Chapter 143: The Allied Military Control Commission
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Behind a camouflaged underground bunker on the German Siegfried Line, at the main gate of a barracks cordoned off with barbed wire, several sentries with cigarettes dangling from their lips stared boredly at the endless road disappearing into the distance.
After a short while, the faint sound of an engine was heard. Amidst the sparse chirping of birds, it brought a trace of civilization to the somewhat gloomy forest. One soldier dropped the cigarette butt from his mouth, stamped it out with his foot, then jerked his chin, signaling to his comrades that someone was approaching. The few of them then brought the rifles slung over their shoulders into their hands.
The car got closer, but it was not a standard-issue German military vehicle. It was a French Army truck, carrying a dozen or so French soldiers with white armbands, though they were all carrying long rifles. Painted on the truck in German were the words “Commission” and “Allied Military Control.”
One look and it was clear this vehicle belonged to the Allied Military Control Commission. Their aggressive arrival this time certainly did not bode well. So, the few German soldiers did not hesitate. They immediately stood in the middle of the road, signaling for the vehicle to stop.
“Honk! Honk!” The truck blared its horn but showed no intention of slowing down. Seeing that things were not looking good, the German soldiers quickly got out of the way. The truck flew past, brushing against their clothes and startling them into a cold sweat.
“Damn it! After them!” one German soldier shouted after swallowing hard and stamping his foot. “Quick!” The reason they had no communication equipment was that a couple of hundred meters behind them was another Wehrmacht checkpoint with a roadblock. That was the real post for intercepting passing vehicles; they were only responsible for patrolling and guarding the outer perimeter.
They ran back with all their might. Sure enough, before they had run two hundred meters, they saw the truck stopped in the middle of the road. Barring its way was a roadblock and almost an entire platoon of German Wehrmacht soldiers. The few of them walked over, panting, and pointed at the French soldiers, whose eyes were filled with coldness, and cursed, “Bastards! They trespassed on a restricted military area! We told them to stop, but they drove right through…”
Before they could finish, they realized the atmosphere was a bit off and wisely shut their mouths. They walked around the French soldiers to join their own men and, following their example, raised their rifles and pointed them at the Frenchmen. Some even worked the bolts, chambering a round.
“We are the Allied Military Control Commission! We have the authority to enter any part of Germany to inspect your military readiness! If you don’t want to be sent to a court-martial, get out of our way immediately!” the leading French officer said sternly. As he spoke, he looked at the German officer standing before him with a pistol in hand and a serious expression on his face.
“Ahead is a restricted military defense zone. No one is allowed to enter without permission!” the German officer said with a cold laugh, not backing down in the slightest. “Unless you have an order from the commander of Army Group A, General von Rundstedt, please return immediately!”
Germany had a total of 19 divisions on the Western Front, about 300,000 men. They were organized into Army Group A, commanded by General von Rundstedt, and Army Group B, commanded by the military veteran General Wilhelm List. Both of these forces were composed of infantry divisions, with only a small number of self-propelled guns—namely, the StuG III assault gun.
Of course, half of these divisions were not on record or were recorded in a very confusing manner, so the French military and British intelligence analysis had always believed that the German army had about 200,000 troops on the Western Front, most of whom were light infantry divisions and not equipped with heavy artillery, posing no major threat to France’s Maginot Line.
However, they were not as vulnerable as they appeared. These troops were well-trained and well-equipped, with plenty of Panzerfaust anti-tank rocket launchers, and were equipped with a large number of 150mm infantry guns and warhorses. Although their mobility was very limited, by world military standards, these two army groups were undoubtedly powerful main forces of infantry.
“Bastard! We are the Control Commission of the victorious nations! Your peace treaty gives us the authority to inspect any area! How dare you obstruct us?” the French officer’s adjutant said in a rage, stepping forward and pointing to his distinctive French cylindrical kepi. “This is our pass! Or do we have to teach you a lesson with cannons again!”
The German officer raised an eyebrow but still did not retreat a single step. “I’m sorry, I don’t recognize any Control Commission! I am loyal only to the Führer and serve the German people! If you continue to cause trouble, we will not be so polite!”
What a joke, he thought. Past this checkpoint, through a patch of woods, is the main position of Germany’s Siegfried Line. How could we possibly let foreigners inspect it at will? If it were a real line of reinforced concrete with dozens of large-caliber fortress guns, then maybe we could let you have a look… But damn it, inside are two shabby trenches and a dozen small earthen mounds with concrete caps slapped on top. If you went in and took one look, our whole bluff would be exposed!
