Section 03: The Führer Blows His Top at Himmler

  In mid-December 1941, the former Soviet sugar factory's assembly hall in Simferopol on the Crimean Peninsula became the temporary chancellery of the Third Reich.

  Foreign Minister Ribbentrop handed over Japan's final statement urging Germany to declare war on the United States, and Hitler read it with a smile.

  "The grandeur of the Imperial Japanese Empire is majestic, destroying the American summer in Hawaii, and will soon conquer the Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand, Burma, Manila, and land on the Dutch East Indies' Borneo; The brave Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force sank the battleship 'Prince of Wales' and the battlecruiser 'Repulse'... If Germany and Italy do not declare war on America again, then all the fruits of victory will belong to the Empire of Japan alone. The Tripartite Pact between Germany, Italy, and Japan has perished, and the Empire of Japan will reconsider and withdraw from the pact in name only... I hope that the two allied countries will prioritize friendship, unite sincerely, and plan for world domination together... Heaven blesses the three countries of Japan, Germany, and Italy! December 14th, Showa 16 (1941)"

  Li De wiped away the tears from his eyes, pondered for a moment, and ordered the Foreign Minister to return immediately and invite the Japanese ambassador to come and discuss state affairs.

  Speer arrived, Li De stretched out his arms from afar and hugged him, then put his arm around his shoulders and sat down on the sofa.

  Li De asked with full of hope: "Speer, you must have brought me good news about increasing arms production."

  Seeing the Minister of Military Industry shaking his head, Li De's face was unhappy.

  Speer looked at him with a sly smile, explaining that he had recently concentrated on adjusting the production program, introducing American assembly line principles, each factory producing only one product and then reorganizing, which would triple production efficiency.

  The Fuehrer grunted and said: "All the factories have gone over to a two-shift basis, and the Rheinmetall Company has gone over to three shifts."

  Li De suddenly became happy and asked the worker where he came from?

  "Prisoners of war. Among Russian prisoners of war there are many industrial workers, even Russian peasants know how to operate a tractor." Speer explained.

  Li De regretted saying that unfortunately 1 million prisoners of war had already died. In October alone, 250,000 died from starvation and thirst.

  Speer was relieved and flattered: "However, since the Führer had adjusted his policy in time, it has come down now. According to statistics, only 30,000 people died in November, mainly swelling up after their first meal after being captured."

  "Speer." The Fuehrer's spittle sprayed onto his face: "There are two things you must grasp tightly: First, the Me262 is a plane that can possibly change the course of the war, you must speed up its development; Second, you must accelerate the research on automatic rifles. During the Soviet-Finnish War, the Soviets developed a mine detector in just one night, those scientists were scared to death, sometimes fear can also produce great benefits. Come, have some coffee."

  Speer picked up his cup, and the Führer motioned him to come closer. Then he lowered his voice: "There's something else that's extremely confidential; you must promise not to mention it to anyone."

  Schippe nodded at him and said: "Immediately start exploring Libyan oil."

  "Blub—" Speer lost his composure in shock, his mouth out of control, and the coffee he had just sucked into his mouth sprayed all over the Führer's face.

  He heard this news as if he had heard the news of an invasion of Mars.

  The head of state had a scowl on his face, and from a distance, Miss Adelaide rushed over to wipe the water stains off his face.

  Speer stood around helplessly, the Führer's face a picture of incredulity, beckoning him to sit down again. The two continued their discussion, but no longer in hushed tones, lest another dramatic incident involving water being sprayed into each other's faces should occur.

  Submarine Commander D?nitz brought good news to the Führer. Speer wanted to avoid, the Führer grabbed his sleeve and suggested that naval production also be included in Speer's assembly line.

  Deng Nuo suddenly said: "Royal Ark."

  Yesterday in the Mediterranean, U-81 and U-205 fired torpedoes at the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. One of U-81's torpedoes hit amidships, the ship went dark, turning in circles on the surface before listing, with planes sliding off the deck into the sea. She was later towed to Gibraltar by two tugs and sank this morning at 06:13.

  Deng Nuo said: "Only one crew member was killed, hit by the plane and fell into the sea, all others escaped."

  Beppo reports that G?ring has just telephoned to say that the Air Force and Navy have combined to sink the British aircraft carrier "Ark Royal" and to offer congratulations to the Führer.

  Li De asked what was going on, and Deng Nizi chuckled and said that when the submarine attacked the aircraft carrier, it indeed saw two German planes, which dropped 4 bombs, three of which fell behind the submarine, and one of which blew the shark to pieces.

  The temporary prime minister's residence was filled with a celebratory atmosphere, and everyone became even more joyful when the servant brought in caviar. To celebrate the sinking of the British aircraft carrier, the deputy naval officer proposed holding a dance party, but the distant rumble of cannons only slightly calmed them down.

  The people the Führer was worried about have arrived. G?ring, Goebbels and Himmler came together. Behind Himmler's glasses shone a cunning gaze, and as soon as he came, he raised his pole with the Führer: "No wonder the Führer didn't want to return to Berlin, if I looked at the scenery like an album every day, ate top-grade caviar, and was surrounded by beauties on both sides, I would also be reluctant to leave."

  The leader coldly said: "Not being beaten to death by your subordinates is already a blessing."

