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* * *

Manstein said, “Hmm, Anton Denikin is certainly over there.”

Let’s leave the Manstein work to Anton Denikin.

“They said Turkey has moved down to Egypt.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Our Chief of Staff is quite busy gathering things and such.

Well, with Ungern, Semenov, Zhukov, Tukhachevsky, Vermount, and so on on the battlefield, it’s no wonder.

Greece, oh Greece.

Honestly, I originally thought it was just a matter of tossing a few words to Turkey, but if Turkey has moved all the way to Egypt, then that changes things.

“First, we can save Greece by leaving only minimal territory. It might be feasible to cede Egypt to Turkey as well. But we should say we are persuading the British.”

Whether to grant independence to Egypt or not is something Kemal can figure out himself.

Considering he wants to keep Palestine as an autonomous region, Egypt will likely follow suit.

Or at the very least, they could ask us what we should do with Egypt, brother.

“That seems like a viable option.”

Initially, I had only considered the Levant region in the plan, intending to later designate it as the Middle East’s bastion.

But surprisingly, Turkey is quite active.

Atatürk is a rather pragmatic figure.

He must surely know that just getting bigger won’t make him able to face Russia. If the areas bind together in one power sphere later, this Russia will only grow more powerful.

Then, should we adjust things regarding Greece?

Bulgaria would probably be satisfied with merely splitting Serbia with the Danube Federation.

But regardless of Greece, we ultimately need to negotiate with Egypt alongside the British.

“Greece has requested support, so let’s set up the J2 rocket launchpads we installed in Constantinople for them and provide at least a little assistance.”

“I will do that.”

If Kemal is asked to choose between Greece or Egypt, won’t he pick Egypt?

Provided we’re saying we’re negotiating with the British, of course.

“I think we need to meet Churchill about this.”

Churchill himself wouldn’t cling to something that is hard to maintain.

Isn’t it better to do a cleanup before the excitement for independence of the colonies erupts, rather than being blown to bits at Dunkirk and unable to manage the colonies?

Let’s try to take this cautiously.

“If we keep going like this, it’ll be before the end of this year that Communist Germany is occupied.”

“Yes. The German Empire Army is in charge of the occupied territory, so we just need to push forward.”

With the security of the rear handled by the German Empire that has reclaimed its homeland, there shouldn’t be a problem.

In fact, it seems that citizens suffering under the oppression of Communist Germany in that area are cooperating with the German Empire Army.

“Hmm, we might have a bit of leeway now. We should consider meeting Churchill.”

“Churchill?”

“If we want to divide the land post-war, shouldn’t we meet? By the way, regarding France, no matter what happens in this war, make sure to grab a share. Okay, let me send a personal letter first.”

We are bombing all over Germany, but with my image, we’re only beating up their army as much as we can.

If the British could do something well, we might get lucky.

Britain still has many outstanding elite pilots, right? If they use the air force well, who knows what could happen.

And another piece of good news just arrived.

“Your Majesty, the Communist German troops led by Kleist have surrendered.”

The Communist German troops that were facing our Second Army Group have capitulated.

Churchill has to do something quickly, or else it will end badly!

* * *

British War Department underground bunker in London

Churchill was enraged upon receiving Anastasia’s personal letter.

He crumpled that letter in his hands but couldn’t bring himself to throw it away.

“Return Gibraltar to Spain, and if you want anything, at least grab a portion somehow. Ha! These Russian bastards are treating us like their vassals!”

Clang!

Instead of the Tsar’s letter, this time a poor beer bottle was thrown, shattering into pieces on the floor.

No one said a word.

Despite guzzling alcohol, Churchill, the bulldog, was protecting the British Empire more than anyone else, and while he was desperately trying to plead with Russia to quell future public discontent, he was also trying to claw at France.

Instead, the question was which bottle of alcohol would be thrown next, with ministers betting among themselves.

With only the defense of the homeland required, there were no real amusements for the members to enjoy, so Churchill’s thrown bottles became quite an excellent betting item.

