The German Peace

by Derek Pennington

  “Although Japan is considered an ally of Germany at this particular moment in time, the Japanese never actually signed the Tripartite Pact. We in the military, have had many discussions about the value of Japan as an ally. We have some concerns. While we welcome their anti-communist stance, their barbaric behaviour in China poses a dilemma for us. Also it appears that they could end up in a confrontation with the United States and the European powers that have colonial territories in Asia. This is not acceptable to Germany.”

  Brooke looked for something more. “So if Germany and Britain have a peace treaty, and our two countries are co-operating militarily in some form, how do you stand if Japan attacked say Hong Kong, or one of our other territories?”

  This one wasn’t so easy for Rommel. “I can only give you my personal view, if you want it.”

  “And that is?”

  “The logical outcome of these talks here today should lead to an eventual alliance or understanding between Germany and its territories, and the British and French Empires. And ultimately, perhaps, the United States. That is what should happen.

  The potential for technical co-operation and standardisation within the armaments industries of these countries is staggering. As an example, just look at the jet aircraft you British are developing. Our intelligence is that you are at least one year away from it flying”. He looked directly at Brooke. “We have had one flying since last year.”

  That gave Brooke something to think about.

  Rommel carried on. “In the meantime should Japan attack one of your colonies, I believe it is possible Germany would assist you in some form, even if there is no alliance. We would take the same position if one of the colonial territories of France or Holland was attacked.”

  Most reassuring to the British.

  Finally the discussions, inevitably, got around to the Soviet Union. Again it was Rommel who took it upon himself to answer this. In front of him lay a report.

  “Your own Mr Churchill is reported to have said ‘Russia is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.’

  The Soviet Union has been the subject of intense study in recent years by some of our leading academics – and military strategists.”

  He paused searching for the right words.

  “Communism is a deeply flawed and unworkable ideology. This is made far worse in the way it is applied in the Soviet Union, where the peasants and ordinary people groan under the heel of their psychotic dictator, Josef Stalin. I have here a report, a copy of which will be made available to you later today. This report was updated only a few days ago. It is the latest intelligence we have, and it illustrates the nature of Comrade Stalin.

  The Soviet famine of 1932 – 1933 was a result of actions of the Soviet state in implementing forced collectivisation, flawed economic planning, and ruthless political repression. The Russian peasants were even forbidden to eat their own crops!

  Estimates vary, but the consensus seems to be that between six and seven million people died. In the report you will see photographs of Soviet citizens lying in city streets, dead or dying of starvation.”

  There was silence around the table.

  “Not content with this, between 1936 and 1938 there was another campaign of political repression. It is called Stalin’s Great Purge. It was motivated by Stalin’s desire to remove any opposition to him, real or imagined, and consolidate his leadership. Included in the purge was Red Army, as well as peasant, leadership. Estimated deaths are between six hundred thousand and one and a quarter million.”

  There had been rumours and reports of such things in Britain but no facts. Lord Halifax gave a silent undertaking to have these shocking disclosures investigated as soon as he was back in England.

  Rommel continued. “Now we look at Poland. There is a forest, Katyn Forest, in the eastern part of Poland which is now occupied by the Soviets. In and around that forest lie an estimated twenty two thousand bodies. These are the bodies of Polish military officers - including fourteen generals - police officers, Polish officials and intelligentsia. They are the victims of a series of mass executions conducted only last month and the month before by Russian forces. All these murders were approved by Stalin. Apparently he wanted to deprive any future Polish government of a large portion of that country’s talent”.

  Rommel looked at the British delegates. “Stalin has been reported as saying, ‘One death is a tragedy. A million deaths is a statistic’. This, gentlemen, is the man who controls the largest country in the world.”

  He continued. “German policy to date has been one of containment of the Soviet Union. We do not want to provoke Stalin into war, and at the same time we wish to ensure that he does not start a program of re-armament. Any such major re-armament by the Soviets would inevitably lead to war between us.

  We regard the Soviet Union under Stalin as the greatest future threat to Germany, and indeed a threat to the whole world. For the immediate future we will continue with our existing relationship, while monitoring developments within that country with unceasing vigil.”

  Suddenly all the delegates discovered they needed some refreshment. Conversation died for a few minutes.

  It was Lord Halifax who now spoke. He had caught the eye of General Brooke and received an imperceptible nod.

  He addressed the German delegation. “In my opinion we have had a frank exchange of views and information. I propose we now adjourn for lunch, and meet again at eight o’clock this evening.

