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The French Communist Party was in crisis both externally and internally.
The Soviet Union, which I trusted, collapsed miserably, and the entire European continent was occupied by Germany.
It was news that came as a surprise to the French Communist Party, which was hoping for Soviet propaganda and believed that one day the Red Army would rush beyond Berlin and into Paris.
The Soviet Union, which had been pushed beyond the Ural Mountains, was busy surviving each day worrying about when Germany would invade again, let alone seek revenge.
The French Communist Party despaired as they could no longer expect support from the Soviet Union. They had continued their armed struggle, relying only on the Soviet Union, and since the Soviet Union was completely destroyed, it was now entirely up to them to liberate France.
Realizing that they could not overcome the wall of reality, some organization members tried to gradually withdraw from the Communist Party. With each passing day, the number of comrades who lost contact quickly increased.
Unless I heard directly from the people involved, I couldn't tell if they were arrested by the police or the National Military Police or if they were trying to keep their distance from now on, knowing there was no hope anymore.
"Whoa… … Damn it."
Jacques Duclos, the second-in-command of the French Communist Party, cursed softly and chain-smoked.
Support from the Soviet Union has long since been cut off, and the European continent is covered by the wave of Hakenkreuz. Among them, France, which borders Germany, is in a state no different from Hitler's home.
The number of organization members losing contact is increasing, and even the remaining party members are shaken.
When World War II broke out, Maurice Torrez, leader of the French Communist Party, left Duclos in charge of the party and fled to Moscow.
When World War II broke out and the German army advanced into Soviet territory, Torrez fled across the Ural Mountains to Siberia, and is still in the Soviet Union.
Torrez instructed him not to lose hope and to fight against the fascists until the end, but no party members listened to his words anymore as he stayed in the safety of the Soviet Union and lived alone.
Meanwhile, I learned about secret movements within the French military from a spy planted within the military.
Duclos, who found out that it was a group of officers dissatisfied with the current government's policy, immediately sent a messenger to them.
Let's work together to save France.
"They are anti-German, but they are also anti-communists, comrade."
"I know."
"These are people who never know when they will hit us in the back. Let's join hands with those people?"
"It's too dangerous. I'd rather use other means-"
"What other means are there?"
In response to Duclos' question, the executive who was opposed to joining hands with small factions in the military became dumbfounded.
To put it bluntly, there was no other way for the French Communist Party than to join hands with the military faction.
Who would want to join hands with them? The Soviet Union in far away Asia? Or your Italian comrades?
The Italian Communist Party was in a much better situation than its French comrades, but it was unlikely that they would come to France and help their uprising, as they were busy active on Italian soil.
In the end, the only people they could join hands with were the same French people. Although their tendencies are opposite, they are closest and their goals are the same.
"They are probably thinking the same thing as us. But they decided to join hands with us. "Let us think about the future events later, and first think only about saving France from the fascists."
"… … "I understand, comrade."
***
What the French Communist Party lacks in military force is resolved by the military forces of the minor factions, and conversely, the French Communist Party draws public support that the military minor factions lack.
Giraud and Duclos, who exchanged opinions through messengers, decided to share the roles each could play.
"Isn't this how we're the only ones who get away with it and the communists take all the credit?"
"I can't believe I have to join hands with those old bastards… … what the."
The union of the two organizations was very difficult because they had no choice but to cooperate but still had resentment between each other, but the leaders of the organizations suppressed internal concerns and resistance.
In order to save France, we need to put aside our bad feelings for a moment. We need to focus on the rebellion right now.
They came together in May with the common goal of liberating France and made a detailed plan.
Paris, the capital of France. It was like the head that moved France and the heart that supplied blood to the body of France.
If Paris is captured, everything in France will stop.
Therefore, France had no choice but to give up the fight and bow its head when Paris fell in 1940. This is still the same five years later.
The Communist Party and the Resistance, which spread across Paris like a dot organization, cause unrest in the Paris area.
