By the third week of February 1941, Germany had assembled an army of 680,000 men in Romania. In the first war, Bulgaria suffered a big loss because it was not sure who the winner would be. This time Bulgaria is ready to gamble again. The resounding German victory convinced the Bulgarian government to believe Germany's assurances that at least German transit would be allowed. Field Marshal List and the Bulgarian Army General Staff reached a secret agreement on February 8, 1941. On the evening of February 28, German army troops crossed the Danube River from Romania and occupied Bulgaria's strategic positions. Bulgaria participated in the Three Kingdoms (Germany, France, Italy, and maybe Britain in the future! That would be the Four Kingdoms!) treaty the next day.
For Germany, Bulgaria's joining the Axis Powers is the best news. According to Lin Wei's estimation, Bulgaria's population can provide Germany with at least 500,000 soldiers. After all, in the First World War just over 20 years ago, Bulgaria Only half a year after the war started, one million troops were sent to the front line. There is no reason why Bulgaria should be worse than it was twenty years ago.
In Lin Wei's plan, Germany itself cannot fight the Soviet Union to the end. The German mainland plus the surrounding Germans only number 80 million. If Germany relied solely on its own strength, once the war entered a stalemate stage, those allies would definitely not fight the Soviet Union to the end. Therefore, we must agree in advance with all countries preparing to participate in the war and send their troops to the battlefield within three months of the war. Based on Germany's war pattern in recent years, as long as Germany achieves a great victory in the early stages of the war. Lin Wei believed that those allies could send troops when the wind and water went smoothly, and the first time they sent their troops, they had to devote themselves wholeheartedly to this war. The Allied forces, whose total number may even reach three million, will be Germany's most reliable force.
The war that will determine Germany's fate is coming soon. The few months between now and the start of the Soviet-German war will be Germany's final preparation moments. After entering 1941, after several months of planning, Germany suddenly increased its imports from the Soviet Union and increased trade with the Soviet Union at all costs. Stalin believed that Germany still had to rely on the Soviet Union in order to continue to maintain its huge economy. army. The border between Germany and the Soviet Union suddenly became lively. No matter it was day or night, people along the railway line could always hear the roaring train passing in front of their houses.
In terms of the Navy, the third Bismarck-class battleship is under emergency construction. Soviet engineers are eager to grow up there. Redl has promised that after the construction of the third ship is completed, German engineers will go to the Soviet Union to build the Soviet Union's own "Bismarck" , at least on the surface, Germany and the Soviet Union still maintained a tacit understanding for several years, but both Germany and the Soviet Union knew that this situation was only superficial. The war between the Soviet Union and Germany was only a matter of time, and the Soviet Union needed time to integrate. In Stalin's eyes, Germany was not ready for war, and neither was the Soviet Union. Stalin made an optimistic estimate of when the war would start, at least until 1942.
In order to concentrate all the power of Germany, necessary deception is necessary. In order to ease the increasingly tense Soviet-German relations, Lin Wei ordered the seven armored divisions of the SS that had been deployed in Poland to withdraw to Germany. Germany was the most threatening. The return of the armored troops is obviously good news for the Soviet Union, and it also fully illustrates Germany's goodwill. It was just that while the troops were withdrawing, after the Prince Eugen Division returned to Germany, it was immediately transferred to Norway by Lin Wei. It was announced that it was to disintegrate the Northern Mountain Division to attack the opposition forces in Norway, but the real purpose was to fight a war with the Northern Mountain Division. Prepare, the target is Leningrad, the largest city in the Soviet Union closest to the border. In terms of diplomacy, Ribbentrop once again began to visit neighboring countries. This was Ribbentrop's last such large-scale trip before the Soviet-German war began. Ribbentrop will take care of almost all countries that have even the slightest connection with Germany.
The trip started from Portugal in the far west of Europe and ended in Turkey in the southeast of Europe. According to Germany's external propaganda, Ribbentrop's trip was to study the development of Europe after the war with various countries, but Lin Wei knew that, The real purpose is to mobilize all the forces in Europe for the final decisive battle. Portugal's Saraca, Spain's Franco, France's Marshal Pétain, Britain's Lord Halifax, Italy's Mussolini, Finland Marshal Mannerheim, Prince Horthy of Hungary, and General Antonescu of Romania, these people will all be the targets that Germany is preparing to win over.
In addition to these countries, the Netherlands, Belgium, Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece, and even Yugoslavia, which has the same language and culture as the Soviet Union, will all be targets of Germany's wooing. The Soviet-German war in Lin Wei's mind will be even bigger than Operation Barbarossa. Preparation must also be done carefully.
