Chapter 185 Chapter 30 "This time, we must not surrender five minutes before midnight" (2)

On February 12, the "Big Three" announced that they had just held a meeting in Yalta and had reached consensus on the issue of defeating the Axis powers and the issue of the future world. In the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union, the communiqué of the meeting was greeted with ovation.This communiqué also pleased Goebbels, as it gave him a chance to resurrect the monster of unconditional surrender.He argued that Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin's decision at Yalta to dismember Germany and force it to pay huge reparations proved that Germany must redouble its efforts to fight to the end—or be wiped out.

Hitler was very satisfied with the unexpected gains in propaganda.At noon the next day, at the military conference, Hitler became very angry with Guderian, and his satisfaction was thus diluted.General Guderian rudely declared that Himmler had no experience and was not made to be the leader of the counterattack against Zhukov's elite troops on the Oder River. "You have the audacity to criticize the Reich officers!" shouted Hitler.Not to be outdone, Guderian insisted on letting his deputy, General Walter Wink, command the campaign.Hitler was furious.So, the two quarreled loudly, and the quarrel became more and more fierce, so that the participants of the meeting slipped out one by one, and only Himmler, Wink and a few adjutants with livid faces were left in the room.They debated for two hours.Hitler took a deep breath every time he shouted "You dare!"Guderian stubbornly reiterated his request and asked Wink to be Himmler's assistant.Every time he made this request, Himmler seemed to turn paler again.

Hitler has been pacing back and forth in the room in embarrassment.Finally, he stopped in front of Himmler's chair and said helplessly, "Come on, Himmler, General Wenck will go to Army Group Vistula to take over as chief of staff tonight!" exhausted. "Let's get on with the meeting," he murmured, with a wry smile. "Mr. General, the Army General Staff has won a battle tonight." The next day, Hitler spent more time dictating.He told Bormann that the Nazis had washed the Jewish poison out of the Germanic world by deeds, not words. "For us, this is the main sterilization process. We have practiced to the end. Otherwise, we may be suffocated to death." He revealed that the extermination of the Jews has become the most important purpose of his war.On the eve of attacking Poland, he warned them, "If they start a war suddenly, they will not be forgiven, and I will wipe out these pests all over Europe. This time it must be once and for all!" He said, this is Not a threat, but his main historical mission. "Here, we have pierced the abscess of the Jew; the world to come will always be grateful to us."

The next night, Dr. Gissing happened to meet Hitler in the bomb shelter of the Chancellery. The Fuehrer was pale, his right arm was shaking; he could not move without holding on to something.Hitler seemed absent-minded, asking the same question several times, as if the needle were stuck on a record. "Where did you come from, doctor? Ah, yes, Kleiferd, Kleinfeld, yes, Kleinfeld...", he murmured, first assuring Gissing that the American He would never be able to break through the "West Wall", and later declared that if Germany lost the war, he would live and die with his soldiers. Finally, he boasted that he had a new type of weapon called an atomic bomb, "even if the British White Cliff will hide in the water", he will use this weapon.After saying that, he walked away without saying goodbye to Ji Xindao.

Others have also noticed that he is occasionally absent-minded. On February 13, the Allied bombing of Dresden exacerbated his bad temper.In this stormy fire, the ancient town was almost flattened to the ground - 16 million acres of ruins, equivalent to three times the destruction of London in the entire war.Preliminary reports indicate that at least 100,000 people, and possibly more, were killed in two consecutive airstrikes.The final report of the local police chief stated that 25,000 people were killed "first of all women and children"; another 35,000 people were listed as missing.

At first, Goebbels could not believe that Dresden had been bombed; later, he wept bitterly.When he could speak, he condemned Goering as soon as he opened his mouth. "This parasite only knows how to be lazy and care about his own comfort. Now, look how much crime he has caused. Why didn't the Fuehrer listen to my earlier warning?" Hitler vented his anger on the British and American pilots who threw the bombs, but Rejected Goebbels' proposal, that is, to execute the captured Allied pilots in retaliation.He said he agreed in principle but would wait before making a final decision.Ribbentrop and others are capable of dissuading him.

