Chapter 27:

May 21, 1938

Berlin, Northern Germany A week has passed since I attended the von Kleist Group meeting.

The Nazi German government and the Czechoslovakian government were continuing to slander each other, and Goebbels and the Nazi Party are actively using it to deepen the discord between the people of both nations.

Conspicuous war clouds are now spreading across Europe.

The President of Czechoslovakia, Edvard Beneš, declared an Initial Mobilization Order and began deploying Reserve Forces to the border region.

Even at this moment, they must be working to death building a fortress line in the Sudetenland to stop the German Military.

Just by strolling down the street, one could easily find residents worried about whether a war would really break out.

It's true that the Nazi Regime was tremendously popular with the German people, but that didn't mean the German people of the Interwar Period wanted war.

The German people were merely enthusiastic about a Hitler who had created a strong Germany and successively expanded its territory without bloodshed.

There are almost no people who want a Total War, where they themselves are dragged into the military to fight and every German becomes a component for the war effort.

The reason the German people cheered so fervently for the Anschluss and the Munich Agreement wasn't simply because territory was expanded, but because Germany's influence was demonstrated to the world while avoiding war.

If that wasn't the case, there's no way a pact like the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, which was a direct betrayal of the fascists and the slogans of the Nazi Regime, would have been so enthusiastically welcomed by the people.

It was because all of Germany was feeling the crisis that war was unavoidable, with Britain and France successively proclaiming a Guarantee of Independence for Poland, and Hitler crying out, "Danzig or war?"

To them, the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact gave a sense of relief that Britain and France would find it difficult to intervene, and that even in the worst case, a two-front war could be avoided.

Nevertheless, when Britain and France made their declaration of war, the German High Command, including Hitler, fell into a panic, and even the military's generals were worried about collective insubordination from the army during the Invasion of France…

The point at which Nazi Germany became capable of a nationwide Total War was, at the earliest, after France fell in six weeks, and after the Germans became intoxicated by what seemed like the military genius of Nazi Germany and Hitler.

More practically, it was after the defeat in Stalingrad, when Goebbels first mentioned Germany's crisis and called for Total War with the propaganda that if they lost the war, the Slavic peoples would destroy the entire homeland of the Germanic people.

The contradictory sensibility of the Germans of this era—wanting a powerful fatherland Germany, but not wanting to see themselves or their families go out and die as a means to that end—is my only hope.

-

“S-o-o-o-? How was the meeting?”

I had to let out a cynical laugh at Claudia's question.

Honestly, I didn't have high expectations, but it was even more of a chaos than my faint hopes.

The participants of the resistance force, later known as the Black Orchestra, were, just by their names, incredible tycoons in Germany.

But I had been curious why the actual ringleaders of the plot were, at best, Major General Hans Oster (a Lieutenant Colonel at the time of the conspiracy) and Colonel Stauffenberg.

I don't know if they're just cowards because they're well-fed and have a lot to lose, or what, but…

“Well, I didn't expect much, but even that was a betrayal.”

I think I could roughly understand why those two, of all people, were the key players of the conspiracy.

They were about to miss their chance waiting for those high-ranking people to move, so it was those two who, out of frustration, acted desperately.

“Hmph, I heard Lieutenant Colonel Oster is a bit different, though.”

“He couldn't make it due to a mission.”

“Hmm- that's a regret.”

Claudia replied calmly and fiddled with her pencil while sipping her coffee.

“Still, I had quite a long talk with Director Kordt.

It's largely thanks to you, Reporter. Thank you.”

“Ah, I got to know him naturally while meeting with Minister Ribbentrop. He's a decent person.”

Erich Kordt, the one significant personnel I gained from the meeting, told me he would cooperate to ensure Lord Kleist-Schmenzin wouldn't say anything unnecessary when he made contact with Britain on behalf of the resistance force.

That old Knight won't go so far as to defy the embassy's words and insert his own opinions.

“By the way, what do you plan to do now?”

“…I'll have to meet Lieutenant Colonel Oster.”

At my request to arrange a separate meeting with Lieutenant Colonel Oster, Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow just puffed heavily on his cigarette, but in the end, he agreed.

I feel a little sorry, but I have no choice as there's no time.

