Ch.228Atatürk’s Dream

Burgundy is indeed something to decide after seeing the post-war situation.

“Are you considering giving up Burgundy?”

“Wouldn’t Germany becoming too large be inconvenient?”

Of course, as mentioned earlier, they would be bound in the same economic zone, but later Germany might challenge Russian hegemony.

Yet elevating Free France to victor status doesn’t seem right either.

At best, Free France’s current situation involves skirmishes with locals in Algeria. It doesn’t seem appropriate for them to quickly secure territory after the war.

From the beginning, I don’t think South Germany will cross over to the Danube.

But if Hitler specifically wants that share, I’ll have to give it to him.

“What if we make Burgundy independent instead?”

Even the Kaiser won’t be able to object to this later.

What the Kaiser wants is for France to be weakened.

If Burgundy remains independent or doesn’t follow the central government, that possibility might be even greater now.

“Burgundy, you say?”

“Yes. Formally creating a buffer zone is what I mean.”

In any case, neither Laroque nor the French government-in-exile has the capacity to recover the mainland on their own.

Isn’t taking a piece of Burgundy in exchange for giving them the mainland enough?

“It would be good to look into Burgundy’s situation as well. Of course, this is just one variable. If conditions allow for Burgundy’s independence, we’ll proceed that way.”

We don’t know how the war situation will unfold.

This isn’t something we can resolve entirely from our position.

But you know what? I like creating new paradigms.

If possible, I’d like to shape Wilhelm II’s proposal according to my wishes, my desires.

“If Laroque or the Algerian government-in-exile resists under such circumstances.”

Yes. If they resist under those circumstances.

That wouldn’t be something to simply overlook.

“Laroque has served his purpose and should be dealt with, and we’ll have to see about the government-in-exile.”

We’ve been supporting Laroque both openly and secretly all this time.

It’s been difficult since France became a Commune, but we can’t ignore the Okhrana’s infiltration capabilities.

The Commune can’t stop what happens under the surface.

The exiled government’s navy has been helping a little too.

I can’t become a benevolent character like a novel protagonist.

I’ll unify Europe under our sphere of influence, but I must eliminate those impure elements that might challenge Russian hegemony.

If I can freely redraw the map, I should use that power.

While thinking, I suddenly look up at the sky.

In the deep blue sky, our air force’s planes were turning the blue sky black.

On the ground, numerous tanks and infantry were advancing in orderly formation into Communist Germany’s mainland.

If it were the enemy army, I wouldn’t think twice. But our own troops, Russia’s army at that—it evoked rather mixed feelings.

Seeing this, won’t the enemies start redirecting their forces too?

I turned my eyes to Drozdovsky, who continued to assist me at my side.

“The pressure on the Sudetenland should ease up soon, right?”

Once we break through into the mainland. That’s inevitable, isn’t it?

If they abandon Berlin and insist on consuming the Danube Federation to the end.

No, that wouldn’t make sense. What fool would attack another country when their own home is about to be taken?

“Once we enter German territory, won’t they have to do so to protect their Berlin?”

The pressure will likely ease.

The German Kaiser is begging me, and the pressure on the Sudetenland has failed with the White Army’s appearance.

Now Russia holds the initiative in this war.

Britain, holed up on their island, won’t sweep through Europe unless Churchill suddenly awakens and leads all the Commonwealth’s young men while jiggling his belly fat.

This is what you call achieving something without lifting a finger.

“Any news from Yugoslavia?”

“They’re already moving troops from the northern front to the east.”

“Hmm. That’s good news.”

“More interestingly, some news just arrived.”

“What is it?”

At my question, he tilted his head as if hesitant to share, then forced himself to speak.

“Benito Mussolini’s Red Army has been defeated by Greek forces.”

What? Benito Mussolini’s army? Where on earth did this happen?

And suddenly, where did Greece come from?

“Where did Greece suddenly come from?”

“Benito Mussolini attacked Greece to help Yugoslavia.”

