Chapter 90:

I had prodded Britain with some expectation, and when I told them the Soviet Union showed signs of pulling troops from Finland to invade Poland, they hastily offered to mediate the conference.

While they were enjoying watching Europe trade blows from the sidelines, if the Soviet Union were to gobble up Poland, the Conservative Party would have to face an aftermath worse than the annulment of the Munich Agreement, so they couldn't just stand by any longer.

For once, even Perfidious Albion Britain was being more cooperative than expected, yet it was the Polish bastards who seemed to be testing the limits of our patience.

Do these guys really think Germany had no interest in Poland's internal affairs?

A figurehead Prime Minister, Składkowski, is the person in charge of the peace negotiation, and the general representing the military is Lieutenant General Sikorski, from whom they've stripped all real power.

On top of that, they want the conference venue to be Warsaw. Isn't that the same as saying they want to toss over some expendable scapegoat and dictate the peace negotiation to their liking?

So I requested that Hungary, a third party with decent national sentiment towards both Germany and Poland, provide the conference venue, and Hungary readily accepted.

---

March 1, 1940

“A pleasure to meet you. I am Dietrich Schacht, Vice Minister of the Chancellery, representing Germany.

You had quite a rough journey, didn't you?”

When I deliberately offered a handshake with a smile, Prime Minister Składkowski flinched at my words but accepted the handshake. This damn Poland, how hard could it be to send a negotiation team to the neighboring country.

“…A pleasure. I am Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski, Prime Minister and representative of Poland.

When we suggested holding the negotiations in Hungary instead of Warsaw, Poland said it was unacceptable, only coming to Hungary after hearing the threat of sending the Air Force instead of a negotiation team.

They should know by now that the Soviet Army has begun to gather on their eastern border, yet what kind of shenanigans are these guys, the high command of a single country, pulling when every minute and second counts?

It may not be the sin of the Prime Minister who came just to take all the blame, but coming all this way, not just our military, but even I am starting to lose any intention of treating Poland leniently.

.

“Lieutenant General Władysław Sikorski, of the Polish Army.”

So this is Lieutenant General Sikorski. A middle-aged man with a mustache and a profound charisma.

Frankly, all I knew from the original history was that Poland during the Interwar Period was just prey for the Nazis and the Soviet Union, and that they were rash fools who deserved it.

But the Abwehr did its best to investigate the key figures in Poland, so thanks to them, I knew that he was a man with considerable support from the civic forces and the military within Poland.

He's one of the more common-sense generals in the military dictatorship of Poland and has served as both Chief of the General Staff and Prime Minister, but now he's just being treated as a has-been in Poland.

If he weren't in this position, I think we might have gotten along, but this is a surrender negotiation venue.

In the end, he is a Polish patriot, and I must represent Germany's stance, which is our limit.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant General Sikorski.

I am Dietrich Schacht, Vice Minister of the Chancellery.”

We exchanged a dry handshake and sat in our respective seats.

From Poland, there was Prime Minister Składkowski and Lieutenant General Sikorski. From our side, there was me, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Weizsäcker.

And the British mediator, Foreign Secretary Alexander Cadogan.

“Then, let us begin the conference.”

Finally, the conference began with the declaration of the Hungarian Prime Minister Teleki Pál, who had provided the venue. To be honest, I wonder if the contents are even worthy of being called a conference.

“Our side's demands are as follows.”

Prime Minister Składkowski’s body trembled as he looked at the paper Weizsäcker handed him.

“You want us to cede Gdańsk and Poznań and pay reparations of 10 billion Marks?”

“Payment in installments over 10 years.”

Weizsäcker added, but naturally, the Prime Minister’s expression didn't lighten.

“Isn’t this too humiliating and harsh! You intend to pin all the damages from the war on Poland?”

Considering the Treaty of Versailles, I think these are quite generous conditions. What kind of romantic armistice negotiation were they expecting to have?

“It wasn't a war started by Germany, so of course Poland must bear the damages.”

“This is an unreasonable demand. Wasn't the reason Germany requested peace negotiations because the Soviet Union is targeting us?”

He's well aware, even though we didn't mention it.

