Chapter 164: The Treaty

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Having rushed all the way to Moscow, German Foreign Minister Merkel didn’t have time to admire the ever-changing Soviet capital. Without even a sip of water, he entered the Kremlin and waited in a conference room for the Soviet leader, Stalin, to arrive.

“Ah, Merkel! My old friend!” Because several of his own confidants harbored a rather unfriendly hostility toward the Germans, Stalin had decided to personally handle this matter to secure the Polish invasion plan he had approved. Since Merkel had been the one to negotiate many of the Soviet-German cooperation projects, Stalin was very happy to greet his old acquaintance as soon as he entered the room.

“Great Soviet leader, Mr. Stalin, I am also very happy to see you,” Merkel said with a humble nod, then added very seriously, “Recently, we have received a warning from the Poles, saying that there is a large-scale buildup of the Soviet Red Army on the Soviet-Polish border. Therefore, the Führer sent me here urgently to inquire about the details of the matter.”

The army has only just been mobilized, and the scale is not large. How could the Poles possibly know? The internal cleansing must still be insufficient. Stalin narrowed his eyes as he looked at Merkel, then suddenly burst out laughing. “My German friends are really well-informed. Your efficiency is truly something I envy! But you play both sides, using us to threaten the British, and then using the British to threaten us. This kind of practice really angers me.”

Bringing up old scores during diplomatic negotiations was nothing more than finding a pretext before asking for benefits. Besides, what country wasn’t adept at such two-faced dealings? Merkel said with a smile, “Our fatherland is weak and can only maneuver between its powerful neighbors. It is our failure as diplomats.”

Stalin gave a dry laugh. Thinking of his plan to attack Poland, he wasn’t prepared to beat around the bush with the German envoy. He cleared his throat and said, “Mr. Secret Envoy, you have probably heard about the grievances between us and Poland. What I really want to know now is, as a major power with influence in Europe, what is Germany’s attitude toward Poland?”

“Mr. Stalin,” Merkel did not answer immediately. He thought seriously for a moment before replying, “Germany has always had a good cooperative relationship with the Soviet Union. Although many of our collaborations cannot be brought out into the open to be boasted about, in fact, the relationship between our two countries has never been so close.”

“You are right! I personally also attach great importance to this good friendship! I hope this friendship can continue,” Stalin said with a smiling nod, the smile making his large mustache tremble.

“To be honest, the relationship between Germany and Poland has never been very harmonious,” Merkel said softly. “On issues such as the Danzig Corridor, Germany and Poland still have territorial disputes. Therefore, Germany cannot sit idly by and watch the Soviet Union swallow Poland whole, because we still have many border issues to negotiate with Poland.”

Not being able to watch the Soviet Union swallow Poland whole means they want to participate in carving it up. Stalin raised an eyebrow. He knew that Germany actually intended to send troops into Poland, and that Germany’s series of eastward policies would inevitably involve making a move on Poland. Even if the Soviet Union did nothing, it seemed that Germany would soon fall out with Poland over the Danzig Corridor. Stalin now even felt a bit smug, as if his plan to invade Poland had been prescient.

“In that case, we have another topic for cooperation between Germany and us,” Stalin said with a nod. “If the Soviet Union is victorious in Poland, then the Soviet Union promises to return the Danzig Corridor to Germany.”

Anyone can write an empty check, especially the Soviets, whose empty checks were the least reliable. Merkel despised Stalin in his heart, but on his face, he smiled. “What the Führer wants is not just the Danzig Corridor. The Führer needs more security guarantees. After all, the anti-Comintern sentiment within our country has been on the rise recently. The Führer hopes to ensure the absolute security of the Germanic nation on the Polish issue.”

The so-called “ensuring the absolute security of the Germanic nation” was nothing more than wanting a piece of Polish territory. Stalin seemed to be able to accept this demand. “We will consider the feelings of our German friends. We can allow the German border to extend 100 kilometers to the east.”

Merkel almost laughed out loud at Stalin’s words. One hundred kilometers? Are you trying to get rid of a beggar? The German panzer divisions will probably have covered 100 kilometers before they even get up to speed! After steadying his emotions, Merkel spoke again. “Instead of drawing lines, why don’t we see what the strength of our two countries is like?”

Stalin was clearly very interested in this topic. “Oh? Tell me, how do we see our strength?”

“We attack Poland together. The place where our two armies meet will be our new border. How about that?” Merkel said with a soft smile.

