Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Success and Failure (2)
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“Today, the illegal actions attempted by a faction within the Romanian military have been suppressed. Our government will work with the German forces to swiftly resolve this incident.”
Romanian Prime Minister Ion Antonescu read the speech in a stiff voice, as if reciting a script someone else had written.
*That guy's turned into a total puppet.*
*But still, taking down Romania in a single day?*
*Romania's no small fry—its territory rivals mainland France.*
I was a bit shocked by the German army's lightning conquest of Romania.
Not even six weeks—just half a day to topple a country.
It was the same blitzkrieg speed they'd used to crush Vichy France and Italy.
But why the rush for Germany?
*Ah.*
*They must've uncovered King Michael I's coup plans.*
I was the only one who could guess(?) the real reason behind the German army's suspicious moves.
Anyway, with Romania secured, that was good news.
No more worries about the Reds suddenly overrunning the eastern Balkans.
Now, it was time to pivot west and send a little message to an old friend from the Spanish Civil War.
“Get me the Foreign Ministry.”
I had them send a telegram to Franco, my old comrade(?) from the Spanish Civil War.
“Chancellor, you must know the situation by now. Lining up with Hitler just means dying together. How about switching sides to us?”
Stripping away the formalities, that was the gist.
Franco didn't respond at first.
No, he straight-up read and ignored it.
But persistence is key in all things.
I kept sending telegrams without shame.
Finally, Franco replied.
In plain, no-frills terms:
“No, our problems are ours to handle. Whether we negotiate with the Anglo-Americans or whatever, that's Madrid's business—why's Pyongyang sticking its nose in?”
“Aren't we comrades who shared honors with the Chancellor? As a fellow soldier, I can offer a word or two.”
“So what is it you want to say?”
And so began our heartwarming exchange.
“Chancellor, let's be frank. Do you really think playing neutral now will make the Anglo-Americans and French spare Spain? Not a chance. Better rack up some points with us early so you survive. Why would I lie about something like this?”
Of course, it was a lie.
In this world where Cold War logic would only strengthen, the Allies had even less reason to touch Spain.
But Franco didn't know the grand flow of history.
“Once Germany falls, Britain and America will have to deal with the Reds. You think those guys will touch an anti-Communist warrior like me? If anti-Communism becomes state policy, the Anglo-Americans will have no choice but to let me live.”
*Huh, he gets it to some extent.*
*Franco, you're a friend who can read the tides of the era.*
Still, Franco didn't seem absolutely convinced it would play out that way.
That meant I could target him.
Franco, the man himself.
“They'd touch you in a heartbeat. Why would the Anglo-Americans leave a fascist who threatens Gibraltar alive?”
“I've maintained neutrality.”
I gaslit Franco with threats and intimidation.
“Ah, who recognized that neutrality of yours?”
During the war, Franco had sent troops to Germany, supplied materials, and lent ports.
That was leaning way too far toward the Axis to call neutral.
And beyond that, he was an official Axis ally.
“As a member of the Axis alliance, I think I moved without provoking the Anglo-Americans as much as possible.”
That's just your opinion.
You think the Anglo-Americans will see it your way?
I sure don't.
“Chancellor, we crushed China just for trying to join the Axis. Compared to that, isn't Spain's rap sheet even worse?”
“No, Europe and Asia are different situations. Here, if you don't join the Axis, Germany kills you.”
“That's Spain's problem, not ours.”
When I played dumb, Franco got flustered.
“Anyway, we're not interested in this war and have no intention of intervening. So leave us be.”
Who decided that?
“Chancellor, once Hitler's gone, you'll be the last fascist standing. Won't the free world's opinion want to take you out?”
The free world's opinion doesn't want to leave you alone, you know?
Government thinking might differ a bit.
“Hmm.”
Franco deflated a little at the mention of democratic public opinion.
Probably because it was unfamiliar territory for him.
“So, just cooperate a little. Rack up points now, and getting treated like the Kingdom of Southern Italy will be a breeze. Time to ditch the rotten rope and grab a sturdy one. You tasted how warm Anglo-American backsides are during the Civil War.”
The oil and credit from America, the tacit support from Britain.
*Remember how solid that felt.*
Franco finally replied after a long pause.
“What exactly do you want from me?”
I rubbed my hands together slyly.
A cunning smile crept onto my face.
“Not much. Lend us some ports and let our agents roam the Pyrenees freely.”
Truly modest demands.
Just enough to get on Hitler's bad side.
“You think that's reasonable?”
It is.
That's why I'm asking you.
*Didn't realize you'd been had, sucker?*
“You have to cooperate that much for the Allies to save face with us.”
I kept reminding him that the postwar Allies would retaliate.
*Our fist scary, or Nazi fist scary?*
*Choose wisely.*
*Note that picking the wrong side means ending up as Hitler's funeral rice.*
“Think about how much President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Eden dislike you.”
Franco reluctantly caved.
“I can't allow full access. Cross the Pyrenees discreetly, and I'll open the ports as much as you want.”
That was as good as unconditional surrender.
“Excellent. I'll put in a good word with the Allies that you've turned over a new leaf.”
Sure, that fascist would need a reckoning from a big-picture view someday, but now wasn't the time.
Sometime during the Cold War.
For today, he'd live.
“Then, please take good care of us.”
Franco had turned into a meek, compliant lamb.
The guy who was used to shooting protesting soldiers in the head over mess hall complaints was now bowing his head—truly, the ways of the world are unpredictable.
“Franco has submitted.”
I shared the negotiation results with the Anglo-Americans.
“He'll be useful for checking the Soviets too. Tame him well and use him as a hunting dog.”
“Soviet checkmate, huh. From that angle, the human butcher is repulsive but tolerable.”
The Anglo-Americans agreed to my proposal to spare Franco.
“Then, let's get the fleet moving.”
We immediately sent our fleet into Spanish ports.
The moment we publicly confirmed Spain was on our side.
The shock to Germany was immense—Hitler himself took to the radio to viciously denounce Spain.
“This ungrateful scum who forgets favors has betrayed the Axis cause!”
Hitler had the right to say that.
Without Italian and German support, could Franco have won like that?
Without it, even if things went perfectly, the Civil War would still be raging.
“He loves talking about favors.”
Franco fired back hard, venting pent-up resentment.
Hadn't Germany taken massive mines and concessions in return for Civil War support?
The verbal sparring was enough to rile Germany.
But Berlin couldn't retaliate like they did with Romania.
Germany had no troops to spare for Spain at Europe's western edge.
Even if they did, conquering the vast Iberian Peninsula over the Pyrenees was a pipe dream.
It would only benefit the Allies if things escalated that way.
Franco knew it too and started running his mouth.
As the saying goes, converts outdo zealots—Franco trashed Hitler on official broadcasts.
“A gambling addict who only knows revenge—how dare he point fingers? Manage your remaining nut before it gets blown off!”
A bit lowbrow personal attack.
“How dare the bootlicker!”
The petty spat between Hitler and Franco led to German reinforcements at the Spain-France border.
Just four divisions, but for troop-strapped Germany, that was a big hit.
We used Spain as a base to poke around southern and western France.
Naturally, Germany had to bolster coastal defenses there too.
“But won't that leave northern France exposed?”
By pulling Spain from the Axis front lines, we'd punched a massive hole in Hitler's Western European defenses.
Germany could block the east but not the west.
The picture I wanted was complete.