ISOT Back to the Past, aka Poland Saves the World from World War II.

Prezes's meeting
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    Third Republic of Poland
    September 18 1938


    Inhale, exhale. "Calm down Franek," he thought. "After all, it's nothing, no big deal. You could handle the Marshal, you can handle this Prezes*." He pulled the train of thought, but despite his attempts, something kept him going. It certainly wasn't the shock of riding that strange train, or the current appearance of Warsaw. It was something he expected, even liked.

    The current appearance of the Paris of the East exceeded all expectations of the future. In fact, he was sure that Warsaw was the greatest city in the world, compared to which distant Vienna, where he had spent a long time, seemed a mere village. Well, the only thing he didn't like was the behavior of women and young girls. The outfits they wore seemed like ordinary rags, much to his dislike.

    And their language. Good God what happened to Polish girls that without hesitation they can say to someone, fuck off! And to such an old man? Unthinkable. Evidently there was a lack of a father in their lives....

    He paused for a moment, under Marshal such a vulgar gathering would have been chased to the four winds. And the Prezes as well as his people seemed unmoved. It was as if they didn't give a damn what the stupid youth would think or say. He didn't know whether he should applaud this attitude or rebuke it. He didn't know the current political relations, he only knew that there was a ruling Law and Justice party, some opposition whose members seemed too dumb to take over.

    The only thing that seemed familiar to him was that everything is decided by the man behind the scenes. Until recently it was Marshal Pilsudski, now it is Prezes Kaczynski. And everyone dances as he plays them, and the rest are lackeys used as needed.

    "General Kleeberg?" a female voice called back. The general looked at the older woman standing at the door to the office. As far as he knew her name was Basia and she was the Prezes's secretary.

    "Yes?"

    "Prezes Kaczynski is expecting you." she replied and in her voice one could hear loyalty to her superior, as well as a slight fear.

    "Good," he replied, then got up from his chair, a terrible plastic awfulness in his opinion, and followed her into the study. The study itself, although it was from a different era, aside from more modern lighting and a different style of furniture, was not too different from what he himself used to think of as the study of an important man. Well, maybe it lacked a certain military style that Pilsudski displayed, but one could sense from the start that this room belonged to an intelligent man, and by the way it was noticeable that he had some sense of humor. What caught his eye was the globe standing on the desk, next to the Prezes himself, on which there was only the future Poland.

    From what he heard before he came here, the Prezes was supposed to be some kind of megalomaniac obsessed with Poland and unable to see the world outside of it. Personally, he didn't think it was an affront, why should it be? Enough of Poland's "smart" people who see everything foreign and ignore their own.

    The first look into the eyes of the Prezes and already Kleeberg knew one thing. Despite the similarities, Kaczynski is a completely different person from Pilsudski. For better or worse.

    "General Franciszek Kleeberg, I welcome you cordially. Please be seated as well as please do not salute me, I am simply the Prezes, not the Marshal." Kaczynski spoke up first, and Kleeberg realized that he had reflexively saluted. Slightly surprised and embarrassed, he pulled off his hand and officer's cap then sat down in the chair in front of the desk indicated by his host.

    "What are you drinking? Coffee? Tea?" asked the host

    "Coffee, please." Then he added after a moment, "plain, without milk and unsweetened."

    "You heard Basia, bring two coffees, one for me and the kind the general wanted." The secretary nodded wordlessly and left the office, closing the door behind her.

    Prezes Kaczynski looked intently at the General, the latter reciprocated the look. For a long moment the two men probed each other, trying to see as much as they could about each other without saying a word. The long silence was only broken by the President with the words "Brześć nad Bugiem** must be an interesting place, General."

    Kleeberg nodded "That's right, a decent Polish city."

    The chairman sadly nodded "Yes, a Polish city. One of the many taken from us by the Soviets after the war." Kleeberg squirmed, one of the things he learned about earliest, right after the event that brought future Poland to this time. Not very pleasant news.

    "Do you know that my grandparents just before the war bought a house there?" the Chairman surprised him.

