Chapter 400123Chapter NaN

July 20th, 1940

Berlin, Northern Germany

The Fourth Reich was preparing an additional mobilization of 500,000 men for the upcoming war with France, and furthermore, the Soviet Union.

Previously, we had only mobilized a military force of two million, leaving behind as much of the core workforce essential to society, such as skilled laborers, as possible.

But an additional mobilization would require conscripting a significant number of them.

We had already encouraged the placement of women and the middle-aged into empty factory positions to give them time to get used to the labor and learn skills from the experts, but it’s not like they could become skilled workers in less than a year.

A certain degree of damage to our industrial capability would be inevitable.

So, to mitigate that even a little, we decided to recruit a large number of female support personnel.

Nazi Germany, in its pathetic attempt to uphold its damn patriarchal authority, didn't introduce female support personnel until the mid-war period, but we have to use every method available to us.

“Alright, could you look this way? Your head just a little to the left.”

“Like this?”

“Excellent! You certainly know how to have your photograph taken!”

As the photographer pressed the shutter and the camera wentclick, Claudia, dressed in the newly created women’s military uniform, smiled naturally.

As expected, her natural beauty made for a perfect picture. At 168cm, tall for a woman of this era, her long, elegant limbs suited the uniform perfectly.

Hmm, her style is very—

“Vice-Chancellor. You’re making a foolish facial expression.”

“Ugh.”

Thanks to the know-how from her days as a reporter, Claudia had the composure to glance at me even while naturally striking poses at the photographer’s request.

To recruit women for the military, the PR had to be appealing to them, so we made the women's uniform stylish. Combined with the one wearing it, it was hard to look away…

“How is it?”

“Very sharp.”

Claudia giggled at my reaction and continued to have her picture taken, changing poses as the photographer requested.

As a young beauty and the wife of a high-ranking official of the Fourth Reich who had contributed since the new government’s formation, she had been unanimously selected by the Propaganda Department as the PR model for female recruitment.

Well, it was a little surprising that she, already swamped with her work as my aide, had so readily accepted the Propaganda Department’s request.

“So, Aide.

As a fellow socialist, what do you think about the Trotsky matter?”

“Umm— could you not lump me in as a ‘fellow socialist,’ Vice-Chancellor?”

“Ah, sorry about that.”

True, she wasn't the type of person to sympathize with an ideology as radical and extreme as Trotsky's, which was in some ways even more so than Stalin's.

“I don't really want to think about it too deeply. One crazy communist leader is enough of a headache.”

“Hmm, I suppose so, right?”

Although Trotsky denounces the Soviet Union as a degenerate workers' state, he’s far too reckless of a figure to get friendly with under the logic of 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.'

In the first place, the theory of permanent revolution he advocates essentially boils down to overthrowing every country through communist revolution to make communism a success.

“Besides, the communists in Germany already took a serious blow because of the Nazis, right? And even then, Director Canaris, second to none in his anti-communism, is keeping a constant watch on them—”

Claudia finished her sentence there, shrugged, and added.

“And thanks to you dragging us Social Democrats into this, we, who know their methods well, are taking the lead in rooting out and monitoring the communists.

There will be almost no one in Germany who sympathizes with that crazy old man.”

“That's a relief, I guess.”

As much as I value freedom, I have no intention of standing by and watching the growth of a faction aiming to overthrow the system, like in the Weimar days.

In any case, the Trotskyists within the Soviet Union have been wiped out, and the communists in Germany have been all but annihilated.

Trotsky surviving the assassination attempt from the original history probably won’t be a huge variable, right? Even the surviving Trotsky seemed to have just given one interview in Mexico and then vanished without a trace after the Soviet Union ignored him completely.

Even if that weren't the case, there’s no suitable countermeasure for now.

While I was lost in thought, Claudia, having finished the photoshoot, approached me and smiled brightly.

“Vice-Chancellor?”

“Hm?”

“I’m going to enlist as support personnel, too.”

“Huh?”

What is she talking about! As I stood there, flustered, she gave a soft smile.

“Surely you weren't hoping to use me as a mannequin to advertise enlistment to women, only to have the public curse me for feigning ignorance after the fact, were you?”

“N-No…”

No wonder she so readily agreed amidst her already busy schedule.

So this was her plan.

“I don't want either myself or you to be caught up in such gossip.

I’ll arrange for someone else to take over my role as your aide, so please, allow me.”

“No, this is a different matter.

Leaving aside the fact that you’re the best aide I could ask for, I can’t guarantee your safety, even as rear area support personnel.”

“Yes, and we are the ones advertising to send German women to those very positions.”

Claudia, in her women's military uniform, came right up to my nose and looked up at me with those blue eyes.