Even the recent occupation of the Suez by Turkey was enough to twist Churchill’s insides.

Yet, the capability to reclaim it later was nonexistent, and it was Britain that first packed up and left out of fear of the Red Army.

Therefore, he needed to at least gain the authority to punish the traitors.

“It seems that after this war, we will have no choice but to acknowledge Russia’s supremacy.”

“Does that mean we have to give up Egypt too? Even Gibraltar?”

How can we be at a state where we must throw everything away just because we lost a single battle?

In response to Mosley’s carefully worded comment, Churchill could only lament.

“Prime Minister, unfortunately, even after the war, we won’t have any troops stationed in our colonies.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s time to realistically assess the situation. If Russia is willing to hand over part of India to pro-British states, it’s better to let go of our colonies before we end up in an even worse situation.”

“Let go of our colonies?”

“Prime Minister, we can’t make a loud noise against Turkey now, but if all our colonies in the British Empire start revolting, we won’t be able to cope. Didn’t General Claude Ockinlek, the commander of the British Indian Army, report that the mood in India is quite ominous? Egypt has also been filled with anti-communist sentiment due to the influx of communists for some time now. Getting oil from Iraq is already a miracle.”

Churchill couldn’t believe this situation.

The great British Empire had fallen to this extent. In fact, while he had doubted the profitability of the colonies during the Great Depression, what should he do now?

Right. If they forcefully try to defend the colonies now, the citizens might shout for revolution due to French influence and could threaten Churchill’s life.

They must let go of the colonies and find a way to extract as much from the homeland as possible.

Then it must be France.

“Indeed. But I can never forgive France. This is a matter of our necks! What would happen if, despite being the victors post-war, we end up giving away Gibraltar and everything? We have to at least tear a piece from France! Right, the Russians have told us to grab a share.”

“Yes.”

Churchill gazed at Brittany and Normandy on the map hanging on the wall.

To devour the French mainland, something equivalent to that would be required. And to do that, they must use whatever they have.

With something popping into his mind, Churchill fixed his eyes on Air Marshal Arthur Harris, who had been quietly observing.

Arthur Harris was the one who had worried whether Germany might launch a landing operation even after the Dunkirk evacuation (failure) and took to the air force to probe northern Germany.

“Everyone, think about it. What if we reclaim even a part of the area occupied during the Hundred Years’ War?”

“Are you saying you can persuade Russia? Also, what about the Free French government?”

“Ha, the Free French? Those guys won’t return our 400,000 dead soldiers. The French soldiers already in the mainland are suspicious and sent over to there. We have to get something out one way or another. Don’t you think if we achieve nothing in this war, my neck will be on the line? The whole cabinet would be doomed.”

That was true. If this ends without any solid outcome, the commanders of the Allied Forces who led the withdrawal operation back in the day would be lucky to survive.

And Churchill, realistically speaking, could even flatter Anastasia in order to squeeze every bit blood from France.

Would the Tsar really want the frogs, who so easily switch sides like that, to keep their homeland intact?

Even if Europe unites under Russian order, those frogs are merely revolutionaries.

So, if he could somehow persuade Anastasia, he’d shake his behind and do whatever it takes.

Of course, first things first—he needed to perform accomplishments.

“Aren’t the air forces of the French Commune and Communist Germany fighting against the White Army of the Danube Federation and Russia?”

“Yes, that’s correct. However, I believe air superiority has already passed to Russia’s new fighters.”

What on earth those non-propeller fighters are, I have no idea, but they seem pretty impressive.

When the World’s Reds from Germany and the French Commune are moving their planes around, that says it all.

That means, isn’t the mainland of Germany and the French Commune quite empty right now?

Thus, Churchill came up with a clever idea.

‘What if we bomb the red mainland of France and Germany?’

The silver lining is the absence of the Battle of Britain and the fact that since the time of the Allied forces, they became elite by fighting against the planes of Communist Germany.

In other words, there are many competent pilots.

Then they must use them to inflict even the slightest damage to Germany.

