I Will Stage A Coup D’état - Chapter 35



Only Noblemtl

EP.35 Polish Crisis (1)

In February 1939, while the Korean Empire was suffering from the evils of the ‘revolutionary concentration camps’, Germany began its work to annex Czechoslovakia.

Europe was horrified when the moustache started playing with fire again.

“You promised to stop in the Sudetenland, didn’t you?”

“Did I? I think I did, but isn’t the guy who believed me an idiot?”

Hitler defaulted on the credit of the German nation.

On March 15, 1939, the German Wehrmacht occupied Czechoslovakia.

Slovakia became an independent protectorate, and Bohemia and Moravia became a protectorate.

The country called Czech Republic no longer exists.

The lesson this incident taught Europeans was clear.

“Hitler, don’t believe anything this swindler says, even if he says the sea water is salty.”

Britain and France faced the prospect of a confrontation with Hitler.

It was late, but it was the right perception of the situation.

Poland also belatedly recognized the situation.

“Give us Danzig and the Polish Corridor, and we, Germany, will guarantee Poland’s security.”

“It’s absurd to give it up in the first place, but even if we do, it’s obvious they’ll ask for it again later, so why should we?”

Poland rejected all German demands for territorial negotiations.

If there was one thing Poland didn’t know, it was that Hitler wasn’t the only one who wanted Polish territory.

Germans of all political parties, from the non-Nazi right wing to even the Social Democrats, longed for the restoration of their homeland.

From the moment the German leader demanded Polish territory, he was effectively on the guillotine from which he could not step down.

“If we can’t pay it back anyway, we’re finished.”

There were also economic reasons, so the Nazis took a desperate approach to recovering the Eastern territories.

“We’ll give it up, brothers.”

On March 23, 1939, Lithuania returned Memel, which it had annexed immediately after World War II, to Germany.

After the successful return of Memel, Germany became more hard-line.

“If we stand by and do nothing this time, the anti-German encirclement itself will collapse, not to mention international law.”

On March 30, 1939, international referees England and France made a big decision.

“In case of emergency, we guarantee military assistance to Poland.”

International referees warned the moustache to be careful by showing him a yellow card.

“Your Excellency, if Britain and France intervene, war will be difficult. It would be better to seek another solution.”

“You’re wrong! I told you, those guys are just cowards! If you push them hard, they’ll vomit it all out!”

Hitler wasn’t scared at all.

I was confident that if I went hard, everything would be resolved.

Poles have also become more resolute in the face of Germany’s hard-line drive.

“We would rather die standing than live kneeling.”

“okay?”

On April 28, 1939, Germany abrogated the German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact and the Anglo-German Naval Pact concluded in 1934.

Italy also occupied Albania.

In May 1939, the two fascist states signed the Pact of Steel and became formally allies.

Now on the other side of the ring stood the two great powers, Germany and Italy, as one team.

“You two, England and France, are you on the same team? And we also got the same number of points?”

As things developed, it was obvious to everyone that war was just a matter of time.

When Germany, which had declared anti-communism as its national policy, showed signs of starting a war, the Soviet Union also became anxious.

“If the Germans start a war, won’t we be swept up in it too? Let’s suggest to the Western imperialists that we properly establish a collective security system.”

Stalin finally ordered negotiations with the British and French.

“Our three countries will jointly guarantee the security of all nations from the Baltic Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and if even one of them is attacked, the three powers will attack Germany together.”

It was a proposal made with a sense of desperation on Stalin’s part.

But there was no reply.

“Should I respond to those red bastards’ suggestions?”

“Let’s think about it slowly and think about it. Oh, there’s no need to follow diplomatic protocols with the communists, right?”

Britain was outraged.

As Europe fell into this state of war, voices calling for war began to arise in Korea as well.

Of course, they weren’t Koreans.

“Oh, if you go against His Majesty’s orders, you will be subject to revolution.”

Even for fear of the revolutionary camps, Koreans were unable to speak out as easily as before.

The same was true of the military, which loved war.

“Just take out the war machine. That whole department is going to blow its budget.”

Seongjun’s persuasion (budget) was effective.

But foreigners were different.

“Your Excellency, the white people of Europe are facing the crisis of war. If a world war breaks out like this, the Western powers will not be able to pay attention to their Asian colonies. Please use this opportunity to save our suffering Asian brothers.”

Many Asian students sent letters to Noh Jae-woo.

Asians petitioned for independence for Korea.

And surprisingly, many people secretly agreed with this claim.

