Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Under the Surface (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The war in Europe, reignited on a massive scale, instantly seized the world's attention.
“Germany invading the Soviets? The outcome’s obvious.”
The Anglo-American political circles predicted a swift Soviet defeat.
“Even France, Europe’s premier land power, folded in six weeks. How long can a bunch of commie proxies hold out? Ten weeks would be a miracle.”
In this chilly atmosphere, one man stepped forward.
It was U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt.
Roosevelt deeply regretted being unable to lift a finger against Germany’s domination of Europe due to isolationists.
To him, news of war breaking out between Germany and the Soviet Union was nothing short of divine intervention.
This was America’s last chance to eliminate its most dangerous foe.
“We’ve squandered too many opportunities already. We’ve stood by as free nations crumbled under Hitler’s boot. Now the last country that can stand against Hitler has thrown down the gauntlet. Are we just going to watch? If we sit this one out too, it’s as good as handing Hitler the eastern shore of the Atlantic on a silver platter.”
Roosevelt summoned prominent Republican lawmakers, desperately trying to sway them.
But his words fell on deaf ears.
“Mr. President, we don’t want to let Hitler run wild either. But he’s unified Europe under one hegemon. With no natural allies in sight, poking the bear would devastate our businesses.”
“Why poke Germany at all? No matter how ambitious Hitler gets, he can’t cross the Atlantic. We can just accept his hold on Europe and get along fine.”
Opposition wasn’t just from isolationists—pro-German voices were fierce too.
“This country hasn’t been attacked by Germany. Why spill blood fighting them? Mr. President, remember: thirty million German-Americans live here.”
The president had no choice but to stew.
This was the perfect moment to check the Nazis, but domestic shackles left him paralyzed.
If only Britain were still holding out, he could’ve justified aid under that pretext and maneuvered some wiggle room.
How had things gotten so tangled?
“Frustrating.”
As Roosevelt pondered, the FBI received mysterious mail.
“What the hell is this? ‘Radiance Society’?”
The envelope bore a name straight out of a conspiracy theory, so they nearly laughed it off.
But the contents were no joke.
“What is all this?”
Inside were piles of dirt on pro-Nazi groups: seditious rhetoric, treasonous acts, corruption—you name it.
The transcripts of private conversations no outsider should know? This was the real deal.
“Report to the Director.”
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover grasped the documents’ value instantly.
“Perfect.”
He now had the weapon to sweep out the headache-inducing domestic Nazis.
Hoover met with the president right away.
“A way to wipe out the Nazi groups in one go?”
“Yes, sir.”
Hoover briefed the president on the mystery papers, suspecting Soviet origins.
Only one nation on Earth was cornered by Germany’s invasion.
‘The Soviets.’
Arrogant commies meddling in U.S. policymaking was infuriating, but he couldn’t dismiss the intel out of spite.
“You won’t like the source, sir, but using it lets us crush the domestic Nazis for good.”
“Fine. Use it to take them down. Then what?”
Hoover’s eyes gleamed slyly.
“We link isolationists tied to Nazi groups, one by one. Won’t they shut up then?”
Democracy didn’t tolerate such tactics, but these were extraordinary times.
‘If the Nazis win, America’s future goes dark.’
For the nation’s long-term security, a few stains could be overlooked.
“Director.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You have one week. Clean them out.”
“No worries, sir.”
Around the same time, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill grappled with ways to influence the German-Soviet war.
‘If it topples Hitler, I’d back commies—even demons from hell.’
The problem? Few agreed with Churchill’s logic.
“Let the commies and German pigs slaughter each other. We’ll munch popcorn. Whichever dies, the Empire loses nothing.”
The public had zero interest in the mutual annihilation between Germany and the Soviets.
The last war ending not in defeat but an “honorable armistice” played a big role.
No vanquished nation, no burning grudge.
Only the British Communist Party echoed Churchill.
‘Live long enough, and even commies back you. What a world.’
Churchill hustled everywhere, trying to shift British minds.
“In the past, we British signed the Amiens Treaty with Napoleon and agreed to an honorable armistice. But what happened? He used the time we gave him to rebuild a continental juggernaut. Are we repeating that mistake? If Hitler conquers the Soviets and shatters the armistice, what then?”
Anyone could grasp Churchill’s point.
Germany was as untrustworthy as Napoleon.
Letting such a foe become Europe’s sole master was just waiting for the knife at your throat.
Churchill toured over twenty spots a day, imploring Britons to confront Germany.
If direct fighting was off the table, at least arm the Soviets.
“Ugh, that fatso’s gone full red now.”
He endured the insults.
Churchill’s crusade soon bore fruit.
“Tubby’s not all wrong. Hitler’s downfall is now or never—can’t just sit and watch.”
“What if he crushes the Soviets then rips up the ‘honorable armistice,’ like Mr. Gallipoli says? Better to do something than bet our fate on that lying crook.”
At first, these murmurs stayed out of politics.
Just ripples in teacups among society’s gentlemanly fringes.
But by June, as German forces faltered, the British government began eyeing supply aid.
Germany sensed the shift in Anglo-American attitudes.
The Nazis weren’t without sympathizers abroad.
Reinhard Heydrich, head of the Reich Security Main Office, rushed to the Führer upon learning this.
“Mein Führer! The West is shifting toward intervention.”
“Now?”
Hitler sneered.
If they wanted in, they should’ve acted while France still breathed.
With Germany’s invincible Wehrmacht fully committed to the Soviets, Western meddling meant little.
A few supplies wouldn’t stop Germany from breaking the Soviets.
“Sir, it’s not that simple.”
Heydrich took Anglo-American involvement deadly seriously.
His intel networks in brothels, Nazi groups, and religious outfits worldwide gave him unmatched insight into their power.
If their economic might poured into the USSR, even the invincible Wehrmacht couldn’t claim an easy win.
“This war ends by September at latest. Hess, right?”
“Precisely, mein Führer.”
Rudolf Hess, the party secretary ever glued to Hitler’s side, chimed in.
A parrot echoing the Führer’s thoughts needed no real input.
“Mein Führer, Western intervention demands total diplomatic and economic counteroffensive.”
Reports of Korea collaborating with the Soviets had just hit his desk too.
Add Anglo-American industry? The Soviets’ industrial might would be nightmarish.
“I get your concerns. But run these by the Reichsführer-SS first.”
Consult Himmler?
Heydrich withdrew, deeply disappointed.
If the Führer wouldn’t listen, the RSHA would act alone.
Heydrich issued orders to Amt VI, the SD foreign intelligence office, one of RSHA’s seven main departments.
The directive was straightforward.
“Link with U.S. isolationists to keep American involvement minimal.”
Goal: Block anything like the Lend-Lease Act.
“Blast Churchill and anti-German politicians’ dirt across the press.”
In Britain, hype Gallipoli, the Osman battleship scam—destroy anti-German figures’ credibility.
Heydrich handed execution to Amt VI chief Heinz Jost.
Jost balked at the mission.
“Fight underwater with just our resources? Not a pretty picture.”
But defying orders? No chance.
Heydrich didn’t tolerate disobedience.
“No choice. Boss’s orders. Launch the ops.”
The SD kicked off their grand Allied covert campaign per the chief’s command.