Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Fall of Poland (1)
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On September 1, 1939, the German Wehrmacht mobilized 1.5 million troops to invade Poland.
Poland, which had to stand against them, possessed a total of 1.75 million active and reserve troops combined, but it was nowhere near enough to withstand the assault of the modernized German army.
“Slow. Slow. What you’re seeing is the afterimage of our troops!”
Of course, the German army wasn’t truly an invincible mechanized force made up entirely of motorized units.
Most of the German troops had to rely on horse-drawn wagons or their own two feet instead of vehicles.
In truth, the driving force behind the German Blitzkrieg wasn’t the tanks or aircraft featured in propaganda, but stimulants like methamphetamine that allowed soldiers to march for 48 hours without sleep.
There was a high risk of turning the troops into drug addicts after the war, but in reality, no one cared about such issues.
“What? You can make them march 48 hours without sleep? Make sure to give it to the soldiers. Give it to them twice.”
On the contrary, once they learned of the stimulants’ existence, they were desperate to use even more.
While the German army unleashed its Blitzkrieg with the power of drugs, the Polish army was busy flailing in a swamp of despair.
“What are we supposed to use to stop German tanks and aircraft?”
Of course, Poland did have excellent tanks like the 7TP and fighters like the PZL P.24.
But there simply weren’t enough of them.
No matter how great the weapons were, if you couldn’t produce them in quantity, it was as good as not having them at all.
Unfortunately, Poland’s military industry had been stalled due to the prolonged trade wars during the Weimar Republic era, and its military modernization plans had been pushed back to after 1942.
From the start, the timing of the war’s outbreak was the worst possible for Poland.
Nor did they have any advantages over the Germans beyond equipment.
The quality of their officer corps was subpar, and the Polish military leadership’s perception of reality failed to grasp the situation.
“How can we casually yield sacred national territory recovered after 150 years? We won’t give up even an inch.”
Instead of utilizing natural barriers like the Vistula River, the Polish military had devised a strategy of holding the border and then retreating in stages.
Defending the border with inferior forces was no different from handing Germany an easy victory.
“Look at those ignorant Poles.”
The German army advanced triumphantly according to its initial operational plan, pushing back the Polish forces.
That said, the war didn’t go entirely according to Germany’s wishes.
On September 3, Britain and France each declared war on Germany.
“Your Excellency, the Führer. Britain has declared war as well.”
“Unbelievable!”
It was an expansion into World War II that Hitler had never anticipated.
In fact, Germany was utterly unprepared for a prolonged war.
It didn’t have sufficient oil reserves, and its ammunition stockpiles could only sustain operations for a few weeks.
In such a situation, facing a naval blockade and all-out war with the great powers was enough to make Hitler faint from shock—and understandably so.
On top of that, Polish resistance was fiercer than expected.
The Polish army, which was supposed to collapse easily, put up stubborn resistance and clung tenaciously to the Germans.
“If Britain and France come, we can win.”
The Poles pinned all their hopes on the British and French offensive.
If they could hold out until those powers turned the tide, the Polish nation could survive.
They would triumph.
*
“The fall of Poland is a foregone conclusion.”
I coldly predicted Poland’s demise.
The British and French were the types to just send their souls—no real help for Poland getting pummeled by the German main force.
What great aid could they provide with something flashy like the Saar Offensive that they’d just do briefly and leave?
“Just as you say, Supreme Commander.”
I looked around at the generals of the National Salvation Military Committee.
“Let me ask you all one thing.”
“Yes, Supreme Commander.”
“After Poland falls, how far do you think this war will expand?”
The generals pondered my question deeply.
“Won’t it become a great war with America joining in, like the last World War?”
“The Soviets might enter the war to carve up Germany.”
The generals shared their respective thoughts.
“Then, on which side should our Daehan stand?”
This was a test.
Anyone who answered the Axis here would be blocked from promotions going forward.
They needed to watch their step.
The generals agonized for a long time before giving their answers.
