Chapter 269 Justice 4

The issuance of the Euro or the European Mark has always been the goal pursued by Hirschmann. This is not only for the convenience of leading the world economy after the war, but also for the needs of the world war.

Historically, two of the three main enemies faced by Germany - Britain and the United States - have an "international hard currency" that can be used to purchase materials needed for the war from abroad with paper money.

However, Germany does not have its own "hard currency". If it wants to get materials from abroad, it must either rob or exchange.

The premise of robbing is occupation, and occupying many countries that are not prepared to annex will cause many unnecessary burdens to Germany. Moreover, the production efficiency of the occupied countries will inevitably become low.

The premise of exchange is that Germany has sufficient abundant production capacity to produce items for exchange, such as machines, airplanes, cars and weapons, etc. But Germany in wartime does not have such production capacity.

Therefore, Hirschmann began to lay out the Euro and the European Bank as early as the 1920s, hoping to allow Germany to have its own "hard currency" by issuing a supranational European currency.

If the "Euro" or "European Mark" can appear when Germany is winning victory after victory, it is very likely to be accepted by those European countries that need to rely on Germany for protection. A European Union led by Germany will also appear on the European continent at the same time that Germany defeats Britain.

"Leader," Hessman said his plan slowly, "money plays a huge role, which we should not ignore. It is not only a certificate of trade exchange, but also a symbol of capital. National socialism should guide capital rather than eliminate capital, nor completely control capital. The land under German rule can absorb capital from friendly European countries for development. For example, the investment in new steel mills and mines in Western Ukraine can be absorbed from Sweden, Switzerland or the Netherlands. If we use imported machines and imported capital to develop Western Ukraine, we will have paid nothing.

In addition, the issuance of the 'Euromark' has a huge benefit, which allows Germany to obtain the resources needed for the war from neutral countries such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland by debt rather than occupation. And letting these countries continue to remain neutral will allow Europe to continue to obtain resource supplies from all over the world without Germany having sea power..."

In Hessman's view, there are two types of countries in Europe now. One is the enemy country that needs to be fully or partially merged into Germany, or needs to be militarily controlled after being defeated. Germany is the backbone of the future European Union. Of course, it must be as strong as possible, but it cannot annex land indiscriminately.

The other type is the country that does not need to be merged into Germany.

The former must be occupied, such as Western Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland on the eastern front, Belgium and France on the western front, and the British mainland across the sea from the European continent.

As for the latter, try not to occupy them as much as possible. Because once occupied, it will not only cause trouble in control, but also increase the supply tension of materials in the whole of Europe. It is the most advantageous way to keep these countries neutral and use "European Mark" and "German Bonds" to obtain their materials.

"But this is not easy..." Adolf Hitler frowned slightly after listening to Hersman's words. This is not the first time he has heard Hersman say these words. In fact, the army policy controlled by Hersman has been promoting "European currency" and "European integration" in the past ten years. In 1939, in Europe, especially Western Europe, there were really not many adults who did not know these two concepts.

But there are not many people who think that "European integration" and "European currency" can really be realized. German leader and Prime Minister Adolf Hitler also did not believe that this set of ideas is feasible.

"If we defeat France on land in 1940 and defeat Britain in the Mediterranean in 1941," Hessman paused and emphasized, "then nothing is impossible!"

Defeating France in 1940 is certain! And defeating Britain in the Mediterranean in 1941 does not seem to be too difficult. As long as these two goals are achieved, Germany seems to have locked in the victory and will become the master of Europe (except the Soviet Union).

In this case, the establishment of the "European Union" or "European Community" and the issuance of the "Euromark" are nothing more than establishing a new order under the leadership of Germany.

For example, the more pro-German countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and even Switzerland will not have much resistance-after all, the German-led European Union is a very large common market.

As for the two defeated countries of France and Belgium, joining the European Union and participating in the issuance of the European Mark are directly written into the peace treaty.

In addition, Hessman will also propose a "European Colonial Sharing Plan". The overseas colonies of France and Belgium will become colonies shared and managed by all of Europe, and the African colonies recovered by Germany in the future will also become shared colonies in Europe.