  "What a load of crap." Bowman spat out, Himmler gazed at everyone's indignant eyes, as if sitting in clouds and fog, utterly bewildered.

  Bao Man recounted what happened last night, he turned around twice with his hands behind his back, seemingly a bit disbelieving.

  The Fuehrer jumped up, pounding his chest with his fists. His voice grew louder and faster: "The SS secret action squads must be disbanded. In Kaluga, here, in Poland, in Riga, I run into these scoundrels everywhere. They are all without exception wearing my uniform, doing harm to the Empire. Their only purpose is to create enemies for Germany everywhere. They should be rewarded, but the one giving them medals is Stalin."

  He took a deep breath, pointing at Himmler and shouting: "If we allow them to run amok, then all our military victories will be in vain. The blood of the soldiers will have been shed in vain. Mr. Himmler, you must put an end to their nonsense."

  Himmler retorted: "I disagree with that view. That's how we did it in Poland and the results were good, weren't they?"

  He sought reassurance: "Right, Grand Moff? Doctor?"

  G?ring, contrary to his usual cautious style, openly supported the Führer: "The premise has changed, Poland we have already divided, but our hope of a quick victory in Russia has been shattered. Once both sides are at an impasse, there is only one way to go - reconciliation. In this case, winning over the people's hearts is extremely important. Our air force did just that, didn't it, my Führer?" He looked proudly at Liddell.

  Himmler still wouldn't give up: "Dr Goebbels, why don't you say something?"

  "What am I to say? Shall I say that it was right for the SS secret action squads to push the Russians into Stalin's arms?"

  The Fuhrer clenched his fists and bellowed: "There is only one man who welcomes the actions of the SS Secret Service - Stalin!"

  He panted, spittle spraying everywhere, including Himmler silently enduring his spittle stars: "I, Adolf Hitler, and you gentlemen, we have struggled for so many years, is it easy? If anyone thinks that they can let ideology override the fundamental interests of the German Empire and the nation, and arbitrarily vent their private interests or so-called pure ideals and utopian fantasies..."

  He had said so much in one breath that it far exceeded his lung capacity, causing the leader to cough violently, followed by several sneezes, and saliva, tears, and nose, everything came. Faithful Miss Adelheid rushed over to pat his back, scolding: "Can't you take a breath before speaking?" After hesitating for a moment, Renia ran over to wipe his chest, the deputy officers supported him, helped him sit down in a chair, and Miss Adelheid wiped away the white foam from the corner of his mouth.

  After his breathing calmed down a bit, he called Goring over: "Do you still remember the secret order signed on June 29, 1941?"

  He certainly remembered, but he dared not mention it, because the content of that order was to designate G?ring as Hitler's successor after Hitler encountered an accident; in other words, only after Hitler's death would G?ring be the successor. Facing a lively and energetic Hitler who could utter hundreds of words at once, G?ring did not dare have any illusions, let alone being the target of others.

  G?ring cautiously replied that he was unwilling to bring up that order in front of the Führer.

  "In other words, as long as I am alive, you are unwilling to mention that order. But you also see that now no one listens to me when I speak, and tomorrow I will convene the National Assembly and personally read my letter of resignation."

  Everyone's emotions ran high, directing their anger at Himmler. To show his loyalty, or to avoid suspicion, G?ring's tone was the highest, and he added insultingly: "If anyone forces the Führer to resign, I will lead the air force to bomb his lair." To show his determination, he stretched out his foot wearing brown boots and kicked an empty ammunition box, successfully creating a loud noise.

  Manstein also burst out in a loud voice: "My offensive is just beginning, the Fuehrer cannot resign, the Wehrmacht categorically refuses to accept the resignation of the Fuehrer."

  Gorin kicked him out: "This is an internal affair of the party and state leaders, what are you meddling in? Besides, can you represent the military?"

  Himmler had everyone take turns bombing, and finally the wolf pack couldn't hold on, and they slunk away with their tails between their legs.

  These party and state leaders are all morally bankrupt, and immediately turned against Himmler.

  Goring: "How could he leave without saying goodbye? Not putting us in his eyes is nothing, but not putting the Fuehrer in his eyes is absolutely unacceptable."

  Bao Man: "This is outrageous."

  Goebbels: "This is a serious case of liberalism, lack of organization and discipline, and disregard for authority. We must convene an intra-party democratic life meeting and carry out inner-party struggle."

  Navy Deputy Officer: "He competed with three armies for steel."

  Army Lieutenant: "He used trucks meant for transporting ammunition to the front lines to transport Jews instead."

  Air Force Lieutenant: "He gave all the best weapons to the armed Party Guards."

  "Don't be fooled by his simple lifestyle, this hypocrite Heinrich Himmler, who is actually a sex wolf. He had an affair with a Jewish woman named Inge, and she was kicked out of her family because of it. This man who swore to remain chaste before marriage got Margarete pregnant before they were married. After the wedding, Margarete supported the family on the meager income from their chicken farm, but he continued his philandering ways and in 1937 turned his attention to his former secretary Hedwig..."

  Bormann glanced at the Fuehrer and Goebbels, saying: "We don't discuss private lives. The SS should be notified. The SS is the Party's armed force, not his personal army."

  Goebbels: "He reminds me of the R?hm affair."