The Rise of the Third Reich

Seeing Hitler leave, Hersmann and Ribbentrop looked at each other. Hersmann said: "Comrade Stalin should already know our bottom line. But this does not mean that we will seize those lands and hand them over to the Soviet Union." . You must seize Turkey, Iran and India yourself. If your offensive fails or is delayed, we will still consider liberating those areas."

"The people in those areas have been looking forward to the moment of liberation for a long time, and they should not be kept waiting endlessly." Ribbentrop also echoed, "And we firmly believe that the British Empire has reached its end and they cannot hold on for long."

Hersmann and Ribbentrop's chorus, as well as Hitler's previous outbursts, were actually all performances. The purpose was just to prompt Stalin to take action in the Middle East as soon as possible. It didn't matter to Germany whether it was Iran or Turkey that suffered, and Germany benefited from it. Because the Soviet scientific socialist system was very unpopular with reactionaries in various countries, the prospect of being occupied by the Soviet Union was too scary for reactionaries in Turkey and the entire Middle East.

If the Soviet Union attacks northeastern Turkey from Georgia and Armenia, Turkey will have no choice but to ask Germany for help - Turkey's mountainous terrain determines that it is impossible for the Soviet Union to launch a blitzkrieg, and Turkey's military strength is not weak. The Soviet Union's The attack cannot be won quickly, and Germany has time to rush for reinforcements.

Of course, rushing to aid Türkiye does not mean breaking with the Soviet Union. After all, after quickly defeating France, Germany's military power appeared to be very powerful. It was obviously not something that the Soviet Red Army could defeat, and the Soviet Union would most likely choose to compromise.

If the Soviet Union attacks Turkey's neighbor Iran, then Turkey will have to see whether the United Kingdom steps in to protect Iran. Since Iran and the UK have an oil development agreement, this is also considered a protection fee! If Britain cannot protect Iran, Türkiye will have no choice but to immediately turn to Germany. As soon as Germany enters Turkey, countries ruled by reactionaries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, and Kuwait will rush to embrace Germany's lap.

Although Iran is sent away, it is not a loss to win over oil-producing countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

Moreover, the Soviet Red Army's actions in Finland and Poland appear to be very slow (compared to the German army). If the Iranian army's resistance in the north is slightly stronger, the German army may even occupy the oil-producing areas in southern Iran near Iraq before the Soviet Red Army.

In short, as long as the Soviet Union takes action in the direction of Turkey-Iran in the near future, Germany's chess game in the Middle East and the Mediterranean will be completely revitalized. Even if they cannot win at sea temporarily, they can still defeat Britain through rapid advancement on land.

But the three Soviet comrades Molotov, Shaposhnikov and Mrs. Kollontai were not stupid, and the "respected Comrade Stalin" behind them was an even smarter person. Of course, he could see through the trap set by "Dear Comrade Hitler" on the Soviet Union at a glance.

Therefore, after receiving the report from Molotov, Stalin immediately gave instructions for the Soviet delegation to secretly contact the American delegation.

This contact was arranged by Mrs. Kollontai on June 26, 1940, at the White Crane Hotel in Geneva. Kollontai asked an attaché from the Soviet Embassy in Switzerland to first open a room at the White Crane Hotel. Then the three main members of the Soviet delegation arrived quietly in the evening and checked into the room. The Americans went to the hotel for dinner at noon the next day, and then went to the Soviets' room to meet after the meal.

"President Roosevelt will approve the plan to export 12 P-39 and 12 P-40 fighter jets to the Soviet Union after the election."

After the two sides exchanged a few words, Harry Hopkins told the Russians a piece of good news in a cheerful tone.

"Oh," Mrs. Kollontai looked suspicious, "After the election? Mr. Hopkins, can you guarantee that the next president of the United States will not overturn President Roosevelt's decision?"

The favorite for the next president was Republican John Dewey, who advocated non-intervention in the European war. If Dewey wins the November election, he will probably overturn Roosevelt's decision not to export aircraft to the Soviet Union. Even if he just announces that the US government will strictly abide by the "Neutrality Act of 1939", World War II will end... with Germany's victory!

"Madam," Harry Hopkins said with a smile, "what you are worried about will not happen. Just yesterday at the Republican National Convention, Dewey and Tofta lost to Willkie."

The speed of information dissemination in this era cannot be compared with that of later generations. The results of the US Republican Convention have not yet reached Geneva. But who was Hopkins? He was the manipulator of Roosevelt's election, so he naturally knew it immediately.

