Ch.248The Surrender of Compiègne

* * *

Yes. At least I’ll be able to take pictures, so I probably did see the mushroom cloud.

Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times, but well. When Churchill enters Paris after it’s diluted enough for the Spetsnaz to enter, he’ll bow his head even more.

Even if the navy falls behind Britain’s. We have overwhelming air power and missiles.

Destroying the pirates’ country with nuclear weapons shouldn’t be too difficult.

After everything is smashed and we occupy it, he’s saying it will return to Roman Britain.

Churchill, trying to maintain his dignity, made an effort to speak.

“Ahem, if you wanted to secure your position as the hegemonic power, wouldn’t it have been better to move into America when it was divided? From Britain’s perspective that would be uncomfortable, but you could have taken America then.”

Yes. That could have been possible.

“Even I will die someday. I worry about what happens after my death. Isn’t Prime Minister Churchill also anxious about Britain’s future after losing its colonies? Someone needs to keep Russia, which has become the hegemonic power, in check. There’s no country in Europe that can grow large enough to defeat today’s Russia, so only America remains.”

Churchill drooled on his finger as he seemed to ponder for a moment. Then he carefully opened his mouth.

“Well, then, may I set one condition?”

As expected of a Brit. Even in this situation, he wants to set conditions.

But I’m feeling generous right now.

In a situation where no one can oppose me anymore, can’t I indulge one whim from this bald man?

“Go ahead.”

“Looking at this treaty organization, there’s a mutual defense clause stating that if any country in the treaty is attacked by an enemy, all countries in the treaty organization must declare war on the enemy country and fight together. Does this still apply?”

Since it’s difficult to refuse in this situation, Churchill seems to have shifted to seeking whatever benefits he can.

What he’s saying means he wants me to fight someone.

Most likely it will be Japan.

Once the European front ends, Britain’s enemy will be Japan, which attacked their colonies.

“Not all countries, but the Rome Treaty Organization itself will declare war.”

That’s essentially the same thing, but it means a united Europe.

Churchill, who had been like a docile lamb at my question, clenched his fist.

“I need to catch those ungrateful Japanese bastards who climbed up without appreciating our kindness.”

Churchill was so angry that veins bulged on his shiny head.

Well, unlike the original history, the Oriental Fleet is still intact, even if it’s second-rate.

Of course, there is some fleet damage from Communist Germany, but the navy should still be strong.

I was planning to stab Japan in the back anyway. So it’s almost like there’s no condition at all.

As things stand, with the Red Front in such a state, they can’t even receive reparations. At most, they’ll only get raw materials from torn-apart France. Naturally, those who need to restore their national power will have to rely on Russia.

Britain has suffered great personnel losses, so they’re looking for military assistance. Since I was planning to go to war anyway, this isn’t bad.

“I’m glad we’re moving quickly. But you’ll have to give up your colonies anyway. Let’s take a bit more time.”

“What do you mean?”

We can beat Japan anytime.

So, let’s take a little more time and catch our breath.

“It seems America is having difficulty securing maritime supremacy against Japan. Wouldn’t it be better to wait a bit longer and then get help with post-war reconstruction as a condition for supporting America?”

America has been seriously defeated, and today’s Japan is acting much more aggressively than in the original history.

Though they don’t seem to dream of entering India.

“Tsar, you are truly someone I cannot dare to measure. Your late predecessor would be greatly pleased.”

To receive praise from Churchill. This is truly an honor.

Ah, wait, that reminds me of something.

If nothing else, this is something I really need to resolve.

“There are a few more things I’d like to add for Prime Minister Churchill.”

“No, what else could there be?”

“It’s very light compared to taking pieces of mainland France.”

“Well, let’s hear it.”

Don’t make such a bothered expression. It’s nothing really. No need to be so tense.

Just smile and accept it easily.

“I haven’t formally included this in the document yet, but under the treaty organization, we’ll push the yard-pound system to the back and unify Europe under the metric system. So let’s put that damn yard-pound system aside.”

“!!!”

Now, now, I’m not finished yet.

“And I happened to overhear Louis Mountbatten, who was dispatched to Belgium, muttering that Prime Minister Churchill ignored information leaked by Manstein, who was planning to feed the Allies the Sickle Cut operation, saying that Communist Germany wouldn’t launch an offensive. You said you’d snort mint chocolate, which I love, if it was true. I’ll invite you to the Kremlin Palace later, so show me.”

