Ch.225Opening Battle (3)

* * *

When Poland was divided between east and west in this timeline, a strange tension flowed between Communist Germany and the United States of Greater Russia.

And when Communist Germany invaded the Danube, they automatically entered a state of war.

However, Communist Germany focused only on defense while attacking just the Danube, and Russia essentially wasted time “preparing,” making it a phony war. But now the situation had changed.

The White Army Department established “Operation White Flood,” meaning to paint all of Europe white, and implemented it immediately.

The attack on Communist Germany had begun.

The hastily organized Kingdom of Poland Army and the German Imperial Army coordinated their efforts, and before the Russian White Army pushed into western Poland, the western Polish front was subjected to fierce bombardment.

The STB-1~3 heavy bombers, developed through the Beliye Project, bombed major cities in the Polish People’s Republic, the Communist German puppet state in western Poland, including Warsaw, Krakow, Lvov, Ternopil, and Lublin.

“They weren’t even our match during the Great War!”

“Those Russian bastards are just showing off!”

The German and Polish People’s Air Forces scrambled to intercept the Russian bombers, but small Ilyushin aircraft detached from the bombers like bees from a hive and engaged the German and Polish Red Air Forces.

Additionally, P-39 fighters developed in Russia in this alternate history joined the battle against the Red Air Force.

And quite unfortunately…

Just like in the Spanish Civil War, the Red Air Force couldn’t defeat us.

Our fighter planes were constantly on the tails of German fighter planes, shooting them down one after another.

Among them, the jet-powered fighters were something Communist Germany couldn’t even hope to counter.

It’s not that the Communist Germans hadn’t made any progress.

It’s just that our side had made tremendous leaps in development.

Receiving reports at headquarters, I couldn’t help but smirk.

I had been worried about what would happen if Communist Germany had some hardcore communist weapons developer with amazing skills who could beat us.

“Your Majesty. We control the airspace. Their communist air force couldn’t dare fight against our air force.”

“Yes. They seemed confused and their formations scattered like flies.”

As I received reports at headquarters, I crossed my arms and fidgeted with my fingers.

Since we already had such a significant advantage, I wanted to make the war a bit more entertaining. Yes, I have a project in mind.

“Hmm, I’d like to taunt the enemy a bit more.”

“Won’t the ‘stingray plan’ to tease them be ready by early next year?”

That’s right.

What I’m referring to is that seemingly incomplete flying wing aircraft.

In terms of performance, it wasn’t bad. The designers who had been making fighters under Igor Sikorsky were working on it.

I’m not necessarily expecting perfect performance.

Properly functional flying wing aircraft won’t appear until much later anyway.

As I always say, it’s enough just to taunt them.

To demonstrate our overwhelming technological superiority.

Even now, beyond bombing, rockets that Communist Germany couldn’t even imagine were flying in, viciously pounding the cities of western Poland.

Destroying western Poland was beneficial for us as well.

That way, the devastated western Poles would have no choice but to rely on Russia, and they would naturally be incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland.

They had already been beaten by the Communist German army, so who would complain if Russia did some pounding in the name of liberation?

“What kind of weapons have those crazy Russians made?!”

“The planes don’t have propellers!”

While the German army was in confusion, Russia’s White Armor Wave began.

Across the entire border.

“Our Mother Tsarina is with us! Let’s kill all the communist reds and repay Mother Tsarina! United States of Greater Russia, hurrah!”

The T-34 and T-35 tanks, built differently from the original timeline. Although I’m not a military enthusiast from my original timeline and don’t know tank specifications well, I suspect the T-35’s main armament might be equivalent to the T-34-85 from the original history.

Anyway, our White Flood Operation’s armor wave pounded the Communist German forces starting from the East Prussian and Polish borders.

Strategy? There’s no point in making one.

Overwhelming weapon superiority and numerical advantage. It would be foolish to devise a strategy in the face of this.

Just attack. Like a newbie in a strategy simulation game doing an attack-move without any micro-control.

That was enough for the Tsar’s legitimate children to throw themselves at the German army alongside the tanks.

“How can they have so many tanks?!”

“Ah-ah. This is what they call a wave of steel.”

“What is the French People’s Army doing? Help us quickly!”

Infantry fighting vehicles followed behind the armored units, and White Army infantry destroyed Communist German tanks that came to attack us with RPGs.

Boom!

“Mother Tsarina, hurrah!”

With a Tsarina cult worship that rivaled Hail Goebbels.

I wonder if the RPGs of the United States now are equivalent to the Panzerfaust of Nazi Germany in the original timeline, or the Soviet RPGs.

