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Episode 293: The End of the Apocalypse (6)

February 9, 1944

New Fuhrer's Residence in Berlin, Germany

Although Togo accepted without hesitation the instructions to go to Germany and persuade Hitler, he felt deep doubts about his mission.

The empire has already lost the war.

The navy that the empire was proud of has become a wreck, and the army is also having a hard time against the Chinese army, which it had previously considered inferior.

The headquarters of the headquarters shouted loudly that the elite Kwantung Army stationed in Manchuria remained, but it was as if the elite Kwantung Army did not exist.

All of the original elite units were destroyed after being sent to the fierce battlefields of Southeast Asia, and what now makes up the Kwantung Army are poorly armed and poorly trained idiots.

Allied forces would land on the mainland by the beginning of summer at the latest.

As a countermeasure against this, the only thing that the main headquarters came up with was to give bamboo spears to students, the elderly, and women and drive them to the front lines.

Let's send out civilians who barely have bamboo spears against the US military, which is armed with tremendous firepower such as bombers, cannons, and tanks!

The U.S. military will annihilate them without any harm.

From a realistic perspective, Dogo thought that even now, if the empire was to survive, it had to admit defeat and raise the white flag.

You will lose all your colonies and be punished for starting the war, but you will at least avoid the countless lives that will lead the future of the empire being lost.

However, the superiors were still unable to come to their senses and came up with the absurd illusion of persuading Germany to negotiate with the Allies.

They say that if Germany, the only power comparable to the United States, mediates, the United States will have no choice but to agree to negotiations.

The sun is already high in the sky and I'm still lost in a dream. All of this was the same for Dogo.

The Prime Minister, who spews out meaningless nonsense like the 100 million prison sentence, and the cabinet members who always criticize Germany and claim that Germany is Japan's only hope.

"It's been a long time since I saw you, Mr. President."

Still, Fuhrer Hitler was happy to see Togo, whom he knew, greet him. At least in places where there are a lot of eyes watching.

As soon as the secret meeting began behind closed doors, Hitler asked him directly:

"line… … Why did the Minister come all the way back to Germany? "It's probably not because of tourism."

"I hope Germany will arrange negotiations between Japan and the Allies."

Dogo spoke frankly about his purpose for coming to Germany.

Hitler listened to Dogo without saying a word. He didn't seem to show anything, but it was clear that he was a little surprised to hear Dogo's words.

Dogo did not miss the way Hitler's eyes widened.

As expected, it was clear that he had no idea that Japan would make such a proposal.

"… … "Are you serious?"

"You couldn't have come this far just to make a joke."

"I see. But that can't be possible, right? Just in case, Germany was at war with the United States. "Now we have resumed trade, but we are not that close. Will they listen to what we say?"

Hitler's point was so reasonable that even Togo could not refute it.

But since he was here, Togo put aside his personal sentiments and focused on his duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"If Germany is a national power, wouldn't the United States dare to ignore it?"

"I guess so… … You still don't know America very well. Americans have been blind since Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. "I don't know about anything else, but when it comes to the war against Japan, even if God spoke to me, I wouldn't listen."

Hitler explained to Dogo how angry the Americans were over the attack on Pearl Harbor and told him that Dogo's request was impossible.

Dogo also realized long ago what Hitler wanted to say to him. Actually, he thought that too.

Nevertheless, he did not give up his mission until the end.

"The United States is Germany's real enemy. If Japan falls, the United States will completely dominate Asia and the Pacific. If that happens, won't it be burdensome for Germany to deal with the United States? However, if Japan is present, the burden on Germany will be lessened."

Then Hitler stared at Dogo with an unprecedented cold expression. The look on his face as if he were saying that right now.

Under that cold gaze, Dogo closed his mouth without realizing it. what? There were no words anywhere that could offend Hitler's Führer.

"Is that the Minister's idea, or the Japanese government's?"

In response to Hitler's question, Dogo quickly gathered his thoughts. Judging by that expression and that tone of voice, I had a feeling that if it was his idea, it wouldn't work.

"This is the will of the Japanese government."

"As expected. "There is no way the minister would think like that."

Dogo, who saw Hitler's expression soften slightly, learned a lesson.