  During this time I will despatch a summary of our deliberations here today, to our Prime Minister in London. Included in this communication will be this delegation’s unanimous recommendation of acceptance of the offered peace terms.”

  The relief of the Germans was obvious.

  “It is my sincere hope that I will receive a positive reply before we meet again later this evening. In the unlikely event such a reply is delayed, or if any clarification is sought, I will immediately send a messenger to you, Baron von Altendorf.”

  He concluded, “Now, I believe our hosts have prepared a most sumptuous lunch for us. I for one, am looking forward to it”.

  As he rose from his seat, he added, with a hint of humour in his voice, “I think good meals have not been so plentiful in our respective countries for some time”.

  Even Brooke managed a smile at this comment.

  It had taken nearly two hours to prepare and encode the report to London. The intelligence man, Smythe, had handed a separate, shorter note to the British Embassy official for onward transmission.

  After a light lunch and some quiet conversations, all were now relaxing in the garden or their rooms.

  The waiting was hard.

  LONDON

  Warned in advance of the impending arrival of the peace terms, the Prime Minister was ensconced with the other three members of the War Cabinet. They had also found the waiting somewhat trying. Alone among them, Churchill was enjoying some refreshment. He sipped appreciatively at his whisky. It had been extremely difficult for any of them to give their attention to other, less important, items on the agenda.

  Churchill had also notified the full Cabinet that they should be available for a meeting later that evening, and an emergency sitting of both Houses of Parliament was scheduled for midnight that night.

  At four thirty in the afternoon the Prime Minister’s private secretary knocked on the door, entered and without speaking placed a large envelope in front of his lord and master.

  Aware of the eyes upon him, Churchill took his time, carefully opening the envelope and extracting the papers inside.

  There was absolute silence in the room as he read through them, a process that took him ten minutes. His eyebrows were seen to rise in surprise at something he read. What was it? It seemed to the watchers that the Prime minister was deliberately making them wait as they tried not to fidget in their seats. Finally he placed the pages flat on the table in front of him, staring at them. He kept the other members in suspense for a little longer. Now he was
ready.

  “It seems, gentlemen, we have acceptable terms for an agreement on peace.”

  That one simple statement broke the tension. The relief was palpable. Now the others present all started speaking at once. They wanted all the details. Now!

  In an almost nonchalant tone he told them, “Our delegation in Lisbon has been informed by the German Foreign Minister that their Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, ……. is dead.”

  The news astounded them!

  By 6.00 pm a jubilant War Cabinet was in complete agreement about the peace agreement. Even if it meant that soon they would have to think about new jobs! They were euphoric.

  Churchill wrote an answer to Lord Halifax. His secretary collected it for encoding and despatch to Lisbon. The Prime Minister now treated himself to another small Scotch.

  LISBON

  Halifax stared at the letter delivered to him by a British embassy official a few minutes ago. Waiting for this reply had probably been the most frustrating wait he had ever experienced.

  Emotion welled up within him. The war Cabinet had accepted the peace terms in their entirety! This was his crowning achievement in a lifetime of politics!

  He poured himself a sherry and toasted his image in the mirror in front of him. He drained the sherry and went to find the others. Tonight we will celebrate.

  LONDON

  The meeting of the full Cabinet took place at eight pm. Some of the members had suspicions that something exceptional or sinister was going on. There had been no specific rumours, just a vague awareness of an undercurrent. The sudden absence of the Foreign Secretary was also intriguing.

  Churchill was thoroughly enjoying himself. He waited until everyone had settled down.

  “I wish to make an announcement.” He said. He could see their brains working. What is it? He waited another moment or two to let the tension build.

  “Herr Hitler has departed this life.”

  The consternation! The incredulous looks! Oh what joy!

  He then explained in great detail the events of the last three days. He told them of the feelers put out to them, the suspension of submarine and bombing activity, the meeting in Lisbon, the details of the peace terms and the disclosures by the German delegation in Lisbon.

  There had never been a cabinet meeting like it. There had been stormy meetings in the past. Some mournful ones. Certainly plenty of boring ones. This one seemed more like the prelude to a Christmas party. Churchill felt sure that some of the members were only just managing to restrain themselves from kissing each other!

  He allowed them a few more minutes to savour the moment.

  “Now, gentlemen, to business. I need your serious consideration of the terms I have just mentioned. We are due in the House in a few hours and we must be prepared. If anyone feels like a drink, please help yourself. Mine’s a Scotch.”

  LISBON

  Lord Halifax and Baron von Altendorf were comfortably seated in two large leather covered armchairs in one corner of the summer house. The two of them were quietly conversing.

