Chapter 96:

The long trial of the high-ranking Nazi officials was over. Roland Freisler, infamous as a Nazi judge, and Rudolf Hess, the nominal Deputy Führer, were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Paul Hausser, who had surrendered with his subordinates and showed repentance, and Baldur von Schirach, the Jugend leader who had rescinded the order to send the Hitler Youth into combat and surrendered, were sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Considering Josef Dietrich, who had only followed combat orders, also received a 10-year sentence, the two had received quite a lenient verdict.

Among the SS, those three received the lightest sentences, with most other personnel receiving harsher punishments.

Bureaucrats like Funk and Speer, corrupt corporations, and Army figures like Keitel, Jodl, and Brauchitsch, who had been appointed to important posts by Hitler, were all sentenced to imprisonment with labor.

A rumor circulated that so many people were involved that the judge spent several tens of minutes just reading the sentencing statements.

In the Luftwaffe, Chief of the General Staff Jeschonnek, who had tried to arrest General Richthofen while relaying Göring's Frankfurt Bombing Order, received a life sentence.

Milch, who had actively committed corruption in the aviation business with Göring's favor despite suspicions of being Jewish, was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Others, like Albert Kesselring and Udet, who had issued the order to emphasize resistance under Hitler's instructions, also received prison sentences.

In the end, General Hugo Sperrle, who had been Richthofen's superior in the Spanish Civil War and had fewer dealings with the Nazis as he was stationed in Spain, was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.

For two purposes at once, the trial of the Junkers who had staged the Military Government Coup was also held, but since the core ringleaders, Mackensen and Doctor Goerdeler, were already dead, and perhaps in consideration of the military's morale, it was quietly concluded with prison sentences for the participants.

---

March 20, 1940

Berlin, Northern Germany – Luftwaffe Headquarters

“Production of the new Fw 190 fighter is going very smoothly, Vice Minister.

However…”

General Richthofen, Chief of the Air Force General Staff, paused for a moment before speaking again.

“The unification of fighter production to the Fw 190 you requested is facing immense opposition.”

“Is that so?”

German industrial production was notorious for its inefficiency from making all sorts of models, but the Luftwaffe was the most serious offender.

It was partly because of the Treaty of Versailles, but why were there so many modified versions of civil airliners, and just how many aircraft types were there?

Furthermore, Udet and Milch, who were previously in charge of administration, must have been thinking something else entirely to have split the aircraft development department into 13 separate sections, which gave our government a headache.

So I scrapped it all, integrated them into four, and tried to unify production to the latest models as much as possible, but that in itself brought backlash.

“Yes, there are a great many fighter pilots who prefer the Bf 109.”

“Why is that…?”

I knew the Bf 109 was Germany’s representative fighter and an excellent model, but did they really want to stick with the old one instead of a new, high-performance one?

Richthofen slightly narrowed his brow at my question, then turned his gaze to Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Galland standing beside him.

He, who was just a Captain during the German Civil War, and Werner Mölders had racked up achievements by putting on a downing show in Italy and Poland, and with the high-ranking Luftwaffe officials being found guilty and the upper officer ranks becoming empty, they received rapid promotions to Lieutenant Colonel.

“The styles of the Bf 109 and Fw 190 are quite different. Many people are already accustomed to the Bf 109, and the Fw 190 is inferior to the Bf 109 in low-speed maneuverability, making it difficult to handle in urgent situations.”

“This fellow right here is a representative of the Bf 109 proponents.”

Galland smiled awkwardly as Richthofen added playfully.

Honestly, since I wasn't a pilot and knew nothing about aerial combat, I couldn't really tell what the difference was…

“So, you’re saying the Fw 190 isn’t a perfect superior version of the Bf 109, but that their strengths are different?”

“That is correct, Vice Minister.”

I had only considered productivity, but I hadn't thought about this kind of problem.

The Army could just abandon the Panzer III and produce only the Panzer IV, but the Air Force was different.

I looked over at Werner Mölders, who was standing beside me.

“What is your opinion, Lieutenant Colonel Mölders? If we produce both models in parallel, efficiency will drop a little. Do you believe it is necessary to dualize the system even at that cost?”

Galland and Mölders were the ones who were effectively planning the Luftwaffe's fighter tactics and leading the frontline pilots, so it would be best to hear both their opinions, right?

Werner Mölders seemed to think for a moment before he spoke.

“Productivity is good, but due to the characteristics of aerial combat, the difference in advantages and disadvantages between models depending on the environment is significant. The Hs 123, which was kept in service at your past suggestion, would be a similar example.

