Ch.158The White Army’s Ace Pilot

* * *

First, the most successful company in Russia right now is Yusupov’s. Perhaps we could also look into acquiring Thyssen Steel.

“Yes.”

“After hearing this news, the German Empire government has asked us to supply some fighter aircraft instead.”

“Fighter aircraft supply. That sounds good.”

It’s not difficult for us to do that anyway.

The German Empire needs strength to reclaim their homeland, and now we’ve reached the point where we need to provide them with weapons.

Hmm, this Russian national pride feels good.

The navy has established a submarine command to create a large submarine fleet.

This is no longer the imperial era when we were unprepared with proper weapons and constantly anxious about revolution.

“Very good. The White Air Force has maintained air superiority against the Red Army air fleet since the Civil War. That’s why we must absolutely be stronger than other countries. Therefore, you must continue aircraft development.”

Since the navy is focusing on submarines, our aircraft must decisively dominate other nations.

In the original history, the Soviet Union’s aircraft situation during World War II wasn’t very good, but we need to push for overwhelming superiority.

“Your Majesty. The White Air Force is also considering large-scale dive bombers.”

Alexander Romanov, who had been watching me nervously like an anxious puppy, whispered in my ear.

“Dive bombers, you say?”

“Yes. Since our navy is weak, we’ve determined that the air force should overwhelm other countries’ fleets by dominating the skies.”

“Well then, give it a try.”

I’m actually looking forward to dive bombers myself.

As I always say, we should definitely leverage our strengths.

If done right, aren’t they the most cost-effective aircraft for sinking ships? Of course, the mortality rate is high, but with proper support to shield them, we can minimize casualties. Russia has many people, so we can field numerous air forces.

We’ll create a situation where dive bombers emerge from the fields and pound our Italian enemies with submarines and dive bombers.

“How could I refuse, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, Dr. Sikorsky.”

I should say this to Sikorsky.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Now that we’ve seen the potential of that engine, you’ll soon receive good news.”

Though Beria’s jet engine is still just a possibility, that man certainly gets things done.

It’s reasonable to have expectations for the jet engine.

With Sikorsky now working alongside Ilyushin and others, research and development is accelerating. I hope they’ll turn me into an aviation enthusiast.

“Then, we should also research flying wing aircraft.”

“Yes. I look forward to our continued cooperation.”

Right. Come to think of it, I shouldn’t end it like this.

I turned my attention to Alexander Romanov, the White Air Force commander.

“The two aces who distinguished themselves in the civil war are now the North and South Air Force commanders, correct?”

Won’t they also play important roles in World War II?

I should meet them in advance to let them know the Tsarina is interested in them.

I need to show that I value the air force so they’ll train pilots more diligently.

Although the Luftwaffe was somewhat decimated in the Battle of Britain, the German air force was still threatening when considering the German-Soviet war.

Even though they’re Reds, we must absolutely dominate them in air power too.

I wonder how far Communist Germany will demonstrate its capabilities.

Well, it would be good to meet the pilots directly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“While I’m thinking about it, I’d like to see our ace pilots.”

I’d like to meet the people who played active roles in the White Army.

* * *

Vyacheslav Tkachov

In the original history, he passed the Allied pilot test on December 11, 1912, and was assigned to the 7th Aviation Squadron in 1913. He was promoted to captain in April 1913 and was assigned to the newly established 4th Aviation Squadron in 1914.

In the early stages of the war, he conducted reconnaissance flights for headquarters and was awarded the Order of St. George, the highest military decoration in the Russian Empire before Anastasia’s Roman Iron Cross.

Having distinguished himself in the Great War, when the Civil War broke out, he commanded air units and attacked the Red Cavalry led by Semyon Budyonny and Boris Mokevich Dumenko, helping General Sergei Georgievich Ulagay’s White Cavalry break through the front line and advance toward Tsaritsyn.

Later, he became the aviation commander of South Russia and continued to lead air units. When the White Army was defeated, he fled to Yugoslavia and organized Cossack units as part of the Russian White émigré organization.

In this history, he similarly distinguished himself by pressuring the Red Army in major battles. As the Southern Aviation Commander, he personally led air units to defeat the Red air fleet in the Battle of Moscow for Anastasia’s army.