The tens of thousands of workers conscripted for the Siegfried Line were either busy building roads and railways or constructing a few underground ammunition depots as military strongpoints. Most of the defensive fortifications on the hilltops were the work of a dozen cement workers in an afternoon. How could they possibly let the French in to inspect it… There was nothing worth inspecting anyway—of course, the inside story was worth investigating, but the result might be rather shocking.
But in the eyes of the French, this was a different matter entirely. To be so secretive could only mean they had built a large number of sophisticated defensive works, probably equipped with cannons exceeding the stipulated caliber, deployed a large number of machine guns and bunkers, and even the number of German troops stationed on the line seriously exceeded the stipulated number. If they could uncover this, it would be an incredible achievement!
The thirty or so German soldiers clearly outnumbered the dozen or so French soldiers present. Of course, they would not be polite. The war had been over for more than a decade, and the timidity that had been frozen in everyone’s hearts due to the defeat had long since disappeared, replaced by an unparalleled confidence in and worship of the powerful Germany under the Führer.
“How about this,” the German officer said, staring at the French officer in an attempt to ease the tension. “I will call my superiors for instructions. If they give permission, I will let you pass.”
The French officer did not speak, which meant he agreed with the German officer’s suggestion.
Germany, Berlin, the Führer’s Residence.
Akado took his speech from Fanny’s hand and began his next address into the microphone. This time, he was determined to lead Germany completely out of the shadow of its defeat in the First World War and to become one of the most powerful empires in the world.
“Today, as your Führer, I stand here to bring you hope! I sincerely pray, kissing the fingers of God, asking that I may bring happiness and strength to you, to the great German people!”
Akado glanced at the speech in his hand and continued to speak intently into the microphone. “In the past few years, I have led you all to take back our Rhineland! There, we have regained the sovereignty that is rightfully ours…”
Not far away, Fanny asked Hugo, Akado’s personal photographer who was constantly taking pictures, “Has he gotten even more handsome? He’s becoming more and more manly. My God, look at the way he looks down at his speech. It’s so captivating.”
“I say, Miss Fanny, great head of the German Propaganda Ministry, can you please stop being so mushy? I need to focus on my work for a bit,” Hugo said, pressing the shutter. The magnesium flash exploded with a “pop,” and a fresh picture of Akado at work was produced.
Akado continued his work at the microphone, completely unaware of Fanny’s adoring eyes below. “As the Führer of Germany, I support the women’s liberation movement and have boldly appointed female workers to participate in government work, thereby improving the efficiency of the German government. In two years, I have secured 200,000 jobs for women, increasing Germany’s industrial output value by another third on top of its annual growth.”
“The people of Czechoslovakia and Austria, after joining the great family of Germany, have seen their standard of living significantly improve, their industrial output has steadily increased, and Germany’s unemployment rate has fallen year after year! … I must proudly announce to you here that the vows I made to you during the election—I, the Führer of Germany, have fulfilled them!”
On the other side, Anna, in a female Wehrmacht uniform, chatted with two of the Führer’s SS bodyguards. “Yes, he is the hope of all of Germany, and my own personal hope! I would willingly die for the Führer!”
The two bodyguards stood up even straighter, their chins held even higher. Yes, the man they were protecting was a gift from God to the German people, the pride of the entire German people, and the fundamental guarantee of Germany’s continued strength. Therefore, they were proud, they were honored to be able to protect such a great German, and they too were willing to give their lives for the man before them.
The Führer continued his speech without interruption. “I can’t help but ask myself, what is left to be done? Soon I had the answer! Gentlemen! There is still an institution on our territory that hinders our independence and sovereignty! This institution restricts our army and denies us the right to self-defense! Should we tolerate such an unequal existence? No! Should we meekly let others manage our household affairs? No! Freedom is what we yearn for! Strength is the foundation of Germany’s survival! Therefore, I solemnly announce here! The German government no longer recognizes the legitimacy of the Allied Military Control Commission! The German government will order the Allied Military Control Commission to disband and leave German soil within a set time limit!”
“Heil Führer!” “Long live Akado Rudolph!” In the broadcast room, everyone who heard these words raised their right hands. Their backs had never been so straight. They had never felt strength return to their bodies as they did at this moment.
On the Siegfried Line, next to the checkpoint’s guard post, the German officer put down the phone and walked over to the French officer. “Sir, the Allied Military Control Commission has been ordered to disband by the Führer. If you do not leave now, we will open fire!”
He raised the corners of his mouth, looking at the ashen-faced French officer with a triumphant, mocking expression. How many years had it been since they had faced these French neighbors with such composure?
