I Will Stage A Coup D’état

Chapter 48: Contrast

The summit with Stalin was indeed tiring and difficult, as expected.

I had to carefully consider my words, trying to calculate what the Man of Steel was thinking, so I couldn't speak comfortably even a single word.

Of course, it was evident that he was also agonizing deeply over his words.

I wondered if we really had to go this far when it was just a meeting to confirm the validity of the non-aggression pact.

However, meeting Stalin twice was not without its rewards.

Once the discussion on the official agenda was over, a more comfortable atmosphere was created.

At the banquet with Stalin, I offered some advice.

"Comrade General Secretary. Now only the two ideologies of fascism and communism remain in Europe. Hitler, who has been running his country's plundering economy through endless expansion, will inevitably target the Soviet Union."

The General Secretary agreed.

"As you said, Prime Minister, Hitler is a character who would do that and more."

Unlike in the original history, Stalin did not believe the cheap conspiracy theory that the West was trying to orchestrate a war between Germany and the Soviet Union.

It was because Germany had achieved perfect victory.

"So it would be better for you to accelerate the war preparations that the Union is currently undertaking. Germany will definitely invade next year."

I asserted.

It was a fact that could be guessed even without knowing the future.

The deployment of German troops to the east in large numbers was the best evidence that Hitler's invasion was not far off.

"I have been receiving such information. I also think that late spring to early summer of '41 is the most dangerous period."

After all, there was no way Stalin could be unaware of such obvious facts.

If our embassy's military attaché, who had little to do with Germany, could obtain information on the movement of German divisions, Stalin could hear more information and make judgments.

"So, there are a few things you should prepare for from now on."

"Please tell me."

"First, reduce the supply of raw materials to Germany. Germany is not properly supplying the machinery it promised in the German-Soviet Trade Agreement anyway, right?"

"We are also aware of Germany's insincerity. However, if we reduce resources unnecessarily and provoke the Nazis, won't the invasion be brought forward?"

It's a misjudgment.

The Nazis will attack according to their set plan anyway, whether resources are provided or not.

Therefore, it would be advantageous for the Soviet Union to reduce the supply of resources from the beginning.

Just the resources the Soviet Union would provide to Germany from 1939 to 1941 amounted to 500,000 tons of iron ore, 300,000 tons of scrap iron, 140,000 tons of cotton, 940,000 tons of oil, 160,000 tons of manganese, 23,000 tons of chromium, etc.

By reducing this volume, a significant portion of the resources critical to Germany's war economy could be cut.

Of course, as the British naval blockade was lifted, the way was open to secure resources in the overseas raw materials market.

However, it was not as cheap and abundant as what the Soviet Union supplied.

"The resources currently being provided to the enemy will return as tanks and aircraft to attack the Soviet Union. At the very least, if we don't increase the enemy's strength, wouldn't the Union have a fighting chance?"

Stalin was deep in thought for a while.

Just when I thought about how much this man was immersed in his thoughts, the General Secretary spoke.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister's words also make sense. Let's consider it positively."

"There's one more thing."

"I'm all ears."

"Germany's intrusion into Soviet airspace or border provocations should not be tolerated. If their actions are condoned, they will fully utilize the information they acquire to attack the Union."

"You seem convinced that the Nazis will do that."

"I know the Nazis a bit."

After the conversation ended, Stalin expressed his gratitude for the advice I had given.

What, for that much?

You need to stay alive for us to have room to maneuver under the pressure of the superpower United States.

In that sense, I sincerely hoped for the victory of the Soviet Union.

This Lee Sung Joon is a just man. I can’t let those guys who made soap using the Jewish as ingredients win everything, can I?

The Irkutsk summit was concluded in a day.

Korea and the Soviet Union agreed to extend the non-aggression period to 1950 for a 10-year term.

The renewal of the treaty was to be discussed again one year before the expiration.

Of course, neither I nor Stalin paid much attention to whether or not the non-aggression pact would be renewed.

If necessary, it would be extended, and if not, it would be a relationship that could be broken, so renewal was not such an important issue.

"Your Excellency. You've worked hard."

I took a drag from the Havana cigar that Colonel Kim Sung-joo, the Army Minister accompanying me, had lit for me.

Ah, this taste.

Havana cigars had a deep flavor that couldn't be found in domestic cigarettes.

It may be luxurious, but what can you do?

I don't really care much about alcohol, clothes, houses, or salaries, so cigarettes are fine, right?

"Have one too."

"Ah, thank you."

I personally lit the cigar for Kim Sung-joo.

The thick cigar smoke filled the passenger car, prompting one of the attendants to open the window for ventilation.

With the nicotine kicking in, I felt a bit lightheaded now.

I called out to the Director of the Central Intelligence Bureau, who was sitting next to me, quietly keeping his silence.

"Director Lee."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"How are things going with the US?"

"Ah, we are currently preparing the materials."

The Central Intelligence Bureau (CIB) was infiltrating various Nazi groups, including the American-German Bund¹, to conduct information warfare.

Now, one might wonder here.

How did black-haired Asians get in among the white supremacists?