    "Why?" he asked curiously

    "Grandfather got a position in Brześć, they were supposed to move there just before the war, but its outbreak and then the attack of the Soviets on September 17 thwarted their plans. In view of this, they decided to escape from the Reds to Warsaw. History has shown that this was a good idea."

    The general nodded "And may I know who your grandfather was?"

    The chairman smiled "He was a sizable landowner and head of the expedition of the Baranovichi Railway junction."

    Kleeberg marveled, "It's just under the border!"

    Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Mrs. Basia with two cups of coffee. She quietly placed them on the desk then left closing the door. Kleeberg took a sip, coffee like coffee he assessed. The chairman, in turn, looked at him.

    Kleeberg looked at the door, then asked, "It's been nice Mr. Prezes but can we get to the point?" The Prezes nodded.

    "So let's start, I guess that you, like me, believe that the existence of two Polish states in the long run, not only is not desirable but everything should be done to unite both the Second Republic and the Third Republic into one country."

    "I agree, the coming years are written in history extremely uninteresting." the Prezes commented. Kleeberg felt that was the understatement of the year. "Although, at least now, Poland has more than enough ground to keep the Borderlands with it, while keeping Stalin at bay."

    Kleeberg took his word for it, so many cars or products in the store he found on the other side of the Bug River he had never seen with his eyes in his life. And those Border Guards, well they weren't just anything.

    "No less, General. We need you and your forces more than you imagine."

    Kleeberg looked at him questioningly.

    "You see, this event took us back to a time when we were expanding the Armed Forces significantly for reasons quite similar to the current global uncertainty."

    "I heard." replied the General perfunctorily, further unable to believe that the Soviet Union had collapsed and its rotten successor Russia was getting a thrashing of the millennium from Ukraine! How? He didn't know. After all, when the Poles tried to help them almost two decades ago, the whole deal crumbled like a house of cards under the onslaught of the Bolsheviks. And in the future? Ukraine came back and was not going to be killed.

    "Therefore, we badly need people for the military. No... we need people for everything. We are short of hands to work, we are short of people for the army. Fortunately, there are quite a few people in the Borderlands who can bridge the gap." The Prezes continued.

    Kleeberg nodded, there were no small number of people in the Borderlands. Especially in Eastern Lesser Poland, although quite a few of them were Ukrainians. Though from what he gleaned from conversations, few Poles really minded. A completely different attitude than in his time.

    Nevertheless, something else also occupied his head. "Mr. Prezes, if I may ask." The Prezes nodded, "What do you intend to do about Hitler and the Munich Crisis?"

    The Prezes replied puzzledly, "Like what? What a superpower should do." By the way, the venom in his voice frightened Kleeberg. He sensed immense hatred in it. Despite his inner resistance, he had to ask.

    "Why?"

    The answer the Prezes gave did not please Kleeberg.

    *Literally Chairman but I left it in Polish for greater effect and distinction. He is one of a kind.
    **Brest-on-the-Bug
     
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    Meeting with Hitler
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    September 20, 1938
    Third German Reich
    Berlin


    An ominous silence reigned in the Führer's office. All the most important dignitaries in the state sat quietly and stared anxiously at the commander-in-chief reading the newspaper. What had happened three days before easily covered up any joy at the enacted action of conquering Bohemia.

    Let's start from the beginning, no less. With the beginning of September 17, contact with almost all the eastern provinces of the Reich was lost, only Königsberg and a narrow strip of land in East Prussia survived. To make matters worse, the embassy in Warsaw also fell silent, failing to report back with intelligence agents. Despite attempts, contact could not be regained.

    At first it was thought to be for technical reasons, but it soon became apparent that something else had happened when, as the day dawned, foreign vehicles began to enter the Reich and all radios near the Oder began to receive unknown radio stations playing strange music in a foreign language.

    But the worst incident was in Görlitz when it became apparent that the eastern part of the city had changed beyond recognition. As soon as this reached the ears of the relevant authorities, it was decided to cover the whole thing up for the time being until the situation was clarified.