"What?" Kollontai was stunned, and his expression suddenly changed, "Dewey actually lost?"

"Comrade Kollontai," Molotov saw Kollontai's surprised expression and asked her quickly, "What happened?"

"American public opinion has undergone major changes!" Kollontai has stayed in the United States for several years and knows the rules of the game in the American election. "Dewey, who advocated non-interference in the European war, lost the Republican primary."

Thomas Dewey is a star figure in American politics. Before he ran for president, he was a special prosecutor who fought against gangs in New York. Regardless of his personal safety, he sent hundreds of criminal bosses to prison and became a criminal. A hero in the eyes of the people. In previous polls, Dewey's support rate (among voters who supported the Republican Party) was as high as 67%, and he was almost certain to win the Republican presidential candidate. But now he has lost to Willkie, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party and his previous approval rating was only 3%.

There is only one reason for this miracle. Dewey advocated non-intervention in European wars, while Wilkie strongly advocated supporting Britain!

"Now it's Wilkie versus President Roosevelt," Hopkins said with a smile. "There will be no surprises in the outcome."

In Hopkins' view, there is little doubt whether Roosevelt can be re-elected three times, and even if Roosevelt is not elected, Wilkie will definitely continue Roosevelt's line - this is the result of American public opinion (perhaps manipulated public opinion). decided.

"Then the United States will immediately join the war against Germany?" Molotov immediately asked.

His words were immediately translated into English by Kollontai. Molotov's culture was not very good and he did not speak English well. But both Kollontai and Shaposhnikov spoke fluent English.

"No." Harry Hopkins replied with a smile, "But the United States' support for Britain and all countries and governments that oppose Nazi Germany will be greatly enhanced... If the Soviet Union is also willing to stand with the United States, then the Nazis Germany's good days are coming to an end soon."

"The Soviet Union and the United States went together against Germany?" Molotov said. "We have all lived through such times, right?"

Hopkins and Hull looked at each other, and Hull said: "The situation was different then."

"It's different?" Molotov said, "What are you talking about? I am studying with you what is the difference between 1917 and now? This kind of thing should be left to historians to study."

"Then what do you mean..."

"You," Molotov pointed out, "your friend Britain has an unfulfilled contract! If Britain wants to cooperate with us, it should first fulfill its previous contract."

The so-called "contract" was of course not a commitment between the Allies and the Bolsheviks, but a blank check issued by Britain and France to Russia.

"But that is already a thing of the past," Hopkins looked at Molotov. "Isn't this Geneva Peace Conference going to negate the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain? Are you, the Soviet Union, opposed to it? ?”

Molotov did not directly answer Hopkins's words, but said: "In view of Russia's contribution in World War I, we are entitled to Turkey and Iran! This is what Britain owes us, give Turkey and Iran Only then will we have room for cooperation!”

Mrs. Kollontai translated Molotov's words into English, but Hopkins was a little confused and asked: "The Chairman of the People's Committee said 'give'?"

"Yes!" Mrs. Kollontai replied with a smile, "It's 'give'. Britain must cooperate with us to capture Istanbul!"

"This is impossible!" Hopkins shook his head desperately, "How is this possible..."

"How is it impossible?" Red Army Chief of Staff Shaposhnikov interjected, "The Turkish government is very pro-British. They will not prevent the British Mediterranean Fleet from entering the Bosporus, and they will not have any precautions. . The British can launch a surprise attack and capture the nearby forts and airports, and then the Soviet Red Army will fly in to liberate Constantinople!"

It is indeed possible...militarily speaking! But the political consequences were serious enough for British Prime Minister Churchill to pack up and get out - it is Britain's basic national policy to prevent Russia from seizing Istanbul and entering the Mediterranean! Moreover, Türkiye also signed a non-aggression treaty with Britain. If the British government openly betrayed Turkey to the Soviet Union through military raids, then Churchill's political life would be completely over.

Moreover, Britain will not have a single friend in the entire Middle East!

"Mr. Chief of General Staff, what you said is impossible!" Cordell Hull knew that it was very difficult to win over the Soviet Union, but he did not expect that the Soviet Union's asking price would be so high.

Hull pointed out: "If Prime Minister Churchill had done anything, he would have been kicked out and someone willing to compromise with Germany would have come to power!"

Kollontai translated his words into Russian. After hearing this, Molotov just smiled coldly: "He should have stepped down. He single-handedly planned the Batum incident. He is a reactionary who extremely hates the Soviet Union and the Bolshevik Party! The Soviet Union I will never cooperate with someone like him!”