March 1, 1940
Budapest, the capital of Hungary
"Please make these peace negotiations break down."
The words that Lieutenant General Sikorski uttered were far beyond my expectations.
My brains, which had been spinning trying to predict what he would say, ca to a screeching halt.
Break down the peace negotiations? What the hell does that an? Is he saying he wants to be split in half and die by Germany and the Soviet Union?
Could the evidence the Abwehr brought be wrong? Was this man actually the craziest of them all? It's foreign evidence, so there could be a mistake.
Perhaps my facial expression was too obvious, as Lieutenant General Sikorski began to explain calmly.
“The current rulers of Poland, Rydz-Śmigły, and their supporting faction, the Sanation, as well as the Sejm mbers of the Upper House, are more concerned with protecting their own political lives than Poland's Fate.”
"I can tell that much just from their attitude in the peace negotiations, but I still don't quite understand why you want to break down these talks. If you are for your fatherland, Lieutenant General, you must know that the breakdown of these negotiations would lead to Poland's imdiate downfall."
Sikorski was unshaken by my words.
"That is precisely why, Vice Minister. They are engaging in useless argunts to negotiate for slightly better conditions, even while the Soviet Union's invasion is being prepared. If we drag this out, Poland will have an armistice with Germany but won't even be able to prepare for a Soviet invasion."
"Then, what is it that you intend to do, Lieutenant General?"
I thought I had a rough idea, but I wanted to hear it from his own mouth.
"They believe they can evade their responsibility, but the soldiers on the front line and the people are different. Everyone knows who started this war, and they are worried that because of them, we will be destroyed by either Germany or the Soviet Union."
Lieutenant General Sikorski seed to choose his words for a mont as he looked at , then he opened his mouth.
"Warsaw is almost empty right now. Most of the military force has been pushed to the German front line, and the last remaining reserve force has been deployed to the border with the Soviet Union. So, if we instill a sense of crisis in the Polish people in Warsaw that Poland will eventually be destroyed because of those n, we can oust those militarists."
To end a war that will lead the nation to ruin, one chooses an extre asure.
This is exactly like the Black Orchestra from the original history. A bitter smile almost ford on my lips.
What an irony of history.
"I see what your plan is.
You're saying you'll stage a coup d'état using the sense of crisis triggered by the breakdown of the peace negotiations…"
So that's why he insisted on talking to ? From his perspective, I'm a man who has already ousted Hitler in a similar fashion.
"But it's not that simple.
You're aware that Britain has a keen interest in these peace negotiations. If we break them off, Britain isn't going to like it, are they?"
Right now, of course, Britain wants to end the war between us and Poland by persuading us and humoring us, even giving us so side benefits if necessary.
But that's only because they are desperate right now. It does us no good to completely screw Britain over by breaking off the negotiations.
We're not Hitler. We have to show a positive response when the other side is being accommodating so that opportunities like this will co again in the future.
"Besides, if the peace negotiations break down, our military will imdiately comnce an attack. I understand you want to oust the militarists, but I hope you haven't overlooked the fact that we are in the middle of a war."
I looked at Sikorski, who was staring back at with a stiff face, and drove my point ho.
"So, if we have to wait for your country's regi change while going through the cumberso process of coordinating opinions with Britain and our military, shouldn't we get sothing out of it as well?"
I'm well aware that for Poland's future, those cancerous existences, the militarists and the Sejm, need to be reined in, but from Germany's stance, it's not sothing we need to worry about.
To put it coldly, if Poland is going to remain an enemy nation anyway, it doesn't matter which regi is in power in a Poland that will be destroyed after buying as much ti as possible against the Soviet Union.
In fact, if the coup fails and a civil war breaks out, Poland will be destroyed even faster.
I feel sorry for the Poland that will be invaded by the Soviet Union, but in the end, it was their people who allowed such a regi to take power and it was they who attacked us.
I can't cause a loss for Germany just to look after them, can I?
"That is precisely why I ca here myself, to have a prior discussion with Germany."
As if he had expected my negative words, Sikorski continued to speak naturally.
"First, after the regi change, we will hand over the ringleaders of this war so they can be disposed of in a war cri trial in Germany."
"…Hah."
Well, well.
I thought he was a sowhat moderate figure, but I guess not. But this is definitely effective.
Trying and punishing the high command of an enemy nation that caused a bloody incident by launching an invasion, in a German court of law, would bring considerable satisfaction to the German military and people.
"Second, we will return the governnt's authority to the House of Commons, as it was before Piłsudski's coup. We intend to bring about a revival of democracy in Poland."
This also sounds plausible.
Rebuilding democracy in Poland is not a bad achievent for both us and Britain to use as system propaganda.
"Hmm.
It's certainly a tempting offer, but in the end, there's no practical interest, is there?"
I feel a bit awkward, as if I keep becoming the villain, but it's bitter that I have no choice, since I will be executed if I'm taken for a sucker here.
Sikorski showed a slight look of hesitation, then opened his mouth again.
"We will cede Gdańsk (Danzig) and Poznań (Posen) as Germany demanded, but the repaynt of the requested 10 billion Marks is impossible, even with a 10-year installnt repaynt plan."