In original history, Japan also made the crazy decision to open a new front to resolve difficult war situations.

But where did this crazy idea of attacking Greece come from?

Did they even mobilize their navy for a landing operation only to fail?

“What an extraordinary man. Continuously opening new fronts.”

“He attempted a surprise landing and also attacked from Albania, but Greek forces repelled Mussolini’s attack.”

What makes the Italian army so consistently weak?

Or is it just a series of lucky breaks for their opponents?

Or perhaps they were more worn down in Ethiopia than expected?

“Will he withdraw from Greece too?”

“If he suffers any more losses, Mussolini’s position might be in danger. He’ll probably stubbornly try to break through Greece.”

He should. Otherwise, Mussolini would be finished.

From our perspective, Italy needs to hold out until the end if we want to see the impressive scene of Haile Selassie accepting Mussolini’s surrender in Rome.

But after struggling so hard to consume Greece, will they have any strength left?

Turkey certainly wants to devour Greece fiercely, as I understand it.

In the original history, Greece held out longer with Italian support. In this history, the Turkish War of Independence truly turned Anatolia into a sea of blood.

Naturally, Turkey must harbor great resentment toward Greece.

If they want to legitimately consume Greece through this war, they’ll directly clash with Italy, who will have eaten Greece.

Hmm. This could be interesting.

“Hmm. I can see a new future unfolding.”

I’m even feeling expectant about Italy now.

I’m curious which country will stop them next.

It might be time to move Spain, which could be considered a dagger.

“What future do you see?”

“Italy will likely be stopped next by Turkish forces. Or perhaps Bulgarian forces.”

Of course, Turkey is no ordinary opponent right now.

Still, they’ve been stopped by Ethiopia, France, the Danube Federation, and now Greece.

That’s four crowns so far—one more and they’ll achieve five.

If they sincerely achieve five crowns, I might spare Mussolini out of pity, on the condition of regime change.

“Haha! Now they’ve been stopped by Greece, so that seems likely.”

At this point, what happened during the Great War must truly have been coincidence.

Honestly, if he just didn’t start wars, Mussolini would be a decent leader for Italy. What was that Spazio Vitale all about? Tsk tsk.

“Well, Italy just did what Italy does.”

It can be defined simply. Italy did Italy things.

There’s no better way to express it.

Now I don’t think we need to consider Italy particularly important anymore.

Certainly, when France was overturned, Italy opening a front in the south was helpful.

But now, Italy can simply be ignored.

What we need to do remains simple.

We just need to march into German territory and take Berlin.

I haven’t seen it directly because I’ve been at war, but I heard the Perun Project experiments have concluded. If taking Berlin proves difficult, we can just drop a nuclear bomb.

This means we’ve already gained everything we need. Even if casualties increase, we have an absolute weapon that guarantees our victory.

But the war situation isn’t unfavorable, and we can manage with our wave of steel.

We’re pushing forward mindlessly, but due to the difference in weapon quality, only the French are turning into ketchup.

Well then, time to continue advancing.

“Well then, let’s continue the march.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

First, let’s crush Communist Germany. We need to strike them now, riding this momentum, before they can regroup.

After that, we’ll decide how to divide the map.

* * *

Ankara, Turkey

Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was closely monitoring this war moment by moment.

After all, depending on how this war unfolded, Turkey would either secure as much Ottoman-era territory as possible or perish.

Looking at Russia’s Empress, it didn’t seem like an easy defeat, but one never knows.

The fortunate thing was that currently, Britain and France couldn’t dare to meddle in Turkey’s affairs and could only watch.

Those island-dwellers and the remnant forces in Algeria claiming to be the “official government” of France while the French Commune actually held that position were no match for Turkey now.

Although Turkey considered the French Commune an enemy, they recognized it as the official French government.

That would make it easier to take pieces later.

“Excellency. Our forces are attacking eastern Yugoslavia alongside Bulgarian forces. It appears the enemy has already withdrawn troops that were attacking the Danube Federation.”

