Chapter 370 The United States and the Soviet Union

Seeing Hitler leave, Hersmann and Ribbentrop looked at each other, and Hersmann said: "Comrade Stalin should have known our bottom line. But this does not mean that we will seize those lands and hand them over to the Soviet Union. You must seize Turkey, Iran and India by yourself. If your offensive fails or you delay the start of action, then we will still consider liberating those areas."

"The people in those areas have been looking forward to the moment of liberation for a long time, and they should not be allowed to wait endlessly." Ribbentrop also echoed, "And we firmly believe that the British Empire is at the end of the road, and they can't hold on for too long."

Hersmann and Ribbentrop's singing in unison, as well as Hitler's previous anger, are actually performances. The purpose is just to urge Stalin to take action in the Middle East as soon as possible. As for whether Iran or Turkey is the victim, it doesn't matter to Germany, and Germany will benefit from it. Because the Soviet Union's scientific socialist system is very unpopular with reactionaries in various countries, the prospect of being occupied by the Soviet Union is too terrible for Turkey and the reactionaries in the entire Middle East.

If the Soviet Union attacked northeastern Turkey from Georgia and Armenia, then Turkey would have no choice but to ask Germany for help - Turkey's mountainous terrain determined that the Soviet Union could not launch a blitzkrieg, and Turkey's military strength was not weak, so the Soviet Union's attack could not win quickly, and Germany had enough time to rush to help.

Of course, rushing to help Turkey does not mean breaking up with the Soviet Union. After all, after quickly defeating France, Germany's military strength appeared very strong, and it was obviously not something that the Soviet Red Army could defeat, and the Soviet Union would most likely choose to compromise.

And if the Soviet Union attacked Turkey's neighbor Iran, then Turkey would have to see if Britain would come forward to protect Iran. Since Iran and Britain had an oil development agreement, this was also considered a protection fee! If Britain could not protect Iran, then Turkey would have to immediately turn to Germany. As soon as Germany entered Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait and other countries ruled by reactionaries would all rush to hug Germany's thighs.

Although Iran was given away, it was not a loss to be able to take over oil-producing countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Moreover, the Soviet Red Army's actions in Finland and Poland were very slow (compared to the German army). If the Iranian army's resistance in the north was a little stronger, the German army might even occupy the oil-producing areas in southern Iran near Iraq before the Soviet Red Army.

In short, as long as the Soviet Union takes action in the Turkey-Iran direction in the near future, Germany's chess game in the Middle East and the Mediterranean can be fully activated. Even if it cannot win at sea for the time being, it can defeat Britain through rapid advancement on land.

But the three Soviet comrades, Molotov, Shaposhnikov and Mrs. Kollontai, are not stupid. The "respected Comrade Stalin" behind them is even smarter. Of course, he can see through the trap set by "Dear Comrade Hitler" for the Soviet Union at a glance.

So after receiving the report from Molotov, Stalin immediately gave instructions for the Soviet delegation to contact the American delegation in secret.

This contact was arranged by Mrs. Kollontai on June 26, 1940, at the White Crane Hotel in Geneva. Kollontai asked an attaché of the Soviet Embassy in Switzerland to open a room at the White Crane Hotel first. Then the three main members of the Soviet delegation arrived quietly at night and checked into the room. The Americans went to the hotel for lunch the next day, and then went to the Soviets' room to meet after lunch.

"President Roosevelt will approve the plan to export 12 P-39 and P-40 fighters to the Soviet Union after the election."

After a few pleasantries between the two sides, Harry Hopkins told the Russians a good news in a cheerful tone.

"Oh," Mrs. Kollontai showed a skeptical look, "After the election? Mr. Hopkins, can you guarantee that the next US president will not overturn President Roosevelt's decision?"

The favorite for the next president is Republican Dewey, who advocates non-interference in the European war. If Dewey wins the general election in November, he will most likely overturn Roosevelt's decision and not export aircraft to the Soviet Union. Even if he just announces that the US government will strictly abide by the Neutrality Act of 1939, World War II will end... with Germany's victory!

"Madam," Harry Hopkins said with a smile, "what you are worried about will not happen. Just yesterday at the Republican National Convention, Dewey and Dofta lost to Willkie."

The speed of information dissemination in this era cannot be compared with that of later generations. The results of the Republican National Convention in the United States have not yet been transmitted to Geneva. But who is Hopkins? He is the operator of Roosevelt's election, so he naturally knew it at the first time.

"What?" Kollontai was stunned, and his face suddenly changed. "Dewey actually lost?"