I have no choice but to make the most of the people in the resistance force who are at least reasonable.

“Hmm- what I mean is. What can I do to help?”

I stared intently at Claudia.

A journalist from a liberal media company that hasn't been discontinued yet, but is walking a precarious tightrope.

An outsider who nonetheless knows at least some general intel about the resistance force composed mainly of aristocrats and military personnel, and who is giving me considerable help and intel through unexpected connections.

“Truthfully, for now, there's a limit to what the press can do to help. Rather, it would be a great help if you just continue your activities as you are now.”

After all, even if you dig up something about the Nazis right now, the moment you make a public announcement, not only that person but the media company itself will be finished.

The idea that the regime will change if we just raise an army and execute Hitler is incredibly naive, but trying something like an exposé battle while the Nazis and the Gestapo are still strong is an even more reckless idea.

She needs to stay safe to serve as a connection to a prominent journalist of the free world like Theodor Heuss, and at the same time, skillfully extract intel from a high-ranking Nazi official like Ribbentrop.

“At this point… don't both you and I know that, Captain? You're not one to be unaware, are you?”

Claudia chuckled in a strange way.

“Hmm- honestly, I'm getting a little curious. What makes you, Reporter, so proactive?”

I have no intention of spouting nonsense like, 'This is a dangerous job,' to her at this point, but I am curious.

“Oh my, I thought my disposition was already quite apparent?”

“Not everyone risks their life just because they don't like a dictatorship…”

Claudia just smiled subtly at my words.

It's awkward to press further when she's like that.

I shut my mouth.

Then again, if Claudia asked me the same question, I'd be at a loss for an answer too.

What would I say? That I came from the future, and if I leave things be, Germany and everything else will be destroyed and tens of millions will die, so I'm trying to stop it?

Somehow, I've just been sighing more lately…

“…If you're going to go that far, may I make one request?”

“I'll at least hear it out. Hehe.”

Anyway, she's a difficult person to understand.

But she says I'm hard to understand too, so what kind of relationship is this?

“Have you heard of the Confessing Church?”

“Hmm- No? I'm not really interested in religion.”

For the first time since I've known her, she showed clear repulsion.

Uh, this makes things a bit difficult.

“By any chance… do you support materialism?”

“No, that's not it. It just makes me a little angry seeing those folks who say, 'Adolf Hitler is the savior sent by God.

'”

Although she said 'a little', what appeared on her face was a momentary but distinct animosity.

Perhaps seeing me flinch, she apologized as if nothing had happened.

“Ah, I'm sorry, Captain. It's just my personal opinion.”

“No, it's fine. I'm not particularly engrossed in religion either.”

Even as I said it, I was a bit surprised.

Putting aside the communists who defined religion as the opium of the people, or me, with my memories of the 21st century where religion's influence has greatly diminished—

In this era, the influence of religion is still significant.

Especially among the officers of the Wehrmacht, there were many who were quite devout believers.

It's a contradiction for people whose profession is killing to be devoutly religious, but it's always those who are aware of their sins who seek salvation.

Without looking far, my mentor, Major General Walther Model, is a devout Lutheran (Protestant), and even in Spain, he attended Sunday Service every week unless he was in an operation.

But for her, who is not a communist, to have this much animosity towards religion?

Does she have some kind of personal story?

“Hmm… to explain, the Confessing Church is not a group that praises Hitler.

Rather, it's an underground organization formed by Protestants who do not agree with the Nazis.”

The Nazis, despite their leader Hitler having received baptism in the Catholic Church, were engrossed in twisting Christianity, with its strong Jewish influence, to their own liking.

Ultimately, to make it a religion for Aryans only that would lead to the deification of Hitler.

A considerable number of German churches, both Catholic and Protestant, couldn't escape that influence, but where there is oppression, there are also forces that resist.

Rather, resistance based on religious belief is not easily swayed by any ordinary propaganda or ordeal.

The fact that anti-Nazi pastors like Martin Niemöller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were continuously subjected to Nazi oppression also means their activities were threatening enough to get on the Nazis' nerves.

“Hmm-”

“Since they are a citizen force opposing the Nazis, I believe an alliance with the liberal forces would be possible. …So, if possible, I wanted to request that you, Reporter, make contact with them.

