Chapter 25: Executing the Black Plan (2)

  After the Black Plan was implemented, the first person to be dismissed was German Defense Minister Werner von Blomberg, who was accused of marrying a woman who had once been a prostitute, thereby disgracing the honor of the German Armed Forces.

  For a time, the generals of the national defense military system were shocked and hastily convened an emergency meeting to respond to the increasingly numerous political accusations raised by the "People's Court".

  The People's Court, this National Socialist instrument used to eliminate opponents, under the guise of a speedy trial for imperial traitors, has now also raised questions about the life of Army Commander-in-Chief Fritsch following the 'Blomberg-Fritsch affair'!

  On November 5 of last year, Hitler summoned the heads of the three German armed forces, including Fritsch, to the Chancellery in Berlin to outline his plans for launching a campaign against Poland. Fritsch immediately expressed his objections, believing that the German army was not yet fully prepared to wage a war that could lead to a world war. Hitler was extremely displeased with this and regarded Fritsch as a thorn in his side, from then on he began to plot how to remove Fritsch from office.

  Operation Blackmail was launched, and Heydrich arranged for a pimp to be brought from Munich to testify in the People's Court that Fritsch had once asked him to find him a male prostitute, and that Fritsch had given him money to keep quiet.

  The IVE2 group (policy-making) of the Heiderich Security Department immediately manufactured a "case file", and this department, like planning a movie script, detailed how Fritz found that pimp and proposed to find male prostitutes in great detail.

  In Germany, homosexuality was against the law and Hitler used this to create suspicion amongst the people towards Fritsch, so that he could remove him from his position as Commander-in-Chief of the Army.

  The day before Hitler was due to leave for Austria, Frick was summoned to Munich to defend himself in person against the allegations.

  Hitler did not receive Fritsch at the Munich City Hall, but instead summoned the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army to the Nazi Party headquarters in the Barlow Palace. Hitler received him in his own office.

  Fritzsche disliked this dimly lit underground office very much, he thought it was more like a cage than an office, and the huge Nazi flag hanging on the wall made him even more disgusted. He loudly defended himself for not having committed such acts, proudly puffed out his chest, but the dim light did not show the medals on his chest in their original glory.

  Xu Yang was fortunate to participate in this debate, he stood quietly in the corner of the wall like most people, secretly vowing in his heart that he would not stand still forever, and if necessary, he would jump out to help Fritsch.

  Heidrich, at Hitler's behest, pulled out a report from the Security Service VIIB Analysis Section and read out in great detail the report on "moral depravity", speaking with the elegance of a wandering poet, but the words coming out of his mouth were hair-raising. To strengthen the credibility of the "evidence", Heidrich even called out the pimp who had "personal experience" to confront Fritsch.

  The name of the pimp is unimportant, he was a very thin middle-aged man who may have felt emotionally tense facing so many big shots. When confronting Fritsch, he was often yelled at by Fritsch's loud voice trained in the army, making him tremble with fear.

  Anyone can hear that the pimp's testimony is unreliable, and the forged case file became an important key to convict Fritsch. What's astonishing is that the evidence of Fritsch's crime is written clearly on the case files!

  Under Fritsch's vigorous appeal, Hitler abruptly ruled that the Army Commander-in-Chief was no longer suited to hold his current post.

  In this case, Fritsch's justification was in vain. He was so furious that his face turned red with rage, his fists clenched and he would have liked to rush at Hitler and thrash him, confident that he could kill the scrawny monkey with three punches. The honor of the Wehrmacht forced him to suppress this impulse, and still proudly holding his head high, he stood motionless on the spot, as if to prove that the glorious Wehrmacht would not yield!

  Hitler's self-esteem was once again provoked, and what he disliked most was that kind of stubborn pride, hateful to think that all pride was a sign of dissatisfaction with him!

  Hitler looked coldly at Fritsch and said, "Whether you are guilty or not will be decided by the People's Court. For now, you are no longer suited to hold the office of Commander-in-Chief of the Army."

  Friedrich didn't bat an eye, his gaze fixed on Xuyang who was standing quietly in the corner of the wall and still hadn't spoken a word.

  Hitler rose, "I have decided to take personal command of the German armed forces myself. I am appointing Keitel as Chief of Staff and Brauchitsch will take over your position."

  Hitler's words were like a heavy bomb exploding in Fritsch's heart, he was so angry that his face turned green but still did not open his mouth to speak, making a silent protest.

  Xu Yang wanted to get out, just about to take a step but was pulled back by Hailena beside him.

  Hailena stared at Xuyang, her eyes conveying a meaning that couldn't be clearer: you can't get out now.

  Fritsch saw it, felt deeply relieved in his heart, and thought that the soldiers of the national defense military system were still united! He made a smile for the first time after entering this dimly lit office, "Adolf Hitler, the Supreme Command will not let you have your way! My troops will not follow your will!"

  Stillness, an oppressive stillness.

  Fritzsche finally said what he had wanted to say for a long time, his smiling expression unchanged, and calmly turned to leave the dimly lit office that he hated.

  ……

  "Did you hear that?" Hitler's face was incredulous as he looked around at everyone, "Did any of you hear what he said? What kind of signal are those cowardly defenders sending us!? Fritsch called out my full name, did all of you hear it?"

  No one dared to answer, their nerves were tightened by that sentence, and a sense of foreboding rose in their hearts. It seemed like everyone was thinking: Is it over? Is it really over? What should we do now?

  Hitler walked up to Xu Yang's front, forcefully grasping Xu Yang's shoulders, "Kahn, did you hear that?"

  Xu Yang's eyes did not stray, "Yes, I heard." His voice was devoid of any emotion, "This matter has been a mistake from the start. Foolish actions have pushed the entire national defense army to your opposition."

  "Foolish actions"

  Everyone was shocked, they stared at Xu Yang in astonishment. The brilliant plan set by the wise leader had been called a foolish action. They were waiting for Hitler to roar...