Chapter 242 The Longest Day 10
September 1, 1939, 1 p.m.
The Western Front of the Polish Coastal Army (this unfortunate army was fighting on two fronts), with the breakthrough of the Brachy River, was doomed to be cut in two.
At this time, Marshal Rydz-Smigwi, the highest commander of the Polish Army, was calling the Warsaw Castle to report good news.
"Yes, Mr. President, we have resisted." The Polish Marshal said in a joyful and affirmative tone, "On the northwest front, our army blocked the Germans on the west bank of the Brachy River, and a new line of defense is being built; on the north front, the Modlin Army repelled the Germans, and the German corpses piled up in front of our trenches. If we want, we can immediately attack East Prussia; on the south front, the situation is a little serious. The Lodz Army and the Krakow Army fought very hard, but the Carpathian Army fought well and crushed the German and Slovak Army (as a vassal of Germany, Slovakia also participated in the advance The attack on Poland)... The situation in Danze Port was also good. The German fleet was blocked outside the port. We also sent seaplanes to drop torpedoes, but unfortunately they did not hit. However, they also scared the Germans. "The Polish marshal was of course lying. The lie was not told to the Polish President Ignacy Mościcki, but to the British ambassador who was visiting the Warsaw Castle. At 12:45, the secretary of the Warsaw Castle called and told Rydz-Śmigły that British Prime Minister Chamberlain believed that peace negotiations could be considered on the basis of the "six opinions" proposed by Germany! In other words, Britain was still quite hesitant about going to war with Germany! If Britain backed down and no longer fulfilled its obligation to participate in the war, Poland would be doomed. So Marshal Rydz-Śmigły understood the meaning of the Polish president at the time, so he temporarily left behind a lot of military affairs that looked like a headache and called the presidential palace to "report the good news". The British ambassador's voice soon came from the other end of the phone: "Marshal, I heard that your air force suffered great losses in the sudden attack of the German Air Force?"
There is no way to hide this. The German Air Force's second air raid on Warsaw has just ended! Although there were not many casualties, Warsaw's airport, railway station, roads out of the city, and several warehouses storing supplies were bombed. The whole city was also somewhat panicked.
"Yes, the air force suffered great losses!" Marshal Rydz-Smigwi said, "But the Polish people will not be intimidated by the German air raid! We will persist in resistance, no matter how many tons of bombs they drop on Warsaw!"
"The Polish people are so brave," the British ambassador said admiringly, and then he paused again, "So, Marshal, you really don't consider the six peace conditions proposed by the Germans?"
"No," Rydz-Smigwi said in a very angry tone, "Ambassador, it is Germany that should consider seeking peace now! Because their military offensive has completely failed, we will soon put in reserve troops to counterattack... We have such ability and determination! First of all, East Prussia, the Modlin Army Group and the Narev Tactical Group are ready to attack East Prussia, and the offensive will begin soon! "
"Oh," the British ambassador was silent for a while, and then asked in a tentative tone, "You want East Prussia? Is this your peace condition?"
"Yes!" said Rez-Smith, "Who made them start the war and suffer defeat? Please tell London, Mr. Ambassador: The stupid loser should be punished!"
"Okay, I will report your words to Whitehall Street (referring to the British Foreign Office). "The British ambassador said.
Rez-Smith hung up the phone and sighed softly. His big words had been said. It was hard to say whether the British would believe it and immediately declare war on Germany. Moreover, the danger facing Poland now is not only Germany, but the Soviet Union is also ready to move. According to the latest report of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, the Soviet Union's Belarusian Special Military District and the Ukrainian Special Military District have now been renamed "fronts." This may mean that the Soviet Union is about to attack the right bank of Ukraine...
At 1:30 p.m. at the Foreign Office in Whitehall, the United Kingdom (Greenwich Mean Time, one hour later than Germany and Poland). The "peace terms" of Rydz-Śmigły were reported by the British Embassy in Warsaw to the British Foreign Secretary, Viscount Halifax, by radio.
"The Poles rejected Germany's peace proposal and put forward their own peace terms," Viscount Halifax shook his head slightly, "The Poles think they have gained a considerable advantage, so they want to get East Prussia after the victory."
"I think it can be considered." British Navy Minister Churchill immediately nodded in agreement - Fat Churchill, British Prime Minister Chamberlain and other cabinet members were meeting in Whitehall Street to discuss the declaration of war on Germany.
