Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Operation Ape (1)
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If the Korean military had easily withstood China's winter offensive, the German army could not.
The Soviet forces, deploying large numbers of ski units and cavalry prepared for winter, launched relentless assaults that left the Germans reeling.
Once the line began to crack, the German front collapsed like a breached dam in an instant.
Units that failed to retreat in the process were isolated deep within Soviet lines.
There were even cases where regiments, or entire divisions, were encircled.
“Soviet tanks! Run!”
When the terrifying Soviet tanks burst through the snow, the Germans panicked and fled in terror.
Having lost vast numbers of tanks and with air force sorties dwindling, the Germans were defenseless against the Soviet armored onslaught.
It was at this nadir for the Moscow front that one man stepped forward.
“I am the new commander of the 9th Army. From now on, we shift from defense to active defense.”
“Pardon? Then, do we have the reserves to carry out such a mission?”
“Me.”
It was the moment Walter Model, the panzer general dubbed “the Führer’s fireman” by Hitler himself, took the stage.
Starting with Model, outstanding frontline German commanders began to shine.
Judging encirclement inevitable, they formed circular defenses and countered the Soviets with hedgehog tactics.
“What? Why aren’t those bastards retreating? Are they suicidal?”
To survive, the Germans dug into key positions and waged stubborn defenses.
And their desperate stand snowballed.
“Pardon? Keep advancing west? But the Germans have a death grip on the rail junctions and cities. If we ignore them and push on, what about supplies?”
“It is the General Secretary’s will.”
Unfortunately for the Soviets, their early successes emboldened Stalin.
Stalin ordered them to press the momentum and shatter the entire German front.
No matter how much better the situation was than in reality, it was overreach for Soviet capabilities.
Their opponent was the army that had conquered Europe.
Weakened by attrition, yes—but not so frail as to collapse after one offensive.
The Soviets, pushing relentlessly westward across the front, soon hit their limit.
The farther west they went, the shorter the German supply lines became, and the Luftwaffe could operate from airfields with warm shelters.
“You Ivans had your fun, huh? The Luftwaffe has arrived.”
By early February, the German air force unleashed a torrent of sorties.
Averaging over 2,000 per day, they hammered Soviet rear areas and front lines mercilessly.
“Argh. What about our air force?”
The Soviets had some air power left, but as they advanced west, they faced the same problems the Germans had earlier.
“The engines won’t warm up properly?”
Operating from open fields without shelters, they struggled to get even two out of ten planes airborne.
Even the few they managed were swiftly slaughtered by the Germans.
“Soviet tanks? Want to tangle with our Stukas?”
Beyond ground support, the Germans targeted bridges, railroads, and trucks—anything logistics-related.
The Soviets had no means to endure such overwhelming displays of power.
As Soviet strength waned,
“Now it’s our turn to teach them a lesson.”
The Germans, as if never demoralized, switched back to the offensive.
The Soviets had to relinquish much of the territory they’d seized over the winter and flee in disarray.
They lost enormous amounts of heavy equipment in the retreat.
Compared to their initial victories, it was a dismal outcome.
The clear lesson from this farce was unmistakable.
Neither the Axis nor the Soviets had the power to finish the other off.
In the end, victory would hinge on outside aid.
Germany belatedly recognized the importance of the diplomatic war.
“But didn’t we screw up diplomacy?”
This elevated the influence of Heydrich, who had long advocated focusing on it.
“If Anglo-American resources keep flowing into Moscow unchecked, we Germans will face an even more disadvantageous war.”
The Führer disliked the situation but couldn’t ignore reality.
He now accepted that the Soviets couldn’t be crushed quickly.
“So what do you propose?”
Hitler snapped irritably.
“Empower the Reich Security Main Office. Give us full authority, and we’ll drive a wedge between the Anglo-Americans and Korea somehow.”
Heydrich had poured effort into operations against Korea, but their resources alone fell short.
Now was the time for the full might of the German state.
