the nation behind them. How does that sound for a story?”

“That sounds plausible enough to fool the masses.”

Germany didn’t miss this opportunity that fate had handed them.

“Prepare for Operation Canned Goods¹⁰ and let’s cook up a storm.”

Germany began preparations for a false flag operation to make it appear they had been attacked first by the dastardly Poles.

The countdown to the outbreak of World War II had begun and the world would soon be engulfed in the flames of war and the stench of death.

As war approached, I too moved quickly like a man possessed.

The main objective was ‘hoarding’ like a greedy dragon.

“Just let the war break out and watch the world burn. Tungsten prices will skyrocket to the heavens. Fill the warehouses until they burst at the seams.”

I imposed a temporary export ban on tungsten, a main ingredient in shells and the lifeblood of war.

The Empire’s stockpiles were filled to the brim with this unexported tungsten gleaming like forbidden treasure.

“We should start increasing our oil reserves too before the wells run dry. We need to be able to last two years without imports and stand on our own.”

We were already buying massive amounts of oil from the U.S. and Britain like addicts needing a fix.

In other words, we were diplomatically leashed to them like obedient dogs.

To counter this humiliation, we needed to increase oil reserves and expedite the development of massive oil fields within the Empire, like the ‘Daqing Oil Field’¹¹ waiting to be tapped.

I inspected the Empire’s overall war readiness and issued necessary directives with an iron fist.

“There’s nothing we can do about steel unless we somehow find a way to shit it out ourselves. We’re squeezing production to the limit from the iron mines in Liaodong¹² and northern Korean territories until the earth is bled dry.”

“That can’t be helped for now. Keep a line open with the Soviet Union too just in case.”

Most of Korea’s scrap metal relied on the U.S., but depending on one country for a crucial national resource was too risky and left us by the balls.

Hadn’t our dear neighbor, Chairman Xi, taught us this lesson time and again with his trade wars and tantrums?

“Yes, sir I’ll get right on it. And, Your Excellency if I may…”

“Speak, my man, and make it quick.”

Kim Sung-joo spoke cautiously choosing his words carefully.

“If war is imminent, shouldn’t we prepare for national mobilization and rally the people?”

“That’s true and easier said than done.”

Whether we wanted it or not, to mobilize a large standing army, we had to check our mass mobilization system and hope it still worked.

“If we mobilize students and young adults en masse like cattle to the slaughter, there might be voices opposing the mobilization order and resisting the call.”

Indeed, it wasn’t long ago that Korea had issued a mobilization order and fought a war that still haunted the nation.

It wouldn’t be strange for people to be annoyed if such a country issued another mobilization order so soon after the last.

“Tell me your thoughts and don’t hold back. What do you suggest to make them comply?”

“To lower public resistance, I propose introducing ‘military training’ in schools to instill discipline and obedience from a young age.”

Military training?

That sounded like something from the gloomy military regime of the 1980s that I despised.

Then again, I realized I was also a military regime and had to embrace it.

Ahem-.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“You mean to give students some military training and break them in early, is that it?”

“Yes, sir that’s the gist of it.”

“Very well, let’s do that and mold the youth into soldiers.”

There might be some side effects, but isn’t the survival of our nation, Korea, the priority above all else?

If it could increase our chances of surviving the coming world war, I was ready to arm not just students, but even the elderly and send them to the front lines if needed.

Surely, that’s better than a ‘4갈죽’¹³ ending where we’re torn to pieces.

After finishing the inspection of the weapons factory in Wonsan with Kim Sung-joo, a radio call came in on our way back to the Capital.

“Secure line and scramble the frequency. Chancellor, it’s the Army Ministry with urgent news.”

I took the radio with a steady hand.

“This is Lee Sung Joon. What? War has broken out as predicted? Understood loud and clear.”

I wasn’t particularly surprised having seen this coming.

I had anticipated the outbreak of World War II before anyone else with my future knowledge.

It would take just four weeks for Poland, a perfectly respectable middle power, to vanish from the map and be wiped from existence.

Now that war had broken out, it was time for me to make my move in earnest and seize the moment.

“Get me a line with the Foreign Ministry now! Yes, this is Lee Sung Joon. Please issue a statement condemning Germany’s invasion of Poland in the strongest possible terms.”

I cut ties with Hitler as soon as the war began like severing a gangrenous limb.

Only a fool would ride the plummeting Hitler coin and go down with that sinking ship.

That was my clear thinking as sharp as a guillotine blade.