Ch.173Anastasia Defense Line (2)

* * *

I snapped my fingers as if I had a good idea.

“Should we fortify our borders?”

“With Poland there, is that really necessary?”

Oh, the Duma knows one thing but not the other.

We need to look at this with a broader perspective.

“We need to prepare for contingencies. We must consider the possibility that the Poles might side with Communist Germany.”

This has been discussed before anyway.

“Your Majesty is right. We can’t trust Poland. In fact, the military has been pushing for fortification for some time.”

“Won’t Poland express discontent?”

“What does it matter if they complain? They already dislike Russian troops stationed in Poland. Let’s start fortifying gradually.”

Then there shouldn’t be any issues with Poland.

It’s not like we’re stopping weapon support just because we’re building fortresses.

We’re just establishing defensive lines, what can they do about it?

“Then if there’s resistance, the Foreign Ministry will handle it.”

“Do that. Hmm, it would be good to build all the way from the Baltics to Poland.”

“All the way to the Baltics, Your Majesty?”

“The Baltic states gained independence from Russia. They’ll dislike being under Russian influence, so let’s build along the border region all the way to Poland.”

Whether it’s the Baltics or Poland, if they complain, we’ll just say it’s purely defensive.

The Baltics are part of the Anti-Comintern Pact anyway, so they can’t do much even if they’re unhappy. As for Poland, they originally agreed that Russia could set foot on Polish soil only with their permission, so there’s nothing they can do.

“Your Majesty, with such large-scale construction, I’m not sure if the defensive line will be completed by the time of the great war you mentioned.”

“I know. This is just a kind of script. Poland, the Baltics, and Communist Germany will all likely feel provoked. Poland and the Baltics will feel pressured that they won’t receive direct Russian support during the great war. Although Poland has become our second corps, that’s only in terms of role, and Poland and the Baltics are still pro-British countries.”

Let’s pull them out of Britain’s embrace.

That can be considered our additional objective now.

“They’ll feel that Britain isn’t reliable, while Russia is only trying to defend its own territory. That’s the impression they’ll get.”

The Duma also experienced the civil war, so he understands well.

Well, you people with more political experience than young me should know better.

“Yes. If that happens, Poland might be able to handle itself given its size, but what about the three Baltic states?”

“Oh, that’s plausible.”

At the very least, the Baltic states will have no choice but to side with us.

That’s only if we’re being optimistic, of course.

The Baltic states won’t immediately follow us.

The threat from Communist Germany hasn’t fully materialized yet.

Our target is Communist Germany.

“They’ll try to cling to our pant legs. But the Baltic states don’t necessarily need to depend on us. We have a different objective.”

All we need to do is provoke Communist Germany.

The jet fighter will be ready soon. The mechanized corps will follow not long after.

Of course, when I say provoke, even if Communist Germany tries to prepare for war with Russia urgently, it will still take some time.

And during that time, new weapons will continue to emerge.

Meanwhile, Communist Germany will prepare for war as quickly as possible.

“Communist Germany will also try to resolve the situation before the defensive line is completed.”

If we consider the Stalin Line, we’re actually quite late.

We’ve allocated more budget to weapons from the beginning.

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

There’s no need for the Baltics to cling to us.

Poland is already interested in the Baltics.

They probably still desire to capture Lithuania and rebuild the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Although they removed the Lithuania issue from the previous agreement.

But making Lithuania officially our ally is a different matter.

Even if they can’t have it themselves, they wouldn’t want Russia to have it either.

If it remains intact, it means there’s still a chance someday, right?

Conversely, if Russia makes it a puppet state, it means they’d have to fight Russia.

It’s risky for Russia to show interest in Lithuania while they’re struggling against Germany.

So if we can pick up the Baltic states, we will. If not, that’s fine too.

Estonia and Latvia, given their locations, are unlikely to be threatened unless it’s Lithuania.

The Baltics are something we can gain additionally, but our top priority is Communist Germany.

Communist Germany will also feel provoked.