"Leader," Hersman said at last, "we have been promoting the concept of the European Community for the past decade or so, and I believe that many people will agree with it. Because Europe is currently losing its world hegemony. The United States across the Atlantic and the Soviet Union in the East are both "intercontinental countries" with almost unlimited resources and potential, while the so-called powers in Europe are actually some "middle powers."

If the "middle powers" in Europe unite, it will be a super-powerful Europe that can overwhelm the United States and the Soviet Union and continue to dominate the world. On the contrary, Europe will lose power and then lose all its colonies. The once glorious and powerful colonial empires will no longer exist, and the world will be dominated by intercontinental powers such as the United States and the Soviet Union.

So what we are fighting now is not a war to destroy Europe, but a struggle to unite Europe. Germany must first become the leader of Europe through war, and then lead the whole of Europe to continue to lead the world! "

What Hersman is talking about now is actually Germany's war goal and the means to achieve this goal. It is a bit similar to the "Hossbach Memorandum" in history (this was proposed by Hitler in November 1937 in history, and there is no such memorandum in this time and space), but it is much milder. Most of the content can be directly published in newspapers to tell the European people. Because once Germany's goals are achieved, it will be beneficial to the vast majority of Europeans (except the Soviets and the British).

Hitler listened quietly until Hersman finished explaining all his views one by one, and then asked lightly: "So, what should we do now? I mean, what can we do before defeating France? "

It seems that defeating France will not be that fast. The German army exposed many problems in the Polish campaign. Soldiers need to strengthen training, equipment needs to be repaired and upgraded, and officers need to change their thinking. It seems that it will not work without a few months of preparation.

"Of course, let all neutral countries in Europe regard us as good people and Britain and France as bad people!" Hessman smiled and said, "I think the principle of 'confirmed neutrality' can let everyone see the true face of Britain and France. Leader, is this going smoothly?"

Hitler nodded and smiled: "Very smoothly, Ribbentrop has convinced the Dutch and Italian leaders. The Netherlands will play the accuser and the Italian leader will play the arbitrator... This is a role he likes to play very much, and the audience will be the whole world!"

...

"Comrade Pavlov, don't be sad, the working people all over the world are watching us. The pseudo-socialists defeated Poland in 12 days. What's the problem with us defeating Poland again in 1 month? "

In the suburbs of Minsk, in the headquarters of the Brest Rapid Group, the divisional political commissar Fominykh was cheering on the group commander Pavlov.

"One month..." Although the weather was relatively cool, Pavlov's big bald head was full of sweat.

He was originally the commander of an armored group, but a few days ago, an order made him the commander of a "rapid group".

It is called a rapid group, but there are three infantry armies that are not fast at all, namely the 4th Infantry Army, the 16th Infantry Army, and the 23rd Infantry Army. In addition, the 6th Cavalry Army, the 6th Tank Brigade, the 22nd Tank Brigade, the 25th Tank Brigade and other four independent tank brigades, as well as the temporarily assembled 15th Tank Army (3 tank brigades, 1 motorized infantry brigade) and the 25th Tank Army (the same organization as the 15th Tank Army), formed the so-called "Brest Rapid Group".

Compared with the troops originally assigned to Pavlov, the troops he now controls have increased by nearly 3 times. , with 3 fully equipped infantry armies, 2 tank brigades, and 1 cavalry division. The number of troops reached 200,000, with more than 1,300 tanks and more than 1,500 artillery pieces.

However, so many troops, tanks, and artillery were not given for nothing. According to the order of the Belarusian Front, the Brest Rapid Group must advance 350 kilometers within 1 month and capture the Brest Fortress, the largest stronghold of the Polish army east of the Bug River!

No one dared to imagine such a thing in August - it was already fast to walk 350 kilometers in a month, and it was also necessary to capture a fortress with more than 100,000 people stationed. How could this be accomplished?

But now, the Germans defeated Poland, which had an army of more than 1 million, in 12 days. What courage did Pavlov have to say it was impossible?

Pavlov sighed, raised his wrist, and looked at the time. It was 2:30 a.m. on September 15, Moscow time. He nodded: "Almost, let's start the attack! Before September 25, the vanguard must advance to Brest... We are in a hurry! ”