If possible, I would like for the production of the Bf 109 to be maintained as well.”

It was true, even an outdated biplane like the Hs 123 was excellent at ground support.

In that case, I couldn't just push ahead with desk administration out of ignorance. I gave a bitter smile.

“I understand. Then we will go with the Air Force's opinion and proceed with the parallel production of both models.”

“Thank you, Vice Minister.”

Adolf Galland smiled so brightly you could tell he was pleased.

He must really like the Bf 109…

“Ah, by the way, how is the development of the new bomber coming along?”

After the army-background Air Force high command, who had shouted ‘The role of the Air Force is to support the ground forces!’, were purged for their ties to the Nazis, Richthofen, like the incendiary bomb maniac he was, had been stressing the necessity of a big, beautiful strategic bomber to me.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force, Hugo Sperrle, still held the stance of focusing on ground support, but as he had become the Commander-in-Chief only later in an Air Force whose members had completely changed, he did not have as much influence as Richthofen.

However, at Richthofen's question, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

“Um, well… The engine problem just isn't getting resolved, so the progress is sluggish.”

Germany was also making all sorts of bombers, so we decided to unify production to the Ju 88 bomber, but that was already a fairly old model and not a strategic bomber.

The problem was that no matter how hard we tried to develop one, the engine kept causing issues, so there was no solution.

A strategic air force is important, but you can't use a bomber that spontaneously combusts mid-flight.

“Well, for now, unifying the models to the Stuka and the Ju 88 bomber has drastically increased production volume, so that will serve as a temporary measure, but they are ultimately old models.

If we go on like this, they'll eventually become obsolete.”

“I am aware.

We have limits in this area due to our lack of experience, so we are thinking of resolving it in another way.”

Hearing my words, Richthofen spoke with a puzzled expression.

“Another way?”

“Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince is attempting a joint venture using his connections in America.”

Perhaps because the US has no arms exports to countries fighting Nazi Germany and Britain is taking the role of the US from the original history in the early stages of WWII, it's said that the effects of the New Deal policy are starting to wear off in America, and it's failing to escape the aftermath of the Great Depression.

Naturally, the defense industry is also in a recession, and the Crown Prince, who was already interested in the aviation industry and had built connections in America, was in the US to persuade those American aviation industry companies.

When you think of strategic bombers, you think of America, and the U.

S. Air Force.

Isn't the Stone Age lover Curtis LeMay from none other than the U.S.

Air Force?

“Hmm, a joint venture with those Yankee guys…”

Richthofen looked a bit displeased, but he soon shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, as long as the result is good, that's all that matters.

I'll trust you and wait.”

“Hahaha…”

Richthofen had always been friendly to me, but after the gutter-level aircraft production efficiency soared, the Air Force was showing our government a fair amount of trust.

It was the same with the Army, and with the relatively reformist Ludwig Beck as Minister of Defense and the radical Manstein as Chief of the General Staff, improvements to Army equipment were also proceeding smoothly.

The Panzer IV had its problematic armor reinforced, and its frontal armor was replaced with sloped armor to begin production of a new model, with main gun improvements also in preparation.

One way or another, in our Germany, the next-generation personnel have more power than in Nazi Germany, so it seems making improvements to anything is at least easier.

I finished my thoughts, looked at Richthofen for a moment, and cautiously spoke.

“Are you all right, General?”

Richthofen looked at me with a puzzled face, then smirked.

“So what if I'm not? Well, I'm glad that I could at least prepare a grave site for him.”

Hermann Göring was eventually executed, but Richthofen’s earnest request was accepted, and he was executed by firing squad instead of hanging, and was properly enshrined in a grave.

Was it a better ending than Hitler and Goebbels, who were burned and their ashes scattered in a river?

“…If you're okay with it, would you like to have a drink after getting off work?”

Richthofen received my question, grinned, and clapped Galland and Mölders on their shoulders as he answered.

“Haha, I was just drinking my fill with these guys. I'll just accept the thought.

I've decided to quit drinking now. The Air Force is looking only to me, I can't live my life lamenting my situation forever!”

Seeing Galland and Mölders smiling as they looked at such a Richthofen, a smile naturally spread across my lips as well.

“That is truly welcome news to hear.”

This Air Force is completely different from the Luftwaffe of the original history, but I can be sure that they'll be better than them, right?

---

March 27, 1940

Dietrich Schacht's Mansion, Berlin, Northern Germany Time really flows like water, and the migration of the Polish people from West Prussia and Posen has progressed considerably.

