Ch.176Mind Games (2)

* * *

This opportunity should definitely sway Norway and Sweden toward the Anti-Comintern Pact.

Starting with Northern Europe on our side would prevent Nazi Germany’s scenario where Sweden claims neutrality while actually being pro-Nazi and giving them military access, and Norway wouldn’t be occupied either.

Conversely, Russia could bypass Northern Europe and enter Denmark.

So I’m looking at the map now.

Britain is across the sea, and France is far away, possibly falling to communism at any moment.

Italy and Germany are clustered in the middle.

Yugoslavia’s allegiance remains uncertain.

Tito is the problem—he’s still testing the waters.

If Hitler offers him a suitable position in Austria, might he give Croatia and Bosnia to rebuild Austria-Hungary?

Austria’s resilience depends on Yugoslavia’s choice.

So Bulgaria needs to support us from behind.

“Hmm, looking at this, the Anti-Comintern Pact countries are all acting independently.”

“Judging by Britain’s behavior, they’re Anti-Comintern in name only. Honestly, I’m not even sure if the Royal Navy will properly defend the seas.”

That’s right. We have to acknowledge the British aversion.

Churchill needs to rise up at the right time.

Then our mustached friend must do well.

He needs to act as a mixer in the middle alongside Poland, grinding up the German and Italian armies.

“So right now, we can only rely on Austria and the Balkan countries. The Foreign Ministry should handle this appropriately. I heard there’s some good news elsewhere.”

Yes. But what’s this?

Several pages filled with something oil-related.

I can tell something happened in Northern Manchuria.

“Oil fields have finally been discovered in Manchuria.”

“I see. That’s excellent.”

Since we’ve been drilling for so long, I expected this would happen eventually.

I knew this was coming, so I’m only slightly surprised.

The Japanese Empire drilled extensively but found nothing. Yet we discovered oil in the mid-1930s.

Of course, we’ve maximized drilling technology development. The Japan of the original timeline would probably have a fit.

Though today’s Japan might actually be eager to import resources.

“Thankfully, Royal Dutch Shell helped us. Standard Oil tried to get involved too.”

“Good. Let’s extract this Manchurian oil.”

We’ll extract Manchurian oil.

Can communist Germany, without Romania as an oil supplier, handle us extracting oil from Baku, Siberia, and Manchuria?

“Romanov Oil is already doing so.”

Oh, that’s not bad.

Perhaps we should extensively promote oil while we’re at it?

* * *

“WOW! Oil!”

“Once again, oil has gushed from land bestowed upon us by the Tsar!”

With oil fields discovered in Northern Manchuria, Russia once again elevated the Tsar as a saint with prophetic abilities.

Meanwhile, the volunteer army organization was completed.

The Russian White Army, White Air Force, and White Tank Corps—20,000 troops (actually 50,000)—finally completed preparations to support Spain.

The army commanders included Nikolai Yudenich from the Western Russian Army, Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim from the Kingdom of Finland, Alexander Kazakov for the air force, Mikhail Drozdovsky for the tank corps, and the strongly self-recommended Russian special military attaché Patton(?).

The Spanish Civil War was essentially a preliminary battle between anti-communist and communist factions, and since defeat was not an option, the volunteer force was composed of veterans who had distinguished themselves in civil wars.

This volunteer army had the letter “A” emblazoned on their army uniforms, aircraft, and tanks.

The “A” symbolized Tsarina Anastasia’s army.

This represented the newly changed Russian uniform, the United States of Russia White Army Air Force roundel, and the newly established tank corps insignia.

These 20,000 newly outfitted troops were sent off by the Tsar of Russia who ruled from Europe to the Far East—a saint, the Great Khan of the steppes, and simultaneously the Byzantine Emperor.

Why would the Tsar, who should remain in the Kremlin Palace, personally come to see them off?

While everyone whispered suspiciously, the Tsar, wearing a military uniform that hardly seemed appropriate for a female emperor ruling a country, spoke loudly:

“Proud White Army soldiers of the United States of Greater Russia! Forgive this inadequate Tsar who, being the Tsar’s body, regrets not being able to join you directly and can only send you off like this!”