In February of that year, rumors of peace talks appeared in the neutral European newspapers, largely because of the recent efforts of Peter Kleister—whom Hitler had ordered him to have no further dealings with the Russians.He did so, but later, he ventured into Sweden on his own terms, activities that eventually led to another peace effort—this time with the West.At the beginning, he agreed to talk with Gilles Stotts, an important representative of the "World Jewish Congress".During the first talks held in a Stockholm hotel, Stotts proposed that some 4,300 Jews be released from the concentration camps.

Kleist said that the Jewish problem cannot be solved by such individual activities.It can only be resolved through political solutions. "If the preservation of the Jews can be exchanged for the preservation of Europe," Kleist said, "this is a real 'deal' worth risking my life." Stotts warmed up.He suggested that Kleister should come forward and talk to Yvor Olson, a diplomat at the American embassy in Stockholm and a personal adviser to President Roosevelt's Commission on War Refugees in Northwest Europe.After Stotts contacted him, he came back and said excitedly that President Roosevelt was willing to "use politics" to redeem the lives of 1.5 million Jews imprisoned in concentration camps.This was in Kleister's favor, so he told Stotts' words to Varner Best, the Nazi governor in Denmark.Best's suggestion is that it is best to go to Himmler's assistant Karlden Brunner on this matter.

After returning to Berlin, Kleist did find Carlden Bruner, but was arrested on the spot, just like when he was dealing with Klaus.However, a few days later, Karlden Bruner informed him that Himmler was "willing to consider this possibility suggested by Sweden."He asked Kleiste to go to Stockholm to start negotiations. In order to show his promise, he asked him to bring 2,000 Jews there as a gift.Dealing with Jews was nothing new to Himmler.On other occasions he has been conducting preliminary negotiations on this issue, blackmailing the Jews into negotiating a peace.He is also encouraged by two dubious individuals.One was his chiropractor, Felix Kirstein.The man was a doctor without a degree, a native of the Baltic region, born in Estonia.The other was Schulenburg, Himmler's intelligence chief, a mercenary.He also tried to convince Himmler that showing humanity to political prisoners and prisoners of war would prove to the world that he was not a monster.Schulenburg was so convinced that Hitler was leading Germany and himself to ruin that he tirelessly urged Himmler to open up every possible path to peace.

It was not an easy task, since these negotiations had to be conducted without Hitler's knowledge.In addition, Carlden Bruner was loyal to his Führer and hated and distrusted Schulenburg.Carltenbruner kept admonishing Himmler, urging him not to engage in schemes that would upset Hitler—or worse.This was all before he heard Kleiste's latest suggestion.He trusted Kleister, and there was no doubt that Himmler would send Kleister back to Sweden, which was one of the reasons. However, the secret planning of the SS became like this: Kleister had just started to prepare for the operation, he was called to Karlden Bruner's office and informed that the matter had nothing to do with him.What Carlden Bruner could not explain to him was that his enemy Schulenburg had just persuaded Himmler not to share any honor with the Foreign Office - so Himmler sent Kirstein instead the deal.Kirstein immediately began negotiations with the Swedish foreign minister on the freedom of the Scandinavians in the concentration camps.As negotiations progressed well, it was agreed that Count Falk Bernadotte would travel to Berlin to make final arrangements with Himmler himself.