We immediately began the resettlement of the Jewish people, and for the Jews who had already had all their property confiscated and were living on government subsidies while facing contempt in their hometowns, there was a spreading atmosphere of hope for a new life.

At the very least, they have to be able to make a decent living to prevent the situation from leading to them being swayed by Zionism (far-right Jewish nationalism) or causing social problems.

“I hope the local residents can live in harmony with the Jewish people as much as possible.”

Having finished my daily routine and gotten off work on time for a change, I sat on the bed, shuffling through documents and muttering to myself.

While West Prussia and Posen were under Polish rule, the Polish people persecuted both Germans and Jews, so they'd be better than the mainland Germans brainwashed by the Nazis, right?

“I’m a little worried. Humans aren’t romantic enough to develop a sense of kinship just because they were discriminated against together.”

But Claudia’s words, who was sitting next to me, shattered my expectations.

Is it the same sensibility of ‘even though we were persecuted together by the Poles, we are better than the Jews’? If that's really the case, all I can do is sigh…

“Even if you are a social democrat, isn't it a bit too unromantic for a fellow democrat to have such a view on humans?”

“Isn't it because I don't have a romantic view of humans that I pursue democracy?”

“Hmm.

I see.”

Was democracy described as a system that is inefficient but guarantees a minimum level of stability?

The assessment that democracy is the worst political system, except for all the others that have been tried before it, is probably not for nothing.

I let out a small sigh.

“So when can we hold our election…”

The war with Poland is over.

But the resettlement of the Jewish people isn't even finished yet, and on the Austrian front, the German and Italian armies are glaring at each other.

On top of that, according to a report from the General Staff Headquarters, those Italian bastards must have suddenly come to their senses, as they have established proper defensive positions along the Alps.

Advancing from Tyrol to Veneto and repulsing the enemy in one go was only possible because it was a counterattack, a situation where there was practically no defense line.

The Alps are a problem, but the Italian mainland is also mountainous, so the routes for tanks to advance are extremely limited, which makes our strength, armored breakthrough, difficult.

So the General Staff Headquarters was racking its brains trying to come up with an offensive plan, and in the meantime, a report from the Abwehr came in that France was building up its armaments with tremendous vigor.

I don't know how those penniless bastards are managing that, but either way, the entire War Cabinet unanimously agreed that this was not a situation where we could leisurely hold an election.

“The situation is what it is, so we can’t help it. We’re still doing well, aren’t we?”

Of course, as she said, I think our War Cabinet is doing well right now.

Not because I'm a member, but even from an objective standpoint, our achievements are outstanding, and we're attracting a lot of interest overseas, with various analyses of the Fourth Reich's War Cabinet's accomplishments.

But is that really a good thing? There are too many examples in human history of dictatorial regimes that started with the legitimate excuse of a national state of emergency.

For now, all the people are understanding, and Count Moltke and the tycoons who were our biggest sponsors are giving us their firm support, but to be frank, it's undeniable that the shadow of the War Cabinet will have a profound influence when the war is over and we hold an election.

“I don't want to see this turn into a pseudo-democracy…”

“Pseudo-democracy?”

Claudia tilted her head and asked, and I let out a cynical laugh.

In this era, even the so-called democratic nations aren't fully established, so the term pseudo-democracy itself doesn't exist yet.

“No, it’s nothing.”

But when I shook my head, Claudia made a dissatisfied expression and sighed.

“I've been feeling a bit alienated lately.”

“Huh?”

Claudia glanced at the documents I still hadn't let go of, then she slowly averted her gaze.

“No, it's nothing.”

I don't know what it is, but I know very well that I did something wrong. I stealthily placed the documents on the side table and fixed my gaze on her.

“Ahem, ahem. Miss Claudia? Did I do something wrong…”

“Honestly, it feels like you're married to the state these days.

I'm nothing more than your aide, and I know very well that you're busy, but, ah…”

While I was flustered, Claudia put a hand to her forehead.

“In the past, we would at least put our heads together and write a speech script, but now, while you're busy running around, all I do is the simple task of compiling the telegrams and reports that fly in for you and handing them over.

Even then, I spend more time sitting alone in your office.”

Claudia's face slightly contorted, and I felt a cold sweat run down my spine.

“At the very least, when you were still struggling, I took pride in my role of comforting and connecting with you. Now, you no longer waver or hesitate, and you are dedicating everything to the nation.

It feels like you're a perfect man of iron who would be fine even without someone like me.”

“Ugh, I'm sorry.

I was too neglectful…”

I reached out my hand, but Claudia shook her head.

“No.

You are doing an excellent job for the responsibility you've been given. To the point where I wonder if democracy is even necessary if a person who can dedicate themselves to the nation like this really exists.”

