The 14th Article: Deutschtum über alles
Berlin, Germany - The Reichstag quickly got into its new role, with Ribbentrop speaking at length: "Today we discussed, modified and voted on several ordinances which were proposed by the Imperial Political Bureau and discussed in various German councils, some of which presented very good suggestions that were adopted today."
He loudly announced the voting results:
"The War Production Law of the German Empire was passed unanimously."
"The provision in the Marriage Act requiring proof of Aryan ancestry for three generations or more was abolished, with 41 voting in favour, 34 against and 5 abstaining. The motion is declared carried."
"The Gorin Animal Protection and Hunting Act was announced, which is the first law to protect animals in human history. Vice President Gorin made a name for himself with this achievement."
Congressmen applauded and G?ring bowed slightly in acknowledgement from his seat in the spectators' gallery.
Ribbentrop continued: "However, during today's parliamentary deliberations, a proposal was made that had also been put forward at yesterday's German Inter-Parliamentary Conference, namely that the name needed to be changed somewhat: on the one hand animal protection and on the other hunting, which is contradictory. The final name decided upon was the 'G?ring Hunting Law'."
Everyone applauded warmly, Gorin clapped his hands up and down, someone heard him mutter: "nitpicking".
Ribbentrop continued to announce slowly and steadily:
"Now, let's proceed with the voting on the list of leaders of the German Empire Party, government and military, as well as the Politburo. Voting for national leaders is the greatest honor to the National Congress, please cherish your vote, and with a responsible attitude towards the party and the people, cast your solemn vote."
Half an hour later, the voting result was announced: Goebbels lost the election.
Lee stepped onto the podium and made an explanation to the members of parliament. The main content was that he needed to concentrate his energy on commanding the war, and Goebbels would take over for him in the rear. He thanked everyone's kindness, but carving out the prime minister from his authority did not weaken the president's power and prestige. Restoring the prime ministerial position to international convention, they could check and balance each other, and benefit mutually, whereas the previous practice of combining the president and prime minister into one was a regression in the national governance system.
G?bbels then took the stage, first expressing his determination and asking everyone to approve of his appointment. After the second round of voting results came out, he sat down in a chair with a thud: 31 people were in favor, 34 opposed, and 15 abstained.
Democracy under a dictatorship is what they call democracy, and the facts once again prove it: when Goebbels was in mourning, Ribbentrop took the stage to announce that Goebbels' appointment had not been approved, so for now he would be temporarily appointed by the Politburo as acting Chancellor until the next session of the Reichstag.
But whether it is democracy or pseudo-democracy, Li De's new policy is still a relatively large progress compared to the court-style politics of the Hitler era.
Implementing political system reform, if waiting for the rulers to have a conscience, it will be waited until the sea is dry and the stone is rotten; relying on the calls of the lower levels is no different from plotting with a tiger for its skin. The Third Empire's implementation of political system reform was forced by the severe war situation, and it was a struggle to avoid defeat in the war. However, Li De made sacrifices for Germany's future and personal long-term considerations - even if it was partial sacrifice, this is the most difficult and precious thing.
In this sense, Washington's voluntary resignation for the sake of national interests is truly a great figure in world history.
Comrade Ribbentrop solemnly announced the end of this month's National Congress. Everyone stood up, with tears in their eyes, and sang the national anthem:
Germany, Germany above all
Above all things in the world
At all times, for protection and defense
Brothers stand together forever.
From Marseille to Mulhouse
From Esch to Bereldange
～
German women, German loyalty
German wine, German song;
Spread across the world, yet forever preserved
Their ancient and noble reputation;
Inspire us to engage in noble pursuits
Even if it takes our whole life.
～
Unity, Justice and Freedom
For the German Fatherland
Let's work together towards this goal.
Unite like brothers
Hand in hand, heart to heart.
Unity, Justice and Freedom
It is our guarantee of happiness.
Blossoming in the midst of prosperity and glory
Blossom, our German fatherland!
……
In the last days of 1941, the Führer spent his time in patient explanations, violent contradictions and threats of bribery, all because of the selection of a few people behind the scenes of imperial politics: old party members reminded the Führer of past struggles, accusing Bormann of being too inexperienced; old generals talked about Keitel and Jodl having no military exploits, everyone criticized the unknown Speer: "That mason who built houses for the Führer."
The Chancellery has now been converted into the Presidential Palace, and Li De's wish for everyone to work together here has fallen through. Everyone is unwilling to squeeze together, with Goring being the most extreme, citing the reason as defense against British air raids. As a result, the original Air Ministry became the Vice Presidential Palace, and a smaller Chancellery had to be built for Goebbels.
Li De just returned to the Presidential Palace, and Navy Commander Raeder came to report on his work and also to offer his condolences.
Due to the open intervention of the United States, German submarines encountered enormous difficulties. British merchant ships darted back and forth across the Atlantic under the protection of American destroyers, which also provocatively charged at German submarines, with U-346 being only one meter away from being rammed by a destroyer's bow.
