“Herr Hitler has departed this life.”
The consternation! The incredulous looks! Oh what joy!
He then explained in great detail the events of the last three days. He told them of the feelers put out to them, the suspension of submarine and bombing activity, the meeting in Lisbon, the details of the peace terms and the disclosures by the German delegation in Lisbon.
There had never been a cabinet meeting like it. There had been stormy meetings in the past. Some mournful ones. Certainly plenty of boring ones. This one seemed more like the prelude to a Christmas party. Churchill felt sure that some of the members were only just managing to restrain themselves from kissing each other!
He allowed them a few more minutes to savour the moment.
“Now, gentlemen, to business. I need your serious consideration of the terms I have just mentioned. We are due in the House in a few hours and we must be prepared. If anyone feels like a drink, please help yourself. Mine’s a Scotch.”
Lord Halifax and Baron von Altendorf were comfortably seated in two large leather covered armchairs in one corner of the summer house. The two of them were quietly conversing.
The four military delegates were also in deep conversation as a group, in another corner.
The private secretaries were together in an adjacent room typing out the slightly altered terms of agreement. It would take another hour or two.
The two spooks were missing.
Immediately upon receiving the news of acceptance by the British war cabinet, von Altendorf had ordered an official from the German Embassy to collect a note for despatch to Berlin. This note confirmed the successful outcome of the peace talks.
He was now quietly relaxed and enjoying chatting to Lord Halifax. This was the first occasion since the war had started that senior representatives of their respective countries had relaxed in each other’s company.
The Peace Treaty would be duly signed by Lord Halifax and Baron von Altendorf as soon as the British Parliament had ratified the terms. It was to be witnessed by the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs and the United States Ambassador to Portugal, both of whom had been sworn to secrecy by their respective governments. They were at their respective offices impatiently waiting to be summoned for the signing ceremony.
General Brooke was actually enjoying himself for a change. Rommel was expounding his theories on highly mobile warfare, and there was no doubt in Brooke’s mind that he knew his subject. Events in Belgium and France had proved that beyond a shadow of doubt! Brooke was absorbing everything he said. He was thinking about the extent to which he was going to shake up the British Army in the very near future.
He suddenly realised with a start that he had missed a few words of Rommel’s. Something about a European Alliance?
“European Alliance, General?” He queried.
“It is an idea expounded very recently by General von Mannstein, probably Germany’s greatest military strategist. At this stage it is no more than an idea, but one that I think is eminently workable.”
He explained further. “Once the continent of Europe stabilises after the recent trauma, and the different nations are again up and working, irrespective of whatever form of government they have, it is suggested that we should all enter into a defensive alliance.
The principle is simple. An attack on any member, is an attack on all.
Each country would have their own armed forces under their own control. Only equipment, tactics, communications and chain of command, would all be standardised.
There would be no need for money and resources to be wasted on defensive works on internal borders. If France had not squandered such a vast amount of money on their useless Maginot Line, maybe things would be different in that country today. And look at Fort Eben-Emael in Belgium. The largest fort in the world and reputed to be impregnable. It was defended by one thousand two hundred men. We captured it with only eighty five airborne troops.
The day of fixed fortifications is past.
General Von Mannstein obviously was looking eastwards over his shoulder towards the Soviet Union when he thought of a grand European Alliance stretching from Scandinavia in the north, to Spain in the South. From Great Britain in the west, to Italy in the east.
In theory war would never happen again in Western Europe.
A very interesting idea.”
General Brooke thought it more than an interesting idea. It was revolutionary.
The three soldiers and the Luftwaffe pilot sipped their drinks thoughtfully.
It was Blackstone who asked the next question.
“May I ask an impertinent question, General?”
Rommel gave him an amused look. “By all means, Major.”
Blackstone took a deep breath. “In the event that Hitler had not been assassinated, what scenario would you now see unfolding?”
Rommel chuckled. “What scenario indeed.” He collected his thoughts.
“Firstly, we, Germany, would be left with no alternative but to invade Great Britain. A plan is already in place for this.
The Royal Navy controls the seas, but air superiority will be the decisive factor. This we believe we have. Your Royal Air Force is superb, but we have more aircraft and pilots. Having said that, I can assure you that there isn’t a single person in the German armed forces that won’t be relieved to learn we will not be fighting you.” He grinned.
“But let us suppose we did not invade Britain. Perhaps there is another period of ‘phoney war’ as you christened it. There is something else to consider.
The Military Council are aware that Hitler had it in his mind to invade the Soviet Union. Sooner rather than later.
If Britain was not defeated, it would then mean war for Germany on two fronts. Not a nice situation. The Soviet Union is vast. Their winters are killing. Their Foreign Minister Molotov was not joking when he said, ‘Only a fool would attack us.’
War between Germany and the Soviet Union would be disastrous for both countries, both militarily and economically.
Another complication is Japan. I think Hitler would eventually have given them a free hand with the British, French and Dutch colonial possessions. This would include the dominions of Australia and New Zealand. Also the continued Japanese aggression in China will sooner or later bring them into confrontation with the United States. A situation that could escalate out of control.
In Italy, Mussolini has delusions of grandeur and wants to recreate the Roman Empire with him as its Emperor or Caesar. He has mad ideas about his empire stretching from Spain to Persia. Only last April he occupied Albania and declared it part of the Italian Empire. Also we are aware that he is eyeing British possessions in Africa and is planning something.
General Franco in Spain wants Gibraltar.
Argentina would possibly take the opportunity to occupy the Falkland Islands.
To sum up, Major, if Hitler remained in control of Germany, we would be looking at a second World War.”
Silence greeted this remark.
Rommel now looked at Brooke. “Please do not think I am talking out of turn or divulging too much. I have been authorised by our Military Council to use my discretion in imparting any information that may ultimately lead to a better understanding between our two countries.
Furthermore, I am able to assure you that any request from Great Britain for intelligence sharing on the Italian and Japanese situations, will be looked at sympathetically.”
Brooke listened in amazement. This morning Britain and Germany had been at war — still were at war officially — now he was being given an almost explicit undertaking of future military co-operation by one of Germany’s leading Generals. What a day of surprises! One day he would write about this in his memoirs.