    Unfortunately, it turned out that this was done too late, the rumors were faster and one of the newspapers picked up on them and decided to check them out. Thus, on the front pages of the newspapers during those three days, instead of focusing on the Sudeten Germans' struggle to return home, this appeared.

    WHAT HAPPENED IN GÖRLITZ?


    When the eyes of the entire nation and the world fell on the Sudetenland and the fate of the people there who, after years of oppression by the Czech authorities, decided to resist and demand their just rights, disturbing news from the Oder reached the ears of our editorial board.

    According to these reports, the eternal German lands east of this river and the Lusatian Neisse have been occupied by monsters speaking a language similar to Polish.

    As it turned out, this was not far from the truth. Our colleague Flori Buchwald decided to check them out for the sake of the Reich. What he discovered alarmed us, as well as forces us to ask the question what will our Fuhrer do? But first, let's give Flori the floor.

    Dear all, what I am going to describe to you now will shock you and may run you amok. A thing to be avoided but not by suppressing the news, I expect many of you will do it but please don't do it!

    What I am going to write to you now will be terrible, but this fact should be acknowledged as soon as possible otherwise it could end in disaster for our homeland, worse than the defeat in the Great War and the crisis after it.

    What is it about? The lands east of the Oder and Neisse rivers, have been occupied... no that's the wrong word. They have been replaced by... something foreign. As soon as I arrived in Görlitz, a change was immediately noticeable. The residents were terrified, sizable congregations were right on the outskirts of the city. As soon as I tried to pass through the crowds of people on the road, many tried to stop me.


    "Lord! Life is unkind to you!" is what I heard from the mouth of a woman as soon as I said I wanted to go into the city. Fortunately, I managed to get to the river, to the Old Town Bridge. There to my eyes appeared an unusual sight. A blockade on the bridge.

    On one side, which is what I was, stood our police but they looked pathetic next to those blocking from the other side. Our own stood like stooges, looking fearfully at the other side. They did not care too much about my person, they were more afraid of those on the other side. I have to admit that there is something to it.

    Only one tried to stop me and force me to leave. Fortunately or unluckily it turned into a shoving match that I attracted the attention of those on the other side. They immediately moved toward us, and ours immediately pointed their rifles at them.

    It was only now that the commander of the police unit reacted to my person and decided that I was the reason, he quickly called me over to him and asked me to leave because it was dangerous because of these Poles.

    Yes, there was no mistake said the Poles. He quickly realized the slip-up when I asked him about it. He tried to wriggle out and then arrest but gave up when it became apparent that the Poles were beginning to demand an explanation of what was going on.

    In view of this, I was admitted to them and before that the officer explained to me that overnight the entire city on the other side of the river had been switched, they only found out in the morning when strange vehicles and people who turned out not to be the previous inhabitants of the right bank part of the city began to enter their side.

    Chaos ensued, which only now has been brought under control and police from both sides have blocked both bridges.

    When I received an explanation, I was admitted to these Poles. The photo of the Polish policeman is next to it. As you can see, he was with his face covered, wearing a kind of body armor connected to cargo holds. In the background you will see their vehicles. The photo gallery is on the second page.

    The conversation was short, the Poles briefly and succinctly told me that the Germans on the other side are not there in great numbers. The Polish border goes from Stettin all the way to the Sudetenland, they don't know what happened and there is no entrance to their part of the city for anyone from Germany until the whole thing is cleared up.


    The rest of the article was pure speculation on the part of the author and brief descriptions of what he saw, as well as oblique criticism of the government that it was dealing with the wrong things. With the latter, Adolf Hitler nevertheless had to agree. After all, what is the fate of the Sudeten Germans to the sudden displacement and replacement of millions of Germans in the eastern provinces of the Reich? To make matters worse, no one had reported this to him until now, he must have read the damned newspaper, and apparently one that by some miracle until now had hidden itself from the watchful eye of the Gestapo.