“We should side with the Soviets.”
Baek Dong-seok said.
Suddenly siding with the commies?
It was an unexpected response.
“You. What’s your reasoning?”
“Balance.”
“Balance?”
“If the Western powers defeat Germany, we could be their next target. To counter that, our most viable ally is the Soviets.”
“The commies have zero credibility.”
“Necessity will forge trust between us. Don’t the commies need friends too?”
It wasn’t wrong.
“We’ve already signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviets. I see no reason we can’t advance to an alliance.”
“I get what you’re saying.”
The generals rattled off names like America, Britain, France, and so on.
The reasoning was simple.
Since Germany couldn’t win, ride along with the Western powers.
It was the logic I’d considered too.
But the reason I hesitated to join the Allies outright was one nagging concern.
Would they recognize Daehan’s position and influence in the East if the war ended in an Allied victory?
If the Allies refused to acknowledge our interests, my position would become precarious.
As a dictator, deciding to retreat would undermine my authority, while pushing back aggressively would mean declaring war on the Allies.
I had no desire to be cornered into such an uncomfortable dilemma.
That was why I’d been thinking of maneuvering the situation so the West and Germany destroyed each other—but Baek Dong-seok had offered a new perspective.
The commies.
Changing my thinking, there was no better ally than the Soviets.
With the Soviets as allies—boasting a land army larger than all the West combined—no Western power could ever threaten us with blackmail.
The problem was that the commies were an untrustworthy bunch as allies.
What had America done to the Soviets in World War II?
Fed them, clothed them, housed them, even changed their diapers—and got the Cold War in return.
Bastards.
As a victim of that Cold War, I couldn’t help shuddering at the thought of the Soviets.
Even so, private feelings were private; official duties were official.
I seriously contemplated allying with the Soviets.
‘What to do.’
No, maybe there was no need to agonize yet.
Did I really need to commit to a firm stance right now?
In any case, it seemed necessary to test the Soviets’ waters.
If they responded positively, I’d push forward; if not, discard the idea.
As I organized my thoughts, Lee Jung-yoon spoke up.
“Your Excellency.”
“Yes, you. Speak.”
“What about Germany?”
What? This guy suggesting we side with the Germans we’d already cut ties with?
“Siding with Berlin? Why?”
“Germany prepared thoroughly for war. Meanwhile, the West jumped in unprepared. In a fight between the prepared and the unprepared, Germany’s victory is obvious. Besides, isn’t Germany’s national strength equal to that of Britain and France combined?”
That’s an exaggeration.
Germany’s strength surpassed France’s but barely matched the British Empire including its dominions.
Comparing it to the two combined was out of the question.
This optical illusion stemmed from the monstrous power of the German Empire during World War I.
Back then, Germany had faced six great powers—America, Britain, Russia, France, Korea, Italy—as enemies and still crushed one front despite fighting on two.
But the mustachioed Germany was little more than balloon muscles compared to the German Empire that had prepared for war over decades.
“Germany’s rearmament only began a few years ago.”
Officially, Germany’s rearmament started in 1935.
Of course, covert rearmament had gone on since the Weimar era, but the large-scale overt efforts hadn’t even reached four years.
“But they prepared more thoroughly than Britain or France. Just watch—Germany will definitely crush France.”
Some generals nodded in agreement.
I wanted to rebuke their overreaching conclusion, but knowing France would fall in six weeks made it hard to argue.
“I hear what you’re saying.”
Even in this situation, predicting Germany’s victory.
Was the halo left by that eight-limp bastard that strong?
“But let me make this clear right here.”
The generals straightened up tensely.
“Daehan will not side with Germany. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Supreme Commander!”
“That’s all I needed. Now that war’s broken out, those on duty in the situation room stay; the rest, go get drinks. I’m buying today—let’s hit a nice pleasure house.”
“We shall obey.”
You couldn’t dwell on war every day just because it had started.
Sometimes, you needed a change of pace like this.