Chapter 940 D-Day (2)

Ribbentrop has been working very hard recently and has made great efforts to study the situation and data in South America. He knows the importance of São Paulo State. When he heard that the Italians wanted São Paulo State, he got angry on the spot and was about to scold them, but was interrupted by Hoffman.

Hoffman asked: "How many Italian descendants are there in the state?"

"About...about...200,000." Ciano answered with a lack of confidence.

In fact, this number is diluted. He counted all residents with one-eighth Italian ancestry as Italian descendants. In fact, there are only more than 90,000 residents with more than half of Italian ancestry - in the American Republic, there are nearly 700,000 residents with one-eighth German ancestry. If the state of Parana is included, it can reach more than 1 million.

"This is the best joke I've ever heard - 200,000 Italians want to control a country of 10 million people?" Hoffman retorted bluntly, "You can't even deal with Serbia, which is close to you and has only a few million people, but you send troops to suppress it continuously. How can you manage overseas territories thousands of kilometers away? Please go back and tell the leader that I don't think Italy is capable of doing this. I suggest stabilizing the situation in Serbia first. I heard that Tito's troops not only got the Type 4 tank but also the anti-tank gun?"

"It seems... yes." Ciano didn't dare to breathe. He knew that the head of state was not exaggerating. Whether it was the tank or the anti-tank gun, they were all "given" to Tito by Italy. Last time, they almost "given" the Tiger, but the air force was still powerful and directly destroyed it with a 250 kg bomb.

Hoffman asked again: "Is this the unanimous opinion of your top leaders?"

"No, no, no, it's just the leader's personal idea." Ciano thought about it and felt that it was inappropriate, and quickly added, "This is his immature idea. He asked me to ask for your opinion, not a formal request."

Hoffman knew what was going on: it meant that Mussolini was completely wishful thinking, and the Italian top leaders were not optimistic. There were quite a few Italian descendants in the American Republic, but the problem was that Germany had already controlled that place, and Mussolini would not dare to compete with the head of state no matter how confused he was. As for the second half of the sentence "ask for opinions", it was definitely added by Ciano himself - when the prisoner incident made a fool of itself, wasn't it settled with Ciano's gold watch and all his means?

"As a young politician and the leader's son-in-law, you should advise him to pay more attention to his image. I heard that he only works less than 2 hours a day, and spends the rest of the time with women. In the summer, he simply uses the excuse of avoiding the heat to not go to work all day, but in fact he is still eating, drinking and having fun. What will happen to a leader of a major country if he continues like this?" Hoffman "complained" bitterly. "He is a predecessor and standard-bearer of National Socialist theory. We all respect him and understand his desire to enjoy life, but the world is changing day by day. He cannot stand still and not move forward. Italy, as the second largest country in Europe, must play a leading role in the future. We The cause has not yet been finally successful. "

"I understand, I will definitely pass on your advice to the leader." Ciano said dejectedly, "It's just that sometimes he won't listen to us."

Hoffman sighed: "Then give more advice, it will always be good. The tasks of post-war reconstruction and European unity are still very heavy. Since you are the successor chosen by the leader, you should help the leader to take responsibility. "

Ciano couldn't help but look up when he heard this, and saw the Führer's half-smile, and after carefully considering the words "help the leader to take responsibility", he showed an expression of sudden enlightenment, nodded repeatedly and said yes and left respectfully.

Ciano's father, Costanzo Ciano, the old Count of Capri, was not only a noble of great importance in Italy, but also a close comrade of Mussolini. He had been following closely since the "March on Rome" and could be considered a fascist elder. Thanks to this relationship, the two became in-laws. Later, Ciano the Younger married Mussolini's daughter Ada. Not only did he rise rapidly in politics, he became a minister at a young age and also got the position of heir.

After Ciano left, Ribbentrop, who had come to his senses, asked nervously, "Führer, what do you want?"

Hoffman said with a double meaning, "Count Ciano is sensible, he will handle it well, your work should focus on negotiating peace with the Soviet Union, Italy should not worry too much."

"But I'm afraid he is unreliable. If he goes back and speculates about your thoughts with the leader, I'm afraid..."

Hoffman shook his head: He knew that in history, Ciano changed his course after the US troops landed in Sicily, not only imprisoned Mussolini but also switched to the Allies - the style of a fence-sitter was obvious, and Hoffman was sure that he would not publicize it. Besides, this sentence was not wrong, even if he said it in front of Mussolini, it would be fine - Ciano was both a son-in-law and a political heir, was it wrong to say "share more of the leader's burden"?

"But..."

"Are you here just for Italy? What did I tell you two days ago? Put the Soviet Union first, and Britain can be put aside. I will find someone to deal with Italy."

Ribbentrop then remembered that he was irritated by the Italians and had not reported important information. He hurriedly said, "Molotov has given me a new problem. I am not sure what to do, so I came to you for an answer."

"What problem has Comrade Stalin given us again?"