But if you're not comfortable with religion…”

I spoke cautiously to the unusually serious-looking Claudia, but surprisingly, she answered willingly.

“No.

Let's do it. Although again, I'm wondering how someone who was in Spain would know about the existence of such a church-”

Claudia smiled subtly at me and added.

“Everyone has a secret or two to hide. Right?”

“…Haha, right…”

I'm grateful she doesn't pry, but at the same time, her indirectly saying she has no intention of answering my questions is just like her.

As I was thinking that, she opened her mouth.

“…If, by any chance.”

“Yes?”

“If the day ever comes when you tell me about the secret you're hiding, Captain, I'll tell you mine.”

Having said that, Claudia smiled brightly.

“…”

After spending a short time sitting opposite each other drinking coffee, I stood up from my seat.

“Well then… it's getting late, so I'll be heading back.

Thank you as always, Reporter Jung.”

“No, thank you.

You've been quite satisfying my interest recently. A thrill is the spice of life.”

I smiled and bid farewell to her, who had made such a subtly terrifying remark.

“Well then, have a pleasant evening.”

“Goodbye, Captain.”

-

On the way to my quarters after leaving Claudia's house, the evening scenery of the Berlin city center under Nazi rule, now completely familiar, turning red from the sunset, gives a strange feeling.

The Hakenkreuz hanging here and there on the roadside were fluttering in a perfect blood-red color from the sunset.

What kind of person is the ringleader of the conspiracy, Lieutenant Colonel Hans Oster?

According to the records left in history, he did not yield despite Hitler's unbelievable successes like the Munich Agreement, the Invasion of Poland, and the victory in France, and prepared a conspiracy against Hitler.

But even that Hans Oster worried and agonized that the conspiracy he was about to unleash would kill tens of thousands of Germans.

And I, who know so much more, know that it's impossible to overthrow this Nazi Germany without bloodshed.

To put it coldly, I am no humanitarian.

I can feel sad for my subordinates who died in Spain, for my original fatherland that is a colony of Imperial Japan.

But instead of fleeing abroad saying I hated getting blood on my hands, I made them advance to build up military merit in the military for my own purpose.

It was I who introduced the anti-aircraft guns that would blow away the Republican faction who fought believing in their cause, and it was I who pulled the trigger of a rifle at an enemy soldier with my own hands.

No matter how much I rack my brain and agonize over stopping a war where everyone bleeds, in an era like this, there's no such thing as a scenario with a happy ending for all.

To overthrow the Nazis and stop Germany from starting World War II—for this almost unrealistic goal, the plan I am making is difficult, yet extremely simple.

The Black Orchestra of the original history believed they had to kill Hitler and Himmler at the same time, missed their chance, and failed, but a dictatorship doesn't collapse easily just by executing one dictator anyway.

As long as support for the Nazis remained, if you killed Hitler, Göring would take power; if you killed Göring, Himmler would; and even if Himmler died, Heydrich would have taken the seat of power.

But trying to turn public opinion under the Nazi Regime is difficult, as support for the Nazis is high, and the Gestapo and Goebbels wouldn't just stand by.

Even if we miraculously succeed in overthrowing the Nazis, the armaments that have already been invested in to an extent that can't be sustained without war will compel war.

And even if not, could the Germans of this era, who haven't shed any blood, really become like the modern Germans of the 21st century?

I was extremely skeptical about whether Germany, steeped in militarism and nationalism for so long, could become a normal nation without going through a catastrophic disaster like the Nazis and World War II.

At best, it will become more right-wing than 21st-century Japan, and at average, the new regime that succeeded in the coup d'état will rearm for a few more years and then start a war.

It's a future that even Anne Frank, the little Jewish girl who lived in hiding in the Netherlands, cut off from the world, had foreseen.

In the end, there is only one way to temporarily free Germany from the iron-fisted rule of the Nazis, squeeze through that gap to expose their shameful secrets, and simultaneously stop Germany from running wild toward war.

Germany must have a civil war.

To make Germany shed its own blood to stop it from starting a war and becoming the world's public enemy.

What would the people cooperating with me, what would Claudia, say if they knew of this idea?