Chapter 453 Imperial Marshal
"How is your Majesty's health?"
"It's not very good. I'm confused and sober at times... I'm getting older after all."
Hessmann and Chloe got off their Mercedes-Benz limousine and were led into the splendid Charlottenburg Palace by a royal attendant wearing an embroidered page's dress. Chloe knew the chamberlain from her frequent visits to the palace. So while walking, I asked about Emperor William.
Emperor II was born on January 27, 1859. He is 82 years old this year. This age was definitely considered old in the 1940s. At the beginning of this year, the emperor, who had always been in good health, began to suffer from some symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, becoming confused and sober at times.
"So can His Majesty attend today?" Chloe, who was dressed carefully in a strapless evening dress, asked in a low voice.
"Showing your face shouldn't be a big problem," the attendant replied.
Today is April 18, 1941, a very special day for Chloe. Her husband Hessmann will receive a military rank specially created for him today - Marshal of the Reich!
This is a special military rank created in recognition of Hessmann's victory in the Mediterranean. It has a higher status than marshal of the army, navy and air force. It is currently the highest military rank in the German Empire. It is estimated that there will be no other military rank besides Hessmann. of what person has obtained.
Obtaining this special military rank meant that Hessmann became the first person in the German army! Perhaps the greatest German soldier of all time.
In Hessmann's view, this "Marshal of the Empire" was nothing. Fat Göring had it in history. Moreover, he knew that most of his "great achievements" were "cheated". Only the Mediterranean battle was won by his command.
But for Chloe, a woman who idolizes famous generals who have made great achievements on the battlefield, today is undoubtedly the happiest day in her life. Of course, she also hopes that the German Emperor himself can attend the ceremony of conferring the commander-in-chief (the ceremony was presided over by Crown Prince William as regent).
"Our greatest soldier is here!"
When the Hirschmanns entered Whitehall in Charlottenburg, someone suddenly cheered. It turns out that there are already many men in military uniforms and women in evening dresses gathered here. These came to attend the ceremony, mostly senior generals in Berlin or senior Nazi government officials and their wives. Hitler and Schleicher have not arrived yet. They are receiving Prince Paul of Greece - he is Emperor William's grandson-in-law. He came from Crete with the purpose of replacing his brother George II on the throne of Greece. At the same time, He also came to seek peace for Greece.
The Goerings and Goebbels had already arrived. In the Nazi Party government, Hersmann and Goering had the best relationship. The two had known each other since they were teenagers (they met in military school). Of course, he didn't know that Hessman had snatched away his Imperial Marshal. He thought Hessman was a good friend and walked up to talk to Hessman very enthusiastically.
Goebbels also stepped forward with a woman in military uniform beside him. The woman was not Goebbels's wife, but Natalie Lesinskaya. Because of her contribution to the Kaiser's concurrent appointment as King of Poland, she was granted the title of Baroness (Polish Viscount), and she also became the Minister of Immigration of the Royal Government of Poland - a minister responsible for the resettlement of people from Posen, West Prussia and West Prussia. Minister of Polish emigration from Belarus.
However, not long after she became minister, she was recalled by Hessmann and made her the president of the Army Policy Committee under the General Staff. And this time Hessmann was awarded the title of Marshal of the Empire, which was actually achieved with the full promotion of the Policy Council.
In addition, Natalie also cooperated with Goebbels, the propaganda minister of the Nazi government, to package Hersmann as the incarnation of the German God of War and the most perfect soldier-this is actually what Hitler meant.
The most perfect soldier should stay in the army for a lifetime like Moltke, instead of taking the job of the "perfect politician" Hitler and entering politics. Because politics is such a dirty job, it will damage the empire's image of a perfect soldier.
Of course, Hitler's introduction of Hersmann as the "God of War" was not entirely out of political power, but a propaganda method. Propaganda is also an integral part of war. Praising a large number of German soldiers as gods of war and famous generals (there is currently only one god of war, but there are many famous generals) can reassure German friends, scare Germany's enemies, and boost the morale of the German people. high.
While Hersmann, Fatty Goering, and Cripple Goebbels were talking cordially and complimenting each other, music suddenly played and someone shouted loudly: "His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince are here!"
Then the noisy White Hall immediately fell silent. Under the gaze of everyone, Emperor William, fully dressed in military uniform and still looking very majestic and imposing, walked slowly along a long corridor with the support of his son Crown Prince William. .
…
"Marshal of the Reich, the greatest soldier... Haha, the Germans can really brag!"