“That’s a good proposal, but the side that attacks first is at a disadvantage. Poland will concentrate its defenses on the border where the war first breaks out,” Stalin said with a wave of his hand. “I’m not a fool. How could I make such a joke on a matter of state, Mr. Merkel?”

Merkel also laughed. “Mr. Stalin, what if Germany attacks first? How about that proposal? The place we meet is the border. However, we sign an agreement that the side that attacks first has a one-month priority period. That is, the other side can only launch its attack one month after the first side begins. How about this rule?”

The person who had proposed this rule was Führer Akado. He had drawn up this condition before Merkel boarded the plane. Merkel didn’t know why the Führer had set the time at one month. If the Soviet Union found the time too short and insisted that Germany attack first, what should he do? So after stating the condition, Merkel watched Stalin out of the corner of his eye, cold sweat even breaking out on the tip of his nose.

Stalin fell silent. He had to think carefully about the interests involved. Although the side that attacked first seemed to be at a disadvantage, once they broke through, a month’s advance could be said to be a territorial advantage gained later on. How much that would be, Stalin found it very difficult to judge.

“I need to discuss this plan with my generals,” Stalin finally said. He looked at Merkel and patted his shoulder affectionately. “Go and get some rest. We’ll have dinner together tonight and drink the best vodka.”

Stalin had recently been trying to quit drinking, yet he was making an exception to have a drink with Merkel. This was already a very high diplomatic courtesy. Merkel didn’t say much more and agreed with a smile. “I am overwhelmed by your hospitality, Mr. Stalin! I believe our cooperation will continue.”

Summoning his confidants, Stalin repeated the conditions put forward by Germany. “Tell me, what should we choose? The Germans’ attitude is something we have to consider! The lesson of Spain tells us that if Germany supports Poland, we will be in for a tough fight.”

“We should let the Germans scout the road for us,” Khrushchev said after a moment’s thought. “The lesson of 1920 tells us that the Poles are not an easy bone to chew.”

“Comrade Stalin, I think the combat effectiveness of the Red Army, having been cleansed, is still trustworthy. We should seize the initiative in the war,” a general said after some thought, offering a different opinion. “If we let the Germans attack first and they achieve the same kind of momentum as they did in the Spanish Civil War, we will lose out on the partition of Poland.”

Although Khrushchev’s prestige within the Soviet Union was unparalleled due to Stalin’s favor, there were still many in Stalin’s faction who hoped to replace this new favorite and become the successor to power in Stalin’s group.

Stalin was clearly more inclined to believe the latter. He preferred to hold victory in his own hands. “We will sign a ‘Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact’ with Germany to ensure the absolute security of the Soviet Union’s western border. Then, we will attack Poland first, take Warsaw, and wash away the shame of 1920.”

After speaking, he looked at Khrushchev. “Don’t be so timid! Sometimes you have to be more confident! Even if we fail in combat, by that time the Germans will already be committed. With just a little trick, they will have to obediently give up land to us!”

Khrushchev’s eyes lit up, and he asked eagerly, “You mean…”

“If they don’t give it, we will publish the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact. Britain and France will naturally go looking for trouble with Germany. At that time, we can just partition Germany with Britain and France,” Stalin said triumphantly. “You all still have much to learn!”

The next day, Merkel met with Stalin and proposed that Germany attack Poland first, but the proposal was flatly rejected by Stalin. Stalin proposed that the Soviet Union should attack Poland first, but that Germany’s follow-up must be delayed; they could only declare war on Poland three months after the Soviet attack.

Merkel, of course, could not agree, and the two sides engaged in a fierce struggle over this issue.

While Merkel was in the Soviet Union negotiating how to partition Poland, Akado himself was not idle. He gave a speech, a speech that officially proclaimed Germany as the Third Reich. At this moment, Germany officially adopted the swastika flag and became a semi-mobilized, quasi-military empire.

All the German people heard the powerful voice of their Führer. “If the first empire of the Germanic nation was the Holy Roman Empire, and the second empire was the Wilhelmian Empire established by the iron and blood of Chancellor Bismarck, then now, we are witnessing the Third Reich! Please, witness with me, the rise of the Third Reich! Long live Great Germany! Long live the Third Reich!”

Akado announced loudly on the radio, “The swastika flag represents the great conviction of the German people to unite, regardless of past grievances! It is a testament to our eternal memory of the enemy’s insidious provocations! The German people will take up arms to defend their compatriots from harm!”