“What are you saying, Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty is the United States itself! Forgiveness is unnecessary!”

“As successors to the Eastern Roman Empire, we are proud to march forth to eradicate communism that threatens peace!”

The White Army soldiers, intoxicated with Anastasia fervor, departed for Spain with tears streaming down their faces. They harbored no resentment toward the Tsar for sending them away.

They felt only pride as the Tsar’s army going to eradicate those Spanish communists. Just pride.

With the Tsar personally seeing off such soldiers, the effect was predictably tremendous.

“I am ashamed to show my face, living in luxury in the Kremlin Palace while you march toward battlefields risking your lives. Yet I brazenly wish to commend you! I will care for your families, and you shall achieve military glory against those communists in Spain! If you drive out that red plague—your enemy and the world’s enemy—from Spain, I will personally comfort you and bestow medals!”

Naturally, since the entire nation was Anastasia’s fan club, the White Army soldiers were overjoyed.

The Tsar would care for their families, comfort them, and award them medals.

How could they contain themselves?

They must use all their strength to sweep away the Spanish reds and extend Her Majesty’s influence to the Iberian Peninsula.

“Tsar, hurrah!”

“God save the Tsar!”

“United States of Russia, hurrah! White Army, hurrah!”

The Tsar’s send-off speech spread throughout Russia via radio and television.

All across Russia, support and encouragement for the military volunteers participating in the Spanish Civil War heated up.

Since their respected Tsar personally saw them off, they felt obligated to do the same. What monarch in the world would personally send off volunteer troops like this?

In fact, strictly speaking, Communist Secretary Karl Liebknecht and Communist Italy’s Mussolini also sent volunteer troops, but the ripple effect of the long-deified Anastasia was enormous.

Japanese students studying in Russia and Japanese residents were astonished.

“Wow, is that the Russian Empress?”

“Is she really in her 30s? She’s our age? The rumors about Anastasia not aging are true.”

“She looks exactly like in ‘My War’ photos. Truly amazing.”

They were amazed that she maintained her beautiful appearance, not looking like someone in her 30s.

“She’s even personally seeing off the soldiers.”

“That’s not all. They say she personally participated in the war.”

They were astounded to see proof that she had indeed encouraged White Army soldiers by fighting directly in the civil war despite being a woman.

“What about our Emperor?”

“No way, right? His Majesty of the unbroken imperial line wouldn’t see off volunteer troops.”

“Is that right?”

Would the Emperor of the unbroken imperial line not do what the Emperor of this great nation ruling East and West was doing?

Then again, perhaps it wouldn’t befit the dignity of the Emperor, descendant of Amaterasu.

The Empress had previously walked through cities shaking hands with subjects and personally distributed food to children orphaned by the civil war.

There were certainly many differences from their Emperor.

Yes, this felt somewhat strange.

The Japanese students who came to study in Russia, with their strong pro-Russian tendencies, became increasingly fascinated with the Tsar.

Meanwhile, Yi Kang and Ahn Changho from the Balhae Republic, Korea’s provisional government, were also present as the Russian army departed for Spain.

They were amazed to see soldiers heading to potentially fatal battlefields showing overwhelming support for the Tsar.

“The Russian Empress truly seems to be a genuine monarch. In contrast, our Yi royal family ignored the people. Perhaps if my father had been such a person, the Korean Empire might have survived.”

Yi Kang’s father, Emperor Gojong, lived for his own power rather than his people and proclaimed an empire that was merely a shell.

When his son Sunjong ascended to the throne, the nation’s fate was already declining.

“Although our circumstances differ, Your Highness is raising an army to reclaim our homeland.”

Indeed. The Balhae Republic provisional government was secretly raising an army with the Empress’s sponsorship.

Their numbers had grown to tens of thousands, including not only Koreans but also Jews hoping for help establishing their own country someday, and Manchurians who joined the Balhae Republic Army due to the lack of a proper Manchurian government, preferring the multi-ethnic government led by Koreans.

Koreans coming from Southern Manchuria and the peninsula were increasing daily.