“Of course, there’s the meaning of leading by example, but I think this will become a great political asset for you and… no.

For me. You know, right? That I’m greedy.”

I felt a headache coming on and pressed my hand to my forehead. Damn it, I hate that I was the damn one who came up with the idea of introducing female soldiers.

“To do this after saying nothing, proceeding with the Propaganda Department, and even finishing the photoshoot… isn't that a bit much?”

“You wouldn’t have allowed it otherwise, would you?”

Honestly, she knows me too well. This young lady, who looks like she should be sitting quietly and playing the piano…

Of course, she is no woman to be protected like a flower in a greenhouse.

With that face, she had also cleanly handled Ribbentrop.

Still, I really don't want to allow this—

“Dietrich.”

At her call, her eyes pleading, I finally let out a sigh that could swallow the land and opened my mouth.

“Fine.

But your post will be as a communications support personnel in Berlin. You’re already skilled in that from your time as a reporter.

I won't accept any objections.”

“That’s an abuse of power—”

“If you don't like it, I'll go out as a front-line commander.”

At this, Claudia immediately surrendered.

“Alright.

Hearing that, I think I know how you feel. …I’m sorry.”

“You know you should be sorry?”

Claudia smiled faintly at my question and linked her arm with mine. I deliberately frowned to stop the corners of my mouth from turning up at the soft sensation on my arm, and she spoke.

“Yes, I am truly sorry. And thank you.

For giving me permission.”

“…I didn't want to.

But you’re not just an accessory of mine.”

My words seemed to please Claudia immensely, as a smile bloomed on her face.

It’s hopeless that she looks so lovely even in a moment like this. I've really got it bad.

“You can look forward to it. Your popularity with the public is greater than you think.

If we promote this with me as the model, and I announce my enlistment, we're sure to meet our recruitment goals.”

“I’d rather we didn’t meet them, if you would just stay on as my aide.”

Hearing my words, Claudia chuckled.

“That’s why I’m even more grateful.

To be honest, I thought you’d refuse, so I prepared a lot.”

“Prepared?”

Claudia gave a deep smile at my question, then whispered slyly into my ear.

“I’ll tell you tonight.”

…What on earth have you prepared?

-

July 21st, 1940

Near Pondicherry, a French-ruled territory in British India

“Must we really do this?”

Jawaharlal Nehru, the spiritual pillar of India's non-violent resistance movement alongside Mahatma Gandhi, asked with a face full of worry.

“Of all the things those British rulers promised India after the last Great War, how many have they actually implemented?”

But Subhas Chandra Bose retorted with a question of his own. When Nehru fell silent, Bose continued.

“Now that their own feet are to the fire, they say they might grant independence if India enters the war, but those oppressors who have fattened themselves on India's blood and sweat will never let go of India if they have the strength to hold on.”

“Bose, everyone in the Indian National Congress knows well that your words have a valid point.

But couldn’t this render all the efforts Mr. Gandhi and we have made until now come to nothing?”

“The gentleman would not understand our mood.”

Unlike Nehru, who belonged to the highest Brahmin caste, or the respected Gandhi, who actively supported the caste system despite his Vaishya origins, Bose, who advocated for armed struggle and associated with Sikhs and Gurkha units, did not much believe in the illusions of the so-called ‘higher-ups.’

“In the end, the international community moves by the logic of power.

Because we are powerless, the British change their words as easily as flipping their palms, and although Germany was a war criminal nation from the last Great War, it is recognized by the international community because it has power.”

Chandra Bose looked at Nehru for a moment before continuing.

“We will not fight in the name of the Indian National Congress, but in the name of Free India. We will respect the Congress, but we will not take orders from it, and even if we should fail, it will have nothing to do with the Congress.”

Jawaharlal Nehru spoke with a face full of anxiety.

“France and Japan are ultimately just using you and the pure aspirations of the people of this land.”

Chandra Bose nodded at Nehru’s words, but—

“I am well aware of that, sir.”

He added resolutely.

“We are just using them as well.”

A few days later.

Chandra Bose's Free India Army, armed with equipment smuggled in by the La Rocque government before the war through the French territories of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam, and Mahé, began to stage civil unrest in various locations.

-

July 26th, 1940

London, the capital of Britain

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill wearily raised a hand and wiped his face.

“The Far East Fleet… is annihilated.”

“Y-Yes, Prime Minister.”

The Royal Navy's Far East Fleet had fought a desperate battle against the Imperial Japanese Navy, but with only three heavy cruisers and the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle, they could not stop their navy.

Less than a month into the war, the Far East Fleet had lost all its capital ships and was left with only a few destroyers and light cruisers, now engaged in commerce raiding to somehow delay the Japanese capture of Singapore.

