84 84

"First of all, I will release the captured French soldiers and send them home."

The number of French prisoners captured by the German army was as high as 1.9 million.

Of course, there are quite a few colonials, but the vast majority are young people in their 20s and 30s who will lead France in the future.

For France, which had not yet recovered from the damage of World War I, it is no exaggeration to say that the fate of the country depends on the survival of its prisoners.

The faster the repatriation of prisoners of war, the more manpower will be available to rebuild their country.

"And we will cancel the previously planned establishment of a French military government, and we will not touch any colonies held by France."

"·······!!!"

The expressions of the French negotiating team, including Jokchije, changed.

They had no doubt assumed that I would demand cession of their own colonies as well, but they must have been surprised to hear that I was willing to give them up in exchange for taking over the naval ships.

"Finally, I will not interfere in any way with France's rearmament. How do you feel? "Isn't this a reasonable deal?"

Even allowing rearmament to Hwaryongjeongjeon.

These are very unconventional conditions, considering that the ultimate purpose of the Treaty of Versailles that France forced on Germany was to block German rearmament at the source.

At first glance, it may seem that France has been greatly favored, but the above conditions are a conclusion reached after thorough calculation.

Think about it with common sense.

How much does it cost to feed 1.9 million prisoners?

Procuring bread to feed the prisoners and building barracks for them to live in was not an ordinary task, but additional troops were needed to manage the prisoners.

So, it is more beneficial to release the prisoners and send them home as soon as possible.

The same goes for colonies.

Considering the costs and troops required to maintain a colony, there are more losses than benefits, but for us, who need to end the war as quickly as possible and begin economic reconstruction, owning a colony is almost a luxury.

Considering the compensation that must be paid back to Germany in the case of rearmament, France cannot rearmament even if it wants to in the future.

How can you rearmament when you don't have money to pay off debt? Wouldn't it be okay to just declare rearmament without paying compensation like I did? As soon as the ceasefire agreement is announced, Paris will become a sea of ​​fire, right?

"Answer me right now. "Are we going to give up the navy and protect our homeland and colonies, or are we going to give up everything?"

"······yes?"

"W-what do you mean...?"

"Literally. We can achieve everything without your consent, but for your honor, we have given you the bare minimum of options. "I hope you use good judgment."

The French negotiating team was silent for a while.

The word is a choice, but it was as if they had no choice in the first place.

The only thing allowed is the humble pride of having made a choice rather than being unilaterally informed.

Yokchije's silence was not very long.

Although he contributed to the defeat of the French army by sticking to an outdated strategy, he still had a sense of humor and quickly accepted reality.

"······All right."

After receiving Yokchije's surrender, I got off the carriage.

Göring, Keitel, Brauchitsch, and Raeder remained in the carriage and continued their meetings with the French negotiating team.

As a result of the meeting, the French Navy handed over a total of 60 warships to the German Navy, including 16 destroyers, 7 cruisers, and 3 battleships.

In particular, the biggest gain was the acquisition of three battleships, the Richelieu-class battleship Richelieu, the Dunkirk-class battleships Dunkirk and Strasbourg, and the Joffre-class aircraft carrier Joffre, which are considered the most powerful battleships in the French Navy's possession.

However, since Joffre was still under construction, the acquisition itself was expected to take some time.

Still, France is in charge of the construction, and France has decided to cover all necessary costs, so all we have to do is sit back and wait.

"Admiral Leder, I'm going to tear your mouth shut."

"You can't cry on this happy day, right?"

For Leather, who witnessed the fall of the German Navy with his own eyes, it must have felt like flying because his lifelong wish had come true.

However, it is still too early to be completely reassured. The French Navy, appalled at having to hand over their precious warships to the enemy, might scuttle the ships.

Even in history, the Vichy French Navy scuttled its fleet off the coast of Toulon on November 27, 1942, when Germany broke its previous promise and attempted to rob the ships.

These French bastards scuttled their ships even when they were chained to Germany, and there is no guarantee that they won't do the same here.

So I decided to get insurance.

It was decided to postpone all terms promised to France until the French Navy's ships were delivered to Germany in perfect condition.

I threatened that if the French scuttled all of their ships, I would immediately take this to mean that the French had not given up resistance.

"How about separating Burgundy from France, Mr. President?"

Himmler went one step further and proposed that if France violated the treaty, Burgundy would be separated from France and turned into a puppet state like Slovakia.

"Burgundy was originally the land of the Germanic people and was an economic and cultural center. However, when it was annexed by France, it was reduced to just a wine producing region. "We are taking this opportunity to make Burgundy independent and make it a land where pure Germans live."

"What about all the French people living in Burgundy?"

"Of course, everyone will be expelled."

Yes, somehow it seemed like that.

"If the Fuhrer gives permission, I will definitely make Burgundy the land of the perfect German people. "Just leave it to me!"

In the end, this was the point. You're not satisfied with being the head of the SS, so now you want to be king, is this it?

Keitel and Brauchitsch, who had been paying attention to Himmler's words, also looked as if they had heard Himmler's last words. What can we do about that guy's megalomania?

