Chapter 265

< World War II - Preparation for Post-War (3) >

August 4, 1942

Southern Burma, Rangoon - Allied Forces Encampment

Clemens Fleck's adjutant, Winrich Behr, was miserable.

He thought he was finally freed from that hellish front and his regrettable superior officer after the Eastern Front ended…

To think he was dragged all the way to the Asia Expeditionary Force by that regrettable superior officer simply because he was an 'adjutant he trusts, cherishes, and who makes delicious coffee.

'

"Damn it! I actually respected him in my own way!"

Winrich Behr vented his pent-up anger as he gulped down his beer.

"H-Hey, Behr. Calm down a bit."

"An adjutant who makes delicious coffee, he says!"

Rather than being dragged to Asia, Winrich Behr couldn't hold back his resentment over the fact that the reason his superior requisitioned him was because he 'makes delicious coffee.

'

Even if his appearance was regrettable, his skills were the real deal, and he thought they had built up their own kind of bond while surviving a deathtrap together, but the reason he brought him along was coffee, just coffee…

And on top of that, he brought his Polish fiancée all the way to Asia just to show off their public display of affection.

'I thought he was a regrettable but respectable superior officer, but Clemens Fleck, you bastard!'

Winrich Behr gulped down his beer again.

And Günther Reichhelm, who was watching this scene, shook his head.

A legendary hero who experienced the Spanish Civil War, the invasion of Poland, blocking the coup by Nazi remnants, and the Eastern Front, becoming a Major General in his early 30s, even if being the division commander of an expeditionary force was a temporary position.

And the seasoned adjutant who had assisted that hero.

The excitement of getting to serve in the same unit had long since turned icy cold.

Günther Reichhelm's impression of him was, sadly, that he was extremely regrettable.

-

At that time, an operation discussion was in full swing among the superiors.

"Our British Army and the Dutch Army plan to advance through the Malay Peninsula and recapture Singapore."

At the statement from the British Army commander, General Alan Brooke, the German Army commander, General Walther Model, also nodded.

"If so, the German Army, the Eastern European Army, and the Ethiopian Army will advance into Thailand and Indochina."

"Hmm, in that case, wouldn't the recapture of the East Indies be pushed to a lower priority…"

Hans Krebs, who tagged along as Walther Model's Chief of Staff, answered the Dutch Army's concern.

"Realistically, a naval battle and a large-scale landing operation are inevitable to recapture the East Indies. For now, securing a bridgehead to China is the priority."

"Once the Malay Peninsula and Singapore are recaptured, the path to the East Indies and the South China Sea will open up for our navy tied down in India. Coordination with the US Navy will also become possible."

"Hmm, that is certainly true.

In that case…"

Thanks to both sides sending personnel who respected other countries as much as possible instead of those who run wild like Montgomery and Rommel, the Allied Forces' meeting went rather smoothly.

And as the conversation between the higher-ups progressed…

Clemens, who had been watching the scene with a blank facial expression in a corner, opened his mouth.

"Where am I, who am I…"

"Tsk, please concentrate, Division Commander."

"Roger, I honestly can't understand a single thing they're saying…"

"If you can't understand, at least pretend you're listening!"

"Ah, I miss Karina-"

"Argh, come on!"

The regrettable division commander and his Chief of Staff have a long way to go…

-

August 15, 1942

The capital of Germany, Berlin - Dietrich Schacht's Mansion

And the news of those friends who had a long way to go was delivered to Dietrich Schacht in Germany through the newspaper.

[Thailand, Surrenders!]

Almost immediately after the advance of the German Army, the Eastern European Army, and the Ethiopian Army began, Thailand kicked out its pro-Japanese Prime Minister Songkhram and declared surrender to the Allied Powers.

The newspaper featured a photograph of the Allied Forces entering Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

Since the Japanese Army in the direction of Burma had practically been blown to pieces thanks to the great feat of the 'great' General Mutaguchi Renya, there was next to no resistance.

I let out a soft chuckle when I saw Clemens and Roger waving from the lead armored vehicle in the photograph of the Allied Powers entering Thailand, and Otto Carius sticking his head out from the tank following right behind them.

"I wasn't worried about General Model, but I was a bit concerned about Clemens and Roger. It looks like they're all doing well."

"Hmm, honestly, I can't really tell if they'd fight that well just by looking at them, but it's an amazing feat every time."