Churchill wailed with the face of a man who had lost his country.

I don’t know if it’s because of the yard-pound system or the mint chocolate, but anyway, he’s cornered.

Now, it’s time to accept the Commune’s surrender.

“Well then, let’s go meet Gamelin. We must make them pay the price for joining the Commune. Hitler, our Commonwealth’s Prime Minister, Turkey’s Prime Minister, and Ludendorff will also participate.”

It will truly be an occasion where France suffers humiliation in various ways.

Afterward, the French Commune leadership and People’s Army generals, including Gamelin, will all have to stand trial as war criminals.

“Yes.”

Churchill, crying while trying hard to answer, moved with me.

Well, now let’s see Mr. Gamelin.

He seems to have tried to show off by switching sides somehow, claiming France didn’t lose to Germany and was on the same side. But now he must pay the price.

* * *

The surrender signing ceremony of France, which had become the head of the Red Front in place of Communist Germany that transformed into the German Empire, was held in Compiègne.

“To see the Tsar conquer France like this. I don’t know how to express it.”

Georgy Lvov, whom I met after a long time, was so surprised that his brain seemed to stop working.

In this era, emperors don’t personally take action, and I’ll be the only one to finish the war. That’s natural.

“Anyway, isn’t winning what matters? I’ll just observe, so Prime Minister, please finalize France’s surrender.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Anyway, since the Kaiser has reclaimed his homeland in Germany, Wilhelm List, who led Army Group A, will be sent to the German Empire and then referred to a war crimes tribunal.

Practically, we’re only accepting Gamelin’s surrender, so the surrender procedure will end modestly.

Gamelin will sign the surrender document as the representative.

Gamelin read through France’s fate written in the surrender document delivered to him in the presence of representatives from each country, then jumped up from his seat.

“Brittany and Normandy ceded to Britain, Alsace-Lorraine ‘returned’ as Germany’s rightful territory. Corsica ceded to Spain, Burgundy Republic, Belgium gets Calais! This is too harsh. You’re tearing France apart!”

Gamelin was furious at the surrender document signing.

And for good reason—Brittany and Normandy to Britain, Calais to Belgium, Corsica ceded to Spain, Alsace-Lorraine confirmed as German border, and a Burgundy Republic established where the Duchy of Burgundy once stood.

The remaining territory will remain French land, establishing the French Republic in Vichy with Pétain as Prime Minister. The army will only defend the French territory confirmed in this agreement, with only a self-defense force. Weapons production and development will also be restricted. They naturally cannot own a fleet, and what they have will be transferred to Russia.

All factories will be dismantled and transferred to Germany and the Danube.

That’s not all. All colonies must be granted independence.

Of course, colonial independence is inevitable given the nature of communism, and it was decided that Pétain’s French Republic government would inherit this issue and grant independence.

Naturally, Gamelin and the People’s Army commanders, who had hoped to simply switch sides and reap benefits, were devastated.

Well, I expected such resistance.

Then I should say something too.

“You should have been prepared for this when you became a Commune. Let’s think about it. If the Red Front had won, wouldn’t the Anti-Comintern Pact countries have been torn apart the same way? This much was achieved only because General Pétain pleaded desperately. You must have seen how Italy was torn to pieces, with African colonies handed over to Ethiopia and the mainland shredded. Shouldn’t you be grateful just to preserve your country?”

Thus, France was established with Vichy as its capital, just like in the original history.

It was thanks to Pétain, who approved the nuclear strike himself to somehow maintain the French mainland.

That Pétain is now almost on the verge of death.

Anyway, although Vichy is the temporary capital, there’s nowhere else right now.

“This is completely destroying our France. If that’s the case, rather—”

Rather what? Is he perhaps saying he would fight?

“If that’s the case, it seems France will disappear from the map.”

I intervened, openly threatening to drop another nuclear bomb.

“!!”

Recalling the destructive power of nuclear weapons, Gamelin collapsed into his seat.

The leadership has all been captured, and yet he’s talking too much while signing the surrender as the French Commune representative.

“It seems you still don’t understand the situation. Even if Germany’s revolution was unavoidable, France is a country that betrayed during the war. All of Europe has strong antipathy toward the French. It means we must eliminate your war-making capability for everyone to feel secure enough to let your country continue. Don’t you understand yet?”

“So you’re saying we have to just take any invasion without fighting back?”

That’s why I included the Rome Treaty Organization below.