Currently, as one of the two pillars of the White Air Force, Alexander Kazakov was also not someone to be underestimated.

In the original history, Alexander Kazakov was a junior pilot in World War I, but during the Great War, he achieved the highest number of shoot-downs in the Russian Imperial Air Force.

During the Civil War, he joined the Slavo-British Flying Corps and fought alongside the Russian Northern Army against the Bolsheviks, but died in a crash during an air show intended to boost White Army morale on August 1, 1919, after British forces withdrew from Arkhangelsk.

However, in this altered history, he joined Anastasia and Kolchak’s White Army and became a major threat to the Red Army as the Northern Army Aviation Commander. After the civil war, he remained as an air force commander.

In other words, while Alexander Romanov was the nominal supreme commander of the air force, it would be no exaggeration to say that the White Air Force aviation units were directly raised by Southern Air Force Commander Vyacheslav Tkachov and Northern Air Force Commander Alexander Kazakov.

These two were only outranked by White Army generals in the Duma. Later, they were awarded the Roman Iron Cross.

And now.

Both of them were currently having an audience with the Tsarina.

The Saint of All Russia, the Tsar, the Great Khan of the Mongolian steppes, and the Emperor of Eastern Rome was now before them.

Though she was young, they couldn’t help but be extremely tense.

“I understand you two led the Northern and Southern Air Forces.”

“Yes, Your Majesty! It is an honor that you have come here!”

The two spoke as if they had rehearsed it, saluting the Tsar.

The Tsar herself merely waved her hand with an expressionless face.

“No need for such formality. The reason I wanted to see you both today is to express my wish that you actively train pilots.”

The important thing is training pilots.

Nothing more, nothing less.

The absolute monarch of this country is saying just that.

The two air force commanders knew Anastasia well.

Unlike the army, they hadn’t seen Anastasia up close since they were active in the skies, but they knew that the Tsar had personally commanded the Black Baron and the army, throwing herself into battlefields where bullets rained down.

Moreover, all her prophecies had come true.

Therefore, like other White Army generals, they couldn’t help but have absolute loyalty to the Tsar. But the Tsarina’s current words seemed to suggest that war was imminent.

After exchanging glances, Vyacheslav Tkachov spoke up.

“We are already doing so, but is war imminent?”

In response to Vyacheslav’s tense question, Anastasia blinked a few times and then slightly shook her head.

“We’re in the Great Depression. Unless it’s a few years later, there’s no room for that. Just prepare in advance. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Understood.”

When the holy Tsarina orders you to train aircraft pilots, you naturally must obey.

In fact, they were already training quite a number of pilots, so it wouldn’t be difficult.

The two decided to simply follow Anastasia’s orders.

* * *

Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary

After recovering Transylvania, Austria and Hungary coordinated more closely and negotiated about the Eastern Military Alliance.

England, which would have been the first to interfere, had stepped back. America had withdrawn from the European continent due to the Great Depression, and France couldn’t put the brakes on Austria and Hungary’s actions because it had to prepare for the Great Depression and the Commune.

The Anti-Comintern Pact countries were already tacitly allowing the reconstruction of the Dual Monarchy for their own defense. What more needed to be said?

“Our Kingdom of Hungary will accept the Austrian Kaiser as the King of the Hungarian Kingdom.”

“You’ve made a wise decision, Regent! Now let’s overcome this difficult Great Depression period by joining forces.”

Adolf Hitler, who had now entered politics and was eyeing the Prime Minister position, grasped both of Horthy’s hands and laughed heartily.

Naturally, Italy and Yugoslavia, who didn’t want the reconstruction of Austria-Hungary or Karl I ascending to the Hungarian throne, had fits.

“Austria-Hungary is being reconstructed! We will not recognize this!”

“If the Austrian Kaiser becomes the King of Hungary, we will go to war-“

“Go ahead and try!”

Austria was confident.

After all, they hadn’t yet reconstructed the Dual Monarchy.

Karl I had only ascended to the Hungarian throne. They hadn’t yet declared the reconstruction of the Dual Monarchy, so there wasn’t sufficient justification for war.

Behind Austria stood the United States of Greater Russia, the core of the Three Emperors’ Alliance (Russia, Austria, Germany).