I gave a bitter smile at her words.

“Is that how it looks? Like I'm dedicating myself to the nation.”

Claudia hesitated a little, but then she nodded her head and said with her head bowed low.

“…Yes.

Saying this makes me seem so pathetic, but I wonder if the times when you hesitated and worried and leaned on me weren't the happier times.”

For her to think like this, I must have really been something.

Just because someone doesn't say anything doesn't mean they aren't thinking anything.

“I'm sorry, I was too thoughtless.

The truly important person is right beside me.”

She still had a sad face, so I spoke as if confessing.

“I think you've misunderstood a little. I'm not working for the nation.”

“What? You? If you're saying empty words to console me, I'm going to get really angry.”

At Claudia's suspicious gaze, I gave a bitter smile.

“No, I'm being serious. To be honest, I can't relate to things like patriotism or dedication to the nation.”

Just because I, with the mind of a 21st-century Korean, was dropped into 20th-century Germany, I'm suddenly supposed to pledge my life and loyalty to the nation? If that were possible, that would be the weirder thing, wouldn't it?

“Germany is nothing to me.”

The scene of Claudia speechless with shock was quite new to me, and I felt a bit abashed.

But really, Germany itself is nothing to me.

When I was in modern times, I was interested in German history because you can't leave it out when it comes to politics and diplomacy, and I liked its dramatic history, but that doesn't go beyond the realm of simple preference, does it?

If it weren't for Captain Kaufmann, my superior in the Condor Legion, I would have never known the sense of responsibility of a company commander.

If it weren't for Klemens and my company members, with whom I fought alongside, rather than just the company members on paper that I was responsible for, I would have been more worried about saving my own skin by fleeing to America than staying in that deathtrap out of a sense of responsibility.

If it weren't for my meeting with Richthofen and my experience in the Spanish Civil War, I wouldn't have even thought about having to stop the Nazis from running wild, and if it weren't for General Model, I would have never learned how to intensely deliberate and strive from the position of giving orders to soldiers.

“There are people in Germany who brought me this far, so I'm trying.”

I also met the parents who existed only vaguely in Dietrich Schacht's memories.

My gentle but kind mother was a good person, and my father—well, he’s a jerk, but not a bad person.

Habenstein, who I thought was just a fleeting connection in the Condor Legion, became a bridge for me to meet the people of the Frankfurter Zeitung, and I met many people who were trying and struggling to change Germany under Hitler, not just the Black Orchestra that I vaguely knew existed.

They weren't glorified heroes who fought against Hitler at the risk of their lives, but people who smelled of humanity, dreaming the same bed, different dreams, no different from modern people.

Tresckow, a heavy chain smoker and a bit prickly, but still warm-hearted; Erich Kordt, who I didn't even know existed in modern times but was a great help to me; and even Oster, who I only knew as an unyielding hero who stood against Hitler, but was actually worried about his hair loss.

It is thanks to them that the country I had only known through information read in books and on the internet became the reality I had to live in, and the place I had to protect.

Having said that much, I slowly bent my back and kissed the top of Claudia's foot, who was staring intently at me.

“And you are in Germany. I thought you were a perfect, passionate reporter, but it turns out you're terrible at housework…”

When I raised my head and our eyes met, I could see her face flush.

“I thought you were a superman who could do anything without me, but you actually get lonely too.”

Claudia covered her reddened face with her hands, and I smiled faintly.

“To me, Germany is the place where the people precious to me live, and it's the place where you are.”

If possible, I hope other people will come to think that way too.

The Germany I wish for is not a place where a competent man of iron points the direction the people should go and demands dedication for the fatherland, but a place where the people take an interest in politics and strive to protect it because it is a place that will protect the people precious to them.

“But what's the use of all that, when the very person who allowed me to come this far is feeling lonely.”

“Ugh, o-okay! I'm sorry. Thinking about it, it was a bit childish of me-”

I gently lifted Claudia’s leg and draped it over my shoulder, and she naturally fell back onto the bed, her eyes wide as she looked up at me.

“No, I'm really enjoying this right now.”

“What?”

I feel sorry for the flustered her, but I just now realized that I am a human being this faithful to my desires.

“I thought you were such a perfect woman that you would live well without me, but seeing you get upset like this…”

I grinned as I looked into Claudia's trembling blue eyes.

“Now you feel a bit like mine.”

“…That's childish.”

“We're both childish, so let's call it a draw.”

I looked down at my wife, who burst into laughter as if she couldn't help it, and thought. Looks like I won't be getting any sleep tonight.