Chapter 239: Hurry Up and Go

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Akado stood on the balcony of the Felsennest, silently looking up as the German fighter formations flew over the border region. On the horizon, a black cloud of smoke was rising, and the rumble of cannons could be heard clearly even from where he was.

This was the first phase of Operation Sickle Cut. The military strength of the Allied forces and Germany could be considered evenly matched. Including the reserve forces at home, Akado had mobilized a total of 2.7 million troops, which formed 137 divisions. And to resist these German divisions, the Allies had also gathered a large number of combat troops—France had mobilized 97 divisions, Britain had deployed 15, and in addition, there were 22 from Belgium and 10 from the Netherlands. In other words, it was approximately 137 German divisions against 144 Allied divisions. And the number of war weapons deployed by both sides was also very close. In terms of artillery, the Allies had the advantage; France alone possessed 10,100 field guns, while Germany had 8,700. The comparison of tank numbers was 3,100 for the Allies against 2,600 for Germany, but Germany’s tanks were concentrated in ten panzer divisions, while the vast majority of the Allies’ tanks were dispersed among various units.

Of course, another data gap was quite large: almost all of Germany’s tanks were equipped with radios, while among all the tanks of the Allied armies, only one-fifth of France’s were equipped with communication equipment.

In the sky, Akado’s German Air Force held a clear advantage. The ratio of combat aircraft between the two sides was about two to one: the German Air Force had deployed 5,400 combat aircraft (including fighters and all other planes), while the Allied air forces only had 2,800. Moreover, even if the numbers were equal, Germany’s Fw-190s, Stukas, and Do-217s were far more advanced than the machines the Allied air forces could put in the air.

In terms of tactics, talent, and military discipline, the two opponents were also evenly matched. Compared to the German Wehrmacht’s emphasis on speed and mobility, the Anglo-French-Belgian coalition forces led by Gamelin adhered to the strategic and tactical doctrines left over from the First World War, maintaining a basic approach of strategic defense.

The Anglo-French-Belgian coalition forces commanded by Gamelin hoped that the battle would fall into a stalemate, the kind of stalemate where both sides continuously threw in troops but could not change the basic layout of the defensive lines. Then, they would rely on the powerful naval forces of the Anglo-French coalition to blockade Germany, to contain and weaken Germany economically, until Germany’s war potential was destroyed.

This commander of the Anglo-French coalition forces was arrogant and conceited, ignoring the victories the Wehrmacht had already achieved, and blindly believing that the blitzkrieg could win against Poland on the Eastern Front but could not defeat the French on the Western Front. Gamelin himself had once been Marshal Joseph Joffre’s chief of operations at the Marne, so many people believed his rhetoric.

To this day, these generals still believed that France held victory in its grasp, just as Gamelin had said in an interview on New Year’s Day 1938: “Of the German generals who were very famous from 1914 to 1918, not a single one now holds a key position in the Wehrmacht. Therefore, the German Wehrmacht has no experience to speak of.”

In fact, it was quite the opposite. The officer corps of the German army had been filled with young blood. These officers deeply believed in the correctness of the blitzkrieg and were unswervingly carrying out the operational plan drawn up for them by the Führer. And the fighting spirit of the French officers seemed to have long since been extinguished by the “Verdun panic.”

“Akado, the wind is strong outside. You should come in,” Anna said. When they were alone, she liked to call the man she loved by his name, not the “my Führer” that all of Germany called him. She put down the lunch she had brought in, then walked up behind Akado and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Anna, do you think what I’m doing is right or wrong?” Akado asked in a low voice, not turning his head but looking at the column of black smoke rising on the horizon.

“What are you referring to?” Anna asked, resting her cheek on Akado’s back. That back was not broad, even a little thin, but Anna felt that this back was very strong, very powerful.

“For the sake of the people of my own country, I am plundering the property of others, destroying their homes, killing their husbands, imprisoning their wives, and enslaving their children,” Akado said, looking at the distance with an expressionless face. “You know, in the report that was just sent, more than 30,000 elderly people died in Poland this winter. The children cannot go to school and can only survive by working in the concentration camps. In their hearts, I am probably not a great Führer, but a heart-eating demon.”

“Then, Akado, do you think Charlemagne was a great man?” Anna asked after a moment’s thought.

“He can be considered a great man,” Akado nodded.

“Then, do you think Napoleon was a great man?” Anna continued to ask.

Akado thought for a moment and nodded once again. “He was also a great man.”

“When a man expands the borders for his own country, he will always be hated by the people of other countries. There is only one thing you need to do,” Anna continued.

