I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 103



Only Krnovel

EP.103 Operation Valkyrie (4)

8 million Soviet troops began advancing westward.

“How on earth are we supposed to stop them when they’re coming like that?”

The end of the German coup led to a general retreat of the Eastern Expeditionary Force.

Although the German Wehrmacht was fighting hard, it was mercilessly pushed back by the Red Army’s steamroller, as it was unable to come to its senses due to the unexpected halt in operations, internal chaos, and Hitler’s purges.

As the German front was pushed westward every day, such concerns arose.

If we continue like this, won’t the commies go all the way to the Atlantic coast?

In David Glantz’s famous book, The History of the German-Soviet War, there was an interpretation that if the Allied intervention had not occurred, the Soviet army would have walked along the French coast.

I didn’t agree with that, but looking at the way things are going now, it doesn’t seem strange if it becomes a reality.

Army generals, including Kim Seong-ju, were as pessimistic about the Nazi situation as I was.

“If things continue this way, the loss of eastern Ukraine, which has no strong defensive line, is considered a foregone conclusion.”

In fact, the situation on the front lines was not much different from the original situation.

Rather, the German front was further east than the original location.

The problem was the situation of both armies.

While the German army’s talent pool was much weaker than that of the far-off region, the Soviet army was on a whole other level of strength.

The reason was that, as manpower consumption decreased, skilled troops were preserved, military production was increased, and combat power was doubled.

If it were the current Soviet army, it would have been possible to break through the natural fortress of the Dnieper River in an instant.

If by any chance the Soviets set foot in Poland before we land, the situation would become truly unmanageable.

I absolutely had to prevent things from getting that complicated.

“Is there no hope whatsoever of a partial success for the German army in its counterattack?”

“Looking at the current situation, it looks like there is no hope.”

Well, I guess so.

There seemed to be no hope for the Nazis.

So, that means I have to create a variable.

After smoking for a few minutes, the office became hazy.

Jeong Gil-i approached the window and asked for understanding.

“Your Majesty, let me get some fresh air.”

“Do that.”

Is there any way to slow down the advance of the Soviet troops?

The best way was to touch Landless.

It might seem like a good idea to reduce the Soviet offensive capability by reducing the land lease, but it was obvious that Moscow would react if we touched that.

‘No, we don’t necessarily have to play the villain role. Let’s leave it to other guys.’

I sent the generals away and picked up the phone.

“Tell the Chief of Staff to come in.”

After a while, Lee Kyung-ho came in.

“Your Majesty, what is the matter?”

The head of the central government looked tired after being given a lot of work recently.

“It’s nothing else, I need to do some work in the courtyard.”

“Please speak.”

“I want you to convey the fact that Europe is at risk of becoming communist through the lobbying route I asked you to create before. If the political and business circles of the United States take action to check the Soviet Union, wouldn’t that have some effect on the lend-lease?”

“It is possible, but if it becomes known, it could upset the Soviet Union.”

If you know, it will happen.

However, even the Soviet Union would tolerate that level of inconvenience.

How much do you owe us?

“I intend to take charge, so let’s get started.”

“I will accept it.”

Since it was a movement through unofficial lines, not official lines, it would have been difficult for the Soviet Union to protest loudly even if it had known about it.

Let’s say the US does something like that.

The British side’s lease should also have an impact.

“ah.”

Now that I think about it, there was a name that came to mind.

Churchill, a passionate anti-communist fighter who could create unthinkable operations even while standing still.

I had momentarily forgotten about the British Empire’s greatest output, Mr. Gallipoli.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs. Your Excellency the Foreign Minister. I must have a meeting with Churchill.”

I proposed to the British side a meeting between the Korean and British foreign ministers.

When the British side proposed to resolve through negotiation even the issues they considered important, Churchill flew to Pyongyang.

It’s not that fast.

Although the format was a conversation between foreign secretaries, in reality it was a conversation between me and Churchill.

Foreign Minister Zhiqing Ju sat down and did not say a word, and the conversation was between Churchill and me.

Churchill seemed interested in my suggestion to reduce the size of the land lease.

“So, Your Majesty, you want to maintain the picture of dividing Germany as you first showed us. Is that what I understand correctly?”

“Yes.”

“If that is what Your Majesty intended, why did you side with Moscow when the communist power was growing in Italy?”

That’s it, they’re trying to set Italy on fire.

But there was no need to be unnecessarily honest.

I’m not a child who receives presents from Santa Claus, so why would I do that?