I let out a bitter smile.
Honestly, I know it too, that it's an unreasonable demand. It's no different from saying we'll fill the absurd amount of FO bills the Nazi Regi piled up by bleeding Poland dry.
But this was a condition set by my father, not .
"Realistically, it's impossible for Poland to fight a war with the Soviet Union while paying such reparations.
If we are destroyed, Germany won't get its reparations either, will it?"
"You're not wrong."
As we talked, I was starting to like Lieutenant General Sikorski more and more.
If he had spoken in a way that just begged for leniency for the Polish people, I was full of motivation to tear into him, but this man ca with a proper sense of reality, having thought things through ticulously.
The way he's struggling to save a dying country, even if it ans causing a bloody incident, is strangely reminiscent of my own past actions.
What am I even thinking, towards a man so much older than ? Good grief.
"If Germany agrees to support Lieutenant General Sikorski, Hungary is willing to provide Poland with war supplies in the war against the Soviet Union. With the justification of rebuilding democracy, I believe Britain will also support Poland to so extent."
As the Hungarian Pri Minister, Teleki Pál, who had been listening in silence, spoke up, my thoughts grew more complicated.
Originally, the Fourth Reich and I considered Poland a disposable card to be thrown away to buy ti against the Soviet Union. But what if they could beco a cooperative nation that properly serves as a buffer zone against the Soviets?
With the democratization of Poland and the war cri trial for the instigators of the war, the justificatory reward is already quite excellent.
If that's the case, I can be a bit more generous on the reparations issue, and if that generosity isn't wasted but used as a shield to shed blood for Germany against the Soviet Union, then it's a profitable business.
But there was sothing I had to check first.
"Lieutenant General, have the practical coup plan and the number of participating personnel been decided? It's all well and good, but if your coup fails after the peace negotiations break down, both our country and Poland will be in a lot of pain."
If that happens, we'll have to trample a Poland thrown into chaos by a coup with our military.
That's truly the worst ending.
"Of course, Vice Minister. Rydz-Śmigły is too busy trying to block off the German and Soviet fronts to pay much attention to Warsaw. The only thing we need is a justification that can convince the people."
Sikorski said with confidence, as if he had been waiting for just these words.
He might not be a benevolent leader seeking peace and freedom, but for a Polish leader who will join hands with us, this is just about right.
"Then there's one more thing I'd like to point out. I don't know when the Soviet Union will invade, but even if you stage a coup, formally conclude a peace treaty, and we liberate the Polish main force in Danzig and Posen, the ti to get them under control and deploy them to the Eastern Front will be tight."
This is also a serious problem.
We also suffered massive damage from a surprise attack by Poland right after our civil war ended. So what are they going to do?
I know that Sikorski has considerable public trust within the military and the public, and that many generals follow him, but this isn't a dieval army where a general can just be appointed and say 'Follow !' and they do.
It's bound to take ti to take over command authority of each unit, assess the situation, and reorganize, right? No matter how good Sikorski's conditions are, it's all aningless if their Poland seems like it will be destroyed even faster than the militarists' Poland.
What's more, Poland's eastern border is incredibly wide and it's all plains.
There's a reason we never expected Poland to be able to completely block the Soviet Union in the first place.
Sikorski let out a small sigh and took a map out from his coat.
"Primarily, the Border Defence Corps currently at the border area will conduct a delaying action, but if the Soviet offensive starts early, they won't be able to hold out for long."
He's showing an operation outline map? Even I was surprised by this.
If he prepared this to gain my trust and persuade , this is truly remarkable.
"So, in preparation for that case, we will establish a second defense line with the main force once we have them under control. We plan to narrow the front with a defense line starting from Grodno and defend against the enemy along the Bug River."
"But if you do that, your country's eastern region will be…"
Sikorski made a rather pained expression, but he soon opened his mouth again.
"I plan to sell off Vilno (Vilnius, the original capital of Lithuania that Poland had plundered) to Lithuania. It is our judgnt that we must narrow the front as much as possible to defend Poland's core region, even if it ans temporarily giving up the less industrialized eastern region."
He's insane.
He plans to preemptively block Lithuania from joining the Soviets by handing over occupied territory from another country that he can't defend anyway, and this is a defense plan that reflects the terrain and reality as much as possible.
It's only been a short while since the Soviet Union started deploying troops to the border, and it was only a few days ago that we requested peace negotiations.
He planned this in that short ti?
I was at a loss for words. This is on a whole different level from Rydz-Śmigły, who collapsed in vain before the German military after coming up with the absurd plan of defending the entire Polish border.
I had wondered why the Polish army, which had achieved victory against the Soviet Union in the Polish-Soviet War despite their overwhelming inferiority, couldn't exert its strength in World War II. To think such a fad commander didn't even have military authority.
Perhaps it was a blessing from God that he didn't have military command authority during Germany's invasion of Poland.
At this point, I had no choice but to show him my respect.
This man isn't just soone trying to seize power and make a quick score.
He is a person who is truly willing to accept any sacrifice to protect his fatherland, and he even has the ability and decisiveness to carry it out.
