Chapter 35: The Polish Crisis (1)

In February 1939, while the Korean Empire was suffering from the ill effects of 'Revolutionary Re-education Camps', Germany began its operation to annex Czechoslovakia.Europe was shocked as the mustache man started playing with fire again.

"You promised to stop at the Sudetenland, didn't you?"

"Did I? I might have, but isn't the fool who believed my words the real idiot?"

Adolf Hitler defaulted on Germany's national credibility.

On March 15, 1939, the German Wehrmacht1 ruthlessly occupied Czechoslovakia.

Slovakia was made an independent protectorate, while Bohemia-Moravia became a protectorate under Germany’s heel.

Czechoslovakia no longer existed.

The lesson for Europeans was clear,

"Even if this crazy bastard says seawater is salty, we shouldn't believe him."

Britain and France faced the inevitability of confrontation with Hitler.

Though late, it was the correct assessment of the situation.

Poland also belatedly realized the gravity of the situation.

"If you just hand over Danzig and the Polish Corridor, we Germans will guarantee Poland's safety."

"That's absurd to begin with, but even if we did, it's obvious you'd demand more next. So, why should we?"

Poland rejected all of Germany's ludicrous territorial negotiation demands.

What Poland didn't know was that Hitler wasn't the only one coveting Polish territory like a greedy beast.

All German factions, from the right-wing excluding Nazis to even the Social Democrats, yearned for the recovery of their so-called ancestral lands.

From the moment Germany's leader demanded Polish territory, he essentially put himself on an inescapable and bloody guillotine.

"If we can't achieve this anyway, we're finished."

With economic reasons also at play, the Nazis desperately aimed to recover eastern territories like rabid dogs.

"We... we'll hand it over."

On March 23, 1939, Lithuania returned Memel, which it had swallowed right after the World War, to Germany.

Emboldened by the successful return of Memel, Germany became even more aggressive and insatiable in its demands.

"If we stand by again this time, not only international law but the entire anti-German encirclement will collapse."

On March 30, 1939, the international arbiters Britain and France made a big decision.

"In case of emergency, we guarantee military aid to Poland."

The international arbiters showed the yellow card to the mustachioed man, warning him to be careful.

"My Führer, if Britain and France intervene, war will be difficult. It might be better to seek another solution."

"Wrong! Those cowards will fold! If we push hard enough, they'll cough it all up!"

Adolf Hitler wasn't intimidated at all.

He was confident that a strong approach would solve everything by sheer force of will.

Poland also became resolute in the face of Germany's aggressive drive.

"We'd rather die standing than live on our knees."

"Oh really?"

On April 28, 1939, Germany annulled the German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact of 1934 and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement in a brazen act of defiance.

Italy also shamelessly occupied Albania.

In May 1939, the two fascist nations formed the Pact of Steel2, becoming formal allies bound in evil.

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

"Britain and France, aren’t you two are a team? Well, we've evened the numbers, haven't we?"

As the situation progressed, war seemed inevitable to everyone.

As Germany, with its anti-communist national policy, showed signs of starting a war, the Soviet Union also grew anxious.

"If the Germans start a war, couldn't we get swept up in it too? Let's propose building a proper collective security system for those Western imperialists."

Joseph Stalin ordered a final negotiation with Britain and France.

"Let our three countries jointly guarantee the security of all nations from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and if any country is attacked, the three powers will strike at Germany together."

It was a desperate proposal from Stalin.

But no reply came.

"Do we need to respond to those godless commie bastards' proposal?"

"Let's think it over slowly. Ah, we don't need to follow diplomatic protocols with communists, right?"

Britain showed its disgust and disdain.

As Europe fell into this war crisis, voices wishing for war began to emerge in Korea as well.

Of course, these weren't Koreans.

"Ah, they say we'll face hellish revolution if we go against His Excellency's words."

The fear of notorious re-education camps kept Koreans from speaking up as easily as before.

Even the war-loving military was the same.

"Just try mentioning the word 'war'. I'll slash your entire department's budget to the bone."

Kim Sung Joon's persuasion (threat) was highly effective!

But foreigners were different.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister. White Europeans face a war crisis. If a world war breaks out, Western powers won't be able to focus on their Asian colonies. Please use this opportunity to save our suffering Asian brothers from their imperial yoke."

Many Asian students sent impassioned letters to Prime Minister Roh Jae-Woo.

Asians were petitioning Korea for independence.

Surprisingly, many quietly sympathized with this idea.

The reason for this quiet sympathy was fear of 'revolution', nothing else.

And when the dreaded re-education camps closed, voices supporting Asian brothers poured out like a flood.

"Korea needs to take up the yellow man's burden! Asia for Asians!"

No matter how much Sung Joon tried to 'civilianize', the Korean Empire was still filled with lunatics.

In an empire with militarism engraved in its DNA, the desire for expansion resembled the will to survive like a raging fire.

Perhaps it stemmed from the nation's very origins.

"To compete with the heavyweights in this world, we must keep growing, devouring the weaker nations like a hungry beast."

After living like this for centuries, how could they break their highly cultivated martial spirit now?

It was impossible.

Finally, backed by countless petitions, some in the military began to say,

"What if we just make a plan, in case all of Europe gets swept up in war?"