“It was a measure to extract British concessions for negotiation purposes. Since you are so opposed to handing over the battleships to the Soviet Union, I have no choice but to take a strong stance.”

“It was even more incomprehensible to hand over the battleship to the communists. I need a convincing explanation for that part.”

“That was a measure to diminish the Soviet Union’s national power in the long term. If you look at the data we created, you will understand. Director Kim. Bring that.”

In the same vein, I showed Churchill a report comparing the combat effectiveness of aircraft carriers and battleships as revealed in exercises conducted by our Navy.

Churchill also seemed convinced by my argument, as he had vaguely felt the power of aircraft carriers during the Battle of the Mediterranean.

“I don’t think all my doubts about Korea have been resolved, but I understand the logic that the Prime Minister’s intention to hand over the battleship is not for the benefit of the communists. So, can we assume that Korea is willing to restrain the communists from the same position as us?”

“Of course.”

Only when it is in our Korean interests.

“Very well. Then I would like to ask for your assistance in the issue of Germany’s eastern border in exchange for your cooperation with Korea.”

So the ball ends up being passed like that?

Well, it wasn’t like we couldn’t hear about something like the German border issue, which had nothing to do with us.

Anyway, the border issue between East Germany(?) and Poland is a problem within the Soviet sphere of influence.

No matter how the border was drawn, it was merely a change in administrative districts within the Soviet sphere of influence.

It wouldn’t make much of a difference if you listened to that.

It will be different when I die and Germany is unified, but until then, am I the only one who knows?

I decided to accept Churchill’s request.

“I agree. But how do you plan to draw Germany’s eastern border?”

“Our government believes that if the Oder-Neisse River is used as the border, eastern Germany will be too small, so we would like to see only eastern Pomerania, Silesia, and East Prussia handed over to Poland.”

These were extremely generous terms for something the British had offered.

“Is there a reason why you are offering such generous terms to Germany?”

Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about this.

The German territory, based on the Oder-Neisse rivers, is only 357,000 square kilometers.

However, based on the plan brought by Britain, it amounts to 405,000 square kilometers.

Although both were fatal to the Germans, it was a significant border because, unlike the Oder-Neisse Line, it left most of the major eastern cities in German hands.

“Wouldn’t it be better to secure as much German territory as possible in the postwar partition to be able to stand up to communist Poland?”

Communist Poland.

The British were already preparing to cut ties with the government-in-exile, talking about restoring it.

Indeed, he was the number one figure in terms of command and dislike.

“What would you do if Poland did not become communist?”

Churchill said it as if it were a given.

“Then the Oder-Neisse river is not bad either.”

The point is to extend the influence of the Western powers as far east as possible.

But even if we draw the eastern border like that, there is no guarantee that East Germany will be included in the West.

If you are thinking of reading the whole thing and drawing the border like that, I would say you are mistaken.

Because the Soviet Union would never allow unification.

In fact, Stalin calculated that if the West unified the occupied zones to create West Germany, they would regain their national power and challenge him within 15 years.

Would the Soviet Union, which was so wary of a torn Germany, agree to create a unified Germany?

That wasn’t the Soviet Union.

It wasn’t Stalin.

If it were the Soviet Union, it would have been normal for it to mess up the negotiations rather than agree with the Allies to create a unified Germany.

They did the same thing in the actual original version.

Anyway, while talking about Germany, I unexpectedly got into a fight with Churchill.

There was something in common between my policy of secretly suppressing communists and Churchill’s perspective.

“Then I will consider the border issue as agreed upon. You should not change your position at the Allied Powers meeting.”

“I’m not a communist, so why would I break such a promise? Don’t worry.”

“As expected, Your Majesty is the type of person who makes decisions quickly when we meet in person and talk.”

It felt like a compliment, but it had some substance to it.

Is this a sign of discontent over the Italian problem?

Anyway, what I was going to say went well.

Churchill replied that he would reduce the amount of land lease to some extent.

“Loose your belt and eat plenty today.”

“Thank you, Prime Minister.”

I was in a good mood and treated Churchill to a full course meal of fine dining.

Although it is called a set menu, it also includes some Japanese food.

But, since Japan was a protectorate of the Korean Empire, isn’t this also ‘Korean food’?

Churchill enjoyed the sushi and often praised Korean food, saying that it suited his taste.

‘Well, it’s Korean food now, so it’s not a wrong expression.’

“Eat plenty.”

We ate until our stomachs burst.

It was a day that filled my heart and stomach.