“Air Marshal Arthur Harris.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Unfortunately, we can only acknowledge the supremacy of these Slavs. They want to maintain even a shred of their status as victors, so they say to achieve merits. If we land the forces of the Commonwealth, they may sever ties with us, and if we send the Home Guard, we might well find ourselves beheaded by them. Therefore, all we have left is the air force.”

While ships can’t cross over to Germany to stir things up, now the air force has become the only remaining hope.

“Yes. That is correct.”

“We have to smash the production capacity of Communist Germany. Looking at their situation, they are struggling to hold off Russia. So can’t we take advantage of that?”

Arthur Harris understood what Churchill was implying.

In fact, Arthur Harris had been deeply contemplating this aspect as well.

The only ways for Britain to operate now are through the navy and air force, and the Reds can’t cross the sea. Thus, it must be the air force.

They had to firmly establish their stake through the air force.

Arthur Harris pointed at several cities on the map of Germany hanging on the wall.

“Then Cologne, Dresden, and Hamburg can be our main targets.”

“Go on.”

Churchill seemed to nod in hope, urging him to continue.

“Dresden has suffered casualties due to bombings inflicted by the air force of the Danube Defense Army, however, Communist Germany had anticipated it would be bombed and has been producing weapons from Cologne and Hamburg. Right now, there are over 100 factories supplying materials to Hamburg, and Cologne is a major production site for Communist Germany during this war.”

Such places existed?

Wait, hold on. Then what have they been doing without bombing them until now?

“Are you saying we haven’t bombed such places before?”

“The air defense facilities were formidable, and those red interceptors fought tooth and nail to stop us. But…”

“But?”

Arthur Harris took a moment before cautiously opening his mouth.

“Now, to fend off Russia, all air defenses have been moved toward Russia and the Danube area, and interceptors are also deployed there.”

That means, wouldn’t cities producing the goods for those Reds be completely defenseless?

This is indeed a possibility.

They’ve found a way to torment those Reds.

“It means they are unprotected! In that case, our air force won’t suffer much damage either. Just wiping out a few hundred factories and military complexes will suffice.”

Churchill finally displayed a satisfied expression, as if he had just cleared a long-standing blockage.

Given Russia’s momentum, it was certain they would be annihilated within the year.

So even if Britain prepared well and supported Russia, they would miss the opportunity.

But if they could cause a huge disruption in the weapon production of those Reds, wouldn’t the war come to a conclusion sooner?

“However, to completely destroy this place, we need to strike in one fell swoop. This means civilian casualties will be considerable.”

In the historical account, the bombing of Dresden had raised significant backlash even within the Allies due to the high civilian casualties.

Especially since the US conducted precision bombings, the British bombing squadrons were regarded as inhumane.

Of course, Churchill would shove that responsibility onto Arthur Harris, but in this juncture, Churchill knew he had to take action.

Civilian casualties? Aren’t they all Reds anyway?

Those who cannot be treated as civilians are the Reds.

If he could weaken the warring capabilities of those German Reds and land a solid blow, Churchill would sell his soul to the devil.

Henceforth, Churchill decided this time to justify the bombing operations in a different manner.

“Russia has always claimed that Reds are bugs, you see. Regardless, even among Russians, if they’re Bolsheviks, they’d have been pushed into experimental human testing or worse, ground up in the works. Adolf Hitler, the Prime Minister of Danube, even nonchalantly killed Reds. The Reds have been endorsed as bugs by their own Tsar, so there’s no need to spare them as civilians. If we can destroy those factories and wipe out the Jerry bastards, I will approve the operation. Bomb wherever necessary!”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Already, Britain was left with no options.

If they were to throw everything away, then at least they should cling to Russia and enjoy fair victory status.

Yes. They should sweep away the Red plague entirely.

Those Red bastards have caused the collapse of the British Empire, so it was only right to bomb every German city and tear apart France.

March 13, 1942. A relentless large-scale bombing operation against Cologne and Hamburg commenced.

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