Even with the German Empire, which had been reduced to East Prussia but still maintained its state, it was essentially the Three Emperors’ Alliance.

Yugoslavia couldn’t say anything beyond “go to war?” because of Russia.

Italy, considering the possibility that Russia might not intervene, tried to show military movements to pressure Austria, but…

“It’s not time yet.”

Communist Germany, which originally wanted to lead the next war and annex Austria, refused.

Besides, it was difficult for Germany to start a war now as it was just beginning to grow again, and the war might delay the Communist revolution in France, which they were working on.

If the revolution was prepared, the timing of the war might actually help, but France wasn’t ready yet.

For Germany, which needed to create Red comrades somehow, now wasn’t the time.

But they still needed to strengthen their military power.

After careful consideration, General Secretary Karl Liebknecht finally made a decision.

“Tell the imperial-era officers who were captured by us and couldn’t escape to Austria or East Prussia that if they defect and use their families as hostages, we will reorganize them into the People’s Army.”

These were the Junker-origin officers captured during the revolution.

They needed to include them in what would later be called the People’s Army of Germany to enhance military capabilities.

“Will that be all right?”

“Those imperialist reactionary countries have many capable officers with experience from the Great War and civil war. We need to find some compromise.”

A practical compromise.

They would massively incorporate imperial-era officers into the People’s Army to create an elite military.

They were already aiming for revolution in France, but as long as their enemies took a hard line, they needed to build up military power to confront them.

With military technology left from the imperial era, they were producing and developing tanks, fighter planes, and more. They just needed officers.

As the reconstruction of Austria-Hungary drew closer, Communist Germany, stimulated by this, followed the same path as Soviet Russia during the Civil War, which had coerced imperial officers to forcibly take charge of the Red Army.

“If you don’t want to die, defect and take charge of training the People’s Army.”

“Ha! After torturing us all this time, you dare ask us to train your army! I won’t follow orders from you Reds!”

“Perhaps you want to see your families die.”

“!!”

Thus, the former German Imperial Army officers of Junker origin were forced to comply, and Germany created the People’s Army, citing the need to respond to Austria’s military threat.

In early 1930, as the world staggered under the Great Depression, Communist Germany and Italy increased their military strength.

* * *

As the Great Depression progressed, Russia’s situation improved.

While companies in other countries went bankrupt one after another, Russia just kept moving forward.

This was the opportunity to overtake other nations.

And even without my specific orders, Prince Yusupov took action on his own.

“Wow. This is something.”

“Impressive, isn’t it?”

One day, Yusupov entered the Kremlin Palace with a grin and handed me a list.

The list contained the names of companies in the United States of Greater Russia.

I’m not knowledgeable enough to know if these companies existed in the original Soviet world, but anyway, numerous company names filled the list.

And there were many company names I’d never seen before.

How do I know these are companies I’ve never seen before when I don’t know Soviet companies from the original history?

Because there are companies with the Romanov name attached.

Looking at the recent establishment dates, this is clearly targeting the Great Depression season.

“Romanov Heavy Industries, Romanov Chemical Enterprise, Romanov Electric Company. And many others have been created.”

All sorts of things have been established.

What did he do to bring in so many?

It seems he’s taken advantage of the Great Depression to acquire companies or technologies and make them our own.

Now that we’re earning money, we’re using it for all sorts of things.

Yusupov had a proud expression, as if asking for praise.

Is this really okay? Well, looking at this list, there are many companies, so it should be fine.

Though having the Romanov name might be a bit much.

“Isn’t this the opportunity? While other countries are falling into the abyss, we should invest.”

“Hmm, I’m sure Prince Yusupov knows what he’s doing.”

This person has also changed significantly from actual history.

Recently, his businesses have been succeeding one after another. That means more investment in Tesla too.

“There’s also Romanov Defense Industry and others. Shouldn’t we build up Russia’s industrial power now for future convenience? And Dr. Tesla has something to say.”

Dr. Tesla.

Is that man really devoted to research for such a long time?

“What did he say?”

“He said he would see a wireless revolution in his lifetime.”

Has it already progressed that far?

In the original history, was it ultimately a budget issue?