Russia is already difficult to occupy.

If Russia is openly preparing defensive lines, won’t they try to either sabotage it or cross it before it’s completed?

Since there are no Bolsheviks left in Russia, sabotage operations will be difficult, so they’ll likely try to attack before it’s completed.

In other words, border fortification is a strategy to provoke Communist Germany into starting a war.

“Provoke Germany and strike them before they become stronger. A good method.”

Mikhail Drozdovsky clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

“But wouldn’t it be troublesome if they start the war too quickly?”

“Yes, that’s why we’re setting a line. If they’re thinking of starting the final war, they’ll prepare thoroughly before triggering it. They’ll work on the great powers and ensure rearmament.”

In other words, what I’m doing is preparing for the possibility that they might start the war later than in the original history.

Anyway, even if we start preparing now, the Spanish and American civil wars will likely precede Communist Germany’s war.

Germany, already provoked by the Sudetenland issue, is hurrying with rearmament.

So, what if we create a defensive line called the Anastasia Line?

Everyone here trembles at the mention of communism.

But attacking first would make us look like aggressors, so we can’t do that.

So we have no choice but to provoke them with border fortification.

* * *

Russia’s border fortification project was enough to provoke the Baltic states and Poland, which share borders with Russia.

First of all, Poland has historically suffered at the hands of Russia.

Even if Russia’s actions were well-intentioned, they had to be suspicious multiple times.

Especially since there had been a bomb attack on the Tsar by Polish far-right extremists, and since then, Poland had been in a forced alliance with Russia, but at the same time, they feared that Russia might attack at any time using that as an excuse.

So questioning was very natural.

“What is Russia thinking? Fortifying the entire border!”

Could they be preparing for a war with Poland through fortification?

Of course, if that was their intention, they would have stationed large-scale troops at the border, but given past actions, Poland was unnecessarily anxious.

“Don’t worry. We have no intention of doing anything to Poland. We’re just preparing for the possibility that your country might face communist threats at our border due to unexpected circumstances. We’ll uphold the Anti-Comintern Pact and continue to help modernize the Polish army.”

“Hmm.”

“Or would your government accept Russian troops stationed in Poland? If so, we could also fortify the border between Poland and Communist Germany.”

Predictably, Poland refused.

It was expected. Why would they trust Russia enough to let them into their home?

Even though they had become Russia’s second corps, it was semi-forced and not out of genuine affection for Russia.

But the Baltic states, which had gained independence from Russia, were different.

The Baltic states had barely escaped from Russia during the Great War.

“Is Russia fortifying to invade us in the Baltics?”

“Fortresses are built for defense, not for invasion.”

In response to the Latvian ambassador’s surprised question, Russian Foreign Minister Vasily Kharlamov merely snorted.

“Then are you suggesting we would invade Russia?”

That would be absurd, wouldn’t it?

But unfortunately, Russia’s response was different.

“If Communist Germany starts a war, wouldn’t they also invade the Baltic states? We need to prepare for this, so we’re installing fortresses at the border.”

In other words, Russia is defending its own country on the premise that the Baltic states will be occupied by Communist Germany.

What does that mean? Is Russia saying they have no intention of leaving their homeland if war breaks out?

“So if we’re attacked by Germany, Russia will…”

To the Estonian ambassador’s trembling voice, the Foreign Minister opened his mouth indifferently.

He’s about to say those words that they desperately hope aren’t true.

“Defend its own country, wouldn’t it? Stopping them in the Baltics would be the best method, but we, Russia, recognize the sovereign independence of the Baltic states. Our Majesty has judged that while stopping the communists in the Baltics would be strategically wise, it could threaten the sovereignty of the Baltic states. So don’t worry about our invasion and focus on fighting Communist Germany. Well, we also need to prepare for defense, so we can’t provide much support, but doesn’t England stand with the Baltics?”

This is a huge sophistry.

Honestly, how would Communist Germany even reach the Baltic states?