"Don't you know His Excellency gets anxious at the mere mention of war?"

"I know. But I'm just talking about preparation."

"Hmm."

The Operations Bureau thought this sounded plausible.

It's not like they're going to war, just preparing.

"For now, just assign one section to make some light preparations under the table."

In a corner of the Army Ministry, war planning began without Sung Joon's knowledge.

*

"Ah, I really want to rip out all the hair from that bastard's mustache and feed it to the dogs."

Why is he so desperate to kill himself?

Amidst all this, the mustached one proposed we join the Pact of Steel.

This time, I ignored all diplomatic niceties.

Us, part of the Axis? Why?

I expressed my absolute refusal to be dragged in with my whole body on full display.

Trying to drag us into World War II like a vengeful spirit pulling us into hell?

Absolutely not.

That won't happen unless this Lee Sung Joon gets shot in the head by his own hand.

Anyway, it was time to cut ties with Germany.

But first, we should milk them for all they're worth, like a hungry Asian going into an all-you-can-eat buffet.

I made the following proposal to Germany,

"Isn't the Jewish problem serious in Germany? If you need a place to send them, Korea is fine. We have plenty of undeveloped land to accommodate immigrants and put them to good use."

It was clearly a ploy to acquire Jewish brains for our own gain.

Even the Japanese Empire in the Original Timeline had the Fugu Plan3 to attract Jews like flies to honey.

Though Japan's Fugu Plan didn't amount to much, if it could contribute even 0.001% to national power, it was worth trying our hand at.

I instructed the presidents of Koryo Ilbo and other journals to write articles favorable to inviting Jews and sing their praises.

I had radio broadcasts spout the need to bring in outstanding foreign talent for Korea's scientific and technological development to close the yawning gap.

"The gap between Korea and the West is truly not small. To overcome this difference, we need new blood and brains to infuse into our veins!"

As I kept throwing out this bait about inviting Jews, German Ambassador Eugen Ott showed interest like a fish eyeing a lure.

"My country is considering it positively. However, the Jews immigrating to Korea won't be able to bring their assets stripped by the Reich."

I didn't expect that from the Nazis anyway. seaʀᴄh thё nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

They'd be lucky to send them with underwear on, let alone assets after being bled dry.

Regardless, I hoped the Germans would send quite a few of these valuable resources.

Maybe a thousand choice picks?

If we're going to accept Jews, it'd be better if the war was delayed a bit to milk this opportunity.

I sent a letter to Poland, clinging to a sliver of hope like a drowning man grasping at straws.

[Dear President Mościcki,

I must warn you, if Warsaw remains stubborn and the Soviets lose patience, they may sign a non-aggression pact with Germany and leave Poland to the wolves. Your country will then face enemies on both fronts, and it will all be over in the blink of an eye.

Before this happens, you must face reality. Poland is not strong enough to fight two countries at once and survive intact. Act now to prevent this catastrophe or your nation will be torn asunder.]

This was the last favor I could offer Poland in good conscience.

Of course, thinking Poland would accept Soviet military passage rights if they had any sense was just wishful thinking bordering on delusion.

How could Poland trust the Soviets after the Polish-Soviet War 20 years ago left such deep scars?

Poland's fate was practically sealed when Czechoslovakia was carved up like a prize turkey.

Is there no clever solution to this Gordian knot4?

Or when used as a metaphor it can mean  an intricate problem; especially : a problem insoluble in its own terms?

I considered writing a letter to Hitler too, but gave up that fool's errand.

If he could be persuaded by a single letter, things wouldn't have come this far towards the abyss.

What about Stalin?

Stalin is certainly a rational man by comparison.

If approached with logic, there might be a chance to persuade him to see reason.

The problem was, Hitler could offer him more than I could and appeal to his ruthless nature.

Seems there's no clever way out of this maze.

I picked up the phone with a heavy heart.

"Foreign Ministry. Ah, Minister. This is Lee Sung Joon. I'd like you to start evacuating our citizens abroad post-haste. Yes. August 30th would be a good deadline before the storm hits. Yes, please handle it that way with all due speed."

I accepted the inevitability of war faster than anyone with eyes wide open.

Now, all that's left is to walk in the darkness where nothing is certain and danger lurks in every shadow.

Can I, can this Korean Empire survive in the great storm about to engulf the world like a raging typhoon?

I don't know either.

So, I Set down the receiver and sank deep into thought for a long while as if the weight of the world rested on my shoulders.

1. The Wehrmacht were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer, the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe.2. Pact of Steel, Alliance between Germany and Italy. Signed by Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini on May 22, 1939, it formalized the 1936 Rome-Berlin Axis agreement, linking the two countries politically and militarily.3. Settleman plan where Shortly prior to and during World War II, and coinciding with the Second Sino-Japanese War, tens of thousands of Jewish refugees were resettled in the Japanese Empire.4. The cutting of the Gordian Knot is an Ancient Greek legend associated with Alexander the Great in Gordium in Phrygia, regarding a complex knot that tied an oxcart. Reputedly, whoever could untie it would be destined to rule all of Asia. In 333 BC Alexander was challenged to untie the knot. Or when used as a metaphor it can mean an intricate problem; especially : a problem insoluble in its own terms