He is Already a Tycoon at a Young Age! - Chapter 69



Only Krnovel

Episode 69 – What if you reversed Hope?

“Mr. Minister, do you think the Russians were serious about making that offer?”

“They even came up with a specific plan to divide the territory. It would be hard to believe they’re not sincere.”

Foreign Minister Müller.

Hans von Seeckt, Chief of the Army Command.

The two sat at the table, blowing cigarette smoke at each other.

“With Russia’s help, we might be able to continue our military training without the knowledge of the Allied Control Commission.”

General Zect said, tapping the desk.

After the end of World War II, the Allies relentlessly disarmed the German military.

100,000 people including the Army and Navy.

No air force or tanks allowed.

Even basic military training was difficult under the watchful eye of the Allied Commission.

The same goes for the General Staff, the symbol of the German military.

After the Imperial Army officially abolished the General Staff, it disguised itself as the Military Manpower Administration (Truppenamt).

All sorts of expedients had to be employed to maintain the staff system.

“But it’s another thing to have a direct border with the communists. Attacking Poland now would be suicidal.”

“Ject said, stubbing his cigarette in the ashtray.

“If the Allies intervene, the Rhineland and the southern regions will break away from Germany. Then the Treaty of Versailles will no longer be an issue.”

“…”

“Even if we somehow manage to prevent the intervention of the Allies, we will need at least half a million troops to occupy western Poland. Considering the resistance forces, we will need even more garrisons.”

“But we can’t let all of Poland fall into Russian hands, can we?”

Foreign Minister Müller sighed deeply.

It was a very complicated situation.

If we join hands with Russia and attack Poland, we can regain the lost territories of our homeland.

But the German military was too weak to do so, and it could not prevent Allied intervention.

However, if we remained silent, the whole of Poland would fall into the hands of the Bolsheviks.

“How about at least releasing the Allied material aid going to Poland?”

General Zect said.

“If we leave Poland as a shield, we can probably shake hands with Russia as well.”

“The People’s Party and Stresemann are also putting forward such opinions in the parliament. But they haven’t made much of a difference. The Austrian businessman from America doesn’t seem to be of much help either.”

“You mean Adolf Hitler? He fought in the German army, not the Austro-Hungarian one. So he was German.”

“Anyway, what’s important now is Poland. The military is fully prepared…”

Minister Müller coughed and looked at Szecht.

Republic and military.

The relationship between these two has not been good since the establishment of the government.

“The Prime Minister and the President would like to know whose army is behind them now? The Republic? Or the Kaiser’s Empire?”

“That’s a strange question, Minister. Where are the troops? The Germans…”

General Zect stood up and answered.

“It’s behind me.”

“…”

The two looked at each other without saying a word.

At that moment, an awkward silence flowed.

Someone knocked on the door and came in.

Minister Müller’s secretary came walking in.

“Minister, we have urgent news just coming from Munich.”

“Thank you.”

Müller frowned as he read the telegram.

“What’s going on, Minister?”

“There was an assassination attempt in Munich. It was aimed at Stresemann and Hitler…”

The minister muttered in a small voice.

“They say both of them were rushed to the hospital. It looks like the reporters have already gathered.”

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[German-Austrian businessman Adolf Hitler attacked outside a beer hall in Munich! He is currently recovering in hospital and is not believed to have sustained serious injuries…]

[The area in front of the hospital was in chaos with crowds of people and reporters, and the Munich authorities made an official statement to take responsibility for the incident…]

[Falled on the street and suffered a mild concussion…]

German newspapers carried the news of Hitler and Stresemann’s raid on their front pages.

The same goes for radio stations.

There were still only a very small number of radio receivers in Germany.

Most broadcasting stations are also amateur level.

However, the upper class imported Tesla radios at high prices, and homemade radios made with cheap parts were also popular among amateurs.

[Breaking News! The US and Austrian governments have expressed concerns about this attack…]

Foreign reporters, including those from the United States, also rushed to the scene, and the attack quickly became an international issue.

“Mr. Hitler has been supporting victims of communism all this time. How dare you attack someone like that in the middle of the street?”

“The perpetrator is known to be an anti-Semite and an anarchist. He is suspected of having mental illness, and the Munich judicial authorities are currently investigating the exact motive.”