To reach the Baltics, they’d have to break through East Prussia, and even if they used the sea route, there’s the British fleet and Russia’s Baltic Fleet, isn’t there?

Building fortresses at the border now is a kind of demonstration.

It’s telling them to side with Russia, not Britain.

“Ahem. With the Royal Navy and the Baltic Fleet, would Communist Germany really come?”

The Estonian ambassador, seemingly finding it absurd that they had to rely on the Russian fleet despite his own words, turned his head away.

“The reason Russia has chosen a defensive strategy now is because we don’t trust Britain. Britain would quickly retreat to homeland defense and protect its territory with its fleet. And isn’t the Baltic Sea the sea of the Baltic states? We, Russia, have decided to move the Baltic Fleet to Finland and adopt a fleet-in-being strategy for contingencies.”

That’s also sophistry.

How much of a fleet could Communist Germany build? The main battlefield would surely be on land, and even if they built a fleet, it would be inferior to the Baltic Fleet.

It’s saying, “The Baltic Sea belongs to the Baltic states, so protect it yourselves!”

Even with just a fleet-in-being strategy, the Baltic Fleet would deter Communist Germany, and Russia could leisurely prepare for a full-scale war with Germany.

The Baltic ambassadors had to retreat without gaining anything.

“What should we do about this?”

“Our Lithuania is also under pressure from Poland! If Russia stands by, we’re finished.”

“Can we continue to trust Britain?”

The ambassadors of the three Baltic states sighed.

From all appearances, it’s uncertain whether Britain will help the Baltics.

Would they help when they have their own colonies to manage?

Britain probably wants Russia to handle the defense, but that Russia is also maintaining a defensive posture.

Claiming they can’t threaten the sovereignty of the Baltic states.

It’s essentially saying they’ll stand by whether the Baltics are consumed or not.

Contrary to Anastasia’s expectations, the Baltic states were also under threat from Communist Germany.

If the Baltic states were to become communist, they could stab East Prussia, Poland, and even Russia from behind.

They had subtly inserted communists internally.

In this situation, they considered giving up and joining hands with Communist Germany.

But if they did that, they would immediately be trampled by millions of Russian troops.

Moreover, with Anastasia supporters also present, what more needs to be said?

The current Baltic states have both communists and Anastasia supporters.

The Baltic states were in a position where they couldn’t do either.

So they needed Russia’s help.

“Hmm. Come to think of it, aren’t Russian troops stationed in East Prussia?”

“But they tell us they can’t station troops because they recognize our sovereignty.”

“Some saint she is, acting like a thug.”

For the sake of the sovereignty and independence of the Baltic states, Russia would absolutely not enter the territory of the Baltic states.

If war wasn’t imminent, Russia’s words would give tremendous relief.

But isn’t it natural to help an ally?

Russia’s saint says she recognizes the Baltics as sovereign and independent states. Because of that, she won’t push Russian troops into the Baltics. If they want to request help from Russia now, they’d have to become puppet states.

The concerns of the three Baltic states only grew.

Meanwhile, new winds were blowing in Germany.

“Russia is building fortresses all along the border from the Baltics to Poland.”

“Hmm. So they’re abandoning the Baltics and Poland?”

Anastasia’s goal of provoking Germany was being achieved.

With Russia’s plan to lay a defensive line with fortresses at the border, Germany, which had been planning a final war with Russia someday, felt the urgency.

Russia was already strong, and now they were planning to cover the long border with fortresses. This was inevitably provocative for Communist Germany.

In other words, it meant they would strengthen their defensive line while Communist Germany was fighting with Austria or the Balkan states.

It was fortunate that they didn’t seem to be planning to fight together.

But looking at the current situation, Britain didn’t seem likely to get involved in a European war either. At first glance, this seemed like a plausible picture.

A new picture formed in Karl Liebknecht’s mind.

The dream of turning Poland and the Baltics communist.

What if they captured the Kaiser of East Prussia, achieved German unification, and then fought a war with Russia?