"Molotov said: Since the Soviet Union will still exist in the future, Eastern Russia and Western Russia are both part of the alliance, and Moscow is the capital of the alliance, then Eastern Russia will at least set up institutions in Moscow and have some social management rights, and will also have some social management rights in the future. Attending the confederal cooperation meeting will look more orderly... Of course, this is all false. In fact, Stalin cannot evacuate all Muscovites. He simply wants to retain a piece of territory in Moscow," Ribbentrop said. , "Vlasov is reluctant, but he is a smart man and knows that he must seek your consent before he can express his position on this matter."

"An enclave? How much space does he want?"

"Moscow, which is about one-third stronger, is located in the east and southeast, excluding major buildings such as Red Square and the Kremlin. It is roughly bounded by the Moskva River on one side. He also hopes to retain 10,000 to 20,000 troops."

After thinking for a while, Hoffman said: "Give him! Reduce the area a little more, 30% is enough, but we must consider the airport settings - in the future, this enclave can only be contacted by airplane. Give him a security force of 30,000 people." , you can keep armored vehicles, but you can’t have tanks and heavy artillery.”

Ribbentrop was surprised that the head of state was so easy to talk to. When negotiating the terms for the repatriation of Red Army prisoners of war, the head of state could repeatedly insist on the principle of voluntary repatriation. Now, Moscow, which is more important, actually gave away nearly one third of the terms with a wave of his hand.

"His wishes are fulfilled here. You have to fight for Vlasov's other substantive benefits, such as getting back the family members detained by Stalin."

"clear."

"Stalin will probably build the Moscow Wall soon." Hoffman walked to the window and suddenly said something out of nowhere.

"Wall?" Ribbentrop thought he heard wrongly, "Why build this thing? It's a waste of money, and it can't stop Vlasov's attack. Besides, you promised to give him the territory, Vlasov. No matter how stupid you are, you don’t dare to act recklessly.”

"When will you think more about the problem and the connotation of international politics, and stop being so ignorant?"

Ribbentrop, who was being scolded, really didn't think about it, but he didn't dare to say anything and immediately withdrew.

After Goering and the treasonous group were purged, the authority of the head of state became stronger. When the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom sued for peace, the authority had reached the point where it could not be increased. Nowadays, ordinary people simply do not dare to confront the Führer. Marshal Rundstedt, the oldest in the officer corps, now respects the Führer. He believes that the Führer's achievements far exceed those of Napoleon and Emperor Alexander. In the imperial era, the Führer not only deserves to be "conquered" The title "person" must be preceded by the word "大". It is true that some people tried to persuade people to join, but Hoffman laughed off such nonsense - in what age are you still playing the trick of claiming to be emperor?

Ribbentrop was going to ask Goebbels why the head of state said there would be a "wall" in Moscow in the future. If even the doctor couldn't explain it clearly, then the matter would probably be very complicated.

After finding Goebbels, the other party listened carefully to Ribbentrop's doubts and questions, and then thought about it carefully. His brows were furrowed at first, but then he gradually relaxed.

"The Führer thought well, and even the situation he envisaged is likely to occur - I mean the wall."

"Why?"

"Have you read the official statement issued by the Propaganda Department?"

"I..." Ribbentrop shook his head and asked in a fuss, "What's so good about that thing? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no idea how many of these things it produces throughout the year. It's all lies from beginning to end. Do you plan to use this?" To convince me?"

"You, it makes sense for the head of state to accuse you of being uneducated and ignorant. You don't understand the party and political theory at all."

Ribbentrop became irritated by what he said: "Don't just lecture people...please tell me the truth."

"The definition of peace given by the head of state for this war is a different debate on the core values ​​of socialism. He believes that the Bolshevik Party chose the wrong theory and took the wrong path, so we have to teach him a lesson and save the Russian people. This kind of two-way The struggle between the two lines and the two socialisms, otherwise how can we explain the attack on the Soviet Union - we are not invaders! Internally, we have not occupied any Soviet territory. Summarizing the war on the Eastern Front as an ideological war is also conducive to uniting the West. Russia..." Goebbels said, "Now that the Bolshevik Party has realized its mistakes, is determined to accept our advice, and is willing to return to the right path, our party and National Socialist Germany must give a warning to the comrades and the country who have made mistakes. There was no chance to correct our mistakes, so we resolutely chose a truce.”

"A greater advantage of this explanation is that it reserves the right to attack again - once we find that the Bolsheviks still have not returned to the correct socialist path, we can do it again." Goebbels said unhurriedly, "Reservation Part of East Moscow was given to the Bolshevik regime to let them know how to build correct socialism, and to give them opportunities to learn, refer to, and imitate on the spot. It was a window to display the image of national socialism and attract tens of millions of Eastern Russian people to yearn for correct socialism. A giant magnet for the road…”

Ribbentrop couldn't close his mouth, and there was only one word in his eyes - surrender!