“You really know how to comfort people, Anna,” Akado said with a smile. He then turned around, placed his hands on Anna’s slender waist, and led her into the room. “Tell me, what is it that I need to do?”

“What you need to do is very simple, and also very difficult,” Anna replied as she walked with Akado. “Lead us to victory! Only by always being victorious can this nation forever love you, forever see you as a god.”

And what if I lose? Akado did not ask this question out loud. That’s right. If he lost, then all his previous efforts would be for naught. The occupied land would be taken back, the plundered resources would be snatched away, and in the end, the German people would have nothing but the suffering of war. So they would hate the name “Akado” just as they hated the name “Hitler.”

And what if I lose? The beautiful women by his side would probably have to commit suicide with him in a dark basement. All those infinite fantasies about the future would no longer exist. The Third Reich would be torn apart by the planes and tanks of the Allies, and it would be decades before the half-sized territory could be reunified.

It’s not easy being a demon, Akado thought bitterly. If you are counter-attacking passively, if you win, you are a national hero. If you lose, you are a lonely and tragic hero. But if you start the war first, if you win, you are a devil’s messenger. If you lose, you are a war criminal who should be cut into a thousand pieces…

“Akado, let’s eat,” Anna said with a sweet smile. “Whether you lead me to victory or to destruction, I will follow you firmly. Don’t worry.”

“Thank you,” Akado said. He suddenly thought of Mercedes, and of Fanny. They would also follow me to the end of the world, wouldn’t they? Whether it’s a bottomless abyss or a thorny, muddy swamp, they would follow me, wouldn’t they?

Mercedes had gone south to Munich in a hurry before Akado had left for the Felsennest, because she had discovered that several military supply contractors were using substandard goods. She had promised Akado that she could solve this incidental problem by the end of the month.

Fanny was even busier. She was vigorously promoting the Führer’s war of revenge against France, ensuring that the nation believed that Germany could defeat France as easily as they believed Germany could defeat Poland. She had been severely sleep-deprived these past few days, so she had refused to see Akado. She said she would wait until Akado had won victory in Paris to get some good rest and then see him.

Collecting his thoughts, Akado felt that it was not very moral to think of other women in front of one woman. So he gave Anna an apologetic smile and then, very gentlemanly, pulled out a chair for her.

Lunch was not sumptuous, but in a country like Germany that was single-mindedly preparing for war, it was already a decent meal. There were fried eggs, beef and sausage, and real butter and bread. But compared to other countries, for a head of state to eat such a lunch could be described as frugal.

In the past two years, Germany had destroyed many vineyards to plant grain and develop animal husbandry, so it was already difficult to find German-produced 1936 vintage wine on the market. Now, most of Germany’s wine was from the Hungarian region, captured from Poland, or from Italy and France.

Akado walked to the wine cabinet, opened the glass door, and took out a bottle of 1935 local German wine. He walked to Anna’s side, poured a glass for the lady who loved him so deeply, then walked to his own seat and poured a glass for himself. He then put the bottle aside, pulled out his chair, and sat down opposite Anna.

“Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Akado said, picking up his knife and fork. He pointed to the butter in front of him with his fork. “Let’s use margarine tomorrow. After all, the people are also suffering.”

Anna smiled and nodded. She knew that the man she loved was excellent. He deeply loved this country, and despite being a multi-millionaire, he was more keen on sharing the joys and sorrows with the people. He was worthy of being called a gift from God to the German people. To have just one such person was the good fortune of the entire nation.

After eating a few bites of lunch in silence, Akado suddenly thought of something and looked up. “Don’t think I’m being long-winded, but I know that because of the war I started, many German people still don’t have enough to eat or wear. If we are a little more frugal, they can all live a little better.”

Anna nodded with a happy expression. “I know. I’ll tell the kitchen to serve less next time.”

The fire in the fireplace danced, bringing a warm atmosphere to the entire living room of the Felsennest. And 40 kilometers away from here, German infantry, covering the mountains and fields, were struggling to advance in the muddy snow. They trudged through the wet and dirty forest, their breath visible as hot air, chewing on cold hardtack biscuits, walking, and walking, to keep up with the armored forces in front of them.

An off-road vehicle moved slowly forward in the crowd. The German officer in the vehicle, wrapped in a thick greatcoat, shrank into his seat, looked at the clear sky, and complained, his breath hot. “On a day like this, I should have a fireplace, with a fire lit inside, and a glass of wine… But the Führer gave the order, and we all had to come over here to fight.”

“There are fireplaces in Paris, and women and perfume, fine wine and coffee,” the general beside him said, sitting in the car and frowning. He glared at the complaining adjutant. “But you must make these soldiers hurry up.”