Chapter 136 Chapter 23 "The whole world will hold its breath" (1)

1940.11-1941.6.22 Hitler only reluctantly supported the "Triple Pact" with Japan and Italy.Nevertheless, he accepted the suggestion of Ribbentrop, the founder of the Triple Pact, to invite the Soviet Union, turning it into a Quadruple Pact.As a result, Soviet Foreign Affairs Commissioner Molotov arrived in Berlin on November 12, 1940, to hold negotiations on the alliance.The talks were held in Ribbentrop's new office in the old presidential palace.Hitler was not present.The owner was all smiles and tried his best to keep the Soviet delegation from being formal.Schmidt recalled: "It took a long time for Molotov to put a smile on his clever as a wizard in return." Ribbentrop loudly assured that the Triple Pact was by no means aimed at the Soviet Union.Molotov listened calmly.In fact, Ribbentrop said, Japan has turned to face the south, and it will take centuries for Japan to consolidate its territories in Southeast Asia. "In order to gain living space, Germany will also expand to the south, that is to say, to Central Africa and the former German colonies." He said with confidence that everyone is now moving south-he seems to be following the trend.He suggested that the Soviet Union also go south, and also named the Persian Gulf and other areas of no interest to Germany.Obviously, this refers to India.But Molotov said nothing, only glanced at him through his old-fashioned pince-nez.

Distraught, Ribbentrop suggested that the Soviet Union join the Triple Alliance.But Molotov—whose head was so clear; so logical that Schmidt couldn't help but think of his math teacher—saved the bullet for Hitler.That afternoon Molotov was again listening quietly to the Führer's statement.After Hitler finished speaking, he complained politely that the Führer's statement was too general and not at all specific.All he needs are details.Immediately afterwards, he raised a series of embarrassing questions: "Does the German-Soviet agreement of 1939 still apply to Finland? What does the new order look like in Europe and Asia? What role can the Soviet Union play in it? Bulgaria, Romania What about the position with Turkey? What is the current situation in terms of protecting Soviet interests in the Balkans and the Black Sea?"

Before that, no foreigner dared to speak so clearly.This made Schmidt wonder whether Hitler would walk away indignantly like when Horace Wilson handed Chamberlain's letter to him two years ago.But he didn't do that, he just responded obediently.He said that the Tripartite Treaty would only adjust the situation in Europe, and that without Russia's cooperation, no problem could be solved—not only in Europe, but also in the Far East. Molotov was skeptical. "If you treat Russia as an equal partner and not as an idiot," he said, "we can in principle enter into the Triple Pact. But the first thing to be clear about is the object and purpose of this treaty. You must take the big Tell me exactly where the boundaries of the Asia Minor region are to be drawn." With such a question, it was obvious that Hitler had no choice but to parry.Therefore, he suddenly announced that the discussion was temporarily suspended. "Otherwise, we'd be stuck with air raid sirens."

Hitler did not like to dine with foreigners, but he still invited the Russians to have lunch with him at noon on the 13th.Yet the gallantry with which he conceded could not change his guest's obstinacy.At the second meeting, Molotov continued to be aggressive, raising the Finnish question.Hitler secretly calculated that in the event of war with the Soviet Union, he would turn Finland into a military ally.Mention of Finland turns the Führer from gracious host of a luncheon to irascible litigant. "We have no political interests there," he protested. Molotov was less convinced. "If the Soviet Union and Germany maintain good relations," he said calmly, "the Finnish problem can be resolved without war. However, there must be no German troops in Finland, and no demonstrations against the Soviet government." Hitler Resisting his temper, he replied in a calm but forceful tone that the German troops in Finland were nothing more than troops crossing the border to Norway.

Molotov's suspicions were still lingering, and Hitler was unhappy, saying and talking. “We must make peace with Finland in order to get their nickel and timber.” But his next sentence—possibly too bluntly—behinds his ultimate goal. "Any conflict in the Baltic would strain Soviet-German relations—the consequences would be disastrous." If Molotov did not see this as a threat, he did so by ignoring it and making a grave mistake. Diplomatic error. "It's not a Baltic problem, it's a Finnish problem," he replied gravely. "No war with Finland!" Hitler said stubbornly.