Since Kleiste had been told not to speak out, his immediate boss, Ribbentrop, knew nothing about the matter.Later, the Swedish ambassador in Berlin inadvertently sent Himmler an official note requesting permission for a meeting between Bernadotte and the Reich Prefect—since this was an official document, it had to go through the Foreign Office, of course.Only then did Ribbentrop realize for the first time that his opponent had been conducting peace talks without telling him.He sent for Fritz Hersey—a man who, before the war, had campaigned tirelessly for peace with England.Does Hesse think that Count Bernadotte is suitable to deliver the "peace tentacles"?Hesse responded with a question of his own: Has the Führer promised to negotiate?No, admitted Ribbentrop, but perhaps he could be persuaded.Together they drew up a memorandum on the subject and presented it to Hitler.It didn't use the word "surrender," and Hesse wasn't fooled. He argued that it was little better than an offer of surrender.He doubted that the West would consider the proposals, but added, "Very well, you can try, but I don't think it will lead to anything." Ribbentrop began by negotiating with his political opponent Himmler.To his surprise, Himmler was so willing to cooperate; he was horrified when he heard that the Führer might find Bernadotte's coming to Berlin to negotiate something beyond humanitarianism.First, he assured the Foreign Office of his full personal support in the future; then, he promised to order the cancellation of Hitler's instructions to exterminate prisoners of war and prisoners in concentration camps, so that they would not be left alive to the enemy.Ribbentrop was so overjoyed that he could hardly hold back tears of love when he revealed this to Hesse. "Yes, we can always try to save the German people now," he said.So he conveniently sent Hesse to Stockholm on February 17. Presumably Himmler must have immediately regretted his premature promise to Ribbentrop.Himmler was terrified at the thought that the Führer might discover—and misunderstand—what he was doing.When Bernadotte arrived in Berlin, he refused to see him—unless his two rivals (Kaltenbruner and Ribbentrop) first met the count.This, he thought, would stop them from talking about Hitler.Both are very happy.The first person to meet with the count was Carlden Bruner, but Bernadotte demanded to deal directly with Himmler, so he was unwilling to talk to his assistant, and only suggested that the Swedish Red Cross send people to work in the concentration camp.Carlton Bruner nodded and said that he "very much agreed" to allow Bernadotte to meet Himmler himself.This move surprised Bernadotte. Within an hour, Bernadotte was talking with Ribbentrop at the Foreign Office—or rather, listening to him.Not knowing how long he would be listening to Ribbentrop, Bernadotte secretly set his stopwatch.Ribbentrop was eloquent, going on from topic to topic, spouting Nazi clichés.Finally, he announced that the living man who has done the greatest service to mankind is "Adolf Hitler, without a doubt Adolf Hitler!" He was silent.Bernadotte pressed the stopwatch - Ribbentrop spoke for 67 minutes in one breath!The next day, Count Bernadotte drove to Dr. Gerhard's sanatorium.The sanatorium, in Hohenrihen, about 75 miles north of Berlin, was Himmler's unofficial headquarters.Bernadotte found him uncomfortably amiable.From the outside, Himmler doesn't look very vicious; he is gentle, soft-spoken, and the nails of his two small hands are neatly manicured.Bernadotte told him that it was the taking of people hostage and the massacre of innocent people that caused public outrage in Sweden.Himmler replied seriously that, obviously, the earl's information was inaccurate.He asked Bernadotte if he had specific proposals. Bernadotte proposed that Himmler release the Norwegians and Danes in the concentration camps and hand them over to Swedish prisoners.The request, which should have been insignificant, led to a string of violent accusations against the Swedes.This has nothing to do with Bernadotte being a horse and a cow; the reason for Himmler's behavior is probably caused by a sudden fear. "If I go along with your proposal," he said, blinking now and then, "I'm afraid the Swedish papers will run headlines that the war criminal Himmler, terrified of punishment, is trying to buy his freedom. ’ Then he changed his mind, saying that he might do what Bernadotte asked—if Sweden and the allies could assure him of an end to sabotage in Norway. "That is unthinkable," replied the Count.Then he asked for several small concessions.Himmler agreed.Bernadotte took some courage and asked if Swedish women married to German men could be allowed to return home.Himmler immediately refused.Pushed to the brink, Himmler's attitude changed. "You may think I am sentimental, even