As Weizsäcker and Składkowski were arguing, the British Foreign Secretary, Alexander Cadogan, stepped in.

“Now, let’s all calm down.

While the responsibility for this war does lie with Poland, won't overly heavy reparations be a burden on Poland with the threat of the Soviet Union at its doorstep?”

Britain must want to keep Poland breathing somehow, so they're in a position where they have to save Germany's face while eliciting generous conditions for Poland.

Hilariously, until now, it was us who had to work hard to humor and appease Britain with carrots, but in this room, it's Britain that has to appease and humor us.

It's strangely thrilling. I think I can almost understand the sensibility of those damn imperialists.

“Ah, of course, we don't wish for Poland to be powerlessly destroyed by the Soviet Union either. In that case, if paying reparations is difficult, what can Poland offer Germany?”

As I, who had been silent until now, threw out a question, Składkowski's shoulders slumped.

What kind of bullshit did they spout in their home country to get that kind of reaction?

“Let's be clear. Danzig and Posen were originally the territory of the Second Reich.

The same goes for Katowice, which Poland possesses, but we'll let that slide for now since that part was adjusted by the League of Nations.”

Składkowski’s face contorted more and more as he listened to me, but I'm in no position, nor mood, to be considerate of their feelings.

“In the end, what Poland did was launch a surprise attack on Germany, which was in the middle of a civil war because it didn't want a war with your country, causing countless casualties. And yet, the price for that is merely the return of what was originally German land.

For the sake of the blood shed by Germans, there has to be something, don't you think? If you have no intention of giving up anything, then why did you come to this meeting?”

The reason I'm trying to save Poland through these peace negotiations is not because I have some great consideration for them, but because doing so is more advantageous for Germany.

Those damn bastards invaded and chipped away at Germany's national power, so my intention is to have them chip away at the Soviet Union's national power and buy us some time.

I am by no means here as a representative of humanitarians.

Therefore, I have no intention of foolishly ending the negotiations by just getting two territories back in the name of maintaining relations with Poland, only to infuriate the German military and people.

“P-Please give us some time to consult with our home country.”

The words that finally came out of Prime Minister Składkowski’s mouth were enough to leave us deflated.

“I'm just asking, but does the Prime Minister have decision-making authority in these peace negotiations?”

This question was not mine, but that of the British Foreign Secretary, Alexander Cadogan.

“…If you give me a moment, I will consult with my home country.”

The Prime Minister never answered, and while the Soviet Army was being deployed to the border, our first conference was thus postponed to the next day, ending in an absurd fashion.

---

The prime minister who came as a representative to a surrender negotiation has no decision-making authority? I was beyond dumbfounded to the point of anger, yet as soon as the conference ended, I was meeting with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Teleki Pál.

“Thank you for your time, Vice Minister of the Chancellery.”

“Not at all, Prime Minister.

The successful realization of this conference is thanks to Hungary’s cooperation.”

Although Hungary has been taking a stance close to a pro-German neutral country since the last meeting with Regent Horthy, I was still grateful that they made a decision so readily and without much thought, which made a swift conference possible.

The problem is that our conference counterpart is wasting time, and for some reason, Hungary has requested a secret meeting with me.

Teleki Pál paused for a moment, then cautiously asked.

“This is an unofficial question directed solely to you ‘personally,’ Vice Minister, but do you wish for the downfall of Poland?”

I wondered what this was all about and looked at Teleki Pál, but the Hungarian Prime Minister was just staring at me with a blank expression.

“I don't think my personal opinion matters much, but I do not wish for Poland’s downfall.”

After hearing my answer, Pál seemed to think for a moment before speaking again.

“Is that so.

But looking at Germany’s requirements, it seemed you wouldn't mind even if Poland fell.”

Well, of course, I don't expect Poland to actually accept all those conditions, but I can't just let them off the hook entirely.

“Not wishing for Poland’s downfall and just letting the damages Germany suffered slide are two separate matters, are they not?”

After asking for my personal opinion, he brings it back to this. So Pál has no choice but to be biased.

Although Hungary sided with Germany over Poland this once, as a traditional ally of Poland, Hungary's position is bound to be different from ours.

“From Hungary’s perspective, you would wish for Poland to remain as an ally nation and a buffer zone against the Soviet Union.

