Chapter 163 Chapter Twenty-Six With the Family (6)

Shortly after the Battle of Stalingrad, Stalin made a peace attempt on Germany.Since then, peace talks with the enemy have become a topic of frequent (non-public) discussion in the German Foreign Office.Admiral Canaris (who himself tried unsuccessfully to deal secretly with Roosevelt through former Pennsylvania governor George Eyler) believed that the Soviet proposal was serious.So he persuaded Ribbentrop to submit this proposal to the Führer.Ribbentrop presented it to Hitler in a memorandum.Furious, Hitler tore it to shreds and threatened to execute anyone who intervened on his own terms.Negotiations are out of the question until the Army regains the initiative, he said.He even forbade Ribbentrop to mention the matter again.The foreign minister timidly suggested that the plans for conquest in Europe should be scaled down to make them more acceptable to the Allies.Hitler was furious. "Trust me, we're going to win," he said. "The blows we've taken are a lesson. It's taught me that we have to get stronger and take all the risks. In doing so, we'll be victorious. "

Ribbentrop revealed the matter to Fritz Hesse in the utmost secrecy.For safety's sake, their conversation took place while walking in the woods near "Wolf's Lair".It was a certain day in March, and it suddenly began to snow. "The only hope now," he said, "is that at least one of our opponents will get wiser. Of course the British must understand that it is madness to hand us over to the Russians." Tears welled up in his eyes , but he quickly cheered up.He called Jesse absolute secrecy. A few days later, the two walked in the snow again. "Something has to be done," said Ribbentrop, "to convince Britain and America that the war they are fighting against Germany is stupid." Don't they understand?Would Germany's defeat not only help Stalin, but also upset the balance of power in Europe?Don't they see that their own position in the world will also be compromised?The military potential of the Soviet Union was already superior to that of the Western Allies. "Can't we find a way to let the British and Americans understand that the victory of the Soviet Union is exactly the opposite of what they need?" Hesse, who has stayed in the UK for many years, believes that this is impossible.The Allies were not overly concerned about a Soviet victory.Unlike Germany, neither the United Kingdom nor the United States experienced directly the horrors of Bolshevism.

One of Ribbentrop's staff, Peter Kleister, had made private efforts to negotiate a peace with Russia, although Hitler had clearly instructed him not to have any further discussions with Mrs. Kollontai, the Soviet ambassador to Sweden. connect.His intermediary was Edgar Krause, a businessman of unknown origin from Eastern Europe who spoke neither Russian nor German well.He lives in Sweden and his wife is a Swede of Russian descent.Before the October Revolution, Klaus had met Stalin and Trotsky and was now associated with the Soviet embassy in Stockholm.The local Germans regarded him as "either a cowhide king or a spy".After two long talks with embassy officials, Klaus reported to Kleister on June 18, 1943, that the Soviets had decided, "not to fight one more day, or even one more day, in the interests of Britain and the United States." Minutes." They felt that Hitler, blinded by ideology, had been tricked by the capitalist countries and pushed into the war by them.On the one hand, they felt that the Red Army could defeat the German army, and on the other hand, they were afraid that they would be in an extremely weak position when they faced the "steel weapons" of Western countries after the war.The Soviet Union did not trust the United Kingdom and the United States because, to this day, they have not made a clear statement on the war goals and boundaries; nor have they made any clear promises about the so-called second front in Europe.The British and American landings in Africa seemed more like protection of their own lines from Soviet encroachment than an attack on the Axis powers.Therefore, for the promises made by Roosevelt and Churchill, Claus said that the Soviet Union would not believe it.On the other hand, the large swathes of Soviet territory occupied by Hitler were another target worth negotiating.A specific transaction can be completed immediately.

Stalin needed only two things: assurances that peace would be preserved and economic assistance.The suggestion seemed tempting, since Krauss' information apparently came directly from the Soviets.But Kleist himself was every now and then a possible victim of a Soviet game.For hours that night he wandered the streets aimlessly, unable to make up his mind.In the end, he decided that as long as there was the smallest possibility of ending the war and saving Europe from Soviet invasion, he had no other choice.The next morning, he flew to Berlin to "confess" about the content of his forbidden conversation.However, he was arrested as soon as he got off the plane at Tamberhof Airport on the grounds that he had been conspiring with "Klaus the Jew".