My new European Union.

That is the Rome Treaty Organization with headquarters in Papal Rome.

“You should see the Rome Treaty Organization below the surrender document? Post-war France and the Burgundy Republic will both join this Rome Treaty Organization, so you don’t need to worry about war anymore. Gaul, which was once a province of Rome, can escape war under the new Roman order. And General Gamelin will be referred to a war crimes tribunal, so you should think about your own life first.”

Gamelin couldn’t argue further.

Even Pétain, still shocked by Paris being engulfed in nuclear devastation, is just here as a figurehead, with de Gaulle trying hard to support him.

Also, reparations will be settled with raw materials. Considering the interests of the French Republic government that will receive the mainland back, each country will take what they want as reparations.

It’s essentially a gangster-like clause, but they won’t be able to refuse.

Anyway, Gamelin, who must face a war crimes trial, seemed to have given up and had nothing to do but silently sign the surrender document.

Britain’s Churchill, the Danube’s Hitler, the Russian Commonwealth’s Georgy Lvov, Turkey’s İnönü, and representatives from other countries completed the procedure of reconfirming the surrender document.

“With this, the European front is completely finished. Hereafter, we will launch the Rome Treaty Organization to create a European union and achieve eternal peace in Europe to lead the world.”

No one opposed my declaration.

They all know how overwhelmingly powerful Russia is in this war and have seen the power of an almighty god.

What’s the point of opposing when even national power is no match?

The European countries had to acknowledge Russia’s hegemony.

Although the war with the Red Front has ended, there are still some tasks remaining.

War crimes trials. The chief judges from countries with grudges against the Reds—British, Danubian, Polish, German Empire, and others—will preside over these trials.

From my perspective, this war was relatively easy, so I planned to hand that role to the allied countries and watch from behind.

Now, let’s enter Paris.

Enough time has passed, and we’ve waited even longer just in case. Paris’s radiation levels should have improved significantly by now.

We sent in the Spetsnaz after it had already diluted.

So, a few weeks after completing the surrender signing ceremony at Compiègne, we headed to Paris to see how it had changed.

“My God, to think that Paris has changed like this.”

The British forces, who knew Paris better than anyone from the early stages of the war when they were allied with France, couldn’t hide their shock at the city that had transformed into a desolate, gray city crumbling from lack of maintenance, as if after human extinction.

Churchill in particular blinked his eyes as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

“What happened to the nuclear victims?”

We couldn’t see any French people like the Italians who had anxiously watched what the occupation forces might do in Rome while looking with curious eyes at foreign soldiers they were seeing for the first time.

It must be because of the nuclear bomb. But there should be survivors.

“The survivors were sent outside Paris for ‘treatment.’ We couldn’t show Your Majesty the monstrous appearance of hardcore communists on your entry path.”

I nodded with satisfaction at Ungern’s words.

If civilian casualties have already increased, we need to do some manipulation.

Although Pétain authorized it and a French pilot dropped it, there’s a risk of reevaluation in the future, so it’s better to brand Paris as a den of hardcore communists.

We urged surrender until the end, but there was no way to purify those hardcore communists who had no intention of changing their ways except with this weapon.

Here, the Free French government also requested nuclear weapons from Russia for the complete extermination of communists.

The Saint, who tried to prevent senseless killing until the end, reluctantly gave nuclear weapons to Free France at the government’s insistence.

This should be sufficient.

Even so, it’s not so bad that the city can’t be rebuilt.

Anyway, there was one reason we came to Paris.

Although Paris is in this state, it will be rebuilt and become the place where the military government will be established to maintain and monitor the system of divided France in the future.

On the surface, the reason is to protect France, which only has a self-defense force, but anyway. Shouldn’t we discipline them to prevent unnecessary actions?

And the Eiffel Tower was still standing.

Somehow it managed to withstand, but what was already an eyesore has now become truly monstrous after being bent.

When the city was intact, it looked somewhat impressive, but since it was originally just a steel structure, its bent appearance in the ruined city was really spoiling the view.

And the Louvre Museum wasn’t in great shape either. Looking at it from a distance was quite uncomfortable.

“That nuclear weapon is truly incredible.”

Hitler, who was looking around Paris after the nuclear aftermath, didn’t hold back his admiration.

Yes. That’s what I’m saying. If you mess with Russia now, you’ll be hit by that nuclear weapon.

Of course, I hope there won’t be any need to use it again.