While Lin Wei was recuperating, he finally heard a good thing, that is, the news about King Haakon VII of Norway. This king who had been resisting in Lin Wei's eyes and even the government had surrendered but still persisted, finally came to England. After the mainland was controlled by Germany, it gave up resistance because Haakon VII could no longer see the hope of defeating Germany. Perhaps exile in the United States was a good choice, but Haakon VII did not think that the United States could fight against Germany for Norway. After Kang VII arrived in the United States, he could only become a rich man. This was not what Haakon VII wanted.
It is precisely because of this that Haakon VII automatically returned to Norway from Canada, and Lin Wei finally took control of the Norwegian king who ran away due to the mistakes of his subordinates. It is foreseeable that, at least before the end of the war, Haakon Kang VII will be under house arrest for a long time.
Before the Soviet-German war ended, there were still two wars that had not subsided. One was the British capital London. After more than three months of siege in London, Lin Wei believed that it was not particularly difficult to conquer London now. He could hold on in the city. The defenders and residents must be in a state of hunger now. If the German army starts to attack the city now, it will be able to win without much cost. Lin Wei did not believe that London could persist as long as Leningrad. Historically, Germany besieged Leningrad. The reason why Leningrad persisted for such a long time was entirely because Germany's so-called siege at that time did not have an effect. Leningrad The east side was still occupied by Soviet troops, and during the winter the Soviets were able to cross the frozen river to replenish the garrison of Leningrad. London does not have such conditions.
The reason why London is not being attacked now is because Germany's strategy has changed and it no longer wants to end the war in Britain so early. The reason is very simple. It makes the Soviet Union believe that Germany is still in the quagmire of war. Every day, the German army will London carries out artillery bombardments and sometimes attacks, but they are just training troops and are not really preparing to attack London. In Germany's plan, the British war will end at the appropriate time, but I don't believe it. According to Lin Wei's estimation, in It would be the best time to end the Soviet-German war one month before it started. The Soviet Union would certainly not have thought that Germany would launch the next war just one month after the end of one war, and this was not consistent with common sense.
The remaining one was the war between Italy and the exile government established by Churchill for Egypt. After Chamberlain's peace talks with Germany, the situation in Britain was quickly controlled by Germany. Mussolini believed that the war in North Africa would soon end, but he Wrong, the British colonial troops in Egypt are different from the people in the UK. The people in the UK have been through war and naturally hope for peace. But the colonial troops here believed Churchill's claims even more, and they were willing to continue fighting the Axis powers. Despite this, Mussolini's army has still captured most of Egypt. Although the British army has stronger combat effectiveness than Italy, it cannot match Italy's overall advantage. Although they have been fighting, they are still retreating uncontrollably.
Preparations for the war are accelerating. Because William II learned about the powerful strength of the Soviet Union from Lin Wei, he is very concerned about Germany's current war preparations. Compared with the time of the Battle of France, Germany now not only produces more tanks and aircraft. It has not declined, but is increasing every month. Under the coordination of Dr. Schacht, the German industry is now moving towards the critical point of total war little by little. Once the war breaks out, Germany can launch it in an instant. Mobilize and launch a general war against the Soviet Union.
As for the purchase and preparation of wool and cotton, Lin Wei was strongly opposed. Lin Wei knew that William II's move was to cope with the Russian winter and ensured that German soldiers would not fight without winter clothes. Compared with Hitt? William II did think more about Le's arrogance, but Lin Wei still opposed it. The reason was very simple, that is, there were many Soviet spies in the areas controlled by Germany, and Lin Wei did not trust the Gestapo's opponents. The People's Commissariat of State Security will not notice changes in the prices of cotton and wool on the market. In fact, Lin Wei's worries are very reasonable. People from the People's Commissariat of State Security have been closely monitoring Germany's every move. It can be said that although on the surface Both sides still act like good neighbors, but everyone knows that their neighbor is really too dangerous.
After Lin Wei stated his reasons, William II finally terminated the plan to make winter clothes in advance, and instead mobilized forces to make winter clothes immediately after the war began.
Despite this, William II was still prepared to do something. Soon William II set his sights on Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union had the same culture and culture. William II was really worried about it. If Yugoslavia could be quickly added to the axis Guo Ze is a good choice.
The tougher Yugoslavs are not so obedient. But their tenacity only inspired the Germans to draw them into their own camp. From March 4th to 5th, Wilhelm II very secretly summoned the regent Prince Paul to Berghof and made him the usual set of threats and inducements, saying that he would give Salonika to him. . On March 25, Yugoslav Prime Minister Dragisa Svetkovic and Foreign Minister Alexander Sinkar-Markovic arrived in Vienna, having sneaked out the night before to avoid hostile demonstrations or even kidnappings. of Belgrade. After they arrived in Berlin, Yugoslavia signed the Tripartite Pact in front of representatives of Wilhelm II. Wilhelm II was extremely satisfied that before leaving Berlin, the two Yugoslav leaders received two letters from Ribbentrop while still in Paris, affirming Germany's "determination always" to respect "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yugoslavia" ” and guaranteed that the Axis powers would not demand transit rights for their troops in Yugoslavia during this war.