In the name of suppressing this, the military blocked all roads leading to Paris, captured and executed high-ranking government ministers, and then disguised it as a terrorist attack by the Resistance.
"Even the ugly Bosch guys are dealt with in a similar way."
"I agree."
The vacant key positions are taken over and a new cabinet is announced.
"Wouldn't Germany be suspicious?"
"Of course you would be suspicious."
Jiro nodded in response to Duclos' question. When Duclos gave him a look demanding an explanation, he spoke.
"To avoid immediate suspicion, I will follow their instructions without hesitation for a while. Of course, we will move to regain France's legitimate rights."
Jiro stopped talking and cleared his throat. Because of his age, coughing has become more frequent recently.
After he stopped coughing, he finished saying what he wanted to say.
"And the treatment of the colonies should also be returned to the way it was before."
Helping lowly black people with the taxes paid by the French people. That doesn't make sense.
Jiro planned to return all of this to the beginning if the rebellion was successful.
A shadow fell on Duclos' face at Jiro's words.
"Then there will be a strong backlash from the colony."
"I know. But in return, we can gain the support of the people. "As a communist, don't you know that too?"
Duclos, an ardent communist who believed that his country, France, should break away from its outdated legacy of colonial imperialism, did not like Giraud's plan, but did not interfere with his plan any further. As Giraud said, the majority of the French people Such measures will be welcomed.
Not only citizens of mainland France but also Pied-Noirs living in Algeria and Morocco will strongly support the policies of the new cabinet.
First of all, let us only think about succeeding in our actions. Colonization is a matter to be considered after the successful rebellion.
"I understand."
"It's good to talk."
"What do you plan to do, Marshal Pétain?"
"For the rebellion to succeed, the support of the enemy is absolutely necessary. Even though he has now lost his old gun, there are still many French people who respect him."
Even if the coup was successful, Pétain was scheduled to remain in office for a while.
If he was brought down, it was obvious that Germany would immediately move, and the opposition of the French people who supported him could have shaken the most successful coup from its roots.
Instead, most of his powers were planned to be taken back. Otherwise, France would not be able to change.
As time passed, Pétain was urged to retire due to his age, and when he stepped down from power, he absorbed all remaining authority and began large-scale reforms.
There are concerns that Germany will interfere, but if the entire French people unite and express their will to resist, Germany will not be able to do anything and will try to compromise as much as possible.
In this way, various unequal treaties with Germany were renegotiated and France's rights were regained.
Countries under German occupation will also be stimulated by France's example and will struggle to escape German oppression. If they join forces with the United States and value anti-Germany highly, it will not be impossible to shake Germany's domination of Europe. lira.
Now that all the plans have been made, the only thing left to do is when the final step, the uprising, will take place.
"When would you like to do it?"
"What about November 11th?"
November 11th. The day World War I ended.
November 11th was a day with many meanings to France, which sacrificed more in World War I than in World War II. Giraud, who understood Duclos' intention, smiled.
"Yes, that would be a good day."
"Let us raise a toast to great France."
When the day for the eruption was decided, the glasses were filled with wine. Jiro and Duclos raised the glasses in their hands and shouted in reverential voices.
It's called Viva France.
***
The plan for the rebellion soon spread to lower-level organizations of the Communist Party-affiliated resistance.
However, most of the organization members only knew about the uprising itself and did not know what month and day the uprising took place.
However, among those who decided to participate in the uprising, those who held positions within the organization knew when the uprising day was.
It doesn't matter if you don't know about low-level organization members or individual soldiers. They are just organs that are thrown away, not the leadership.
However, those who had to make detailed plans, move troops, and prepare for various situations should not have known this. Then they could not make plans themselves.
"Is it November 11th?"
"That's right, Major."
Major Jacques Debuon did the same. As the new battalion commander, thanks to his rank, he was allowed to be informed of the date of the uprising.
"Be mindful. If this fact leaks out, the coup will be a failure. "It's the end for me and you."
"Would it be possible?"