Words like what I just said should never be said again. At the very least, it should not have been done in front of the President.

"Well, since we've already talked about it, let me ask you something. "If, that is, if Germany were to mediate between the United States as requested by the Japanese government, how much could Japan concede to Germany?"

came out

Faced with the question he most wanted to avoid, Dogo swallowed his saliva. The basic policy of the Great Britain was to absolutely not cede Manchuria, Joseon, and Taiwan.

'Say something that makes sense. Is this really possible?'

'Uh-huh! Manchuria and Joseon are the lifeline of the empire! Should I simply give up on such a place?'

'Direct territorial cession is impossible, but if we were to hand over various interests instead, Germany would certainly be offended. 'Try to persuade me well.'

'no no… … .'

He answered the police like a criminal confessing his crime.

"Japan will transfer its various interests in Manchuria to Germany and allow Germany to freely use ports in Joseon, Taiwan, and mainland Japan."

"stop."

Hitler threw up his hand. A face that says I don't need to hear any more.

"I understand for now. "Let me think about it."

***

Wow.

Japan is Japan, after all, Japan is still talking nonsense like that even though defeat is just around the corner.

How has nothing changed?

Still, at the same time, I am glad. If those guys had been a little more flexible or had an eye for the world, the Pacific War would not have occurred and our country's fate would have fallen even further into the labyrinth.

In a way, thanks to that lack of solution and ignorance, liberation was brought forward by several decades.

"What do you plan to do, Mr. President?"

Göring asked while drinking an aperitif.

"Of course it's dismissed."

"I thought so."

"So, don't you think Japan's proposal is absurd?"

"Well, I thought it was because the President was particularly hostile to Japan?"

"… … "Let's eat something."

To put it another way, Japan's proposal sounds somewhat attractive to German superiors.

It's hard not to be tempted by the fact that just by arranging negotiations, you can get huge profits in Manchuria for free and you can freely use the ports in the Far East.

In fact, responses poured in saying that accepting Japan's proposal would be a more profitable choice than the declaration of war against Japan that Dairi had brought up.

Of course, as far as I'm concerned, it's not even worth a half a penny estimate.

"Didn't I tell you this many times? The United States would not like us participating in the war, nor would it be appropriate for us to come in between Japan and mediate peace. And I don't think we know yet what kind of anger Americans feel toward Japan, but if Germany, instead of Japan, had done the same thing, the United States would definitely have tried to destroy us, even if it meant putting all its power into it."

"But don't we have nuclear bombs that the Yankees don't have?"

Goering's rebuttal.

Yes, to be honest, that statement is not wrong.

As Germany is the only country in the world to possess nuclear weapons, as Goering said, if Washington or New York were to be blown up with nuclear weapons, America's will to fight would certainly be broken.

"But what next?"

"yes?"

"I asked what to do next."

"Uh, that's right… … ."

"Nuclear weapons can extinguish an immediate fire, but they cannot be a long-term solution. Let's say you ended the war using nuclear power. But can we dominate America across the Atlantic? Do you think Americans, burning with hatred for Germany, which blew up their cities with nuclear weapons in a surprise attack without a declaration of war, will meekly submit to our rule?

I guarantee you that for the entire time we rule the United States, we will have to keep half of our defense forces stationed in the United States alone. "Because all Americans will become guerrillas and resist our rule."

Although it is later than the original history, the United States would have begun nuclear development by now.

In actual history, a significant number of scientists who would have participated in the Manhattan Project remain in Germany and Europe, so the development itself may be delayed, but it is certain that the United States will have nuclear weapons someday.

In fact, if there was a nuclear attack from Germany, the country would focus even more intensely on nuclear development, and as soon as nuclear weapons were completed, it would mobilize all of its national power to mass-produce nuclear weapons.

And if dozens or hundreds of nuclear weapons created in that way are poured into Germany and Europe... … .

Germany is destroyed. Of course, by then, we will also have multiple nuclear weapons and will use them against the United States, and that will be the end of humanity.

I was thirsty, probably because I talked too much. As I drank the cold water, my cracked throat healed a little.

"That was a long story. Anyway, that's what I want to say. The United States has no intention of signing a peace treaty with Japan, no matter what we say. "They won't be happy if we get involved in the war either."