The reason I secretly agreed with this was because I was afraid of the ‘revolution’, and there was no other reason.

And when the revolutionary camps closed, a flood of voices came out in support of our Asian brothers.

“Korea needs to take up the burden of the yellow people! Asia is in the hands of the Asians!”

No matter how much Sungjun tried to ‘civilize’ Korea, Korea was Korea.

In an empire where the essence of militarism is engraved in its DNA, the desire for expansion resembles the desire for survival.

Perhaps it was something that came from the very birth of this country.

“To compete with the giants in the midfield, you have to keep growing and eating.”

We’ve lived like this for hundreds of years, and now you’re breaking our extremely cultivated business spirit?

It was an impossible story.

Finally, with countless petitions pouring in, some in the military began to talk about this.

“First, how about we make a plan in case all of Europe is engulfed in war?”

“Don’t you know that Your Majesty would start a war if it were a match?”

“I know. I know, but I’m just preparing.”

“hmm.”

The Operations Department thought this story sounded plausible.

‘First of all, isn’t it okay if Your Majesty doesn’t know?’

It’s not like I’m going to go to war, I’m just saying I’m going to prepare.

“First, assign just one and prepare a little bit.”

In some quarters of the Army, war plans began to be drawn up without Sung-jun’s knowledge.

*

“Oh man, I really want to rip that kid’s mustache off.”

Why are you so desperate that you can’t commit suicide?

In the midst of all this, Moustache proposed to us that we join the Steel Alliance.

This time, diplomatic rhetoric and all was ignored.

Are we the Axis? Why?

I expressed with my whole body my determination to never be dragged in.

Are you trying to drag us into World War II like a water ghost?

Oh my, that can’t be happening.

This is something that could not have happened without Lee Seong-jun getting shot in the head.

In any case, the time to cut off Germany was approaching.

Before that, you have to suck up everything you want to suck up.

I made the following proposal to Germany:

“Isn’t the Jewish problem serious in Germany? If there is no place to send those guys, Korea is fine too. We have a large undeveloped land left in Korea to accept immigrants.”

It was clearly a proposal aimed at the Jewish brains.

The Japanese Empire also had a plan called the Fugu Plan to attract Jews.

Although the results of Japan’s puffer fish program were insignificant, if it could contribute even 0.001% to national power, it had to be tried.

I instructed Cho Joong-dong of the Korea Daily and Han Kyung-oh of the Dong-A Ilbo to write articles favorable to the invitation of Jews.

He also made a point of talking on the radio about the need to bring in excellent foreign talents to develop science and technology in Korea.

“The gap between Korea and the West is not small. To overcome that gap, we need new blood and brains!”

As the bait of inviting Jews continued to be thrown out, the German ambassador, Eugen Ott, showed interest.

“We are also positively reviewing it in our home country. However, when Jews immigrate to Korea, they will not be able to take their assets with them.”

I didn’t expect that from the Nazis.

They are the kind of people who would be lucky if you sent them off with at least underwear on, but how could they possibly give them their property?

Anyway, I wish the Germans had sent more.

Will you send a thousand people?

If we’re going to accept Jews, it’d be better to delay the war a bit.

I sent a letter to Poland with a glimmer of hope.

“If Warsaw persists and the Soviets feel that their patience is limited, they may sign a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. Then you will be faced with enemies on two sides, and everything will be over. Before that happens, face reality. Poland is not strong enough to deal with two countries at the same time.”

It was the last favor I could give Poland.

It was, of course, a wishful thinking circuit to think that if Poland had any sense, it would accept the Soviet Union’s demands for military passage.

There’s no way Poland, which fought the Soviet War 20 years ago, would trust the Soviet Union.

By the time the Czech Republic was divided, Poland’s fate was virtually sealed.

Could there be a sharp number?

I thought about writing a letter to Hitler, but gave up.

If he was someone who could be persuaded with just one letter, he wouldn’t have come this far.

What about Stalin?

Certainly Stalin was a rational man.

If you persuade with logic, it’s not impossible.

The problem was that Hitler had more to offer than I did.

There must be no sharp point.

I picked up the phone.

“Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sir. Oh, is this your Excellency? This is Lee Seong-jun. I would like you to start the withdrawal of Korean residents. Yes. I think the deadline would be August 30th. Yes, then please handle it that way.”

I was the first to accept war as a fact.

Now, all that remains is to walk in the darkness where nothing is certain.

Will I be able to survive this great storm that will sweep across the world?

I don’t know either.

I put the receiver down and sat there thinking for a while.