"Then you have violated our agreement last year," Molotov said equally stubbornly. The contest, though less dramatic than the English debates, was far more ruthless.Ribbentrop immediately felt that his policy of German-Soviet détente was in dire straits.He interjected in a compromising tone.Hitler understood, and took Ribbentrop's southward plan as the subject, and made insinuations to Molotov. "After the conquest of England," he said, "the British Empire, covering an area of ​​40,000,000 square kilometers, will disintegrate and become a world-wide, bankrupt estate." Like a salesman for the new real estate industry, Hitler described A fascinating picture. "In this bankrupt estate, Russia will have year-round ice-free, true high seas. Today, Britain, with a population of only 45 million, rules the British Empire with a population of 600 million. I will soon make this little The nation was smashed to pieces." Germany, he said, did not want to divert the target away from opposing the heart of Europe, the British Isles.This is why he opposed any Baltic war.

However, Hitler's digression did not appease Molotov.He's still complaining. "You made promises to Romania, which displeased us," he said abruptly.This refers to the German guarantee to Romania's new frontier against foreign aggression. "This guarantee also applies against us?" In diplomacy, cornering an opponent is a big mistake. "It applies to whomever attacks Romania," Hitler said bluntly.A moment later, he adjourned the meeting, using the same excuse he had used the day before—the possibility of an air strike by British planes. Hitler did not attend the banquet at the Russian embassy that night.While Molotov was toasting for friendship, the British plane came to strike and the banquet was interrupted.Ribbentrop accompanied Molotov to Wilhelmstrasse and into his own bomb shelter.

After that, he took this opportunity to hand over the draft of the four-power treaty he had been looking for to Molotov for review.The treaty required Germany, the Soviet Union, Japan and Italy to respect their natural spheres of influence and resolve any disputes "amicably".It posits the Soviet Union's "territorial aspirations" extending south "in the direction of the Indian Ocean." Molotov was not moved.He said Russia was more interested in Europe and the Dardanelles than in the Indian Ocean. "Therefore," he said, "the agreement on paper was not satisfactory to the Soviet Union." He insisted on effective guarantees to ensure Soviet security.Then came a long list of other demands: neutralization of Sweden; control of the Baltic Sea, as well as the fate of Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Greece.

According to the record of the meeting that night, Ribbentrop was taken aback and kept repeating, "The key question is whether the Soviet Union is willing and ready to cooperate with us to destroy the British Empire." Molotov replied sarcastically, if What Germany is waging is a desperate struggle against Britain, and, as Hitler said that afternoon, Germany is "fighting to die" and Britain is "fighting to live."Ribbentrop insisted that Britain had been defeated without knowing it.Molotov replied: "If this is the case, why are we still in the air-raid shelter? Whose bombs are lying around and exploding everywhere?"

In the debate, Molotov won; in the lawsuit, he lost.When Hitler read the written report of the bomb shelter debate, he immediately became angry.He firmly believed that there was no sincerity towards the Soviet Union for the Quadruple Pact.So he gave up the faint hope of peace with the Soviet Union and resolved to do what he had sworn to do since 1928.He finally made up his mind to attack the Soviet Union.Shortly thereafter, he told Borman privately that Molotov's visit had convinced him that "sooner or later Stalin will abandon us to the enemy." surrender before. "The Third Reich, the defender and protector of Europe, will never allow these friends to die in vain on the altar of communism. Such an act is outrageous; if we do, we will be punished. Both morally and morally This is a bad game, both practically and strategically. No matter what is done, war with Russia is imperative. Delaying the war means fighting under far more unfavorable conditions. Therefore, I decided, Molo As soon as Tove was gone, I began to settle accounts with Russia—weather permitting.” Thankfully, the Red Army fared poorly against Finland.He also sees himself as the master of his destiny, superior to anyone else, whose genius and will are sufficient to conquer any enemy.Dazzled by his political and military victories, he told a Nazi commander that he was the only one who had entered a "superhuman state."His nature was "more like a god than a man".So, as the head of a new race of supermen, he is "unconstrained in any way by the moral traditions of mankind" and is entirely "above the law."