35

Tenrant Problem (2)

As friction between Germany and Czechoslovakia increased, Britain was put on alert.

Britain's ally France declared that it would immediately declare war on Germany if its ally Czechoslovakia was invaded, but Britain was not unaware that this was just lip service.

"France asked for help?"

"It's not exactly support, but they want to know if Britain will join the war if France declares war on Germany."

"Isn't that what it is? "I am indeed."

It was almost as if they were admitting that they were bluffing by asking if they wanted to help them since they were fighting among themselves.

France had many internal problems, but Britain also had many problems of its own.

Unlike the Navy, the Army had no divisions that could be deployed immediately when war broke out, and public opinion was extremely negative about participation in the war.

However, if they did not participate in the war, they were worried about protests from France, and in the worst case scenario, France could be conquered by Germany.

In this case, Britain had to face Germany alone in Western Europe, and it was truly burdensome for Britain, which prided itself on being the world's strongest, to face Germany alone.

The British government was in trouble.

If you take France's side, public opinion will rise, and if you wait and see the situation, there will be criticism from France.

Is there any way to end it on a good note?

"How about this?"

"Did you think of any good moves?"

"The reason Hitler is demanding the Sudetenland now is not because of the Germans living in the Sudetenland."

"yes."

"According to national self-determination, as Hitler claimed, the Germans of the Sudetenland have the right to choose their own homeland."

"But don't you know that those are just words?"

"Even if it is only a superficial justification, the justification lies with Germany. In other words, if the Sudetenland is handed over as Germany demands, the dispute will be resolved naturally. If we hand over the Sudetenland, Germany will be satisfied and war can be avoided.

"If war doesn't break out, we can keep our promise to France and calm public opinion, so wouldn't it be like killing two birds with one stone?"

"·······!!!!"

If we hand over the Sudetenland, which was the cause of the conflict, to Germany, war can be avoided!

It was an incredible logic, no different from saying that if you give the money you have to a robber, you will not lose your life, but the British government seriously thought that this incredible logic was not bad.

In any case, the important thing for them was to avoid war, which was not Czechoslovakia's position.

"I will personally go to Germany and meet Hitler. "I'll have to meet him in person and see what his intentions are."

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain headed to Germany.

***

September 15, 1938

munich germany

"Unit, stand at attention!"

As the British national anthem played by the SS military band rang out, the black SS honor guard made a bold move.

On the flagpole behind them, the Hakenkreuz flag and the Union Jack were flying simultaneously.

The sight of the SS military band playing the British national anthem 'God Save the King' under the Union Jack was not a common sight.

Chamberlain nodded with satisfaction as he watched the near-perfect review of the SS honor guard.

"The soldiers' discipline is well established. Indeed, it is worthy of the name SS."

"Hehehe, that's too much praise."

German Fuhrer Hitler quipped at Chamberlain's praise.

The SS soldiers did not blink as the German and British delegations walked by. It was the result of arduous training repeated every day.

As soon as the meeting began, Chamberlain suggested to Hitler that they should talk openly, man to man.

"President, you have come this far, so what are you hiding? "Let's talk honestly and openly with each other."

"great. "Who will speak first?"

"This is German territory, so the German Führer should speak first."

"All right. Well, let me be blunt. "We, Germany, want to cede the entire Sudetenland area occupied by Czechoslovakia."

As befits a person with a straightforward personality, he had no hesitation.

Hitler had only one demand:

It was the entire Sudetenland.

Chamberlain avoided giving a definite answer, and returned to England the next day to convey Hitler's demands to France.

"To resolve this issue amicably, we have no choice but to have Czechoslovakia cede the Sudetenland. "Does the Prime Minister agree with me?"

-I agree.

"So, are you in favor of the UK holding 'dialogue' with the Czechoslovakian government?"

-I agree.

French Prime Minister Eduard Daladier agreed with Chamberlain's opinion.

Even though it declared that it would help Czechoslovakia, France, which was secretly afraid of war, was confident that it would do anything to avoid war.

It's a shame for the Czechoslovakians, but the safety of the French people was tens or hundreds of times more important than other countries' territory.

"If war breaks out anyway, Czechoslovakia will also suffer great damage. "The country has been devastated, so what would you do if you won the war?"

- That's correct.

"For the time being, there will be some voices of dissatisfaction among Czechoslovakians, but over time, they will understand us."

-Of course it will. Because peace is more precious than war.

A fantastic combination where England plays the drum and France plays the janggu.

Thanks to this, Czechoslovakia felt like coughing up blood.

"What is that! "Does this make sense?"

In his phone call with Chamberlain, Czechoslovakian President Edvard Benesi felt not only absurd but also angry.

