Chapter 70:

December 4, 1939

Berlin, Northern Germany

"Die, dieee!"

"Aaargh, my leg-!"

Even in the dead of night, just past midnight, the gunshots, screams, and shouts that covered Berlin did not cease.

When the Germans on both sides, having already erased from their minds why they had started fighting, were lost in the madness of the battlefield, the broadcast began.

[To the loyal gentlemen of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. This is Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel, Head of the Führer's Security.

]

It wasn't Doctor Goebbels, who usually made the broadcasts, but since Erwin Rommel was a figure the Nazis had widely promoted as a hero who saved the Führer's life from the rebel army's assassination attempt, everyone momentarily froze.

[The Führer of Germany, His Excellency Adolf Hitler, has passed away.]

"Wh-what did you say?!"

In his command barracks, the 10th Army Commander, Walther von Reichenau, who had been directing the resistance for days with bloodshot eyes fueled by stimulants and Schoka-Kola, could not hide his horror.

[Just before his passing, the Führer ordered a stop to this meaningless resistance and to surrender to the new government.]

"…Finally…"

As Friedrich Paulus, the Chief of Staff assisting Reichenau at his side, let out a sigh of relief, a voice other than Rommel's came on the air.

[This is Franz Halder, Chief of the General Staff of the Army High Command. I was there with him, and what General Rommel says is true.

In the name of the Army High Command, I command you. All units are to cease this meaningless resistance that is devastating Germany and surrender.

]

"Th-that can't be, it can't be…!"

Walther von Reichenau muttered while tearing at his hair, then stood up with bloodshot eyes.

"The man who praised my loyalty in person just yesterday afternoon wouldn't do this! Something is wrong! Rommel, Halder, those sons of bitches must have committed betrayal!"

Reichenau, enraged, was about to leave the Command Room when he collapsed at the sound of a gunshot from behind.

To the staff officers who rushed in, startled by the gunshot and staring in horror at the 10th Army Commander's corpse, Friedrich Paulus, who had shot him, spoke.

"What are you all doing? Convey to all units that they are to surrender.

How long will you die a senseless death for the sake of the already-dead Bohemian Corporal?"

-

For the Führer, a soldier must obey orders.

The desperate resistance, fought for such a flimsy justification, collapsed in vain with just that one command from the Führer to surrender.

The Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, who had been fighting house to house using civilians as shields, began to come out one by one and surrender, and with the order from the National Defense Force Headquarters not to harm those who surrendered, the madness of the battlefield completely subsided.

"Keep resisting! You insects! I said, resist!"

Of course, among them were those like Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski, who knew he couldn't escape punishment anyway and called for resistance.

But he collapsed, spewing blood from a gunshot to the back of the head.

"Hehe, hehehe.

My apologies. We have to live too, don't we?"

Oskar Paul Dirlewanger shot the superior officer who had always disliked him and snickered, but as soon as he turned his back, he had to face his comrades glaring at him with menacing eyes.

"W-wait, why are you all… ugh!"

"You used civilians as human shields and killed your superior officer just to save yourself?!"

"You bastard worse than a beast!"

Once the surrender was decided, those who had abandoned their humanity, relying on the Nazis' power, were the first to pay the price to their former subordinates, comrades, or even the civilians.

The German Civil War, which broke out on September 1, 1939, came to an end after the broadcast by Erwin Rommel and Franz Halder on the dawn of December 4, 1939, when the Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht, Wilhelm Keitel, officially announced Hitler's death and the surrender of Nazi Germany in the morning.

-

December 7, 1939

Berlin, Northern Germany Two days after the civil war officially ended and the aftermath was dealt with, the National Defense Force and the key figures of the new government made their triumphant entry from Frankfurt to Berlin.

The cleanup would take much longer, but this was due to the opinion of my father and the Emperor that it was not good to use a temporary capital indefinitely.

The residents of the State of Prussia, including Berlin, had always been a stronghold of the Social Democratic Party rather than the Nazis, and they welcomed us with enthusiasm, having grown weary of the Nazis' crazy shenanigans of waging urban warfare while holding residents hostage.

"Hmph. Now it finally feels a bit like Germany."

Watching my father speak coolly from the seat beside me, I let out a bitter smile.

Honestly, to me, this free atmosphere still feels more unfamiliar.

"…We're finally back."

I had returned to Berlin, where it all began.

The sight of the residents welcoming us, throwing confetti with enthusiasm, overlapped with the images of the Austrian residents welcoming the Wehrmacht during the Anschluss, and the Sudetenland residents during the Munich Agreement.

I closed my eyes as I saw the Black-Red-Gold Flag hanging from Berlin's buildings, replacing the gloomy Hakenkreuz.

The National Defense Force, looking pleased as they were welcomed by the crowds, and the joy of the cheering crowds—this time, I could probably rejoice honestly.