"Vice Minister, ti is of the essence to execute this plan. We can no longer stand by and watch as Rydz-Śmigły gnaws away at the ti that is so vital to us, at Poland's life. We need Germany's help, and we too can be of help to Germany's national interest."
Sikorski, who had been speaking calmly, feigning composure as much as possible, finally revealed his desperation.
To think that in the original history, a man like this wasn't even properly known by na. It's bitter to think about it again.
"…Very well. I will try to resolve the reparations issue you ntioned in another way. If we proceed with it as a purchase of Germany's munitions equipnt instead of reparations, Poland should be able to accept it. However, there is one thing I want to make clear."
I asked, staring intently at Sikorski.
"Danzig and Posen… in your country's language, Gdańsk and Poznań. I want to receive a permanent declaration of renunciation for that territory.
We can't do favors for a country that we don't know when will beco an enemy nation, can we?"
The expression of Lieutenant General Sikorski, which had not wavered once until now, shook.
But this is a very important issue for us.
How many tis have we waged war with each other over that damn territorial dispute in Europe?
We can't leave it as a disputed territory forever. Of course, from Lieutenant General Sikorski's position, making such a declaration would deal a massive blow to his political standing.
Especially in a situation where he has already drafted a defense plan that anticipates the fall of the eastern territories, even if temporarily, he might be treated as a traitor by the Polish people later on. Does he truly have the resolve to protect his fatherland even if it ans going that far?
"…It seems we all need to have a consultation with our ho countries."
The answer Lieutenant General Sikorski gave after a long silence was not a denial.
With just that, I wanted to give him a passing score.
Our positions are different, and as for whether we'll have a good relationship in the future, it will be more awkward than good, but it would be fine to show respect to a patriot of that caliber.
"Very well. I will also need to have a consultation with both my ho country and Britain, so it seems this peace negotiation will have the outwardly visible eting and the substantive eting proceed completely separately."
I gave a grin to Teleki Pál, who was letting out a sigh of relief.
"If this cos to pass, and Hungary lends its strength to Poland to block the Soviet offensive, it certainly ans Germany owes Hungary a favor."
If it weren't for their arrangent, we were at great risk of failing to achieve the intended purpose of deciding on a peace negotiation while having a dragging talk with the damn Rydz-Śmigły.
"Hungary does not forget goodwill, not just grudges, Vice Minister."
Approving their rearmant and selling them weapons even after knowing Hungary lacked the spare capacity to attack us was indeed not a bad choice.
The Romania issue will cause another complicated problem later, but at this point, I should probably side with Hungary at least once.
I shook hands with Teleki Pál, then offered a handshake to Lieutenant General Sikorski.
"Then let's hope for a mutually positive decision. It's a bit awkward to say this now, but I wish you and Poland good luck."
Sikorski gripped my hand firmly and replied.
"…We also wish the Vice Minister and Germany good luck."
-
It was a bit of a struggle to persuade my ho country and Britain, but in the end, our secret eting was a success.
If Sikorski's governnt succeeds in the coup, they will hand over the ringleaders of this war to us, cede Danzig and Posen, and permanently renounce their sovereignty over that territory.
In return, we would receive 2 billion Marks from the new Polish governnt, paid in installnts over 10 years, and provide munitions equipnt equivalent to that amount.
If we prioritize providing Poland with the urgently needed artillery, tank destroyers, anti-tank guns, and fighter aircraft, they should be able to do sothing against the Soviet Union.
Minister of Defense Ludwig Beck was a bit concerned about selling weapons to Poland, with whom we had just been at war, but in the end, it was better for them to stay alive, buy weapons, and block the Soviet Union than for them to collapse in an instant and be unable to pay reparations.
I managed to convince him for now with the war cri trial and the renunciation of sovereignty.
Britain also agreed to support Poland with tanks and munitions equipnt, and for two purposes at once, Britain expressed its gratitude for our cooperation and transferred their advanced electronics engineering technology, especially radar technology.
Of course, I got that after causing a bit of a ruckus, threatening to break off the talks out of anger at Poland's insincerity when Britain was reluctant, and then arranged the secret eting with Sikorski right after.
As a result, after concluding the secret pact, we outwardly declared a breakdown of the peace negotiations, enraged by the absurd attitude of the Polish delegation.
In the midst of it all, Rydz-Śmigły and the Polish high command, who had been saying they couldn't pay reparations if they had to hand over both Danzig and Posen, were naturally in an uproar. At that, the Soviet Union openly declared the annulnt of the Soviet-Polish Non-Aggression Pact and requested a eting between their Foreign Minister, Molotov, and Germany.
It seed like they were shalessly suggesting we tear Poland apart, even while they were at war with Finland, but we responded by not deigning to reply.
The date of the eting breakdown was March 3rd.
The deadline we promised Sikorski was March 6th.
Neither we nor Britain can handle the aftermath of the eting's breakdown forever, so if he doesn't succeed in his coup by then, we have to consider it Sikorski's failure and steamroll Poland with our military.
With the eyes of the international community all watching Poland's fate, I was personally hoping that God's blessing would be with Sikorski.
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