Ch.202Age of Turbulence (9)

Those Reds will attack us sooner or later.

We should beat them up before the German Reds finish their preparations and strike first.

This is what they call a preventive war.

“Ah, let’s inform the Polish side too. They’ll want to play separately from Russia this time.”

It would be good to remove Russian influence from Poland while Russia is distracted with the Yankees’ civil war.

“What about Austria? They could stab us from below too.”

“Austria is a no-go. That Hitler fellow. He’s dangerous. A superman who has reunited the divided Dual Monarchy constituents under anti-communism. The Dual Monarchy is no longer the easily dismantled multi-ethnic empire of the past—he’s bound it into one. He’s even pro-Russian and has his eyes on Southern Germany. Unless our situation becomes truly desperate, not now.”

Things are so bad that people say, “If the German Communist Party has Goebbels, the Habsburgs have Hitler.”

He’s managed to reunite those multi-ethnic fragments that would have been shattered compared to when they were at least nominally united as the Dual Monarchy, bringing them back under the Habsburg umbrella.

He must be no ordinary man.

Honestly, it would be a blessing if Austria and Germany had a spiritual big match and beat each other up.

But if that happened, Russia could naturally join the war anytime through its mutual defense treaty with Austria.

Even if tied up in America, considering Russia’s population, they could still send enough troops to handle at least one front using Austria.

So bringing Austria in would actually be poisonous.

Austria is a country that needs to be dealt with eventually. Hitler himself has directed his anger over the last defeat toward Britain and France.

We might clash with them someday too.

“Even if we can’t do anything about Austria or the Balkans, Poland will ultimately have no choice but to side with the pro-British faction.”

What would happen if we surrounded and attacked from France, the Low Countries, and Poland?

Communist Germany would collapse overnight.

Trench warfare? Would a Communist Germany, weaker than the German Empire, really withstand attacks from all sides without collapsing?

Though an aging lion, the British Empire still spans the globe and could instantly crush that red Germany.

“You seem too hasty. Wouldn’t a defensive war be better than an invasion?”

“Look here, Mosley. Take a cold look at the international community. The longer we give them time, the more poison those Communist Germans will spread in our colonies. If that happens, it’s over, just as the Russian Empress said.”

What do the Communist Germans think they’re relying on as they prepare for war?

They know the British Empire’s strength lies in its colonies, so they plan to cut off our arms and legs before fighting us.

We need to resolve this before that happens.

“Then we should prepare a war budget.”

“Indeed we should.”

While secretly preparing to strike Germany, Britain also informed French Prime Minister Léon Blum.

“A preemptive strike against Germany.”

Léon Blum carefully weighed the pros and cons.

Britain had already secured a justification for war, they said.

If France was ready, the Anglo-French allied forces would strike in one swift blow.

They would attack immediately from the Low Countries and Alsace-Lorraine.

When he calculated it, this wasn’t entirely impossible.

With the Commune recently running wild internally, unifying the divided national opinion through war might be good.

Not a defensive war, but an offensive one.

It would be very different from the Great War. Unlike when Paris was threatened by the German Empire, now Europe’s premier army, the French Army, would cross the Rhine.

Unlike in the original history, France hadn’t built the Maginot Line, but had instead invested heavily in its army.

Germany would never imagine being attacked first.

Striking at that vulnerability wasn’t impossible.

Léon Blum reviewed Churchill’s proposal positively.

While Britain and France were making these ambitious plans, Goebbels in Berlin also received this news from the French Commune.

“Comrade General Secretary. The Tommies’ movements are suspicious.”

“Hmm.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to strike first and target France?”

Strike first. Hit them before they’re ready, before Britain and France can unite. Not a bad idea.

But Goebbels thought differently.

After overthrowing Karl Liebknecht and rising to General Secretary to run Germany, Goebbels had become even more meticulous than in the original history, with stronger propaganda abilities.

He had also actively incorporated the opinions of officers who had served in the Imperial German Army to reorganize the People’s Army.

From his perspective, striking first to exploit weaknesses seemed like a good approach, but…

“No. No. It might look good to our comrades. Strategically, it might seem better. But.”