-

In an interview testifying to Hitler's end, Erwin Rommel exposed that Hitler had never given a surrender order, but had commanded the demolition of the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Führer's Residence where he was, and the execution of all the arrested generals, which is why he personally shot him.

It was so shocking that people were in half-belief, half-doubt at first, but Franz Halder confirmed it was true, and it was officially acknowledged as it was judged that Hitler was fully capable of such an act.

It was also the perfect justification to brand Hitler, who had not yet perpetrated the Holocaust, as Germany's great evil, thereby proving our legitimacy.

Rommel's evaluation, from a somewhat dubious general officer who stayed comfortably by Hitler's side until the end and surrendered upon his death, skyrocketed in a flash to that of a hero who, despite Hitler's favor, made a decision for the fatherland and saved Berlin and the lives of the generals.

Within the National Defense Force, he was still treated as an arrogant figure who had refused admission to the War Academy and a general who had overstepped his bounds through Hitler's favor, but just like in the original history, he had become the most beloved general among the public.

This one, in his own way, is a man of great skill, in a different sense from Manstein.

Putting Rommel aside, originally we—especially Manstein and I—were fully intent on putting Franz Halder on trial as an accomplice of the criminal regime.

However, thanks to Rommel's advocacy, arguing that the Battle of Berlin ended early because Halder agreed to the fabrication of Hitler's surrender order, it ended with the military itself just forcing his retirement.

Yet that same Franz Halder, protesting that it was unfair for him to be forced into retirement while Rommel, who helped save Berlin with him, was hailed as a hero, had to make a lonely exit amid a cold shoulder.

-

December 8, 1939

Berlin, Northern Germany, the Reichstag (Imperial Diet)

The new German government, no, we who had now become the German government in both name and reality, were holding our first meeting in the Reichstag.

"We will maintain the existing name of the country, the German Nation (Deutsches Reich). To the outside world, it will be the Fourth Reich (in German, Reich means nation and empire, a separate term from the Emperor's state)."

No one opposed the statement of my father, Hjalmar Schacht.

This was not a Fourth Reich in the sense of succeeding Hitler's Third Reich.

It is the Fourth Reich that succeeds the Holy Roman Empire, treated as the First Reich, the German Empire as the Second Reich, and the Weimar Republic as the Third Reich.

Hitler proclaimed himself the Third Reich to deny the legitimacy of the Weimar Republic, but for us to call it the Fourth Reich, succeeding the Weimar Republic and rejecting Hitler's Nazis…

As someone who knew that the modern Germany of the 21st century was disparagingly called the Fourth Reich for leading the EU, I truly felt the irony of history.

"The asset seizure of those who were excessively cozy with the Nazi bastards is proceeding smoothly.

But what do you plan to do with the buildings the Nazi bastards erected in Berlin?"

Under the leadership of Minister of Finance Konrad Adenauer, the property the Nazi bastards had amassed through illicit accumulation of wealth was completely seized.

Perhaps because of the painful memory of having his own assets seized, Adenauer was mercilessly and persistently tracking down their property and plundering all of it.

It was a course of action that strangely overlapped with the Nazis, who, unable to stop, waged war to fill the gap of the MEFO bills with the treasuries of other countries.

I can't shake the feeling that our finances are being filled more by the asset seizures of Nazi-collaborating companies and the confiscation of property from Nazi bastards than by the taxes being collected.

The fact that the seized Nazi property is greater than imagined is half joy, half horror. Doesn't this mean that if those madmen had been less corrupt, the MEFO bills wouldn't have been in such a state?

"Let's just remove the Nazi characteristics from the buildings and use them as they are. We're short on money as it is, no need to demolish and rebuild."

"Let's just blow up the Führer's Residence that's pointlessly taking up land.

It's an eyesore."

As various opinions were being voiced, I raised my hand, and everyone's eyes turned to me at once.

…Wow, the way it suddenly went quiet and all eyes focused on me, it feels…

"Let's leave the Führer's Residence as it is. How about we use it as a museum to display the atrocities of the Nazis and the course of our civil war?"

"Must we…"

Perhaps because it was an opinion to openly leave Germany's shameful part exposed, the older members seemed a little uncomfortable.

"There are still those who follow the Nazis. Perhaps they will remain even after our generation has passed. It might be better to face the shameful part directly and let it be remembered, rather than blindly hiding it."

In the original history, even modern Germany, with its thorough anti-Nazi education, still had neo-Nazis; there's no way removing such buildings would completely eradicate the Nazis.

Rather, post-war Germany was so hysterical and preoccupied with hiding its shameful part that, until the era before Willy Brandt, the perception that they were merely a defeated nation remained publicly accepted nationwide.

"I guarantee it.