Kemal nodded with satisfaction at İnönü’s report.

Of course, Serbia, which triggered the Great War, was pathetic in terms of national power.

They had nothing yet acted so arrogantly.

He felt he understood the Russian Empress’s mindset.

But in this war, Turkey had a country it absolutely needed to beat.

“That’s fortunate. Then, is Greece next?”

Kemal turned his head to look directly at İnönü.

Yes. Greece. Greece.

Those opportunists who rode on the backs of Britain and France trying to realize their Megali Idea or whatever.

It would have been disastrous if Russia, claiming to be Rome’s successor, had taken Greece’s hand as they dreamed of the Megali Idea. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

After all, how could Russia, the “spiritual successor” of Rome, stand by and watch as the Greeks, who made up the actual population of the Eastern Roman Empire, tried to recover Anatolia?

He had been planning to defeat Greece after this war and at least make them shrink, when extremely good news arrived.

“Yes. Mussolini of Italy attacked Greece but was repelled.”

Italy attacked Greece and was repelled.

“Is Italy actually extremely weak?”

Though he didn’t say it aloud, Turkish forces had engaged with Italian forces while sending Russian supplies to Ethiopian forces in North Africa.

They repelled them then, but it was a small-scale engagement so it seemed plausible, but he hadn’t expected this.

If they failed against Ethiopia, France, Austria, and now Greece as well.

“It certainly seems that way.”

“What about the British forces in Africa?”

“They’ve already packed up and left, as I understand it. Most of Egypt has fallen, and now only Ethiopian forces that have hurriedly arrived are facing Italian forces.”

In fact, Italy hadn’t been completely unsuccessful.

They attacked British Africa under the pretext of liberation and pushed all the way to Egypt.

Of course, it wasn’t such an impressive military achievement since they entered bloodlessly after Britain withdrew to defend their homeland.

In reality, Italy’s North African army had been stopped while attacking the French government-in-exile in Algeria, and they were currently in a standoff there.

But Kemal saw something else. Yes. The mighty Britain had withdrawn completely.

Had they abandoned even the Suez Canal for homeland defense?

Or perhaps they trusted themselves or Ethiopia, but at this moment, Kemal felt a slight ambition.

“What if we took Italian North Africa? We could reach it by land. Couldn’t we reach Egypt now?”

Restoration of Ottoman territory. Perhaps it might be possible.

“Excellency. What about Britain?”

“Britain has been too greedy while sitting on that island. Now it’s time to break down that era. Those pirate bastards can’t defeat Russia. Now they can’t even stop us.”

Those pirate bastards should have just protected their home. How much have they messed up the world by crawling out?

“Indeed. That’s true.”

Of course, Russia might put the brakes on if Turkey grows too large, but perhaps sharing some stakes in the Suez Canal would suffice.

It’s not particularly greedy.

He intends to grant independence to Egypt as it appears and implement Palestinian autonomy as Britain attempted.

He plans to show a different face than those filthy pirates.

“Italy has suffered losses so far, but they’ll try their hardest to defeat Greece, partly due to geographical reasons. So, let’s march to Egypt.”

“Yes, sir.”

İnönü bowed his head and left the office.

Kemal watched İnönü’s retreating figure and smiled with satisfaction.

Who would have thought he’d live to see the day those damned British and French crumble.

Perhaps that’s what it means to be a saint. If you go against a saint, you’ll face consequences.

At the very least, Turkey shouldn’t be too greedy.

“Speaking of which, a naval battle will soon take place.”

Recently, a request for reinforcement came from the Black Sea Fleet, and Turkey sent its fleet.

He never thought the day would come when they’d ally with their former rival fleet, but having them as allies was quite reassuring.

If there was a concern, it was that the power difference was greater than expected.

Russia seemed to be sending various things to Constantinople or the Pontus region, but what those were remained unknown.

For now, all they could do was watch.