President Roosevelt dropped a telegraphed report from the embassy in Berlin on his desk and lit a cigarette for himself.
"President, this is a German propaganda ploy," Harry Hopkins said. "The Germans want to give the entire world the illusion that Germany is invincible and will win the war soon."
Of course, Hessmann is not the only one being praised by German propaganda agencies. Under the greatest soldier, there are a lot of very great, relatively great, generally great generals, and then there are all kinds of combat heroes. There are aces in the air, aces on the ground who drive tanks, supermen who fall from the sky, and aces submarine captains and auxiliary cruiser captains who have sunk many British ships.
In short, Germany is now full of superheroes who are very capable of fighting. And there are all kinds of advanced weapons, so the war can definitely be won. This propaganda was carried out not only in Europe, but also in South America, Asia, Africa and the United States itself.
"President, we have to destroy the myth about the Germans," Secretary of State Hull told Roosevelt, "or else we're going to have problems in our own backyard."
The backyard of the United States is of course Latin America. Americans have been operating there for many years and are of course very powerful. Although Latin America may occasionally have heroes from small countries who challenge the authority of the United States, the pro-American forces are always very strong.
However, the pro-American faction in Latin America is just like the pro-British faction in Europe, Asia, and Africa. As Germany becomes increasingly powerful, the voices of pro-American factions in Latin America are gradually declining, while pro-German factions are springing up like mushrooms after a rain. If Germany continues to win like this, and the United States is still unable to find an opportunity to participate in the war, and the Soviet Union is unwilling to step forward and fight Germany to lose both sides, it is estimated that Latin America will be shaken even more seriously.
"But how are we going to help the British?" Roosevelt asked, pressing a hand to his temple.
This was a problem that troubled him. Churchill's letters for help were sent to the White House one after another. But Roosevelt felt that his hands and feet were tied - he could not go to the war. Besides participating in the war, he has done everything he can.
"Mr. President," Chief of Naval Operations Stark told Roosevelt, "the British are likely to face two decisive battles at the same time in two or three months, the Battle of Gibraltar and the Battle of the Norwegian Sea, and they only need to lose one of them. If you fight, you will probably face the fate of defeat."
"That's not the case," Roosevelt shook his head. "The British will persist to the end. But we still have to find ways to help them." He glanced at the Chief of Naval Operations, "Harold, what suggestions do you have? ?"
"We can send the fleet to the Norwegian Sea!" Harold Stark said.
"Oh, you want the Germans to accidentally attack them?" Roosevelt looked at Harry Hopkins.
Hopkins replied: "People in Congress and anti-war elements outside Congress will ask: How did our fleet go to the Norwegian Sea where the war is going on?"
"It doesn't seem possible!" Roosevelt shrugged. Hopkins was his brain trust and aide who coordinated the positions of various factions in Congress.
"President, I have a suggestion." Secretary of State Hull considered at this time and said, "Perhaps we can hold a meeting between you, President, and British Prime Minister Churchill. The location is near Newfoundland in the northern part of the North Atlantic."
"Meeting? What were discussed?" Roosevelt asked.
"Discuss how to defeat the Germans!" Hull said. "We and the British can jointly issue a declaration, a declaration against the Nazi and fascist regime. If this meeting and declaration can be held and issued during the next round of confrontation between Britain and Germany, It will definitely damage Germany’s morale. If our fleet approaches Iceland after the declaration is issued, it may not have to enter the Norwegian Sea, which will seriously interfere with Germany’s military operations.”
…
"Marshal of the Empire, do you recommend Air Marshal Kesselring to be the Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Allied Forces?"
"Yes, leader."
After receiving the rank of Imperial Marshal, Hersmann returned to his post as Chief of the General Staff, and no longer planned to command the Gibraltar operations - the Luftwaffe and naval aviation were already very good at fighting surface fleets, and Hersmann also There is no need to rush ahead. With a guy like Kesselring, how could Gibraltar fail to win?
"Marshal Kesselring is fully qualified," Hessmann said. "He is proficient in air and land operations and is also an artillery expert."
Hitler looked at Defense Minister Schleicher, who nodded: "Marshal Kesselring can be sent to Spain. Then who will be in charge of the North Sea battlefield?"
“The North Sea operations are of course dominated by the navy,” Hessman said. “However, Admiral Jeshunek’s performance on the Mediterranean battlefield is outstanding and he can succeed Admiral Graeme as the commander of the naval aviation and cooperate with Marshal Redl. And Grai General Mu will succeed Field Marshal Kesselring as Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force.”