“Haven’t you ever spoken out about the Polish war, Mr. Hitler? It must have been done in Russia!”

“He saved my life during the last war. On the last day of the war, he stopped the charge of me and the other new recruits and pulled us out… If it weren’t for him, I would have died a fool’s death.”

In this atmosphere, reporters were finally permitted to visit the hospital room.

Hitler with a bandage on his head.

He slowly opened his mouth as the camera flash went off loudly.

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“I heard that the man who attacked the temple was an anarchist and a war veteran. He said he was suffering from some kind of trauma and mental illness due to the war.”

I looked at the reporters and said.

USA, Austria, Germany, Italy, UK, etc.

I didn’t know there would be people from so many countries.

It seems that not making any statement until now has been effective.

“I don’t intend to place all the blame on him.”

Actually, there is a difference between anarchism and socialism.

But the perception of people looking at the two is almost the same.

Anarchists also have close ties to the socialist movement.

‘I should make the most of this awareness.’

By raising anti-communist sentiment, goods bound for Poland can pass through.

Suppressing hostility towards Poland and turning it towards the Soviet Union.

“The economic situation in Europe is by no means good. There are few jobs and prices are skyrocketing. But we should not try to change society with guns and swords. Those who advocate war and revolution are the greatest danger to today’s Europe.”

Then suddenly I remembered what Keynes had said to me.

“It is possible to change society without revolution.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the reporters started asking questions.

“So, Mr. Hitler, do you think Russia was involved in this attack?”

“You have been saying recently that Poland should not fall into the red wave. Do you think that has something to do with it?”

“The Comintern announced that they had nothing to do with this incident. By any chance…”

I continued answering appropriately.

To give that feeling without explicitly mentioning the Soviet Union.

What will German citizens think when they read their newspapers tomorrow?

‘I don’t think you’d take an assassination attempt very positively.’

Only Strese and I deserve that much sympathy.

The People’s Party will also gain strength in parliament.

About an hour later, Richter and the doctor came in and forced the reporters out.

“Mr. Hitler needs stability more than anything right now. I will end our interview here today.”

The reporters rushed out, and only Richter and I were left in the hospital room.

“Hey, didn’t you just say let’s rest this time? If I had known this would happen, I would have just stayed in Sweden.”

Richter let out a deep sigh.

“How are you feeling?”

“My head got better a few days ago.”

I fiddled with the bandage wrapped around my head.

The official diagnosis from the doctor was a concussion.

In fact, it was at a level where it would not be a problem to be discharged immediately.

Even though I left it there while pretending to be sick.

It’s a good thing we don’t have MRIs these days.

“Alp, you too, that’s amazing. If I had been through something like this, I would have probably taken the fastest ship to America.”

Richter chuckled as he said that.

“Is this the work of an anti-Semite?”

“He said something similar while pulling out the gun.”

Death to the Jewish capitalists!

Was this it?

“Then it’s not like that happened because of me?”

“Is it because of you?”

“Alf, you know that. It’s popular in Germany these days to say that the war was lost because of the betrayal of the Jews. And I’m the vice president of Hitler’s company…”

“You don’t have to worry about it. People always look for scapegoats.”

There’s no way I wouldn’t know about that famous slander theory.

Germany lost World War I because of the Jews, socialists, and defeatists in the rear!

‘Germany never fought a battle on its own soil during World War I.’

After their victory over Russia, the Germans naturally believed that they would win.

However, the military decided that the war could not be won, so the Kaiser fled and the newly formed Republic took over the armistice negotiations.

‘In the end, the new republic overturned all the criticism.’

Hitler also actively used this frame to take power.

“How can I use this situation to my advantage? That’s all I have to think about. How is the situation at the Berlin Reichstag?”

“Po, it looks like the Allied supplies heading to Poland will pass through. Stresemann is also actively trying to persuade them. The press response is also heated.”

“Then that’s good.”

Have I done everything I can?

General Piłsudski of Poland was also a capable man in his own right.

If we had enough supplies, wouldn’t we be able to defend Warsaw?

The Soviet Union’s economic situation would not have been so easy either.

Well, we’ll find out when we see.

“Oh, I forgot. Morgan’s partner brought it. He wished me a speedy recovery.”

