Chapter 83: Soviet Union and Germany Join Forces?

On June 14, 1919, the Allied Powers issued an ultimatum to the German Empire and the Hungarian Soviet Republic at the same time! The Germans were ordered to accept the peace treaty proposed by the Allies within 7 days - the peace treaty known as the Treaty of Versailles.

The Allied Powers' demands on the Hungarian Soviet Republic were unconditional surrender, cessation of all forms of resistance, surrender of all weapons, abolition of the Soviet Republic, and handing over the city of Budapest to the Romanian, Czech, Serbian and French coalition forces that were attacking it... This was the "real unconditional surrender". If the Hungarians agreed, then the fate of their country would really depend on the conscience of the Allies.

However, such an extremely harsh ultimatum was still very reasonable in the eyes of the leaders of Britain, the United States and France. Because the Allied forces had already attacked outside the city of Budapest in late May.

Although the subsequent offensive and defensive battles were somewhat tragic, it is said that both the Romanians and the Czechs suffered heavy losses, and the Hungarian guerrilla activities were also rampant. It is said that there were many German military advisers helping the Hungarians command and train troops. But no one would doubt the outcome of this war.

In the eyes of Woodrow Wilson, Lloyd George and Clemenceau in Paris, the only question now is when to capture Budapest. Even if the Bolsheviks in Hungary are stubborn to the end, victory is only a matter of time - this is of course the view taken for granted by laymen.

As for the experts, as long as they know a little about the performance of the Romanian army in the world war, they will probably be worried. Because at least half of the people (Romanians) in the huge coalition attacking Budapest are completely unreliable.

Everyone knows that in World War I, the Romanian army had no advantages except for the good-looking uniforms - this is recognized. Their Chief of Staff General Ion Fraurescu was like a fashion designer, who personally asked about the design of the uniforms, so that the Romanian army had the most fashionable and tasteful uniforms.

The only role they played in the First World War was probably to allow the Germans to seize enough food and fuel to support Russia until the collapse of 1917.

It was precisely because of their understanding of the Romanian army that the German military advisers chose Romania as the first target to attack.

Just when the Allies demanded the unconditional surrender of the Hungarian Soviet Republic and then let it be slaughtered. The reserve army, consisting of four infantry divisions (including 12 artillery companies equipped with 1 mountain gun) and a task force (wearing beautiful Romanian military uniforms, all speaking Romanian, and making up numbers based on the deployment of the Romanian army), had already crossed the Tisza River under the command of Santo Bella, Deputy People's Commissar of Defense and Political Commissar of the Army, Strömfeld Orel, Commander of the Army, and German military advisers, Colonel Beck, Captain Rommel and others, and happily marched towards the Carpathian Mountains.

The areas they passed through were all areas where Hungarian guerrillas were active. Because the guerrillas were active and constantly attacked the coalition's logistics line, the coalition was forced to deploy a large number of troops along the road from Transylvania to Budapest. As a result, there were no extra troops to occupy small and medium-sized towns, let alone rural areas.

Such a deployment greatly facilitated the advance of the Hungarian reserve army. Battalions of Hungarians wearing German steel helmets and covered in dust marched for kilometers, walking, riding horses, or sitting in carriages. Cannons and a small amount of baggage advanced with them. Hungarian farmers also provided them with food along the way. There was almost no fighting - only a small reconnaissance unit responsible for covering the advance of the large army and the guerrillas exchanged fire with the enemy - until June 20, when they suddenly broke through the Vulcan Pass, which was not guarded by many Romanians.

The battle to capture the Vulcan Pass was extremely easy. Not only were the Romanians caught off guard, but their fighting skills and experience could not be compared with those of the Hungarians. The Hungarians fought the World War for four years and three months, while the Romanians fought for only four months before the entire country was occupied. Under normal circumstances, the Romanian army could not defeat the Hungarian army at all...

...

"How dare they do this! How dare these damned Hungarian Bolsheviks attack Romania? This is incredible, incredible, really incredible..."

The news of Romania's attack was quickly reported to the Allied Forces Headquarters by Franchet Despere, the commander of the Franco-Greek Eastern Expeditionary Force in Bucharest. Then Marshal Foch personally reported it to Clemenceau, who was in the Palace of Versailles to discuss what to do if the Germans refused the ultimatum.

Clemenceau was shocked by the news and repeated "incredible" three times.

"George, what's going on? Isn't it said that the main force of the Hungarians is concentrated in Budapest?"

The US President Woodrow Wilson asked in a hoarse and tired voice in the conference room. The few months in Paris were probably the most tiring and unpleasant days of his life. I originally thought that joining the war was a very good idea. Both the bigwigs and think tanks of the Democratic and Republican parties said so. His personal think tank, Colonel Housen, who has a background in Wall Street, also told him that the war would definitely be won, and victory would definitely bring benefits to the United States!

But now the war has been won - victory seems to be a foregone conclusion - but where are the benefits? Why can't I see it? Instead, troubles are lining up one after another to find the door!

After staying in Europe for several months, he was caught in various tangled troubles every day, and domestic criticisms also surged like a tide. It seemed that he, the President of the United States, had not done anything great for the country, but instead caused a lot of trouble.

And today, the ultimatum to Germany and Hungary is about to expire, and the news of the two countries' complete surrender has not come, but the news that the Hungarian Red Army has entered Romania has come!

Is this going to end?

"Mr. President, the battlefield is always shrouded in fog." Foch explained somewhat awkwardly, "We don't know much about the situation of the Hungarian Red Army. We only know that their soldiers are veterans from the battlefields of the World War, commanded by German military advisers and Russian civil war experts..."

Veterans who have fought in the World War, as well as German military advisers and Russian civil war experts! It sounds amazing... Woodrow Wilson's head is about to explode.

"Can the Romanians resist?"

"No!" Marshal Foch answered very confidently, "Romania's army is very weak. It was defeated by the Germans and Hungarians in the World War. It is not vulnerable at all. Moreover, their main forces are in Hungary. The country is very empty, with only a few divisions... I think we will soon hear the news that Bucharest has been occupied by the Hungarian Red Army."

"What? Bucharest will fall?" British Prime Minister Lloyd George was stunned for a moment, "Can I understand it this way, there will be a Romanian Soviet Republic soon?"

Marshal Foch nodded, and was about to guarantee that the French Eastern Expeditionary Force could flatten Hungary. Prime Minister Lloyd George's adjutant hurried in, saluted the British Prime Minister, and then reported in the calmest tone: "Mr. Prime Minister, the Admiral reports: The Germans in Scapa Flow are sinking their warships..."

"What? Sinking warships!?" Lloyd George stood up suddenly, "What do the Germans want to do?"

"What do they want to do?" Clemenceau shouted on the side, "Isn't it obvious? First the Hungarian Red Army invaded Romania, and now the Germans are sinking warships... The Germans and the Bolsheviks have joined forces! We are facing another world war!"

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