If we leave it and open it to tourists, it will be a handsome income for years to come. We're short on money, aren't we?"

"Well, that is true."

A dictator who appeared like a comet, seized power in Germany in an instant, tried to drive all of Europe into war, was cornered by the Germans who rose up in opposition, gave an order to destroy Berlin, and was killed by a close aide.

In a way, isn't it just as dramatic as the Hitler of the original history? The Führer's Residence itself, putting aside its practicality, has a considerable sense of visual intimidation, making it perfect for turning Berlin into a tourist attraction.

"Not bad. It's not like we're going to burn and scatter the buildings like those damn bastards' corpses, and getting rid of them costs money too."

The corpses of Hitler and Goebbels were 'disposed of', and most of the key figures of the Nazis either died or went missing during the civil war.

The only one properly arrested and awaiting trial is Meier… no, Göring.

Once my father agreed, the other members of the War Cabinet also readily consented.

The dirty brainwashing education process the Nazis created had to be replaced, and the constitution they exploited needed to be amended, but the War Cabinet's consensus was to postpone such national reforms until after the election.

This part involves ideology, so it can't be helped.

The next speaker was Minister of Defense Ludwig Beck.

"The Italian Front is proceeding smoothly. With the support of the Air Force, we have begun to push back the Italian Army, and the entire region of Tyrol has almost been recaptured. Now it's time to push them out completely and launch a counterattack against those Italian bastards."

The newly formed Army Group South, composed of the Luftwaffe and the National Defense Force, was rapidly driving out the Italian Army as soon as they arrived in Tyrol.

The Italian Army, which had been tied down in Tyrol for a month and a half after the declaration of war, launched a general offensive and pushed the entire region of Tyrol to the brink of fall, but upon being attacked by 10 divisions of the National Defense Force supported by the Luftwaffe, they were routed and are being pushed back relentlessly.

Of course, a big factor is that the Italian Air Force, which still uses biplanes as fighter aircraft, is being miserably pushed back by the Luftwaffe, which is filled with overpowered pilots…

Still, their ground forces are said to be at least 20 divisions strong.

I guess I should say, that's Italy for you.

"But defending one's own territory and attacking enemy territory are different matters. To drive out Italy quickly with few sacrifices, we need more reinforcements."

That's the problem.

Recapturing Tyrol is one thing, but an attack naturally requires more military force. The problem is—

"…Is there still no answer from Poland?"

"They only reply that they are still in discussion."

Foreign Minister Weizsäcker shook his head.

I have no idea what those Polish bastards are thinking, still not giving a clear answer even after the civil war has officially ended.

"Seeing as there's been no particular action so far, don't you think they have no intention of making a rash action?"

"That may be so, but…"

If Poland had intended to attack us, they should have struck when the civil war was reaching its final stages.

But they've made no particular move yet, nor are they readily accepting our non-aggression pact. What could this mean?

"For now, since the 3rd Army in East Prussia has also recognized our government and pledged loyalty, how about we leave the former Wehrmacht's Army Group North (3rd and 4th Armies) in the north just in case, and dispatch the remaining military force to the Italian Front?"

"Hmm…"

The Polish Army isn't the Italian Army, and it's impossible to block them with just Army Group North.

Before the question of strength, it's because the borderline between Germany and Poland is far too wide.

But we can't let the war with Italy drag on sluggishly either.

"We will prepare the forces of the disbanded former 10th and 14th Armies as a reserve force just in case, and send the military force, excluding Army Group North, down to the Italian Front."

"…Understood."

I can clearly feel that this is a valid and rational choice.

And yet, why can't I shake this uneasy feeling?

"Still, with the support for Finland being announced, the new Germany's reputation is good for various reasons."

Foreign Minister Weizsäcker, saying so, looked at me with proud eyes.

I don't know if it was thanks to the equipment we provided or if it was like this in the original history, but the Soviet Union had suffered massive losses from the initial battle and couldn't even get near the Mannerheim Line.

It was about time for Britain and France to start applying pressure to liberate Czechoslovakia, but as it happened, Finland announced Germany's support after fighting well in the initial battle of the Winter War.

The Soviet Union, already losing face, was naturally furious, but as international public opinion turned favorable towards Germany for supporting Finland even in the midst of a civil war, Britain and France didn't bother to bring up Czechia to us while we were still at war.

Even though Czechia is a land we must eventually liberate, it's best to liberate it with a good public image rather than being pressured and coerced, so we have bought ourselves time.

"The entire region of Austria has not yet been recaptured, so it would be best to hold the election after the recapture of Austria and the referendum on remaining are finished. Well, I'm sure you are all handling it well enough on your own. Each of you, form your political parties and prepare for the election."

"Hahaha…"

With my father's remarks, the meeting ended.

I could only hope my feeling was just a groundless fear.