Hearing Claudia's words, I also burst into a chuckle.

"…I think so too…"

Clemens, who could be described with the single word 'regrettable,' and Roger, who has both greed and ability but is more interested in picking up local women than his duty…

Just from their outer appearances, they don't give off the vibe of a great general of the German Army no matter how you look at them, but maybe I feel that way even more because I'm their friend.

They might look like clumsy people on the outside, but they must fight well when it actually comes down to it.

Regardless of anything, those two are considered top prospects within the German Army.

"Singapore, which is practically isolated, will fall soon too, and then we'll have to coordinate with America to drive the Imperial Japanese Navy out of the Philippines and the South China Sea."

If that happens, the war will progress smoothly.

In the original history, the US Navy had to struggle alone to hold off the Imperial Japanese Navy for nearly a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor because so many navies were tied down in Europe, but the situation is completely different now.

The Royal Navy, filled with spite, is going almost all-in on Asia, and we also have three battleships and one aircraft carrier deployed there, so it's not a force to be ignored.

Japan must know that this is their last opportunity as well, so they'll probably bet everything on this naval battle.

Could a proper decisive fleet battle occur, unlike in the original history?

"…As long as we properly crush the Imperial Japanese Navy just once…"

As I was muttering like that, a gentle touch wrapped around my cheek.

"Ah."

Was I talking about my own things too much?

When I raised my gaze, Claudia smiled softly and opened her mouth.

"Happy birthday, Dietrich."

Ah.

"…Thank you."

Claudia smiled gently, leaned down, and was about to kiss me-

"Babababamamababa!"

Whoa, that startled me!

A startled Claudia pulled away, and as I turned my creaking head, the nanny Berta, holding Lucia, spoke with an extremely embarrassed face.

"Ah, I-I'm sorry. I interrupted…"

"H-Haha, no, well, probably not.

…Maybe?"

When I turned my gaze away with an immensely disappointed face, Claudia had already forgotten about me as she smiled radiantly and took Lucia from Berta's arms.

"Come here, Lucia."

"Kyaaa~"

Lucia also smiled brightly while being held in Claudia's arms.

Hmm, nice.

It's a nice sight to see, but…

Tsk.

I smacked my lips and watched the scene of Claudia playing with Lucia.

Lucia, who had now started babbling, also learned how to crawl around little by little.

Hmm, you're doing great, our daughter.

…Everything is fine, but your dad feels a bit disappointed…

Before, Claudia was somehow jealous of Lucia, but is it my turn this time?

We're really taking turns doing all sorts of things…

That leisurely time was cut off by a ringing telephone.

"This is Dietrich Schacht."

-Ah, I'm sorry to call on the weekend.

Minister Schacht.

"Minister Kordt? What's the matter?"

-News just came in.

Petar II rejected our mediation proposal, and the Yugoslav Air Force carried out a bombing on Croatia.

Argh, why is that immature king again…

I let out a deep sigh.

-I apologize for the weekend, but it seems we need to have a discussion.

"…Haha. I have to go, yes. I'm coming."

-Haha, I'll be waiting.

To be in a predicament where I have to work on my birthday weekend.

When I hung up the phone, Claudia was looking at me with wide eyes.

"I'm sorry. …It seems I have to go to work."

"I even made reservations for a movie and the dining hall…"

"Ugh, I'm sorry."

Claudia approached with a displeased facial expression and…

"H-Huh?"

Grabbed me as I flinched and gave me a short, deep kiss right then and there.

As I grew flustered watching her pull away after I unwittingly responded, Claudia's eyes curved as she smiled.

"A reward for the person who has to work hard even on his birthday weekend?"

"…Haha.

Shouldn't I be the one rewarding you?"

"I'll have expectations for later. I'm steadily racking them up anyway, so you'll be in trouble if you try to stiff me."

"…Will I be able to pay all of that back before I die?"

Claudia burst into laughter and then smiled mischievously.

"You have to make it so you can pay it back, right?"

"Bababababa!"

"Our daughter agrees too."

"Haha, oh man."

I'll have to put in even moooooore effort…

"I'll be off."

"Take care."

Still, across both my past life and my present life, the best thing I ever did was being chosen by her.

-

August 15, 1942

The capital of Germany, Berlin - Government Building

August 15.

My birthday in my present life, and Liberation Day in Korea based on the original history.