Since I’m just receiving reports, I don’t know for sure, but it seems quite impressive.

The White Army generals reporting to me aren’t likely to give false reports, so the war against Communist Germany seems to be going smoothly.

“Then, will we be able to recapture all of western Poland?”

“Yes. We will complete the occupation within a few weeks.”

A few weeks? That long?

I may not know much about war, but looking at the reports coming in, they’re all victory reports. Shouldn’t we be able to occupy it quickly?

Western Poland isn’t that big. Does occupation take that long?

Or perhaps the Polish People’s Army is fighting desperately alongside the Communist German army?

No, that can’t be it. A puppet state’s people’s army would be no match for us.

Then what could it be?

“That seems long? I thought their main front would be the Sudetenland, with many troops diverted there.”

“We are not their final enemy. A significant number of French Commune troops have come out to block us Russians.”

Ah, so it’s the French Commune.

Well, if they come with human wave tactics, it would be difficult. Though human wave tactics against Russia would be laughable even to a passing dog.

“So you mean it takes time to defeat them.”

“Yes. Although the French army is numerous, the situation is favorable to us. Their production capacity can never match ours. Once we finish the Polish campaign, we can save the Danube Federation.”

I see. Indeed, the China of Europe—

Though that’s not quite right, as France has invested in its army, and mobilizing the army is easier for France than for Britain.

In this world, the reason Britain allied with France was likely because they coveted France’s army.

That force is now deployed to block Russia.

So that means the Communist German army is relatively few here.

Did Goebbels fill the main front with the French People’s Army in anticipation of complaints that might arise after using the French Commune to attack the Danube Federation?

Goebbels’ plan seems to be to break through the Danube Federation, turn the army around, and block Russia.

That’s probably how it would have played out.

Still, it’s better to hurry if possible.

“You must hurry as much as possible. Although Hitler is holding them off, it’s been months since the invasion of the Danube Federation began. The borders will likely start to collapse gradually.”

They’ve held up well so far, but according to incoming information, the Sudetenland front is in danger.

I heard all Communist German bombers are being mobilized there.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Since those communists’ bombers are constantly pounding the Sudetenland fortress, we will hurry as much as possible.”

Come to think of it, I’m curious about something.

Who are the notable figures in the armor wave that’s currently active? Weren’t Tukhachevsky or Zhukov mentioned before?

“Which unit is performing the best?”

“Pyotr Krasnov’s Cossack Armored Unit.”

The Cossack Armored Unit.

An armored unit formed from volunteers from the Cossack cavalry.

Since cavalry now has limited effectiveness on the battlefield, the Cossacks have maintained their armored units across generations.

I’d like to try riding a tank myself.

I’ve heard that the inside of a tank is quite cramped.

Should I go out there myself and fight better, like during the Civil War?

“What if I move a bit more to the front?”

“Your Majesty, that absolutely cannot happen.”

I was firmly rejected by Chief of Staff Drozdovsky.

Why not? Honestly, how many battles have been won thanks to me?

With Vera Gedroits gone now, I thought I could do as I pleased. I never expected Mikhail Drozdovsky to stop me!

Alright, let’s just push through with this. Who knows? He might agree.

“During the civil war, there were somewhat acceptable aspects. No, even then it was quite sudden. There were defensive battles too. But now it’s different. Weapons have developed much further, and the enemy is not as weak as the Bolsheviks.”

True. In this world’s history, the Bolsheviks were quite pathetic.

But in the case of Communist Germany or France, it’s not a civil war, and those reds have been battle-hardened through warfare.

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“If Your Majesty goes out directly, our troops would have to protect you, making it harder to capture the German and French bastards.”

“Ah, then I guess it can’t be helped.”

Tsk, crushing the enemy with the Tsar’s buff! That sounds good, but unfortunately, this is reality, not a game. Well, it can’t be helped.

“And we also have Crown Prince Vladimir.”

Ah, right. Vladimir is here too.

With both of us already out here, there’s no need to push forward recklessly at this point.

But where is Vladimir?

“Where is Vladimir?”

“I believe he is with Commander Mikhail Tukhachevsky.”

“Ah, with Mikhail Tukhachevsky.”

The combination of Tukhachevsky, who could be considered a major general of the Soviet Union, and the Romanov imperial family.

Hmm, that’s a bit hard to imagine. Anyway, it seems they’re managing well. Seeing Tukhachevsky in the commander position, hmm.

I’d prefer not to make Vladimir suffer on the battlefield, but it can’t be helped.