"Winston, the Poles are bragging!" Neville Chamberlain glared at Navy Minister Churchill. Letting this almost "thorny" member of parliament into the cabinet was entirely to appease the war faction within the Conservative Party. But this does not mean that Neville Chamberlain wants to go to war with Germany.
Because Chamberlain knew very well that once the war started, it would be a fight to the death. Either Germany would collapse completely, or the British Empire would fall apart - this was simply a gamble with the fate of the empire at stake!
"What are we waiting for?" Winston Churchill spread his hands. "The Poles are still fighting bravely. The German attack is likely to have suffered a setback. Even if the Poles exaggerate their results, we will not We should retreat. Because this is the obligation of the British Empire. If we violate our obligations and betray our allies, no country will trust us in the future. As for the Soviet Union, we do not need to worry about our and French aircraft. Isn’t it already in the Middle East? If Stalin dares to take advantage of the situation at this time, then he has made a wrong calculation.”
"Of course, of course, I know..." Neville Chamberlain knew that the militant faction among the members of the Conservative Party already accounted for the majority. "But we should still consult with France."
He still wanted to delay for a while to see if there could be a turnaround. He looked at Halifax and said, "Viscount, go to Paris and discuss with Prime Minister Faraday the issue of submitting an ultimatum to Germany." He paused. , added: "In addition, the French need to discuss the air attack on Baku and the establishment of the Eastern Army."
The so-called Eastern Army is based in Iraq, French Syria, and Lebanon, and is used to block the Soviet Union's southward march to the Middle East. The commander-in-chief is tentatively designated as General Weygand of France - he is now the commander-in-chief of the French army in Syria and Lebanon!
"In addition," British Prime Minister Chamberlain thought for a while and then said, "you should discuss the issue of entering Crimea and Romania with French Prime Minister Faraday."
Britain and France have now formulated an extremely risky plan - they do not dare to fight Germany to the death on the European continent, but they always want to attack on the "periphery" to trap Germany. In addition to bombing the Baku oil fields, Britain and France also planned to send ground troops to southern Russia and Romania (this plan was also planned in history, because the German attack destroyed France too quickly, and the plan was ruined).
…
Comrade Joseph Stalin, the great leader of the Soviet Union, did not expect that Britain and France were planning to attack the Soviet Union at this time. In his opinion, Britain and France would probably try to win over the Soviet Union now.
"Are you ready for the ultimatum to the Poles?" Stalin held a cigarette in one hand and a report from the Red Army Intelligence Department in the other - a report on the ongoing Polish-German war.
The report said that the German air force performed well and suppressed the Polish air force from the beginning. Moreover, in the air battle over Warsaw, the Germans also used an advanced aircraft that had never been seen before.
This aircraft showed an overwhelming advantage against the Polish PZL.11 fighter jet!
However, the situation of the battle on the ground was unclear. The German army seemed to be "eager for success" and launched the attack without enough time to prepare artillery fire. In addition, the Germans also concentrated on using tanks to launch fierce attacks on the north and south fronts. The attack may have made some progress, but the top Polish military officials in Warsaw were relatively optimistic...
"It's ready," Molotov, the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs who came to report to Stalin, replied. "Our ambassador to Poland can hand over the ultimatum at any time. In addition, the German Ambassador Count Schulenberg has just called the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes that we can immediately fulfill our obligations under the treaty and go to war with Poland. Comrade General Secretary, what should the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs respond?”
Stalin remained silent and did not speak. Molotov did not dare to ask questions. He just sat respectfully. I don’t know how long it took before he heard Stalin say: "Tomorrow at the earliest! But we have to give the Poles a few days to reply." "
"Will you hand over the ultimatum tomorrow?" Molotov asked cautiously.
In addition to the ultimatum, the People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs prepared another plan - prepared, of course, on Stalin's instructions.
"Use Plan No. 2 first. If the Poles are willing to dissolve their federation, then Right Bank Ukraine will be a matter between us and the Ukrainians." Stalin paused, "In this way... we can do without Western Belarus and at the same time not interfere with them. The war with the Germans.”
This is actually no different from an ultimatum, except that it lacks the threat of war.
"Understood," Molotov stood up and wanted to leave, but Stalin suddenly said: "Go and talk to the Poles today and tell them that we recognize Poland's independence, and now we just want to take back the lost territory in Ukraine on the right bank."