I don't know if that same day will ever become Liberation Day in this world too, but while I was secretly concerned about Korea up until August 15 last year, my mind is at ease now since I don't really have anything weighing on my conscience.

Since I set up the conditions to this extent, whether Korea prospers or not will be up to them.

As I entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs thinking that, Erich Kordt and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees welcomed me.

Everyone looked far from happy about being dragged out on a weekend, but since we are comrades, there's no need to worry about that.

"Petar II rejected our mediation proposal?"

"Yes. Seeing as he sent bombers to Croatia as if to show off the moment he rejected it, he seems to have absolutely no intention of accepting it."

That damn young and immature king gave me quite the wonderful birthday present.

Our mediation proposal wasn't anything special.

Just to withdraw the abolition of the Croatian Autonomous Province, enact an Anti-Discrimination Law for the ethnic minorities, and end the civil war.

That was all.

However, Petar II, the Yugoslav royalists, and the Serbian nationalists seemed to view it strictly as interference in internal affairs.

Those madmen, they'll only come to their senses after they act like that and end up completely shattered into Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, and Bosnia.

"Are you saying there are no other alternatives or negotiation proposals like that either?"

"Yes, none at all."

Upon hearing Erich Kordt's answer, I let out a sigh and glared at the map of Yugoslavia.

Fortunately, the civil war of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia currently breaking out is much milder in comparison to the Yugoslavian Civil War of the original history.

Because instead of the genocide of Serbians by the Nazis and the Independent State of Croatia, Regent Paul's relatively moderate rule, with a disposition not too strong on nationalism, was carried out stably.

With us having laid down a stern warning as soon as we ended the Eastern Front, there are no spiteful attempts at ethnic annihilation or massacres.

But did that actually blind Petar II instead?

"It seems Petar II believes that if he tramples everyone with the Royal Yugoslav Army, he can rule as he wills."

In reality, the Royal Yugoslav Army centered around the Serbians is qualitatively different from the armies of other ethnic minorities, which do not exceed the level of militias.

In the original history, they were trampled by the Nazis and practically faced annihilation, but not here.

The reason the ethnic minorities were still holding out was because the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was also secretly reading the room with Germany and its neighboring countries.

However, blatantly refusing Germany's mediation proposal and starting a bombing means that Petar II has now stopped reading the room and intends to suppress them with military force.

"It looks that way to me as well.

What should we do? The ethnic minorities in Croatia, Slovenia, and Herzegovina have been constantly asking us for help, but…"

Ah, this is an annoyance.

Should we just push in with the German Army into that kingdom that can't grasp its own place…

And wipe them all out?

I could slaughter them so thoroughly that they wouldn't even be able to peep.

"Uh, Minister Schacht? Your facial expression…"

"Huh, I-I'm sorry."

Is the stress of my enjoyable birthday with Claudia being shattered a bit too much?

For a moment, I felt like some weird guy had possessed me…

I let out an ahem.

"We cannot dispatch troops directly."

Maybe if it was on the level of a genocide war like the Yugoslavian Civil War in the original history, but I can't make Germans, whose war just ended, shed blood in another country's civil war.

Because we lack justification, even if we dispatch troops, it would at most take the form of the UN Peacekeeping Forces from the original history, which was merely a figurehead.

This is probably the reason why Petar II decided to act so recklessly.

"Hmm, then what should we do? It's frustrating. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was also an important ally of Germany in its own right…"

I scoffed.

"That was only during the war."

It is true that we have been treating the Kingdom of Yugoslavia favorably all this time because of the bauxite, a material for aluminum, and the food imports.

"But not anymore."

That brat of a king seems to be under some delusion, but we can just get something like bauxite from the Soviet Union instead of reparations.

Since France and Italy are paying their reparations with food anyway, there is no reason for us to depend on them when we are currently focusing on the modernization of agriculture and the livestock industry in our expanded territory after ending the war.

Maybe if it was a leader who could be reasoned with like Regent Paul, but is there any reason to show consideration to a dictator who goes wild believing we won't be able to interfere?

"Let's inquire with the Croatian side about our intention to provide Lend-Lease."

I'm sorry, Claudia.

No matter how much I think about it, it seems true that my personality has gotten worse.

"Let's see if the Royal Yugoslav Army can still talk big after fighting against German-made tanks and aircraft.