Unlike Benesi, there was no change in Chamberlain's voice.

-I also feel sorry to deliver this news to the President.

"How can someone who knows that talk so calmly? "Doesn't the Prime Minister know very well how important the Sudetenland is to Czechoslovakia?"

Benesi spoke evilly.

For Czechoslovakia, the Sudetenland was like armor.

Armor that protects Czechoslovakia from the teeth of the beast called Germany.

The Sudetenland, which consisted mostly of highlands, was home to a large number of fortresses and defense lines that Czechoslovakia had put a lot of effort into.

These were the only means of protecting Czechoslovakia in the event of war with Germany.

But giving up the Sudetenland?

The defense lines and fortifications that had been developed with great effort would be taken over by Germany, and Czechoslovakia would have wasted time and money.

It is an added bonus that Czechoslovakia becomes completely defenseless from the German invasion.

"Prime Minister, let me be clear. Czechoslovakia cannot follow that decision!"

Chamberlain was silent for a while. Did the phone get disconnected? That wasn't it.

Chamberlain quickly sighed and continued speaking in a colder voice than before.

-Is that really the position of the Czechoslovak government?

"exactly."

-Then I understand. Even if your country enters a war with Germany, the British Empire will not participate.

"W-What?!"

Benesi was so embarrassed that he forgot what he was going to say.

-What's the problem? This is the official position of the British Empire government. Didn't Czechoslovakia show that attitude because it also had its own beliefs?

Anyway, I did everything I had to do as Prime Minister of the British Empire. If you don't have anything more to say, I'll stop now. Please make wise decisions.

Even after the phone hung up, Benesi couldn't put down the receiver.

Britain, the world's most powerful country, gave up Czechoslovakia.

Because they are afraid of Germany.

***

Benesi's hardships did not end here.

Even during the phone call with Daladier that followed, Benesi experienced extreme despair.

"Prime Minister! "What does that mean even to the Prime Minister?"

-What should I do? If Britain does not participate in the war, what good will it be if France enters the war alone?

"No, didn't you say that the French army is the strongest in Europe? If the French army attacks western Germany, the German army will most likely-"

-president. The military, which prided itself on being the strongest in the world, directly told me. If France fights Germany alone, there is no chance of winning.

Unfortunately, reality is reality. Shouldn't we at least avoid war first? The president would also like to avoid Prague turning into a sea of fire. Just like I want to avoid seeing Paris turn into a sea of fire.

"······."

Daladier's position was no different from Chamberlain's.

When you say good things, give the Sudetenland to Germany. If you want to fight the war until the end, I will not stop you, but Czechoslovakia should fight Germany alone. We'll just be cheering for you.

Will you go to war with the fate of your country at stake?

Will we endure humiliation and maintain immediate peace?

Benesi chose the latter.

***

September 22, 1938.

Munich, Germany.

"······So, Czechoslovakia has decided to cede the Sudetenland, Mr. Fuhrer."

Chamberlain met with Hitler again a week later and presented him with a document.

It was an agreement acknowledging that the Czechoslovak government would give up the Sudetenland.

Britain and France guaranteed Czechoslovakia's future security in return for giving up the Sudetenland.

From the perspective of Czechoslovakia, which had already lost the Sudetenland, they were given bottles and medicine, but they had to take care of this right now.

With the Sudetenland gone, Czechoslovakia was like a newborn baby thrown naked into the forest.

Hitler smiled broadly as he accepted the document handed to him by Chamberlain.

"Thank you, Prime Minister. "It is all thanks to you that peace in Europe has been preserved."

"Haha, that's too much praise. "I only played the role of a mediator."

After the meeting, a banquet was held. At the banquet, a full table of various dishes was prepared for the British delegation.

"Now, let us all toast to peace in Europe and to Prime Minister Chamberlain, the protagonist of this meeting!"

Hitler, excited that the negotiations were concluded successfully, walked around the banquet hall and clinked glasses with people he met.

"Now, try some of this. This is an American-style fried chicken dish. "We only fried boneless meat to make it easier to eat."

Hitler preferred chicken with bones, but he knew that the British were uncomfortable with the act of holding and tearing the chicken with their hands, so he introduced boneless chicken.

The boneless chicken was easy to eat by dipping it with a fork without using your hands.

"hmm! This is delicious. "What is the name of this cake?"

"This cake doesn't have a name yet. "The recipe was developed not long ago."

"Is that so? Wow, it's so delicious. "I'll probably keep thinking about it even after I return to England."

"Is it that much? Haha, then I will tell you the recipe so you can enjoy it in the UK too. "Your wife will be happy."

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"