Chapter 86: The Great Gamble

“Colonel Smith,” Akado said, sitting on the sofa and holding a wine glass, very satisfied with his recent achievements—anyone who had doubled the money in their hands in a few months would feel a great sense of accomplishment. “Your esteemed government seems to be in a difficult situation recently.”

“Of course, it’s very difficult,” Smith said, shaking his head. “I hear you have several companies in your hands that have made some money.”

Akado laughed heartily and waved his hand. “That’s all small money, not worth mentioning. Let’s talk about why you’ve come to see me in such a hurry.”

“Because we can no longer bear the expensive military burden, we plan to withdraw all our personnel from the Rhineland demilitarized zone, including military personnel and observers,” Smith said very helplessly. “We plan to give this favor to you, General Akado, and hope that you can continue to maintain the friendly and win-win status quo between Britain and Germany.”

“This is very interesting,” Akado said, putting down his wine glass, his expression solemn. “Besides Britain, will France and Belgium also withdraw?”

“The Belgian government is considering it, that’s what I know, but they indeed haven’t decided whether to withdraw these troops yet. The French seem to have no such intention, but the economic crisis is making them very uncomfortable, and their finances are very difficult,” Smith replied after taking a sip of wine. “Did you know, General Akado, that through the efforts of Germans like you, and the luck of these years, you have almost recovered from all the troubles brought by the war? I personally still hope you can handle the relationship with France rationally.”

“Of course!” Akado nodded and said, “At least on issues like dealing with the communists, our several countries have a lot of common ground, don’t we?”

“General, will the British really reach a diplomatic consensus with us in three days and withdraw the last batch of military personnel and observers from the Rhineland demilitarized zone?” After Smith had just left, Secretary Anna, who had been standing to the side, looked at Akado with confusion and asked.

Akado nodded. “It seems to be true. Have Cindra help me prepare. In the afternoon, I have an appointment with the French ambassador to Germany. I need to discuss some issues with him.”

“Anna! Have Depp prepare the car!” Akado immediately ordered. “Accompany me to the presidential palace. It looks like we will have a major operation in the next few days.”

…

In the presidential palace, Hindenburg was staring blankly at a pile of reports, feeling depressed. He hadn’t heard a single piece of good news these days. The economic crisis was sweeping through Germany, bringing an unprecedented impact to many German enterprises. As the President of Germany, he had to deal with all of this.

Of course, it wasn’t that there was nothing to make him happy. The Reichswehr had been very well-behaved for the past six months, not causing him any more trouble, and even rarely asking him for money. This had also reduced the pressure on him by more than a little.

Unfortunately, blessings never come in pairs, and misfortunes never come alone. Just when he was at his wit’s end, the person he least wanted to see in the Reichswehr high command, General Akado Rudolph, actually rushed to the presidential palace to request a meeting—whether it was to ask for money or to stir up trouble, Hindenburg was very unwilling to see this person.

“Speak slowly. I didn’t understand what you said, General Akado,” Hindenburg said, pressing his hand down to interrupt Akado’s passionate speech. “Is there something wrong with my ears, or have you gone completely mad?”

“You heard me right, and I am not mad! President Hindenburg, this is an opportunity! An opportunity for you to take back sovereignty over the Rhineland demilitarized zone! If we can seize this opportunity, then we will all be heroes in German history,” Akado said, staring at Hindenburg, word by word.

“Germany only has 300,000 regular troops right now! More than half of these troops are deployed in the direction of Poland, and some are on the turbulent border with Czechoslovakia,” Hindenburg said with a frown. “Once war breaks out, the French can crush our troops deployed on the western front in a matter of days. In just a few months, our country will be destroyed!”

He walked in front of Akado and stared into his eyes. “Believe me, Akado! Let alone being heroes of the German people, we won’t even have the qualification to become criminals. At that time, we will all be hanged! I am old! Nothing really matters to me anymore. But are you really willing to give up everything you have now and risk your young life like this?”

“President Hindenburg, I believe I have guaranteed to you before that everything I do is for this country! For it to become strong, I can give my everything,” Akado said, standing up at attention. “Even now, I still make this promise to you. I will not joke with the future of all the German people.”

“No matter how you guarantee it to me, I cannot agree to your plan. General Akado, sitting in your position, don’t just consider victory and defeat. You should also consider the price we must pay,” Hindenburg patted Akado’s shoulder. “There are not many pure patriots like you left. That is why I tolerate your occasional impulses and baseness and still let you sit in your current position. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“No matter what, please agree to my plan. I promise you…” Akado wanted to continue speaking.