This is actually a case where planning for invasion could be one approach.

Even during the Great War, didn’t we see the tedious nature of trench warfare?

This time, we’ll try blocking them from our side.

Moreover, this isn’t the German Empire era anymore. Communist Germany has already secured enough tanks.

Thanks to French Communist comrades and Hitler’s right-hand man Göring, they had stolen tank designs from Austria before the communists were captured, and produced tanks in design bureaus across Germany.

Of course, there are rumors they still lag behind Russia.

If we can somehow deal with Britain and France and turn Europe red, we could topple Russia, that ultimate imperialist who has changed its name to “modified capitalism.”

“We’ll hold out with trench warfare while inciting revolution within France. If we can turn France red, what can Britain do?”

Unlike during the Great War, they’ve tried to prepare for the turnip winter as much as possible, and if the gamble of turning France red succeeds before that…

Once France is turned red, we can annihilate all British forces trapped in Europe.

The Royal Navy is still powerful, but what can they do without an army except make small moves?

“Indeed, Comrade General Secretary! I can’t help but admire your insight!”

“Then, how should we handle the National Government’s request for support?”

“Once war breaks out, weapon support will be difficult, but what our Chinese comrades need now are military advisors to train them into elite forces. This should be enough for now.”

Though I don’t like it, I heard they’re importing weapons from Russia.

So, military advisors should be enough from our side.

What China needs more than anything right now are military advisors to train their army into elite forces.

‘Come to think of it, wasn’t teaching them those strange strategies all about forcing China to suffer casualties?’

If that was her thinking, that Moscow witch is quite brilliant.

That’s why we need to divide the Anti-Comintern Pact even more.

We need to defeat the members of the Anti-Comintern Pact one by one, and finally strike Russia.

That’s why we deliberately give them openings and maintain a defensive stance.

Moreover, there are workers who have suffered under Karl Liebknecht’s rule for a long time.

Would such workers actively cooperate in a war of aggression if we launched a preemptive strike?

It would be better to fight a defensive war while uniting the strength of all Germans.

Conservative-dominated Bavaria and the Freikorps have either been suppressed by the People’s Army or fled to East Prussia or Austria where the old imperial dynasty still exists.

We’ve been able to unite the power of the workers alone.

What if we fail? He didn’t consider that possibility.

The moment we think of failure, it’s a defeat against imperialism. Communism would completely collapse.

Rather than thinking about defeat, this is a war we must win.

Germany, which in the original history would have carried out the Anschluss and invasion of Poland, decided to hold out under Goebbels’ leadership.

They already have enough.

Paul Joseph Goebbels approached the window of the General Secretary’s office.

Outside, red workers’ flags hung on streetlamps, creating an image of a red wave, declaring this place the home of communism.

The sky seemed to welcome the birth of communism, brilliantly illuminating downtown Berlin.

Goebbels tightly clenched his hands behind his back.

“Come if you dare, specters of imperialism.”

You’ll all be crushed under the red flag of the workers.

“Um, Comrade General Secretary.”

“What is it?”

“What about Italy? They’re still fighting Ethiopia.”

Why is he talking about Italy when I’m trying to set the mood?

Right. Italy. Italy is a problem.

Not just any country, but Italy. I might understand if it were a second-rate country like Spain.

They’re pouring their national strength into fighting Ethiopia, an African country.

Unlike in the original history, Ethiopia, armed with Russian weapons, was still holding out against Italy’s clutches.

No matter how civilized Ethiopia might be within Africa and armed with Russian weapons, this is a bit…

“They’ll win eventually, I suppose. They won’t just give up naval supremacy. It’s almost dinner time, so let’s not spoil our appetite by talking about Italy.”

“Yes, Comrade!”

No matter how much Italy is waging total war against Ethiopia, they’re just trying to end it quickly. They absolutely won’t lose to an African country.

Yes. We must hope for that. We must.

* * *

As the Sino-Japanese War intensified, Russia became more alert.