"Comrade Kollontai," Molotov saw Kollontai's surprised expression and asked her hurriedly, "What happened?"

"There has been a major change in American public opinion!" Kollontai has been in the United States for several years and knows the rules of the game in the American election. "Dewey, who advocated non-interference in the European war, lost the Republican primary."

Thomas Dewey is a star figure in American politics. Before he ran for president, he was a special prosecutor who fought against gangs in New York. Regardless of his personal safety, he sent hundreds of criminal bosses to prison and became a criminal. A hero in the eyes of the people. In previous polls, Dewey's support rate (among voters who supported the Republican Party) was as high as 67%, and he was almost certain to win the Republican presidential candidate. But now he has lost to Willkie, who switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party and his previous approval rating was only 3%.

There is only one reason for this miracle. Dewey advocated non-intervention in European wars, while Wilkie strongly advocated supporting Britain!

"Now it's Wilkie versus President Roosevelt," Hopkins said with a smile. "There will be no surprises in the outcome."

In Hopkins's view, there is little doubt whether Roosevelt can be re-elected three times, and even if Roosevelt is not elected, Willkie will definitely continue Roosevelt's line - this is the result of American public opinion (perhaps manipulated public opinion). decided.

"Then the United States will immediately join the war against Germany?" Molotov immediately asked.

His words were immediately translated into English by Kollontai. Molotov's culture was not very good and he did not speak English well. But both Kollontai and Shaposhnikov spoke fluent English.

"No." Harry Hopkins replied with a smile, "But the United States' support for Britain and all countries and governments that oppose Nazi Germany will be greatly enhanced... If the Soviet Union is also willing to stand with the United States, then the Nazis Germany's good days are coming to an end soon."

"The Soviet Union and the United States went together against Germany?" Molotov said. "We have all lived through such times, right?"

Hopkins and Hull looked at each other, and Hull said: "The situation was different then."

"It's different?" Molotov said, "What are you talking about? I am studying with you what is the difference between 1917 and now? This kind of thing should be left to historians to study."

"Then what do you mean..."

"You," Molotov pointed out, "your friend Britain has an unfulfilled contract! If Britain wants to cooperate with us, it should first fulfill its previous contract."

The so-called "contract" was of course not a commitment between the Allies and the Bolsheviks, but a blank check issued by Britain and France to Russia.

"But that is already a thing of the past," Hopkins looked at Molotov. "Isn't this Geneva Peace Conference going to negate the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain? Do you, the Soviet Union, hold an opposition position? ?”

Molotov did not answer Hopkins's words directly, but said: "In view of Russia's contribution in World War I, we are entitled to Turkey and Iran! This is what Britain owes us, give Turkey and Iran Only then will we have room for cooperation!”

Mrs. Kollontai translated Molotov's words into English, but Hopkins was a little confused and asked: "The Chairman of the People's Committee said 'give'?"

"Yes!" Mrs. Kollontai replied with a smile, "It's 'give'. Britain must cooperate with us to capture Istanbul!"

"This is impossible!" Hopkins shook his head desperately, "How is this possible..."

"How is it impossible?" Red Army Chief of Staff Shaposhnikov interjected, "The Turkish government is very pro-British. They will not prevent the British Mediterranean Fleet from entering the Bosporus, and they will not have any precautions. . The British can launch a surprise attack and capture the nearby forts and airports, and then the Soviet Red Army will fly in to liberate Constantinople!"

It is indeed possible...militarily speaking! But the political consequences were serious enough for British Prime Minister Churchill to pack up and get out - it is Britain's basic national policy to prevent Russia from seizing Istanbul and entering the Mediterranean! Moreover, Türkiye also signed a non-aggression treaty with Britain. If the British government openly betrayed Turkey to the Soviet Union through military raids, then Churchill's political life would be completely over.

Moreover, Britain will not have a single friend in the entire Middle East!

"Mr. Chief of General Staff, what you said is impossible!" Cordell Hull knew that it was very difficult to win over the Soviet Union, but he did not expect that the Soviet Union's asking price would be so high.

Hull pointed out: "If Prime Minister Churchill had done anything, he would have been ousted and someone willing to compromise with Germany would have come to power!"

Kollontai translated his words into Russian. After hearing this, Molotov just smiled coldly: "He should have stepped down. He single-handedly planned the Batum incident. He is a reactionary who extremely hates the Soviet Union and the Bolshevik Party! The Soviet Union! I will never cooperate with someone like him!”