Ch.137Ukraine Free Zone (4)

People can be unpredictable. With history having changed, whether Ukraine will completely fall into Russia’s embrace during World War II remains to be seen.

Even if we postpone our current calculations, Churchill would certainly be uncomfortable if the Tsarina who extended her hand to him tried to seize British territory.

So, we’ll take Western Ukraine when Britain is struggling during World War II, using our share as leverage.

“Still, Eastern Ukraine has abundant resources, so from our perspective, it’s fortunate we’re taking the east first.”

“Very well, let’s limit it to Eastern Ukraine for now. I heard a newspaper came out in Germany?”

Apparently, a newspaper has emerged from communist Germany.

The paper reportedly mocks the anti-communist nations.

They say people in the Kremlin Palace and Okhrana had quite a laugh about it. I haven’t seen it yet myself.

I missed the timing because I was doing a radio broadcast.

“Yes. They’re propagandizing with headlines like ‘Imperialism Surrenders to Communism!'”

Imperialism surrenders to communism, huh.

Honestly, any reasonably educated person wouldn’t fall for such rhetoric. But it will work well in Germany.

The front page featured a caricature of a gentleman in a top hat, representing Britain, bowing before a worker holding a hammer and sickle symbolizing communism, alongside a column ridiculing Britain.

The great comrade Rosa Luxemburg brought British Foreign Secretary Austin Chamberlain to his knees.

That’s roughly the content.

If this newspaper has reached all the way here in Russia, I suspect it’s also made its way into Poland, Austria, and East Prussia.

Wow, our British friends have really been humiliated.

The great colonial empire, victor of the Great War, now bowing to newly-born communist cockroaches.

This will make Germans think communism is the right path.

Britain doesn’t seem to be reacting much, which is quite surprising.

They’ll probably rationalize it by saying they’re safe on their island. Isn’t that it?

Or perhaps they’re genuinely planning to fight alongside us later.

“Our British friend’s pride must be buried in the dirt.”

Just reading about the newspaper makes me dizzy.

They’re blatantly propagandizing that communism is right and imperialism is doomed.

It’s quite amusing.

“Yes. Even among the Anti-Comintern Pact nations, there’s a sense of betrayal seeing Britain, a world colonial empire, behave this way.”

“Hmm. This will benefit us then.”

Germany’s efforts to maintain its communist regime will only embarrass Britain’s position and help us.

Of course, communist Germany will gain stability from this, but how will Britain’s former allies react?

Colonial empire, victor of the Great War—despite these titles, a member of the Anti-Comintern Pact is begging a communist country for colonial peace.

“Yes. Some say the Anti-Comintern Pact is collapsing, but we’re still intact.”

“We must secure Eastern Ukraine first. Then we should revise the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk later.”

Ukraine is something Russia must absolutely secure.

Until now, we’ve been too busy to dispute the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, but honestly, it was a treaty that could have destroyed a nation.

Half of Russia’s European territory, over 50 million people, 90% of coal production, over 70% of steel production, 54% of industry, and many railways were ceded.

In short, it devastated the country.

The Bolsheviks surrendered it because they believed communist revolutions would break out among the great powers, rendering the treaty void.

In this world, Britain actively helped us partly because they feared communists would start a revolution and nullify this treaty.

That’s why they sent Churchill to reconfirm the treaty with us.

Well, we were able to reclaim Belarus among those territories.

The reason this hasn’t been brought up until now was because of Britain, but with them taking such a submissive stance, we can at least raise this issue in the State Duma, if not reclaim all of Ukraine immediately.

“Your Majesty, who will be tasked with the Ukraine intervention?”

“General Anton Denikin is familiar with Ukraine. Let’s assign him.”

These matters should be entrusted to someone familiar with the situation.

We can’t risk giving communist Italy an opportunity to intervene by assigning someone unfamiliar with Ukrainian affairs.

Communist Germany isn’t rearmed yet, so we won’t see another Spanish Civil War situation, but we should prepare in case Makhno’s military strength remains stronger than expected.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And later, let’s incorporate Ukraine into the United States as the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic, and merge its military district with the Southern Russia Military District.”

“It shall be done, Your Majesty.”

That should be sufficient.

At least my Russia doesn’t forcibly annex territories.

We simply create legitimate justification to enter when our prey mismanages their country.

Now, let’s discuss medals.

“And after awarding medals to the State Duma members, I’m considering setting a date to bestow medals on Cheka agents as well.”

“Your Majesty, even if they didn’t assassinate the previous Tsar, they tried to bury you too! That’s still a grave crime. Aren’t medals too precious for them?”

Right. I don’t mind, but others might object since these people tried to bury me alive.

“They’ve repented and entered the free zone voluntarily to reverse their wrongs. Executing them would be like the Tsar speaking with two mouths, which doesn’t seem right.”

“But medals are still…”

“We can create a special medal just for them. This shows that even former Bolsheviks can serve the United States.”

“If that is Your Majesty’s wish, so be it. But I worry we might be too lenient.”

All the notable figures are dead, and the mid-level bosses who didn’t make it are in Siberian camps.

What’s the problem?

“There aren’t many Bolsheviks left anyway. And do you think Bolsheviks who opposed us would say ‘Yes, I’ll follow you’ just because we give them medals?”

“I see, Your Majesty means that former Bolsheviks should simply be eligible for medals. That’s the extent of it.”

Right. Honestly, would Bolsheviks follow us just because we offer medals?

This just establishes that the Cheka agent—that Bolsheviks can receive medals. That’s all.

It’s just an example, and the Tsarina of the United States, who hates the Bolsheviks who killed her family, personally awards medals.

What a powerful image that makes.