The American Civil War, the Sino-Japanese War, and now it was time for a new war to break out.

But it seemed likely to happen in an unexpected place.

“Britain and France are preparing for war?”

Today I thought I’d just be signing documents in the Duma, but instead I received news that made me grab the back of my neck.

Yes. Britain and France had entered war preparations, which seemed unbelievable.

And unlike the Anti-Comintern Pact, they were creating their own justification for war to prevent Russia or other countries from intervening.

What on earth are they trying to do?

“Yes, Your Majesty. They seem to be up to something.”

At the Interior Minister’s words, I puffed my cheeks and tapped the edge of the desk with my finger.

Churchill, that man, is quite annoying.

He’s openly showing cracks in the Anti-Comintern Pact nations.

“Surely these madmen aren’t really…?”

Starting World War II first?

Surely not? Well, I did say something like that, but still. They’re not just following my words as Tsar.

They probably want to strike before Communist Germany becomes more dangerous.

Moreover, Britain knows we’re prepared for war. We’re armed with powerful guns, tanks, and even aircraft.

Churchill wouldn’t want to hand over the golden opportunity to devour Germany to the barbaric Slavs.

So he probably wanted to try it once.

Even if both are preparing for war, Britain would be faster than Germany. With help from the Low Countries, which are monarchies, and France, which wants to quickly suppress the Communist Party for fear of revolution…

It’s possible.

Churchill will try to take Europe while Russia is tied up in America.

“So they’re saying they want to take the initiative in the European war while we’re tied up in the American Civil War.”

I expected this from Churchill.

It’s natural for Churchill to be wary of Russian expansion.

But it would be difficult to handle it with force or military power. Rather, a strategy to take Europe to check Russia.

Setting Germany as the target.

Communist Germany is perfect to beat up. And creating an external enemy to unite the dominions before they act up more.

Churchill might do this, and for Churchill, it’s the only way to make the British Empire great.

“Yes. That could be one way to look at it.”

“Hmm, we can’t move.”

We can’t move, and I was originally planning to join later if World War II broke out.

Churchill didn’t need to do this because that was already my plan.

“Shouldn’t we create our own justification and join?”

“No. But we should discourage a preemptive strike. Communist Germany might actually want this.”

“If they take a defensive position, Germany will have the justification.”

Goebbels is aiming for a defensive war.

That’s what I think now.

Unlike the original history, there was no Anschluss, no Munich Agreement, no invasion of Poland.

Since they can’t avoid fighting, this might be Communist Germany’s strategy. Defeat them one by one. But since they can’t strike first, they’ll defend. That’s what it means.

But defense alone can’t deliver a decisive blow to the opponent, so they’ll scheme behind the scenes.

Then should we add our own spoon to this?

If we can’t move our army, it’s not just good for Churchill.

It’s not bad for Communist Germany either. It might be perfect for them.

While Russia is busy digging, they’ll have a good fight with the Anglo-French. This logic could work.

Let them fight and beat each other up while we finish the American Civil War completely.

Wait, isn’t this beneficial for us too?

“This is beneficial for us too. If those two fight a war before Russia can participate, trying to check Russia, we can buy time to project our influence in America.”

This isn’t bad at all.

We don’t know how the American Civil War will turn out.

The Anti-Comintern nations who specialize in interfering and meddling everywhere, and Communist Germany dreaming of world revolution and war with Russia.

If they’re tied up with each other, if they fight in the mud…

We can catch Trotsky and end the American Civil War ourselves.

“Indeed, that’s right. Then, it’s beneficial for both sides.”

“Yes, conditionally—if the war isn’t ended quickly by someone. If war breaks out, we should hope it drags on until we can participate.”

I don’t think the war will end quickly.

After all, it’s Britain and Germany.

Britain won’t lose with the Royal Navy.

And Communist Germany seems to have some armored units from what I’ve heard.

The turnip winter might be threatening, but if Communist Germany somehow holds out until we finish the civil war, we could add our spoon.

“Hmm, it would be nice if things go well.”

Just thinking positively, this isn’t bad.

At least if the war doesn’t end quickly.