Hitler’s cold gaze lingered on Heydrich for a long moment.
In truth, the Führer had never cared for this blond, ruthless beast.
“If you’re confident, give it a try. But if there are no results, you’d better prepare yourself.”
Heydrich bowed deeply to the Führer.
Now, Germany’s fate rested almost entirely on his shoulders.
Only Heydrich understood that.
*
Germany’s external intelligence operations relied on three pillars.
The Wehrmacht’s Abwehr, the Reich Security Main Office’s foreign intelligence bureau, and the Foreign Ministry.
These three agencies had never once pretended to cooperate during the war.
They were rivals competing for intelligence.
“It seems these organizations are starting to pool their efforts recently.”
Director Lee Kyung-ho’s report made my brow furrow involuntarily.
“Have you found out why?”
“We haven’t obtained firm intel yet. But we have circumstantial evidence from British sources and wiretaps.”
At Lee’s signal, a KCIA executive pinned several photos to the blackboard.
“Who’s that?”
“His name is Reinhard Heydrich. Head of the Reich Security Main Office.”
Profiles of key RSHA directors like Heinz Jost were introduced next.
Heydrich—yeah, the name rang a bell.
I didn’t remember details, but he’d been portrayed as a capable Nazi in webtoons too.
“Heydrich is the reason these agencies are cooperating?”
“We can’t say for sure, but it’s highly probable.”
“So, have you figured out what he’s aiming for by uniting them?”
“Based on what we’ve confirmed so far, it seems the goal is to paint Korea as an enemy of the Anglo-Americans.”
What?
Trying to drag the Republic of Korea, which I’d painstakingly normalized, back into a quasi-Imperial Japan role?
Can’t let that slide.
I paused to think.
We’d made our own moves, but with Anglo-American wariness as a baked-in passive trait, Heydrich’s intrigue was bound to bear fruit eventually.
Even if Germany fell, heightened suspicion toward us would be a net loss.
So, no way we could just let this guy be.
He was the type to cause big trouble if left alone.
Tapping the desk with my index finger, I reached a decision.
As the esteemed side character teacher from Zaytsev said:
If there’s an obstacle?
Eliminate it!
Yes, removing obstacles is the answer for the Republic.
“Director Lee.”
“Yes, Prime Minister.”
“I’d like KCIA to draw up a plan to eliminate Heydrich. Feasible?”
“Pardon?”
Even for an enemy state, assassinating the head of the RSHA兼 Governor of Bohemia and Moravia was no small ask—small wonder KCIA was stunned.
But for such a big shot, Heydrich’s security was surprisingly lax, wasn’t it?
In real history’s Operation Anthropoid, he’d been gunned down cruising in an open-top car with just one dedicated driver.
Maybe to flaunt his power, but in wartime, it was reckless.
No different here.
“I’m not saying KCIA has to handle everything alone. With British cooperation, we can connect with Czech and Yugoslav resistance groups, right?”
Purely on our own? Impossible, of course.
How would Asians assassinate a governor in the middle of an all-white Czech lands?
Show our faces, and Gestapo would nab us on sight.
So we needed locals who could operate on-site.
Enter the Czech resistance for execution,
And the Yugoslavs to provide assassin bases.
With my idea clearing the key hurdle, Lee Kyung-ho replied confidently.
“In that case, yes, it’s possible.”
I decided to encourage him a bit.
“What you’ll be doing won’t be easy. Still, let’s make this a masterpiece. Only if KCIA pulls off something this huge will your prestige rise domestically, right?”
That changed the glint in Lee’s eyes.
People and organizations alike go crazy for honor and status.
“I’ll stake my life on this.”
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
I saw Lee off and lit a cigar.
Assassination, huh.
Made me think I should tighten my own security.
I’d scaled it back after the counter-coup.
“Director.”
“Yes, sir.”
“From today, increase the security detail.”
“Understood.”
I can’t take a bullet.
That was the most important principle I’d set in this world.