Of course, this was nothing more than a means of buying time, and the British military high command had already judged the loss of Singapore and British Malaya to be a matter of time.

“Hold Singapore, no matter what it takes.”

“But Prime Minister…”

“I said hold it, whether for a month or two!”

Unlike in the original history, where Singapore was attacked only after the attack on Pearl Harbor, holding Singapore was impossible now, when Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand had not yet entered the war.

But Britain, in a situation where it had to show something to bring that very Commonwealth into the war, was utterly desperate.

“And in the midst of this, our so-called allies America and Germany are luring away our companies…”

Germany and America had attracted companies that were moving their assets out of the country, thrown into chaos by the unprecedented incident of a British mainland invasion, and being the only great powers that could help Britain at this point, he couldn't even protest.

Churchill felt a surge of resentment.

In truth, what Britain did best was profiting from the misfortunes of other countries, but in any case, it was not a pleasant experience to be on the receiving end.

As Churchill, with an anxious face, took out a cigar and was about to light it, Foreign Minister Anthony Eden burst in with an urgent look on his face.

“Prime Minister! There are reports of large-scale civil unrest in India!”

Winston Churchill dropped his lighter.

“Those uncivilized tribes, of all times! And after we said we’d consider their precious independence if they joined the war!”

Of course, Churchill himself had no intention of ever allowing India's independence, but the shining name of the British Empire had been reduced to a mere husk by the fatal blow from an ally's surprise attack.

The war situation, which made the defeat of the British Empire seem imminent, was the most fundamental reason why the Commonwealth nations hesitated to enter the war, and now, a problem had erupted in India, the core of Britain's colonies.

“What in the world has Governor-General Linlithgow been doing!”

Churchill felt his breath catch in his throat.

He picked up the dropped lighter, lit his cigar, and walked over to the window.

But it was no use; outside the window was London’s characteristically gloomy weather, with no sunlight to be seen.

“General Auchinleck is a man of ability, he will hold the line well.”

“Auchinleck will have no major problem defending against Indian rebels, but if the opponent is local guerrillas rather than a regular army, complete eradication will be difficult.

Furthermore, it will be dangerous if Singapore falls and the Imperial Japanese Army begins to pour into India, Prime Minister.”

Hearing the words of Chief of the General Staff Ironside, Churchill felt a throbbing headache.

“America?”

“They’ve imposed trade sanctions on France, but their election is less than four months away, and they say the Neutrality Acts prevent them from helping for now.”

The reason America began providing aid from the start of the war in the original history, despite the Neutrality Acts, was because all of Europe was being rapidly conquered by Hitler.

But now, although Britain was in crisis, it was not collapsing, and with Germany functioning as a bulwark for the free world, the American Congress felt little urgency.

In addition, paradoxically, with Britain playing the role it had in the early days of World War II and America not intervening in Europe, the effects of the New Deal were fading, unlike in the original history, and the recovery from the aftermath of the Great Depression was being delayed.

It was only in hindsight that America's economy began to recover as it became the Arsenal of Democracy, generating immense demand; the common sense of this era was that intervening in a war could not possibly be good for the economy.

With the economy already in shambles, why on earth should America help well-defended great powers with its own blood, sweat, and tears?

“…And Germany?”

“It seems the anti-war sentiment has greatly diminished thanks to the speech by their Vice-Chancellor and the subsequent domestic propaganda.

But they say they also need time for preparation and a declaration of war.”

Churchill took a deep drag from his cigar and then exhaled.

Was his vision blurry from the cigar smoke, or from the current situation?

Britain's situation was one of utter isolation.

There was a glimmer of hope from Germany's side, but if it came to this, the public image of being saved by Germany would mean the British Empire as a great power was completely finished.

“In the end, we have no choice but to achieve some results ourselves.”

Muttering under his breath, Churchill spoke again.

“General Ismay, are the French forces in southern England still quiet?”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

Churchill slowly inhaled the cigar smoke again, exhaled, and then spoke.

“They must be having trouble with their supplies. Give the order to General Alan Brooke.

Launch a general offensive and retake the occupied naval port of Portsmouth.”

“But Prime Minister, their military force is still not small.

It would be better to wait for support from America or Germany…”

Chief of the General Staff Ironside objected, but Churchill bellowed.

“While we wait for that, the British Empire is about to be shattered to pieces! We must show that we can push them off our homeland with our own strength and get the Commonwealth's help to save India!”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

Churchill stubbed out his cigar in an ashtray and shouted.

“The British Empire cannot exist without India! We must protect India from those uncivilized Eastern barbarians! Whatever the price!”