Hindenburg waved his hand, interrupting him. “Child, I am tired! I need to rest! The pressure the economic crisis has brought me is greater than you can imagine. Unless I am dead, you had better forget that damned plan of yours.”

“Did President Hindenburg agree to our plan?” Gascoigne and Heydrich, who were waiting outside the presidential palace, asked anxiously.

Akado shook his head. “No, he rejected our plan. It looks like we will have to act on our own.”

“The SS can directly enter those areas and take control of them,” Heydrich said, his eyes filled with fanaticism. “I guarantee you, my subordinates can compare with the regular army, and they are more loyal.”

“That I believe,” Akado nodded his head and stopped to look at Heydrich. “I know you have trained them well! Loyal, and full of passion. But this time we are not fighting a war, nor is it a secret occupation. What we want is public opinion and the confidence effect that follows.”

“But I still need your help,” Akado said after some thought, continuing to speak to him. “Have your Gestapo and SS take action. Go to the Rhineland demilitarized zone in plain clothes, distribute leaflets, mobilize public opinion, and create an atmosphere of welcoming the Reichswehr’s return.”

“And you, Gascoigne, the main reason I called you here is to have you contact our forces deployed in France and lobby the French high command to give up the Rhineland demilitarized zone,” Akado said, looking at Gascoigne and giving him his mission. “Even if it’s impossible, you must shake their confidence in holding on to that place.”

“Understood, General!” Gascoigne stood at attention and saluted.

“Alright! We’ll talk about the rest back at the Reichswehr High Command,” Akado said as he descended the stairs.

The car drove directly back to Akado’s headquarters. There, he very directly dialed the number for the 15th Division’s headquarters in the suburbs of Berlin. “Major General Reo! This is Akado. I order you to frequently mobilize your troops under the pretext of exercises. In three days, place all of Berlin under martial law! Secure the presidential palace.”

“Long live the Greater Germany Party! I will execute this order, General! … But I would like to know why we are taking such a risk. Surrounding the presidential palace is very dangerous,” Reo immediately accepted the order, but after some thought, he still spoke up.

Akado raised the corner of his mouth and said, “In three days, I will order the troops to enter the Rhineland demilitarized zone.”

“Gen-General, sir. This plan is very risky. Are you confident?” It was audible that Reo’s voice was somewhat agitated, and more so, afraid. His voice was filled with a tremor, and his tone was somewhat distorted.

Akado thought for a moment and did not answer his question immediately. “…I am striving to do what I should for the strength of Germany. I cannot promise you anything, but I just want the true warriors to stand with me! The French will retreat. Of this, I have confidence. Please believe me.”

“Understood, General Akado! The 15th Division will execute your order. We will control Berlin to the last moment!”

“Thank you,” Akado said, a drop of sweat falling from his temple. But he had still taken the first step of his plan.

He then immediately picked up the receiver again. “Hauck! In three days, the entire 1st Division is to be on level one combat readiness. Wait for my order to move.”

Then he made the last and most important call of the day. “2nd Division command post? This is Lieutenant General Akado.”

“Long live the Greater Germany Party! This is the commander of the 2nd Division, Lutz! I extend my highest respects to you, General Akado Rudolph,” Lutz said from the other end of the line.

“I order you, in three days, to lead three battalions of troops into the Rhineland demilitarized zone,” Akado ordered solemnly.

Lutz was taken aback for a moment, then immediately answered loudly, “Yes, sir! Understood! Repeating the order: I will lead three battalions of troops into the Rhineland demilitarized zone in three days!”

“Are there any problems?” Akado asked.

“General, sir! If we encounter an attack, what should we do?” Lutz asked after some thought.

Akado was silent. He was thinking about what exactly to do. After about a few minutes, he finally said slowly, “If the French open fire, then you are not to return fire. Retreat to your starting point and await orders.”

“Yes, sir! Understood,” Lutz seemed to let out a big breath, because he knew that at this moment, Akado had not gone mad, but still maintained the rationality a commander should have.

Watching the sun gradually set on the horizon, Akado hung up the phone and looked at Gascoigne and Heydrich beside him. “Gentlemen, we can only wait for news now.”

This time, he did not tell Krupp or Stresemann about this operation, nor did he notify Merkel or Jellinek Cassia and the others. He even acted behind the backs of Hindenburg and most of the military high command.

And this was also the first time in a long time that he had taken action without knowing the outcome. He had advanced Hitler’s triumphant Rhineland exercise by a full six years.

This time, it was his gamble alone.