Shortly after the two Yugoslav ministers returned to Belgrade, they, along with the government and the regent, were overthrown on the night of March 26 by a popular uprising led by several senior air force officers and supported by the majority of the army. The young Crown Prince Peter slipped down a rain pipe, escaping the surveillance of the regent officials and was proclaimed king. Although the new regime of General Dusen Simovich immediately expressed its willingness to sign a non-aggression pact with Germany, it became clear to Berlin that it would not accept Wilhelm II's request for Yugoslavia to assume the role. The Yugoslavs made their stance clear when a crowd spat on the German minister's car during wild celebrations in Belgrade.
The coup in Belgrade sent Wilhelm II into a rage, one of the angriest moments of his life. He took this as a personal insult and in a fit of rage made a sudden decision that would prove to be disastrous for the fate of the Third Reich.
He hurriedly summoned his military chiefs to the Chancellery in Berlin on March 27. The meeting was held in an extremely hasty manner. Brauchitsch and Halder were both late. Wilhelm II said gloomily, "Yugoslavia's attitude It has become clear that before the war started, our forces in the Balkans were in an unsafe situation. Once we went into a full-scale war with the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia stabbed Germany in the back, which would definitely affect our plans@ !”
Lin Wei sighed, knowing that what he had been avoiding had still happened. Germany still had to intervene in the disputes in the Balkans, but whose fault was it? Shaking away his chaotic thoughts, Lin Wei said, "Yugoslavia is a country with strong Serbism. During World War I, the Serbs always considered themselves the second brother of the Slavic world, and even after the war with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, they still No longer at a disadvantage! So I think the entry point for this war is to win over the Croats and attack the Serbs hard. Once we take action, we must smash all the areas controlled by Serbia, and all the areas where the Serbs gather, we must attack them separately. Neighboring countries, let Serbia not have its own country from now on!”
"Very good!" Wilhelm II said to Halder, "Act immediately! Let me see the combat effectiveness of the German army! This is a preview of Operation Barbarossa!" Then he said to Göring, "Right away! Order our air force based in the Balkans to take off!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Hader and Goering replied at the same time, "Promise to fulfill His Majesty's orders!"
"Your Majesty!" Lin Wei took a step forward and said, "I think the Italian army must be involved in the operation. At the same time, in order to ensure the interests of the Balkan countries, Romania, Bulgaria, and Greece must be allowed to join this operation! This way! Since then, once the operation begins, the armies of our five countries will rush into Yugoslavia from all directions, so that the situation in Yugoslavia can be controlled in a very short period of time! And I am going to inform Heydrich and let the Gestapo be sent to Yugoslavia as soon as the war ends. Time to arrest all the naysayers!”
"Very good!" William II expressed his appreciation for Lin Wei's words and said, "In half a month, I hope it will only take half a month from the beginning to the end of the war. Do you understand? By the way, who will be responsible for this? What about Mussolini's notification?" Wilhelm II knew that he was best suited to do this kind of thing, but Wilhelm II was unwilling to do it. In his opinion, only notification by people from the National Socialist Party was the best!
Lin Wei thought for a moment and said, "I will let Goebbels inform us of our actions. Anyway, Mussolini has been coveting Yugoslavia for a long time! This matter is not difficult. After all, Italy still has hundreds of thousands of troops in Albania." The army there is considered to be the better-trained army among the Italian army. On the contrary, I am more worried about the other three countries, especially Greece!"
Marshal von Blomberg said, "Other countries originally sent troops symbolically. This way, we and the Italian army will be the first to participate in the battle. Within a week of the start of the war, the armies of these countries should be enough to arrive on the battlefield. !”
Everyone agreed with Marshal von Blomberg's words and quickly began to prepare!
When the news about Yugoslavia reached Berlin, although Lin Wei did not want Germany to enter the war, he immediately made up his mind to intervene. Before the Soviet-German war began, Germany's southern flank could not be occupied by those who were hostile to Germany. Power threatens. As for whether it would delay the date of Operation Barbarossa, Lin Wei didn't care at all. Since entering 1941, Lin Wei has been paying close attention to the road conditions on the Soviet-German border. Until now, Germany's road to the Soviet Union was muddy and impossible to attack. Just as Lin Wei expected, although Lin Wei can change many things, there are some things that cannot be changed, such as the weather.
After Lin Wei came out of the Supreme Command, he immediately found Propaganda Minister Goebbels and informed him of the current situation in Yugoslavia and the attitude of Wilhelm II. He also made it very clear that Goebbels informed Mussolini of cooperating with Germany's actions. After the two communicated for a few minutes late at night, Linwei left Goebbels's house, and Goebbels began to draft a telegram.