Communist Germany has already infiltrated the Communist Party into Romania.

If communist Germany learns about the Ukraine free zone incident, who knows how they’ll agitate? But if fellow communists backstabbed Makhno, they can’t say much.

They’d probably foam at the mouth when they hear this news.

“Yes, that’s true. Unless we threaten them with swords, Bolsheviks have their own pride. Would they strive to receive the Tsar’s medals?”

I don’t think so.

Logically, Bolsheviks in camps wouldn’t say, “We love the Tsarina, please give us medals.”

“It’s a kind of public relations battle.”

“Yes. We don’t know what the communist bloc will say after the Ukraine situation is resolved. At the very least, we can say there are reformed communists cooperating with us, and we can award them medals.”

“Hmm, then we should select one representative from the camps where the remaining Bolshevik leaders are held and award them too.”

“Do that.”

How many leaders could there be anyway? Just award the medals.

We’ve already guaranteed extensive welfare for workers.

What harm could come from awarding medals to Bolsheviks who worked for the country?

I don’t kill those who work for me.

I don’t commit barbaric acts like sending poisoned tea to kill someone.

The merciful saint, Tsar of Russia, Emperor of Eastern Rome, and Great Khan of Mongolia has forgiven the sins of the Cheka.

Of course, if others kill them out of jealousy for their medals, that can’t be helped.

But surely no one would do that?

* * *

Ukraine Free Zone

The Ukraine Free Zone was heating up due to the recent failure of collective farm policies.

If one asks whether a single policy could cause such problems, the answer is simple: farmers are dying.

Considering Ukraine’s historical Great Famine, the answer was straightforward.

While Ukraine was important to the Soviet Union, it was just a part of the entire Soviet territory. But here, Eastern Ukraine—a half of Ukraine that lagged behind the pro-British puppet Western Ukraine in agriculture—was essentially destroying itself.

With already scarce resources being squeezed further, Ukrainian farmers boldly took to the streets in protest.

“We can’t take this anymore!”

“Makhno, recognize our rights!”

“The Tsarina of the United States recognizes farmers’ rights!”

“What kind of anarchism has a government?”

“My child is starving! Give us food!”

Farmers, exploited to the limit, were furious with the Labor Committee, and began burning grain that the committee confiscated.

The committee’s atrocities didn’t stop at exploitation.

“At least don’t prevent us from going to Russia!”

“Damn these reactionaries defying the committee! To achieve true anarchism, you must follow our orders!”

They blocked farmers trying to immigrate to Russia and instead isolated them in so-called “farming districts.”

“Are we living better than the Russian United States now?”

“Stop talking nonsense! Do you think we don’t know the grain taken from us ends up in your back pockets?”

“Y-you bastards!”

Rat-tat-tat-tat!

The situation finally erupted into bloodshed.

The Supreme Labor Committee’s home defense force (Black Army) opened fire on the protesting farmers.

This led farmers to form vigilante groups out of discontent.

While mining was in better shape than in the west because Russia took the resources, agriculture was severely impacted.

Of course, these vigilantes couldn’t defeat Makhno’s personal guard, the home defense force that served as the committee’s army.

If things continued this way, farmers would perish.

That dreamer Makhno would eventually kill them all.

Although farmers had burned grain confiscated by the defense force, they were burning what wouldn’t have reached their hands anyway.

When all factors are considered, the farmers would be the only ones to suffer in the end.

“This isn’t the agriculturally prosperous west—a great famine could hit Eastern Ukraine!”

“We were better off when we were united with Russia!”

“This Makhno fellow has no sense of reality! He’s beating down farmers when he should be supporting them!”

As the situation worsened and life became harder, Ukrainian farmers began looking at neighboring countries.

Setting aside Western Ukraine as a British puppet state, they looked to the Russian United States.

A Tsar ruling differently from his predecessor.

Ukrainian farmers preferred Russian rule.

Makhno’s free zone was nothing but a delusional world, and as life became harder, their discontent with the Ukraine Free Zone grew.

Under the Tsarina’s rule, the Russian United States regulated prices directly but didn’t violate the rights of landowners and farmers.

Instead, from factory workers to farmers, she awarded medals and offered encouragement.

But not Makhno.

He confiscated grain produced by farmers for export, while the committee officials who took the grain accepted bribes or embezzled funds.

This couldn’t continue.

It was essentially a suicide pact.

“This Makhno is just a dreamer. How long must we suffer like this?”

“Then should we request support from Western Ukraine?”

“That’s just a has-been British puppet state. No thanks. I’d rather be under Russian rule!”

“Yes! Let’s ask Russia for help!”

Ukrainian farmers sent a love call to Russia.

Among them were many former Bolsheviks and White Army veterans who incited the farmers, and the army of Anton Denikin, commander of the Southern Russian White Army, mobilized.

“Makhno, who received the Tsar’s grace yet conspired with Germany’s secretary, is an enemy of Russia. Many farmers are dying under the tyrant Makhno’s rule. Among them are Russian United States farmers who cannot return to Russia because of Makhno. To rescue them, we are launching a special military operation!”

Anton Denikin’s army, which had fought countless battles against the Red Army in Southern Russia and knew Makhno’s Black Army better than anyone, entered the free zone.

“How can Russia do this? Declaring war without a formal declaration! Please withdraw your troops!”

The Supreme Labor Committee elected a diplomatic commissioner and sent him to Moscow, but…

“Why should we declare war?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re anarchists with no country, right? If farmers living in that Ukrainian region desire Russian rule, isn’t it natural for us to occupy the region and make it Russian territory?”

Russia’s response was cold.

No, it was perfectly logical.

If the free zone was anarchist and had nothing, wasn’t it fine to take it?