"Do you really need to do that? I heard you're already busy with SS work. "I guess it's more free than I thought?"

"yes? Uh... that's not it..."

"Even if Burgundy is torn away from France, there is no need to turn it into a puppet country. You could just merge it with Germany like Austria, so why bother doing that? Isn't that right?"

"What your Excellency the President said is correct."

"Am, that's right."

Himmler, who wanted to create his own territory and play himself as king like the knights of the Middle Ages, became a mute.

For someone who already has so much power, would I go crazy and create a country for him? Who knows what kind of crazy things they might do there?

Still, Himmler's proposed separation of Burgundy was a good threat.

When he hinted that Burgundy could be separated and annexed to Germany if necessary, the French were shocked.

I can't think of anything else with this. Because it would be a much better choice to shrink the navy than to divide the country.

***

While the German side was full of dreams and hopes, the mood of the losers, the French, was gloomy.

After signing the armistice, Joczydze telephoned Weigand in Bordeaux.

Unaware that his phone was being intercepted by the Gestapo, he waited for Beigang's voice.

"General, this is Yokchije."

-Speak.

"It's done."

The end of the Yokchi Festival had many meanings.

-It's over?

"Yes, general."

-Right. Thank you for handling it well.

In response to Beigang, Yokchije let out the breath he had been holding.

"Yes, you understand me, right?"

-Well, I understand.

Yokchije brushed away the few strands of hair that remained.

He explained to Weigand the demands Germany had made on France and what France could get in return.

Beigang listened in silence until Yok Chi-je finished speaking.

-······Have you told Darlang yet?

"Vice Admiral LeLuc decided to explain to Admiral Darlan."

The task of informing French Navy Marshal François Darlan of the fate of the French Navy was the responsibility of Darlan's trusted subordinate, Vice Admiral Maurice Leluc.

It was heartbreaking for Jochije, who knew how hard Darlan worked to prevent the decline of the French Navy during the Great Depression.

However, Yokchije did not regret his decision at all.

It's unfortunate, but it's something that can't be helped. If he had to choose between the fate of his country and the pride of his navy, he would unconditionally choose the former a hundred times, a thousand times.

I wanted to believe that everyone would understand and that they would make the same choice as me.

After finishing the phone call, Yokchije went outside and looked up at the sky.

The sky was clear, unsuitable for a day like today. Clear and clear sky.

The sun was very hot today.

***

June 11, 1940

Place de Mars in Paris, France

The next day after signing the armistice with the French negotiators in the Forest of Compiègne, I headed straight to Paris as soon as I opened my eyes.

And as soon as he arrived in Paris, he took the most humiliating photo in French history.

"Come on, let's take a picture! One, two, three!"

A light flashed with a clicking sound.

"Did the picture come out well?"

"Yes, Mr. President. "It came out very well."

When it comes to Hitler's photos, there is probably no one who doesn't know the most famous photo with the Eiffel Tower in the background. On my right was Speer, the Minister of Architecture, and on my left, sculptor Arnaud Brecker, standing side by side and taking a picture with me.

After taking pictures, we headed to the Eiffel Tower.

Immediately after hearing the news that Paris had been occupied, I instructed my troops to closely monitor the Eiffel Tower elevator to ensure it was operating normally.

When I arrived, the Eiffel Tower's elevators were operating normally.

In history, it is said that Hitler, who occupied Paris, tried to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but was unable to do so until his death because the French secretly cut off the electricity.

What Hitler couldn't do, I ended up accomplishing.

"It was a place I wanted to visit someday, and it's a great feeling to be able to achieve it like this."

"That's right."

Goering nodded with a serious face.

It was a very strange feeling to climb the Eiffel Tower, which I had never been able to climb in my previous life, as Hitler. Did Hitler have the same dream as me?

"Wow, this is truly spectacular!"

The view of downtown Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower was literally spectacular.

I've seen pictures of the city of Paris taken from the top of the Eiffel Tower on the Internet, but seeing them in real life was on a different level. I would say it feels much grander.

"It is truly magnificent. "Isn't that right?"

"That's right, Mr. President."

"I don't know why people call Paris the City of Light."

"I can't help but take pictures on this nice day. "Take one more picture."

I ordered the photographer to take pictures. Holding onto the railing and looking down at Paris.

Because it was so high, the wind blew strong.

When the military cap of the photographer who was taking my picture flew away in the wind, everyone except the photographer burst into laughter. I smiled and patted the photographer on the back, who was embarrassed because his military cap flew off.

"You should wear your hat well. Can I use it loosely? "I'll give you a new one later, so let's go down now."

After taking pictures and climbing the Eiffel Tower, the National Defense Forces hung a banner with a huge V-shaped sign and propaganda slogans on the Eiffel Tower.

'Deutschland siegt auf allen fronten (Germany wins on all fronts)'

"Where do you want to go now, Mr. President?"

Hess asked me as I watched the banner installation.

"Go to Les Invalides."

