Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Berlin Blockade (1)
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The fascists and imperialists who had ignited colonial wars found themselves caught in a dilemma.
If they resumed fighting, they had to watch America's reactions, but dragging out the conflict in a stalemate would not sit well with the public whose expectations they had raised through constant agitation.
In times like these, the fascists and imperialists had only one tactic at their disposal.
It was the "backstab theory" that the German Junkers had employed.
"People of the nation, we have been stabbed in the back."
Yet they did not point fingers directly at America.
Stabbing their financial backer, America, meant they wouldn't get paid.
Instead, the fascists and imperialists singled out the Soviet Union, which had backed the resolution condemning the colonial wars, as the culprit behind it all.
"Bolsheviks around the world have brazenly revealed their intent to destroy the old order of the European empires through this resolution. Why? Because only then can they topple our nations and secure victory for the communists."
France's young leader, Pierre de Leotard, confronted the crisis head-on in this manner.
Churchill took the podium without hesitation as well.
"The British Empire has been struck from behind by the reds. Our society's tolerance, which once believed these crimson fiends were part of the community, handed them the opportunity. Had it not been for their betrayal, the Empire could have won the war. We were robbed of our rightful victory!"
By shifting the blame, they could extend their regimes and hold onto power.
It was something Churchill had done plenty of times during the first and second World Wars.
True to his experience, Churchill deftly passed the buck to the reds.
This "backstab theory" from the two fascist and imperialist nations was replicated verbatim in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In response, angry cries began to echo across the free world, demanding the hunt for the reds who had stabbed the colonial empires in the back.
"Find the traitors who sided with the reds!"
One man rose to answer this chorus of outrage.
Joseph McCarthy.
The poor Irish-American youth born in 1908 in rural Wisconsin had spotted a chance in this incident to punch above his weight.
"Just a few more steps up, and I'll be part of this country's elite."
McCarthy did not aspire to be an ordinary senator; he craved the seat of a true power broker who could shake the nation.
With public opinion and attention on his side, nothing was impossible.
McCarthy instantly transformed into an anti-communist crusader.
"I have in my hand a list of reds in the government and scientific community!"
Of course, McCarthy had no such list.
He merely hounded anyone whose views differed from his own with relentless ideological scrutiny, then tossed those who failed the test into oblivion.
But the public believed McCarthy was diligently rooting out the reds.
"McCarthy is the unbreakable shield of the United States!"
As McCarthy began rampaging in America, Britain and France echoed him once more.
"Look at this. Even America had reds hiding like that. The Soviets have the power to manipulate the free world from the shadows—that's why this mess happened. We need to purge our reds too!"
A fifth column hunt swept through the colonial empires.
When real reds like the Cambridge Five were uncovered in the process, Britain and France grew even more agitated.
"Look at this. Reds are crawling all over the heart of the nation."
As the free world united in attacking the Soviets and the reds, Stalin could no longer hold back.
"What the hell? The Americans prepared that resolution, so why are they pinning it on us? That's why I said not to start some bullshit colonial war."
The embers of the Cold War, dormant until now, burst into flames.
Stalin feared that staying passive would give the free world the pretext to attack them.
He needed to show the bastards that the Union was no pushover first.
"Block West Berlin."
"Pardon?"
"Grab the Western bastards by the balls. Squeeze until they scream!"
In December 1948, the historic Berlin Blockade began with a single order from the General Secretary.
This turn of events only fueled McCarthyism further.
"Now those reds are openly threatening us!"
The frenzied McCarthy and the public opinion he whipped up demanded a hardline response to the Soviets.
The Truman administration, which had wanted only to maintain a standoff with the Soviets, was backed into a corner.
"Have you contacted Moscow?"
"They won't respond."
Dean Acheson added that it seemed Stalin was deliberately avoiding contact.
"This is insane."
If things continued like this, a direct clash with the Soviets was inevitable.
Of course, America had nukes, so they wouldn't lose to the reds, but millions of casualties would amount to defeat for the administration.
Truman knew that.