Raeder urged the Fuehrer to lift the ban on U.S. warships, but Hitler shook his head: "Raeder, a small concession now would upset the whole plan. That cunning Roosevelt is just waiting for us to kick over the chessboard in a fit of pique. While American forces have not yet entered, withdraw some submarines to the Mediterranean."
"Hasn't the power of the Atlantic been weakened?" Rader was shocked.
Li De asked back in a bad tone: "What can you do? The 'Bismarck' battleship was sunk, the 'Scharnhorst', 'Gneisenau' and 'Prinz Eugen' were damaged one after another. We have only this much capital, all of it has been lost, are you going to be a commander with nothing?"
Rader was taken aback.
The Commander-in-Chief said dejectedly: "Moreover, the British have invented new shipborne and airborne radar, night-flying aircraft are equipped with searchlights, and in the Mediterranean, the Italians have torpedoed two good British battleships, the situation is very favorable for us."
Raeder hesitated, and under the Fuehrer's prompting, stammered: "Now the Navy is unanimous in its opinion, because in the Imperial Political Bureau there are Air Force, Army, but no Navy people, they all say..."
"They say that the Navy is a stepchild, is it?" Li De took over, "Keitel and Jodl belong to the Supreme Command, not the Army."
"But they're both army generals," Rader argued strongly.
Li De patiently explained for a while, but the stubborn naval commander couldn't understand no matter how he was explained to. He got angry and scolded this old comrade severely, then ignored him, not asking or listening to anything.
Goring called, he invited the leader to reward him: He calculated that 5 million people can be drawn from the navy and air force to supplement the army.
The Fuehrer did not take his mood, complaining that the number was too small: "The Air Force now has 17 million, and it is completely possible to allocate 7 million, or even more; The Navy currently has 12 million, and can withdraw 5 million. In this way, isn't there 12 million troops? If all the ordnance factories of the Air Force and Navy are directly assigned to Speer's Ministry of War, more workers can be freed."
Radel saw the Paramount Leader ignoring his presence and arbitrarily deciding on naval matters, getting angrier by the minute, deliberately clearing his throat twice. The Paramount Leader remained oblivious, continuing to throw sand into his eyes: "Right, you consider establishing a marine corps of at least 30,000 people as soon as possible, these specific things are handled by you, and then reported at the Politburo meeting."
He put down the phone, and Admiral Raeder continued to sit on the bench, burying his head in the papers. Frau Christian, the female secretary, brought new files and took away the signed ones, casting a bewildered glance at the naval commander-in-chief who was sitting on the sofa, sulking.
Himmler's successor, Heydrich, had blue eyes, a hooked nose, broad shoulders, a slender figure and pale skin. Elegant demeanor, handsome face, robust physique, each part complemented each other perfectly, truly the darling of God. But who would have thought that under this perfect exterior, there was a heart full of evil.
The son of the singer and actor was a deputy commander of the SS, chief of the security police and SD, and head of the RSHA. He was appointed as the Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia. Heydrich unleashed a wave of terror against the Czech people, earning him the nickname "The Butcher of Prague", then suddenly changed his tactics and became a "benevolent ruler", abolishing many regulations that degraded the Czechs to second-class citizens, reforming the social insurance system which was far behind Germany's, and won over the Czech workers and farmers.
The head of state stood up from his seat, with an attitude that was both pleased and resentful: "Your carrot-and-stick policy in Czechoslovakia has been very successful. Czechoslovakia and Denmark are now the most harmonious and stable occupied territories in the Empire. However, what kind of trick did you play on the Jews last time?"
Heidrich was about to open his mouth to explain, but Li De stopped him with disgust, reiterating the empire's new policy towards Jews, and mentioning the changes in the National Assembly's amendment of the Nuremberg Laws, which made this staunch anti-Semite's mood plummet.
Lidell to Heydrich: "The whole of Europe has no good feelings towards the Jews, so the Jews should be evacuated from Europe, which would also benefit them. Rather than being second-class citizens, it's better for them to find their own place. The original plan to move the Jews to Madagascar was fanciful, my idea is to move them eastward, whether it's an oasis in the Kazakh desert or an island in the Caspian Sea, that doesn't matter."
Heidrich suddenly found the dejected Redl, and immediately began to tease his old superior: "I thought who was hiding in the corner, it turned out to be the respected Marshal, how is it that you're jealous of others' promotions?"
Rader and Heinrich were old acquaintances. In the past, the handsome and elegant Heinrich had flirted with respectable women in the navy, toyed with females, and even set his sights on the wives of naval officers, which led to Rader expelling him from the military. Today, encountering this little scoundrel again, he decided to adopt a three-not policy towards him: not to care, not to notice, and not to look at him.
But the other party was reasonable, yet fierce and stared at him with a tiger's gaze, continuing to beat around the bush in their words. He hastily bid farewell to the leader and fled in disarray.