Prince Uichin Yi Kang and Ahn Changho were enduring hardship, planning to someday storm the Korean peninsula like a hurricane with this large army they were raising to reclaim their homeland.

“It will certainly happen.”

“When we gain independence, I hope we too can help other countries like this.”

Inspired by Yi Kang’s words, Ahn Changho bowed his head and glanced at the departing Russian army going to capture Spanish communists, muttering:

“Someday we too will become a country that can help others like this. Definitely.”

Yi Kang and Ahn Changho’s eyes were filled with resolute determination.

* * *

Meanwhile, the Spanish Republican Army had to hold their heads in dismay.

They had stood by while the Communist Party expelled the Falange from the capital to purge them.

As a result, all the latest weapons they had purchased from Russia fell into the Falange’s hands.

Of course, Russia might have intended from the beginning to support the Falange while stealing the Republic’s gold.

The Falange had secretly built up power on the Iberian Peninsula for years, and as soon as they were expelled from the capital and rebelled, northern and western Madrid and all of Africa fell to them.

As if they had been waiting, the Spanish Moroccan Army also switched sides as soon as the uprising began, leaving no chance to stop them.

Britain provided medical support, while Russia sent 20,000 (50,000) volunteers (army) to the Falange.

The Republican government protested to Russia, but:

“Huh, you dare protest after playing word games while knowing Russia’s contempt for communists? We’re restraining ourselves from directly declaring war on the Republican government only because of international eyes, so if you have any conscience, keep quiet.”

Russia angrily threatened that they should be grateful the embassy wasn’t expelled.

The Republic had no choice, having given them justification from the start.

Moreover, Communist Italy and Communist Germany sent volunteer forces.

Inevitably receiving help from the communist bloc, the Republic gave up and openly accepted help from the Popular Front and communist bloc.

“Hahaha, let whatever happens happen!”

But with the Falange’s territory being so vast, the Republican Army could at best defend with the Popular Front formed by leftist alliances. Unlike in actual history, the Falange incorporated right-wing factions to create the National Front against the Popular Front, and as the civil war began, they also recruited the newly prominent royalist Alphonsist and Carlist factions by promising to establish a monarchy after the war.

The united National Front implemented their attack plan before the Popular Front could establish defenses.

“Now! Push them back!”

Franco’s African Legion, with Russian support, immediately pressured the capital Madrid.

They told the Spanish Moroccan Army they would overlook any war crimes committed in Republican villages, so the Moroccan forces plundered Popular Front villages and took women for rape.

“Aren’t they all Spanish? Doesn’t this seem wrong?”

“An eye for an eye, water for water. We’ve given privileges to the Moroccan Army to fight hard, but the Popular Front side has also committed all sorts of atrocities when attacking our National Front villages.”

This was the same as in actual history.

The Nationalist side exploited the Moroccan Army’s contempt for Spaniards by allowing murder, looting, and rape despite them being fellow Spaniards, and thanks to this, the Moroccan Army fought enthusiastically in the civil war.

The Republican side had revolutionary forces committing terrorism against Catholic Church forces on the Nationalist side even before the civil war, and once they joined the Nationalist side, they massacred priests and right-wing figures from the Nationalist faction.

Similar events occurred in this world.

The Russian army, full of pride as the army of the Tsar and Saint, was disgusted by this situation, but:

“If the Tsar were ruling directly, it might be different, but at our level, we can’t stop Spaniards doing this to each other.”

“Honestly, we did similar things to the Bolsheviks during our civil war. Ahem.”

“We’re at war. It’s unavoidable for the soldiers’ morale.”

There had been similar developments during the Russian Civil War.

As they began losing to the White Army, the Bolsheviks designated villages resisting conscription as reactionaries, accused them of being White Army sympathizers, and committed murder, looting, and rape. When the White Army recaptured Moscow and gained the upper hand, they brutally retaliated against Bolshevik remnants, killing them, and women who had joined the Bolsheviks faced grim futures.

Those White Army soldiers who had massacred Bolsheviks remained in the army, supporting the Tsar, and now came to Spain.

Why would Spain be any different?