Post by Diarist on Mar 6, 2017 18:53:46 GMT 1
Wilhelm knows Hamburg well and he described the clashes between the SA and local socialists and republicans who wanted nothing to do with the Nazi regime. The SA were often drunk and armed so arguments ended with someone being shot on many occasions. One of the good bars is Cafè Heinze and it's a Swing-Bar. Now that the Nazis have gone it is very popular again and luckily we managed to find a small table. John Gort was the first to ask Wilhelm about the conversation in the hotel earlier.
"Why the rush, Wilhelm? What's going on?"
"Germany really does want to belong to this confederation, John. We are hoping that normality will return. There has been nothing but chaos in Germany since the end of the war almost twenty years ago. The people yearn for stability and security. Hitler promised everything but his policies soon turned sour. Yes, I supported Hitler, his goals for a strong Germany with its rightful position in Europe but we military quickly realized that he was planning to go to war. He was taking reckless gambles and we all know what that lead to."
"We want this confederation too, Wilhelm," John answered, "but we are not going to rush into it. Do we want Germany as an ally? Of course we do, but it has to be a 'till death us do part' alliance. A permanent one. Britain and France are on the road to an unavoidable war. Does Germany want to go down that same path? Is Germany willing to defend Poland if the Soviets attack? If not then forget the confederation."
"You know that I can't decide that but I believe it would be in our interest to support Poland. The further the Soviets are from Berlin the better."
I intervened. "Wilhelm, there is no formal agreement between the four nations which responded to your Rhineland move. In fact Holland didn't agree to join us until the day before your move on the 13th of January. Yet Holland moved into northern Rhineland in a show of solidarity. If Poland were attacked by the Soviets next Monday would Germany support Poland in the absence of a formal agreement and despite the problems with Danzig?"
"If it were my decision I would support Poland against the Soviets."
"But would this Adenauer plus von Blomberg Germany support Poland? That's the question. The last thing we need is a European League of Nations - all talk but no deeds. We need commitment and resolve."
I believe that both our leaders would support that, Bob."
"Next topic, if I may. TRADOC. John still decides who is accepted there but at the moment Germany's status hasn't changed but who knows what this weekend may bring. I would like to recruit Erich von Manstein for my organization plus someone you could recommend who knows what's on the other side of the Polish-Russian border."
"May I ask why?"
"Let's say that we have a section that draws up contingency plans like NW Italy and the Rhineland response. We need to know how Germany could contribute. They also won't be authorized to tell anybody in Germany what they are working on. If it's any consolation our government won't know either."
"I shall allow Erich to decide who he would like to take with him. This isn't part of TRADOC is it?"
"No, Wilhelm. You mentioned Heinz Guderian on the telephone earlier this week. I can imagine that TRADOC would like to talk to senior commanders of all three of your Panzer Divisions. We would want to show you the organization of our armoured division and hopefully we could agree upon a common design. What do you think, John?"
"I definitely support that. We could send a delegation to Germany."
"Why the rush, Wilhelm? What's going on?"
"Germany really does want to belong to this confederation, John. We are hoping that normality will return. There has been nothing but chaos in Germany since the end of the war almost twenty years ago. The people yearn for stability and security. Hitler promised everything but his policies soon turned sour. Yes, I supported Hitler, his goals for a strong Germany with its rightful position in Europe but we military quickly realized that he was planning to go to war. He was taking reckless gambles and we all know what that lead to."
"We want this confederation too, Wilhelm," John answered, "but we are not going to rush into it. Do we want Germany as an ally? Of course we do, but it has to be a 'till death us do part' alliance. A permanent one. Britain and France are on the road to an unavoidable war. Does Germany want to go down that same path? Is Germany willing to defend Poland if the Soviets attack? If not then forget the confederation."
"You know that I can't decide that but I believe it would be in our interest to support Poland. The further the Soviets are from Berlin the better."
I intervened. "Wilhelm, there is no formal agreement between the four nations which responded to your Rhineland move. In fact Holland didn't agree to join us until the day before your move on the 13th of January. Yet Holland moved into northern Rhineland in a show of solidarity. If Poland were attacked by the Soviets next Monday would Germany support Poland in the absence of a formal agreement and despite the problems with Danzig?"
"If it were my decision I would support Poland against the Soviets."
"But would this Adenauer plus von Blomberg Germany support Poland? That's the question. The last thing we need is a European League of Nations - all talk but no deeds. We need commitment and resolve."
I believe that both our leaders would support that, Bob."
"Next topic, if I may. TRADOC. John still decides who is accepted there but at the moment Germany's status hasn't changed but who knows what this weekend may bring. I would like to recruit Erich von Manstein for my organization plus someone you could recommend who knows what's on the other side of the Polish-Russian border."
"May I ask why?"
"Let's say that we have a section that draws up contingency plans like NW Italy and the Rhineland response. We need to know how Germany could contribute. They also won't be authorized to tell anybody in Germany what they are working on. If it's any consolation our government won't know either."
"I shall allow Erich to decide who he would like to take with him. This isn't part of TRADOC is it?"
"No, Wilhelm. You mentioned Heinz Guderian on the telephone earlier this week. I can imagine that TRADOC would like to talk to senior commanders of all three of your Panzer Divisions. We would want to show you the organization of our armoured division and hopefully we could agree upon a common design. What do you think, John?"
"I definitely support that. We could send a delegation to Germany."