I felt the same. If possible, I had hoped Poland would become Germany's ally and a buffer zone against the Soviet Union, but it was their militarists who attacked, so they must pay the price.”

Since we're taking the Danzig Corridor and Posen anyway, it will be difficult to have friendly relations with Poland in the short term. If such a thing were possible, it would be in Poland's hands, not Germany's.

But with Poland ruled by that military and the Sejm? A honeymoon relationship between Hitler and Stalin seems more likely. I had no intention of engaging in charity diplomacy based on useless hope.

Teleki Pál let out a small sigh, then composed his expression and spoke.

“I see.

In that case, from now on, this is unofficial, but it is a message the Hungarian government wishes to convey to the Fourth Reich.”

Well, as I thought, he didn't call me here just for a Zen dialogue.

“Please speak.”

“In the event the Soviet Union pressures Romania in the east, we intend to pressure Romania at that time to reclaim Transylvania.”

An unimpressed expression naturally formed on my face. I fully understand Hungary's sense of injustice and national anger, but in these already chaotic times, must they really do that…

“To be clear, the policy of our government and His Excellency, the Regent, is one of firm anti-communism.

We have no intention of ever siding with the Soviet Union. Hungary will not rashly intervene in a war, but if we must take a side, it will be the one confronting the threat of the Soviet Union.”

Ah, so. They'll temporarily side with the Soviet Union but are asking us to turn a blind eye because they don't intend to become our enemy?

“Of course, considering Hungary's situation, I understand the motive, but frankly, it's not very pleasant.”

Romania may be faltering now thanks to the terrible king Carol II, but it's still a country with a respectable standing in Eastern Europe.

The Soviet threat is approaching from the east, and in the midst of that, they want to tear apart Romania, a potential ally nation? What is this chaos?

Besides, Carol II is from the House of Hohenzollern.

A branch family from the Swabian line, different from the Franconian line of the German Imperial Family, but still a Hohenzollern. Asking Germany to turn a blind eye to attacking a Hohenzollern.

Honestly, this isn't something I can decide rashly.

“Of course, our government and His Excellency, the Regent, are aware of Germany's position.

That is why we wish to make a corresponding proposal to Germany.”

“A corresponding proposal…”

At this point, I couldn't predict what was coming and wore a vague expression.

Teleki Pál gave me a slight nod.

“First, I must ask for your understanding, Vice Minister of the Chancellery.

In order to create this meeting, I have unavoidably committed a discourtesy.”

“Pardon?”

Teleki Pál went not to the door we came through, but to another door on the other side and knocked.

Then, a moment later, Poland's Lieutenant General Władysław Sikorski, who had been almost completely silent during the earlier conference, entered.

As I stood there with my mouth agape in bewilderment, Lieutenant General Sikorski bowed with military precision and spoke.

“We meet again, Dietrich Schacht, Vice Minister of the Chancellery. Forgive my rudeness.

I was waiting in the next room, but I did not eavesdrop on your conversation.”

What am I supposed to say to this? It's a situation where it wouldn't be strange to be flustered or angry, but he's treating me, a younger man, with such extreme courtesy that I can't even get angry.

When I turned my gaze to Prime Minister Pál, Prime Minister Pál also gave me a slight nod. Ah, this is driving me crazy.

I really don't welcome these unexpected situations.

Was the conference earlier just for show, and this is the real thing? It's too late to regret not bringing Minister Weizsäcker along.

I finally let out a sigh and spoke.

“It's good to see you again, Lieutenant General.

You were quite passive in the conference just now, so I'm all the more pleased to meet you in secret like this.”

Lieutenant General Sikorski showed no reaction to my blatantly sarcastic words, approached, and sat in the already prepared chair, apologizing once more.

“I apologize once again. Due to the current situation in Poland, I had no choice but to resort to this method.”

Well, I understand his predicament to some extent, so it's not that I don't get it, but still, that's that, and I don't feel great about it.

“Well, alright.

Then let's hear what you have to say that's so important you had to meet me in secret.”

Hearing my words, Sikorski looked at me with heavy eyes and slowly opened his mouth.

“Please make these peace negotiations break down.”

…What did you say?