Vladimir is not my child, but he needs to show the White Army Department and the citizens of the United States that he’s qualified to succeed me, at least in World War II.

“After coming all the way out here, all I do is receive reports.”

“Your Majesty, just your presence here gives strength to everyone.”

Being everyone’s idol, I suppose that’s possible. I tried to comfort myself that way.

Well, unless we’re losing, why would I need to go out directly when we have such an overwhelming advantage?

“But we still have firm control of the airspace, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Then we should be able to provide support even now.

Before our Hitler gets nervous.

After all, he’s been playing the role of meat shield quite well so far, so we should give him some breathing room.

“When we have some leeway, let’s support and attack the Communist German forces attacking the Sudetenland to buy time.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Now let’s give them some breathing room so the Danube Federation can hold out a little longer as our meat shield.

That way, we can capture the reds and push straight in.

* * *

Danube Federation, Sudetenland

Threatened by the Red Plague, the constituent states of the Dual Monarchy finally reunited to become a great dam blocking the red tide.

“Impossible! You’re dead! Disappear, ghost of the Dual Monarchy!”

“I’ve never experienced death.”

The united Danube peoples, transformed into the ultimate combined robot, the Danube Federation, were supposed to block the red tide with overwhelming power.

However.

The Sudetenland found itself in a position where it had to barely hold back the red tide that came flooding in as soon as the war began.

The Danube Federation Defense Force, with morale boosted by Hitler’s impressive tongue-wagging speeches, deployed its main force to the border between the Sudetenland and Germany and worked hard to block the enemy, but…

Boom! Bang! Crash!

“Break through the fortress of the Austrian imperialists!”

“Liberate the workers of Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary!”

“Hail Goebbels!”

Those madmen were truly communist-like, more than expected.

Those Germans and French infected with the Red Plague ran like crazy to destroy the Sudetenland, pounding it relentlessly.

They were truly like cockroaches, no exaggeration.

No, on a larger scale, they were like a cult.

They’re not China or Russia, yet they’re using human wave tactics!

At first, they blocked well with good momentum, but as they gradually took hits and casualties accumulated, the Danube Defense Force felt like they were going mad.

Ratatatatat! Boom!

The explosions and machine gun fire from all directions clearly revealed how intense the ongoing battle was.

“How many of these crazy communist bastards are coming?!”

“No matter how many we kill, there’s no end!”

“Let’s hold them somehow! Hold until the Russian army arrives!”

Although they received weapons support or purchases from Russia, they were outmatched by the attack of the three communist countries, so they brought out old howitzers and various small arms from World War I and fought hard.

The Sudetenland fortress, which Hitler had completed despite some opposition, served as a great dam blocking the red tide, but the situation wasn’t good as the Communist German air force bombarded it.

One by one, bunkers were destroyed by bombs, burying the Danube Defense Forces who were blocking the Communist German and French Commune armies inside. They were also losing in tank battles, and the Sudetenland was gradually being destroyed.

They were barely holding on thanks to reinforcements sent from the Balkan countries.

In this situation, they wondered what Russia, which had declared war recently, was doing.

“When are those Russian bastards coming?!”

“Do we all have to die before they come?”

Just as the Danube Federation forces were falling into despair, strange aircraft appeared from the north.

Though not clearly visible to the army’s eyes, the Danube Federation Air Force, which was blocking the German and French Red Air Forces, could clearly see fighter planes without propellers.

Those fighters instantly attacked the aircraft of the Red Front.

“Look there! New planes have appeared!”

“That’s the Russian Air Force roundel!”

Having received information from the air force that it was the Russian Air Force, the Danube ground forces suddenly noticed massive bombers coming in such numbers that they filled half the sky.

On both wings of those planes was the current United States Air Force roundel, which added an “A” to the Russian Empire era Air Force roundel.

Yes. The Russians had finally sent reinforcements!

Cheers erupted among the Danube Federation Defense Forces.

“Well done! Kill all those communist bastards!”

The Russian Air Force intercepted the Red Front’s fighters with overwhelming aircraft performance and attacked their bombers, while Beliye bombers escorted by small aircraft opened their bomb bays and generously dropped shells on the advancing red tide.

That wasn’t all.

“Supplies are pouring in from the United States of Greater Russia via railway!”

Weapons were supplied to the Danube Defense Force through railways in a Russian version of Lend-Lease, and the weapons used during World War I were put back in the armory.

“We’re saved!”

“We can’t lose to the Russians! Let’s block the red tide!”

With the support of the Russian army, the Danube Defense Force began space defense again against the Red Front’s army.