But after a few months,

I found out that my expectations were wrong.

***

"Japan has begun contact with Germany."

It did not take long for the United States to learn that Japan had begun contacting Germany.

"Why are you contacting Germany?"

"perhaps… … ."

"Couldn't we be asking Germany to come after us?"

"That doesn't make sense. If that were the case, we would have formed an alliance and fought long ago when former President Roosevelt declared war on Germany."

The Japan-Germany alliance is not feasible. If there had been any intention of forming an alliance, it would have been done much earlier.

So for what?

"Perhaps we are asking to be allowed to import advanced German weapons?"

"Germany is close to China?"

"But it's not entirely unlikely."

"Before the war, Germany brought in Japanese naval experts to design the Bismarck battleship. The Type 3 tank currently used by the Japanese military was also created based on blueprints provided by Germany."

"Persuasive… … ."

"there is!"

At first, we thought we were contacting them to request that we be able to import Germany's excellent war weapons.

but,

"I figured it out!"

"What did you find out?"

"That's why jockstraps cling to krauts."

America's expectations were spectacularly wrong.

"To ask you to mediate peace negotiations?"

"Huh, me."

"That's an idea worthy of a group of idiots. "It's barely mediation."

The leadership in Washington was dumbfounded by the fact that the reason Japan was talking with Germany in complete secrecy was not for anything else, but to ask them to mediate peace negotiations.

And with one voice and one voice, they laughed at Japan's delusion.

As Hitler expected, the United States was not considering strengthening with Japan at all. Even if they hand over all their colonies to the United States.

Remember Pearl Harbor! Remember Pearl Harbor!

The United States, which could not forget its grudge against Pearl Harbor, would rather have died and had no intention of forgiving Japan.

However, there was something that even Hitler did not expect.

"If we completely blockade Japan, how long do you think it will take for Japan to surrender?"

"It is assumed that they will surrender in the summer of 1945."

"No, then doesn't that mean this war will have to last at least another year?"

To Americans who expected the war to end within this year, saying that the war would end only next summer must have sounded too harsh.

Of course, it was an inevitable choice to reduce the damage to the U.S. military as massive casualties were expected if Operation Downfall was implemented, but the people would be tired of the war dragging on and not ending quickly.

That wasn't the only factor of anxiety.

"We must also keep in mind the possibility that the Japanese leadership, including the Emperor, will leave Japan and move to Manchuria or the Korean Peninsula."

"Even if we blockade all of Japan and spray herbicides and poison gas to ruin the crops, it would be a complete disaster if the enemy leadership fled to the inland, where food is more abundant than on the mainland.

"Whether the people starve to death or not, they will continue to call for resistance as long as they do not starve."

"Wouldn't it be okay to have the Chinese army attack Manchuria?"

"It is true that the Chinese military has made great progress compared to the past, but it still has many shortcomings to place it on the same level as the Japanese military. And there are 750,000 Japanese soldiers stationed in Manchuria alone."

The number of 750,000 was simply a number that did not know the actual level of the Kwantung Army, but it was still an enormous force that could not be ignored.

In particular, the 750,000-strong Kwantung Army stationed in Manchuria was not something to be taken lightly by the U.S. military, which had faced strong resistance from the Japanese army in places such as Saipan, Guam, and Iwo Jima.

And the National Revolutionary Army suffered heavy damage due to the Japanese army's struggles and surprise attacks aimed at taking advantage of the gap, and halted its advance for a while.

In the meantime, it is a bonus that the Japanese army withdrew to an area that was easier to defend than now and deployed more troops and materials to the defense line.

It was 1945 at best, and when it was calculated that the war might continue until 1946 if Japan really resisted by sending every last man to the battlefield, Wallace became frustrated.

Since we pushed all the way to Iwo Jima, I thought we were in the final stages, but that's not true.

"Damn you bastards. Why aren't you surrendering? Do they think we are just like them? "Do you know that even if you surrender, they will cut you into pieces with a sword and burn you to the ground with a flamethrower?"

"How about this?"

"Is there any good way?"

"The goal is to trick Hitler into declaring war on Japan."