ridiculous, but I have sworn to be loyal to Adolf Hitler. As a soldier and as a German, I cannot violate my oath. Therefore, I cannot do anything that violates the Führer. plans and desires." Only moments before he had made concessions that would have angered Hitler, and now he was echoing them, talking about the "Bolshevik threat" and the collapse of the Eastern Front. Europe would be doomed.Then, with emotion, he recalled the "glorious" days of the early days of the Nazi movement - "the most wonderful years of my life". Bernadotte managed to insert a polite question about Germany's treatment of Jews. "Don't you admit that there are good people among the Jews, just like other peoples? Many of my friends are Jews." "You're right," he replied, "but you don't have a Jewish problem in Sweden, so you You can’t understand the German point of view.” The meeting lasted two and a half hours.At the end of the meeting, Himmler promised to answer all of Bernadotte's demands before he returned to Sweden.As a gift, Bernadotte gave Himmler—who was deeply interested in Scandinavian folklore—a seventeenth-century work on war drums. Bernadotte returned to Ribbentrop's office.The foreign minister seemed more willing to contribute than before, but his excessive enthusiasm made Bernadotte very angry.So Bernadotte waited for the opportunity to take his leave politely.Ribbentrop immediately called Kleister and asked who was Bernadotte's backer.What is he really doing other than saving the Scandinavians?Kleist caught a glimpse of a wallet on the chair, bulging and full of papers.This is Bernadotte's wallet.Kleist picked it up and handed it to Ribbentrop, expecting him to read the documents inside.Unexpectedly, he put the wallet into a big envelope and asked someone to send it back to the owner.Kleiste was greatly moved. "In the midst of a great war that is about to collapse", this seems to be a unique "chivalrous and immortal posture". Ribbentrop's agent in Stockholm, Hesse, had little encouragement from the Swedish banker Wallenberg, who believed that both Roosevelt and Churchill were determined to destroy Germany.He suggested that the Germans should explore the East.A clearly worded proposal might have interested Stalin. "Stalin," he said, "made no commitment to the West." A few days later, Hesse saw a picture in a Swedish newspaper, which gave him hope again.This picture shows Wallenberg's brother and the Russian ambassador, Mrs. Kolontai, arm in arm, standing on the steps of the Russian embassy.This may be a signal that the Kremlin is dissatisfied with the West and is preparing for peace talks with Hitler.Encouraged, Hesse hurried back to Berlin, but found that his master was not at all interested in the news from Sweden.Ribbentrop was bedridden and depressed.He said weakly that everything was in vain, and there was no chance of dialogue with the West at all. "Our enemies want the total destruction of Germany. That is why they refuse to enter into any negotiations that would save German lives." Hersey insisted that there were two real possibilities for starting negotiations, one with the West (Olson, Roosevelt's personal adviser, had told him the president was willing to negotiate) and the other with the East.Upon hearing this, Ribbentrop came alive. He left Jesse by his bed until late at night.The next morning, he called Hesse again. March 16th was a sunny day with bright sunshine.Ribbentrop got up and paced impatiently. "I have carefully considered your report and opinion," he said.To Jesse's amazement, he actually sent him back to Stockholm to start a conversation with Kollontai.His instructions are available in a few hours. "I've sent it to the Führer for final approval. Your ticket is booked. You can go to Stockholm tonight." That afternoon and throughout the night, Ribbentrop and his staff taught Hesse how to deal with the Russians.Just after midnight, they were interrupted by a phone call.The call was from Hevel from the Foreign Office - still one of the Führer's most trusted advisers.When Ribbentrop heard this, his face immediately turned pale. "Say it again, please," he said curtly.After a while, he put the phone down.He seemed calm on the surface, but his voice was not. "Gentlemen," he said, "the Führer forbids further dialogue with any foreign country! I thank you. You can go!" Later, Hewell told Hesse what had happened in the Chancellery.At first, Hitler agreed to contact the Russians, but after reading the instructions, he hesitated.He paced the room—the gramophone was still playing “Twilight of the Gods”—and tore out page by page. "I forbid further contact with the enemy," he said to Hewell, "it is all meaningless. Anyone who talks to the enemy betrays our doctrine. We have only struggle against Bolshevism, and there is no room for negotiation. Good night! "