“It looks delicious.”

A basket full of fruit and food.

I reached out and picked up an orange.

These fruits seem to be hard to find in Germany. I guess they are providing them for us.

“Well, Morgan House was in charge of the German debt work. They must be trying to score points in advance.”

“If you want to win my favor, you’ll need something bigger than just fruit.”

“There are many letters and gifts from other people. People who came to see you are waiting outside. People from Hess and the H Club have also gathered.”

“Just say you’re taking a break.”

Rudolf Hess.

My head started to ache just thinking about what kind of trouble they would cause.

It’s problematic to create controversy for no reason.

I have a feeling that that guy will come with a gun to protect me.

I need to get some rest and meet politicians and influential people.

‘It’s comfortable when people come to see me on their own.’

Will I only be in the hospital from now on?

That would mean I’d have to face assassination attempts every time.

That might be a bit difficult.

At that moment, a thumping sound was heard, and someone opened the hospital room door as if breaking it open.

“Hey, what the hell is going on?! For a patient who needs stability…”

Joseph Kennedy rushed into the hospital room, brushing aside the doctor’s warnings.

“Have you heard the news from America?”

“News from America?”

“There were get-well ceremonies in Hollywood, New York, Kansas, and Massachusetts! And there were even more unofficial ones.”

“What do you mean by get well soon?”

An event to pray for a speedy recovery?

In the first place, why is there a distinction between official and unofficial?

“I think that guy Bernays got the job done. Hearst joined him. I heard you wrote that you were seriously injured and would be out today or tomorrow. I heard that Wilson and Harding even announced yesterday that they wished you a speedy recovery.”

Joseph poured out his words.

“The National Christian Council, the Quakers, and the National Association of Colored Peoples (NAACP) all got involved.”

“Bernays and Randolph. Well, that’s not so far-fetched.”

The master of publicity and the emperor of newspapers.

Are these two people the ones who made this happen?

Wilson and Harding.

Is there another German like me who is supported by both the incumbent president and the president-elect?

Joseph asked, lowering his voice.

“Did you stay in the hospital because you were waiting for this situation?”

“No, I did think about influencing German public opinion…”

I didn’t know there would be such a big reaction in the US.

Did the connections I had developed over time just explode on their own?

What implications will this have going forward?

I shook my head.

Now was not the time to think about it.

“Now that we’re on stage, let’s dance as cool as we can.”

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Author’s Note

Q: Did the Soviet Union really offer an alliance to Germany during the Polish-Soviet War?

A: Yes, the Soviet Union hoped for a common front against Poland, even if it was not a formal alliance with Germany at the time. In February 1920, an anonymous Soviet official contacted German Foreign Minister Müller and proposed a military alliance.

The Soviet Union promised that if Germany joined, the Treaty of Versailles would be nullified and Germany’s former territories would be restored. The Soviet Union hoped to receive economic support from Germany after the war, promising that this would create a kind of economic bloc.

These meetings took place on several occasions, and there were even personal contacts with General Jecht.

Foreign Minister Müller assessed that the Soviet proposal was sincere, but he was concerned that such an alliance would lead to an Allied invasion and a backlash from the center and right-wing forces in Germany, so he abandoned it. In response to the warning that the Soviet Union could provoke revolutionary forces in Germany, Minister Müller assessed that they would not do so because they wanted economic support from Germany.

Within the German government, there were conflicting views: to send reinforcements to Poland to counter the Soviet Union and allow French troops to pass through its territory, and to join hands with the Soviet Union to attack Poland.

However, the latter was mostly dismissed as a delusion, and ended up amounting to little more than passively obstructing Allied supplies to Poland.

In May 1920, a high-ranking Red Army official visited Berlin, sparking controversy. These contacts would later develop into German-Soviet military cooperation from the mid-1920s.

The Germans were able to experiment with new weapons and practice new tactics in the vast secret sites provided by the Soviet Union.

It is an irony of history that many of the young German generals who entered the Soviet Union at this time and devoted themselves to military training and research later became the main players in pushing the Soviet Union to the brink of defeat in the German-Soviet War.

(Source – Soviet Policy Toward Germany During the Russo-Polish War, 1920 / Hitler’s Generals, Nam Do-hyeon)