Les Invalides is a military facility located in Paris that consists of a cemetery, a chapel, and a museum for French people who made various military achievements.

In Korea, it can be said to be a combination of the War Memorial of Korea and the National Cemetery, and it was also the place where Hitler, who visited Paris, stayed for the longest time.

The most famous exhibit at Les Invalides is Napoleon's coffin. Napoleon was lying in a coffin large enough to fit fifteen adult men.

Did Napoleon know? That the descendants of the country he defeated would defeat his own country and watch his coffin.

Probably not even in my dreams. Just like I never expected to come here as Hitler.

After finishing my visit to Invalides, I gave instructions to move Napoleon II's coffin from Vienna to Invalides.

In fact, Hitler issued this order because he believed that his son should be buried next to his father, and after Germany's defeat, the French people also had the same idea as Hitler and left Napoleon II's coffin in Les Invalides.

This ended Hitler's schedule in Paris.

Hitler, who finished his visit to Paris in three hours, left Paris immediately, but I decided to stay in Paris a little longer. Since you've already come to Paris, it's okay to enjoy it a little more, right?

Since I was hungry, I decided to eat at 'Le Train Bleu' with my staff.

I saw on TV that this Belle Epoque-style restaurant was built for the 1900 Paris World Exposition, and that it is one of the most luxurious restaurants in Paris even in the 21st century. The TV program at that time was 'Walking into the World', I guess?

The luxurious interior, befitting a high-end restaurant, was impressive.

The restaurant employees clearly looked embarrassed by my sudden visit.

You probably never knew I would stop by here. Cold sweat broke out on the forehead of the waiter taking the order.

"Lord, what would you like to order...?"

"I'll make it with Beef Bourgignon (French Beef Stew). I wanted to try beef bourguignon made by the French. Goering, what will you do?"

"I'll have pâté de foie gras."

Keitel, like me, chose beef bourguignon. Brauchich chose Filet Mignon (beef tenderloin steak), Leather and Ribbentrop chose Cotes d'agneau (lamb rib steak), and Hess chose Ratatouille.

The waiter, who had been diligently taking notes as Schmidt translated the order into French, lowered his head 90 degrees and ran into the kitchen.

As I was excitedly waiting for my food to come out, Ribbentrop, who had left, came back and told me that he had received a call from Berlin.

"Mr. Fuhrer, a telegram has just arrived from Moscow."

"In Moscow?"

"yes."

The cable Ribbentrop handed over contained a message from Stalin to me.

"What does it say?"

"'I sincerely congratulate you on avenging the humiliation of 1918. It says, 'From you and your German friend Joseph Stalin.'"

History also says that Stalin sent a congratulatory telegram when Hitler accepted France's surrender.

I handed the telegram to Göring, and Göring passed it to Keitel, and Keitel handed it to Brauchitsch, and so on. Kaitel said with a big smile after reading the telegram.

"It seems that even Stalin, without his blood and tears, was frightened by the achievements of His Excellency the Fuhrer."

"That's right. A human butcher from Georgia is scared by a mere sergeant. "It's something we will live to see for a long time."

***

While Hitler sipped beef bourguignon in Paris, Stalin in the Moscow Kremlin gulped down icy vodka.

I thought drinking vodka would calm my mood a little.

But instead of calming down, the anxiety and excitement only grew.

Stalin's associates watched in fear as he gulped down vodka.

"I can not believe it. "I can't believe the world of France collapsed so quickly…"

Stalin, whose nose was red from drinking vodka, stopped pouring vodka into his glass and turned his head to glare at his henchmen.

The aides who saw the madness and excitement in the master's eyes broke into a cold sweat and swallowed dry saliva.

"Do you think this makes sense? huh?"

"······."

"Molotov! Please answer once. Comrade, do you think this makes sense?"

Molotov, who was singled out by Stalin, was astonished like a burned child. He was so embarrassed that he bit his tongue, so the words came out like a baby's babble.

"Ah, I don't think so..."

"No? So, what are the German troops in Paris now? "Are you saying it's all an illusion?"

"Well, that is..."

"Damn it! "This cannot happen!"

Unable to control his excitement, Stalin threw the glass half full of vodka against the wall. The glass shattered and shards scattered across the carpet.

France's defeat came as a huge shock to Stalin.

When Stalin heard the news that the German army had crossed the French border and began an attack, he toasted as if he were watching a soccer game.

He was confident that Germany would continue the war with England for a long time, like in World War I, and would exhaust each other's national power.

When both Germany and England exhausted their national power and became exhausted, they planned to advance the Red Army and engulf all of Europe.

But Stalin's predictions were spectacularly wrong.

Germany defeated France in just four weeks, just as it did in Poland, and became the absolute power of Europe.

At the same time, the Soviet Union was faced with the most powerful and dangerous force in history.

"No one can stop Germany now! "Now we are dealing with an incredibly powerful monster!"

Stalin's associates also knew why he was so excited.

They also had a hard time standing upright when they thought about the problems the Soviet Union would face in the future.

And there was another country in Europe that was as shocked and terrified as the Soviet Union.