  The four military delegates were also in deep conversation as a group, in another corner.

  The private secretaries were together in an adjacent room typing out the slightly altered terms of agreement. It would take another hour or two.

  The two spooks were missing.

  Immediately upon receiving the news of acceptance by the British war cabinet, von Altendorf had ordered an official from the German Embassy to collect a note for despatch to Berlin. This note confirmed the successful outcome of the peace talks.

  He was now quietly relaxed and enjoying chatting to Lord Halifax. This was the first occasion since the war had started that senior representatives of their respective countries had relaxed in each other’s company.

  The Peace Treaty would be duly signed by Lord Halifax and Baron von Altendorf as soon as the British Parliament had ratified the terms. It was to be witnessed by the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs and the United States Ambassador to Portugal, both of whom had been sworn to secrecy by their respective governments. They were at their respective offices impatiently waiting to be summoned for the signing ceremony.

  General Brooke was actually enjoying himself for a change. Rommel was expounding his theories on highly mobile warfare, and there was no doubt in Brooke’s mind that he knew his subject. Events in Belgium and France had proved that beyond a shadow of doubt! Brooke was absorbing everything he said. He was thinking about the extent to which he was going to shake up the British Army in the very near future.

  He suddenly realised with a start that he had missed a few words of Rommel’s. Something about a European Alliance?

  “European Alliance, General?” He queried.

  “It is an idea expounded very recently by General von Mannstein, probably Germany’s greatest military strategist. At this stage it is no more than an idea, but one that I think is eminently workable.”

  He explained further. “Once the continent of Europe stabilises after the recent trauma, and the different nations are again up and working, irrespective of whatever form of government they have, it is suggested that we should all enter into a defensive alliance.

  The principle is simple. An attack on any member, is an attack on all.

  Each country would have their own armed forces under their own control. Only equipment, tactics, communications and chain of command, would all be standardised.

  There would be no need for money and resources to be wasted on defensive works on internal borders. If France had not squandered such a vast amount of money on their useless Maginot Line, maybe things would be different in that country today. And look at Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium. The largest fort in the world and reputed to be impregnable. It was defended by one thousand two hundred men. We captured it with only eighty five airborne troops.

  The day of fixed fortifications is past.

  General Von Mannstein obviously was looking eastwards over his shoulder towards the Soviet Union when he thought of a grand European Alliance stretching from Scandinavia in the north, to Spain in the South. From Great Britain in the west, to Italy in the east.

  In theory war would never happen again in Western Europe.

  A very interesting idea.”

  General Brooke thought it more than an interesting idea. It was revolutionary.

  The three soldiers and the Luftwaffe pilot sipped their drinks thoughtfully.

  It was Blackstone who asked the next question.

  “May I ask an impertinent question, General?”

  Rommel gave him an amused look. “By all means, Major.”

  Blackstone took a deep breath. “In the event that Hitler had not been assassinated, what scenario would you now see unfolding?”

  Rommel chuckled. “What scenario indeed.” He collected his thoughts.

  “Firstly, we, Germany, would be left with no alternative but to invade Great Britain. A plan is already in place for this.

  The Royal Navy controls the seas, but air superiority will be the decisive factor. This we believe we have. Your Royal Air Force is superb, but we have more aircraft and pilots. Having said that, I can assure you that there isn’t a single person in the German armed forces that won’t be relieved to learn we will not be fighting you.” He grinned.

  “But let us suppose we did not invade Britain. Perhaps there is another period of ‘phoney war’ as you christened it. There is something else to consider.

  The Military Council are aware that Hitler had it in his mind to invade the Soviet Union. Sooner rather than later.

  If Britain was not defeated, it would then mean war for Germany on two fronts. Not a nice situation. The Soviet Union is vast. Their winters are killing. Their Foreign Minister Molotov was not joking when he said, ‘Only a fool would attack us.’

  War between Germany and the Soviet Union would be disastrous for both countries, both militarily and economically.

  Another complication is Japan. I think Hitler would eventually have given them a
free hand with the British, French and Dutch colonial possessions. This would include the dominions of Australia and New Zealand. Also the continued Japanese aggression in China will sooner or later bring them into confrontation with the United States. A situation that could escalate out of control.

  In Italy, Mussolini has delusions of grandeur and wants to recreate the Roman Empire with him as its Emperor or Caesar. He has mad ideas about his empire stretching from Spain to Persia. Only last April he occupied Albania and declared it part of the Italian Empire. Also we are aware that he is eyeing British possessions in Africa and is planning something.