Chapter 138 Chapter 23 "The whole world will hold its breath" (3)

It took almost two weeks for Stalin to inform the Germans that the Soviet Union was willing to join the Quadruple Pact, but on a few conditions - such as withdrawing troops from Finland.These demands were not excessive, but, to the Foreign Office's surprise, Hitler did not want to bargain—not even a reply was given to Moscow. All he wanted was to use force.Later that month, Hitler's field commanders conducted a series of mock war games, including a mock attack on Russia. On December 5, the day after the mock war games, the chiefs of staff of the three armies met with Hitler, Brauchitsch and Halder.The Führer approved the essentials of Halder's offensive plan, but opposed the imitation of Napoleon and the march to Moscow.Capturing the capital of the Soviet Union was "not very important," he said.Brauchitsch protested that Moscow was of the utmost importance because it was not only the transportation center of the Soviet Union, but also the center of armaments.This drew a sharp rebuttal. "Only a man with a fossilized head, full of old ideas," said Hitler, "would consider it worthwhile to take the capital of the Soviet Union." His interests were in Leningrad and Stalingrad, the breeding grounds of Bolshevism.Once these two lairs are destroyed, Bolshevism dies.This is precisely the purpose of their attack on the Soviet Union.

Brauchitsch counters that this is the goal of politicians.His words drew a reprimand: politics and strategy are interdependent. "Whether he can achieve hegemony in Europe," Hitler said, "depends on the war with Russia." After defeating the Soviet Union, for example, he could bring his second enemy, Great Britain, to its knees.Five days later, in order to prepare himself for the upcoming expedition, Hitler gave a speech in Berlin about how the wealth of the earth was not evenly distributed.He said it was not fair that there should be 360 ​​Germans per square mile, while other countries were sparsely populated. "We have to solve these problems," he said. "We will definitely solve them."

Meanwhile, Goebbels prepared Germany for the difficult years ahead.He told his colleagues that the Christmas festive atmosphere was only allowed to last for two days. "Even then, the Christmas festivities should be in keeping with the atmosphere of the events taking place. Hanging Christmas trees here and there for weeks is out of step with the militant mood of the German people." Morale - outside the metropolis "stripteases are not allowed in the countryside, in small towns and in front of soldiers." Comedy is also not allowed to satirize politics, or perform "obscene, bawdy farce."

The revised offensive plan was presented to Hitler on December 7.He changed the time of marching to Moscow to after the Baltic countries were wiped out and Leningrad was occupied, and changed the code name of the battle "Otto" to a more meaningful name: "Barbarossa" ("Red Barbarossa") beard").This was the nickname given to Frederick I, the Holy Roman Emperor - who led an army eastward in 1190 to capture the "Holy Land" (that is, Palestine - Translator's Note).He said, "Most of the Soviet Red Army stationed on the western border will be wiped out. The method is to use mechanized sharp soldiers, like a sharp knife, to penetrate deep into the heart of the Soviet Union." rear. "The ultimate goal of this campaign is to erect a barrier in the Volga-Arkhangel area to block the Asian part of Russia. In this way, if necessary, the Urals, the last area on which Russia depends, can be destroyed by air force."

Halder suspected that Hitler was merely intimidating.He then asked Engel: Is this a real plan?The adjutant believed that Hitler himself did not know.However, the dice have been rolled and the expedition plan has been put into action.Hitler had no patience for those who advocated moderation after victory, who wanted Germany to stop aggression, and who only wanted to enjoy the fruits of conquest.These people claimed that most of Europe had fallen to Hitler, and that in time Britain would have to recognize his hegemony in Europe.However, such a negative policy Adolf Hitler would not accept.The goal of National Socialism was to destroy Bolshevism.How could he give up his life ambition?

"I had previously thought that we should avoid fighting on two fronts at all costs," he later told Bowman, "but rest assured that I have thought long and hard about Napoleon and his experience in Russia. You may ask, then, Why fight a war against Russia, and why fight it at a time of my choice?" Invade Britain, there would be no hope of ending the war, the conflict would go on endlessly, and the Americans would play a growing role .The only chance to conquer the Soviet Union is to take the initiative.Why attack in 1941?Because time is getting more and more favorable to the Soviet Union and less and less favorable to Germany.Time will favor Germany only after he has captured the territory of Soviet Russia.