"What's the military's take?"
Lucius Dubignon Clay, the Chief of the U.S. Military Government in Germany, proposed dispatching a convoy of recoilless guns and combat engineers overland.
Having U.S. forces cross Soviet-occupied territory without permission was tantamount to picking a fight.
The President recoiled at the suggestion.
"Pretend I never heard that."
Defense Secretary James Forrestal and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Omar Bradley proposed withdrawing from West Berlin.
"It's a city smack in the middle of enemy territory anyway. Holding it is impossible."
The bureaucrats agreed.
In the meantime, some floated another idea.
"Since the Korean sector isn't blockaded, how about bringing supplies through Korea?"
That was unlikely to get Korean approval.
Korea usually sided with America on minor issues, but on matters where the U.S. and Soviets clashed sharply, they always took a step back.
"Have the State Department try."
"Understood."
The President inwardly despaired, wondering if abandoning Berlin was the only option.
If it came to that, McCarthy's voice would only grow louder.
He'd surely brand the White House as a second-string red outfit that sold out Berlin.
The mere thought made his blood boil.
"Your Excellency. How about launching a massive airlift operation while we're at it?"
As Truman agonized, the military presented a new proposal.
"Supply them from the air?"
To a president short on sharp options, the military's idea sounded like manna from heaven.
Especially since it solved the problem without war.
But Clay had omitted a key detail.
In case Soviet forces interfered with the air operation, he planned to deploy bombers and fighters to neutralize them—but he left that out.
"If it's feasible, prepare it immediately."
Truman accepted Clay's proposal.
The U.S. military, which had waffled on the Berlin issue, welcomed the administration's hardline stance.
They believed that if the Soviets attacked, they could just bomb the reds into line.
"We have nukes."
America's confidence in going strong stemmed from its massive bomber fleet and nuclear arsenal.
On December 15, 1948, the U.S. Air Force launched an air bridge operation to supply Berlin.
"All C-54 pilots worldwide, proceed immediately to Germany."
Curtis LeMay, the master of carpet bombing—no, airlifts—took command of the operation.
"Whether it's airdrops or bombing, it's all about dropping stuff from the sky. Who better than the best at that?"
It wasn't wrong logic.
Just two days into the blockade, America began dropping supplies into Berlin.
The first day's delivery was 82 tons.
In a situation requiring over 2,500 tons daily (excluding the Korean sector), this was woefully inadequate.
The Soviets laughed upon hearing the news.
"Let them cross our airspace. They'll tire themselves out and collapse on their own."
Stalin believed the West would buckle under the strain and come to the table.
But the West's resolve and determination exceeded Stalin's expectations.
After a week, America's transport capacity surged to 500 tons, then 750 tons per day.
Even Stalin was taken aback by the escalation.
"What? Supplying an entire city by air? Does that even make sense?"
It did.
No nation had attempted it before simply because they lacked the money.
America had the national strength to throw cash around like that.
"Comrade General Secretary. We can't let this slide. If they somehow sustain the city by air, we'll be the laughingstock."
Stalin was well aware.
This was a matter of face.
If the communist homeland and free world's leader clashed and the Soviets lost momentum, future posturing would be uncertain.
Especially when the Soviets were already inferior in objective power.
"Comrade. Give the order to shoot down the transports, and the Red Army will launch interception operations."
Stalin snapped at the military's hawkish talk.
"What kind of lunacy is this!"
Shooting down transports meant starting all-out war with America.
Why should the Union risk life and limb again?
These generals must have forgotten when World War II even ended.
The generals fell silent.
The General Secretary glared at each one, then tapped his desk with his pen.
"War is absolutely off the table. That's non-negotiable."
The generals nodded solemnly at the General Secretary's decision.
If he said so, they would obey.
"For now, quietly send the one who came up with the Berlin blockade idea to the Gulag."
Wasn't that you?
But no one raised an objection.
If someone else took the blame for Stalin and went to the Gulag, the issue was resolved.
People began discussing ways to handle the matter as if nothing had happened.