Strictly speaking, they didn't join as members of the organizations.

It was closer to joining as a sucker who provided activity funds.

The CIB approached Nazi groups in this way, spreading various eavesdropping devices made of wall decorations, clocks, mirrors, etc.

Most of these devices did not require a separate power source.

They were devices that operated using the vibrations produced by human voices as energy, so they could actually be used semi-permanently.

The motif for these devices was The Thing², an eavesdropping device sent by the Soviet Union to the US Embassy in 1945.

In fact, since it was an object that did not require any electronic components for power, the difficulty of development was not very high.

It was thanks to Leon Theremin³, the developer of the original The Thing, cooperating with the CIB.

To make a long story short about Leon Theremin, he was a technician supported through the technological exchange promised in the Soviet-Korean Non-Aggression Pact.

"Well, it hasn't been long since you started the work."

There must have been barely enough time to develop and distribute the eavesdropping devices.

"Yes."

"Still, this is a very important matter. There can be no mistakes or failures."

"I will keep that in mind."

In fact, it was not us but the Soviet Union whose fate was at stake here, but I didn't go that far in the conversation.

While we were discussing the eavesdropping, Captain Kim Jong-Gil approached and reported.

"Your Excellency. A telegram has arrived from the homeland."

"Bring it."

I skimmed through the latest trend report submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Franco of Spain is considering joining the Axis?

This made me think that the Soviet Union might have a harder time than expected.

Why is that pig Franco thinking of getting involved in the World War when he has something to eat?

Should I send a letter to Franco here?

As the fateful confrontation between Germany and the Soviet Union was imminent anyway, even if I nagged a bit, the Nazis couldn't inflict significant damage on Korea.

At most, they would impose some trade sanctions in their occupied Europe.

Is that a bit too much?

I should put the Spanish issue aside for now.

I showed the report from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Kim Sung-joo.

"Your Excellency. If Spain joins the German side, it's almost like all of Europe is launching a crusade against the Soviet Union."

"Do you think the Soviet Union has a chance of winning?"

I thought the Soviet Union would hold out thanks to its vast territory and the tacit interference of the United States, but others might have different perspectives.

"I think there's a 40% chance that the Soviet Union will collapse."

40%?

"Why do you see the Nazis' chances of winning so high?"

"I considered three main factors. First, the German Army has more combat experience than the Soviet Army. The Soviets have experienced combat, but not like the Germans who have fought a series of wars against the great powers."

"That's true."

"The scale of the German Army also makes me predict their chances. In terms of absolute scale, the Soviet Army is larger, but considering the qualitative gap, I think Germany has superior military power. Germany is ahead in aircraft, tanks, and vehicles."

You're underestimating the T-34⁴ too much.

"And?"

"The fact that the Axis navies can dominate the Baltic Sea and Black Sea. Without British interference, Germany and Italy will freely ravage the Soviet Navy."

Ah, I hadn't thought of that.

It was a part that I hadn't considered.

The more I heard, the more strongly I felt that Stalin's preparations would be insufficient.

"Listening to you, it wouldn't be strange if Germany won."

"It's just a short-sighted view. How could I compare my perspective to Your Excellency's insight?"

My insight is just that of an ordinary person wearing glasses from the future.

"You."

"Yes, Prime Minister."

"If the war breaks out, we'll have to send some separate aid."

"You mean to friends who aren't even allies?"

Kim Sung-joo's question was natural.

But looking at the big picture, a one-sided victory for the Nazis would be troublesome.

Somehow, the ideal scenario for us would be for the Soviet Union to grind down and collapse the Nazis.

Isn't it through the Cold War that Korea can stand between the US and Soviet Union and have some fun?

Of course, there was no need to explain that far.

It was enough to just say that it was a business deal where Korea wouldn't lose.

"I know what you're worried about. Even if we provide weapons, it will be easy for them to default on the payment after the war. But just know that there is a way to collect it."

Kim Sung-joo replied with a determined expression.

"I will obey."

As long as the Soviet Union doesn't collapse, we can collect all this debt.

If there's no money, then with resources; if there are no resources, then with political power.

The leader of the Reds had many things to offer.

1. The German American Bund, or the German American Federation, was a German-American Nazi organization which was established in 1936 as a successor to the Friends of New Germany. The organization chose its new name in order to emphasize its American credentials after the press accused it of being unpatriotic.2. The Thing, also known as the Great Seal bug, was one of the first covert listening devices (or "bugs") to use passive techniques to transmit an audio signal. It was concealed inside a gift given by the Soviet Union to W. Averell Harriman, the United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, on August 4, 1945. Because it was passive, needing electromagnetic energy from an outside source to become energized and active, it is considered a predecessor of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology3. Lev Sergeyevich Termen was a Russian inventor, most famous for his invention of the theremin, one of the first electronic musical instruments and the first to be mass-produced. He also worked on early television research.4. The T-34 is a Soviet medium tank from World War II. When introduced, its 76.2 mm tank gun was more powerful than many of its contemporaries, and its 60-degree sloped armour provided good protection against anti-tank weapons.