Kleist was interrogated by Heydrich's successor, Ernst Kaltenbruner.He was a tall man, over two meters tall, with a pointed chin, and a knife mark across his pale face; his arms were slender, like the upper limbs of an ape.Kleiste's blunt exposition moved him.That sounds true, he said.Kleist denies that Krause is Jewish.This, Carlden Bruner believed; Klaus was only sentenced to house arrest.The house arrest was lifted after two weeks.He has since turned to a less dangerous job: resettling Estonian Swedes.To his surprise, the question of peace was brought up again a short time later—this time by Ribbentrop.After the defeat of the German army at Kursk that summer, Ribbentrop felt that Germany's defeat was irreversible and that he should offend the might of the Führer. On August 16, he summoned Kleister at the "Wolf's Lair" and said to him: "I have brought you here to tell you about that absurd story in the north. I mean that you met in Stockholm with that The Jewish meeting—I'll hear it before it's filed away." In the hours that followed, the pair dissected the Kremlin's motives at length.

Although Hitler ordered not to mention the negotiation, Ribbentrop ignored it and told the Führer about the conversation with Kleister.The Führer did not lose his temper, but reiterated his view that negotiations with Moscow would never take place and that the war would be fought relentlessly until victory.At the same time, he allowed Kleist to keep in touch with Klaus, and said that as soon as the Kremlin had a new suggestion, it would be forwarded to Berlin immediately. Kleist did not see Klaus for almost three weeks. When they met in early September, the intermediary (exactly how close he was to the Russians and Germans, both of which were vague) looked displeased.He said he hated getting involved in politics with people who didn't even know what they needed.A Russian waited for Kleister in Stockholm for nine days, but no one came.Berlin refuses or does not answer!Kleist comforted Klaus and persuaded him to visit Mrs. Kollontai to re-establish contact.

Klaus returns with bad news.Buoyed by a succession of battle victories, the Soviets were reluctant to negotiate—unless the Germans made gestures of sincerity, such as firing Rosenberg and Ribbentrop.Kleister couldn't help laughing; it was a welcome entry in his report to the Foreign Minister; but he pointed out respectfully that Hitler had no intention of peace talks.Klaus was not surprised at all, just sighed.The Germans don't know anything about negotiation. To negotiate, you have to be patient and understand your counterparty.These two are exactly what the Führer lacks. Strangely, after 4 days, Kleist found that Klaus was very excited.His sources at the Soviet embassy had just informed him that another drastic move by Moscow was about to take place!Former Soviet ambassador to Berlin and current Deputy Foreign Affairs Commissioner Dekanosov will arrive within a week, and he has the right to talk directly to Kleist.But this is conditional: Kleister must return to Stockholm before Dekanosov arrives; the Germans must announce the signal of a pre-agreed agreement between the two sides - the resignation of Ribbentrop and Rosenberg also signaled , Kleiste has the right to participate in the negotiations. "How do you feel?" Klaus asked, with a look of anxiety and impatience on his face. "It took us a lot of effort to salvage the sunken ship! Now, Hitler just got on board and set sail, and he was out of trouble from then on. What would he do?"

On September 10, Kleist reported everything to Ribbentrop.It can be predicted that the foreign minister was very sad and very angry.The German-Soviet relationship was cultivated by him alone, but now, the prerequisite for the negotiation is that he resign!He also doubted whether someone with Dekanosov's qualifications would be used to play the game of peace talks.A moment later, his press officer interjected that Radio Moscow had just announced that Dekanosov was about to leave the Soviet Union to go to Sofia as ambassador.That, Ribbentrop said, just confirmed his suspicions.Kremlin, who is more familiar with Soviet tactics, said this was proof provided by the Kremlin.It showed that Dekanosov was indeed involved and that his presence on neutral soil was for the purpose of negotiations.He suggested an announcement: Schulenburg had just been appointed German ambassador to Sofia.Ribbentrop shook his head.The Führer will never send Schulenburg to Sofia!Kleist patiently explained that Stalin did not really intend to send Dekanosov there either. "The news announced by the two countries is only a signal, only the 'fortune teller' understands it, and no one else understands it."

Ribbentrop saw the light, regained his enthusiasm, and immediately set off for the "wolf's lair".He returned late that night, somewhat dull, because Hitler's instructions had been vague: Kleist had to tell Klaus in private that he could not yet return to Sweden. "Try to keep the line going," Ribbentrop said. "The Führer wants to find out how far the Russians intend to go." Kleister was called in again the next day.This meeting was absolutely discouraging.The Führer had already decided not to engage the Soviets head-on, even briefly.Kleist left dejectedly.They've come so close—and without success.