"It was late at night. Go quickly. "Now you have something to do."
"Yes, Colonel."
In return, he had to stay up all night to make detailed plans for the operation and take on the task of making sure that his officers and troops would not be suspicious until the day of the uprising, but he did not care.
Those were the main things I did here in the first place.
People didn't know it, but Debuon had to go through all kinds of hardships to get to where he is now.
Debuon, the son of an Alsatian father and a Moroccan mother, was French born in France, but Debuon's peers did not consider him French.
To them, Debuon was nothing more than a cross between a French-speaking Bossu and an Arab.
"Go back to your country. "You mudblood."
"Hey, are you crying? "Are you crying?"
"Don't use French. They told me to speak German. Or use Arabic."
Discrimination did not disappear even as Debuon got older. Even after entering the military academy, he was overlooked among his peers because of his origins.
Debuon felt unfair. He was born in France, speaks French, and is loyal to France, so why don't they accept me as a Frenchman?
He gritted his teeth and worked hard to achieve success. As a result of stubbornly living with the determination to get out of his current position, he was able to boast that he was able to enjoy a successful life in his own right, earning the rank of major before he even turned 30.
However, Debuon was not satisfied with this. He wanted a higher rank and position than he had now. As if he was demanding compensation for the hardships he had experienced in his life.
He did not spare any effort to get promoted, and had no intention of doing so. In order to rise to a higher position than now, he would not only be in a position where he would not be ignored by others, but would also be able to give orders to others and control their lives. I wanted.
I was willing to do anything to get it.
"Major. Are you going out?"
"I'm craving a drink outside today."
"Have a good time."
After leaving the official residence, Debuon headed to the bistro he usually frequents (a small restaurant that is cheaper than a restaurant).
He opened the door under the sign that said 'Old Hen' and entered, sat down in the corner seat as usual and ordered a glass of wine and a plate of oysters for snacks.
While I was sipping white wine and slowly peeling and eating fishy oysters, a man wearing a coat and a fedora came in.
The man who ordered a bottle of wine and the restaurant's best dish from the owner looked at Debuon and pretended to know him.
"We all meet here."
"How are you?"
"I'm okay. "What are you doing these days?"
Debuon talked with the man about what was going on in the world.
"this. There are no cigarettes. "Just give me one cigarette."
When the man asked for cigarettes, Debuon handed over the whole pack.
"I just need one cigarette?"
"Take it all. "This is in lieu of the money I borrowed from you earlier."
"I know this is what I'm saying, but gamble in moderation."
Debuon left the store first after finishing the wine and oysters, and the man also left the store after finishing all the wine and dishes he ordered.
The Gestapo agent who returned to headquarters took out the cigarette pack and poured out the cigarettes inside. Each cigarette had a number written on it, and various confidential information was written in clear letters.
Gestapo agents informed their superiors that the day of the rebellion was November 11.
The facts were written into a report and sent through several channels to the Gestapo headquarters on Prinz Albrecht Street.
Schellenberg, who was in charge of all information in Germany and Europe, sat cross-legged and read a report on disturbing movements inside France.
While reading the report, laughter broke out from his mouth.
"Stupid frogs. "It's because we can't grasp reality like this."
Schellenberg clicked his tongue at the actions of the French, who still had little understanding of the situation. I knew they were stupid, but I never thought they would be this stupid.
It was so stupid that I was amazed. Do these guys really believe their plan is feasible?
It was understandable that France lost the war.
Marshal Manstein's strategy was usually not groundbreaking. But now that the war is over, we want to go back to before 1940.
It was an idea that I couldn't come up with without going completely crazy.
If you wanted to fight that much, you should have followed de Gaulle and fled to Canada. Now, with these bastards who are talking about charlatans and all that.
After finishing his impressions, Schellenberg picked up the receiver. It was the only phone in the Gestapo headquarters that had a direct line to the Führer's office.
"Mr. President, I have something to report to you. I wonder when it would be okay… … Ah, yes, I will go now. Heil Hitler."