    To say that he was evil is like saying that the Jew did not plunder Germany for his benefit, or that the Red Rot is just waiting to pounce on Europe when the time comes.


    Well, it's time to get to the point. They've all eaten enough fear, thought Hitler somewhat amused by those as they all look fearfully in the direction of their Commander.

    He theatrically placed the newspaper, front page to his subordinates after which he calmly asked. "Meine Kameraden, may I know what this is supposed to mean? Why am I only learning about such an important matter this morning? And this from a newspaper!"

    The silence that fell after these words made the previous one seem like the busiest carnival. No one was flinching with a quick answer. Besides, what is there to say? The fact was that they botched this case from the very beginning, the Sudetenland was more occupied and here such a thing. How to present it and not be considered crazy? Who was ready to take responsibility?

    The chief only nodded his head, this was to be expected. No one would or could use this opportunity to their advantage.

    "Muller?" asked the head of the Gestapo, a blind and dedicated man but who nevertheless kept something like this a secret from him. He will remember it, but now is not the time.

    "Ja, mein Fuhrer?" he asked unusually calmly but fear could be seen in his eyes.

    "May I know why something like this..." tapped the newspaper with his index finger of his right hand "...escaped your attention?" Hitler asked in an innocent tone, as if asking someone that he had lost something.

    The Gestapo chief sat stiffly, said nothing for a moment before replying with a bowed head, "Please forgive mein Fuhrer but..."

    "What but?"

    "But... the first reports sounded ridiculous." explained Muller in a serious tone.

    Hitler raised his right eyebrow "You're talking ridiculous?"

    The Gestapo officer began to defend himself, "Mein Fuhrer, I'm very sorry but it sounded idiotic at the time! I and my men are in charge of maintaining order as part of the action with the Czechs, and here we suddenly lose contact with outposts in the east of the country and all news comes only west of the Oder and it sounds as if someone does not know the seriousness of the situation!"

    "Well..." Hitler nodded "well I accept your explanation, but what did you do when more of this started happening?"

    Muller hung back, the Chief could see the deepening fear in his eyes. He didn't want to admit what he had done.

    "What have you done?" he asked again but more sternly and his gaze pierced the Gestapo chief's eyes.
    Only under this blow did he break like a lanky twig and utter a single word.

    "Nothing."

    Hitler clicked his tongue from guessing the answer. "It happens." The answer surprised Muller and not only him, Hitler shook his head "Sometimes it happens that busy with something else something surprises us but sounds stupid so we ignore it. Then it turns out to be something more, much more." He looked at the assembled people probing their reactions then turned back to Muller "Isn't that right Muller?"

    "Ja mein Fuhrer!" shouted the Gestapo man without hesitation, Hitler smiled slightly then became serious again "Will you correct your mistake?"

    "JA!" he said again without hesitation.

    "And take care of that newspaper," he added. The Gestapo chief nodded again, "and take care of those policemen from the report." Added the Chief after a moment.

    "Ja wohl!"

    Satisfied with his subordinate and his new energy, the Commander moved on to the next topic. "Admiral Canaris?"

    "Yes?" the older man asked calmly.

    "Inform Konrad that he is to tone down and drag out the issue in the Sudetenland for the time being."

    The admiral nodded wordlessly, giving no clear indication to Hitler what he thought of this. On the one hand, this irritated him because he could feel the man's resentment against him under his skin; on the other hand, he was an effective counterweight to Heydrich and Himmler, creating a state of imbalance from which he could benefit.

    "I also expect Canaris that together with Heydrich you will penetrate this new threat, clear?" he said in an unobjectionable tone to both men.

    "Understood." replied the older man

    "It will be as you wish Fuhrer." Heydrich said.

    Satisfied, the Commander moved on to the last man, Joachim von Ribbentrop. For him, he had the most important task.

    "Joachim?" asked the foreign minister lightly. It was impossible not to notice the friendly tone.

    "What should I do mein Fuhrer?"

    "Make a personal trip to Poland as soon as possible, try to establish relations and learn as much as possible about how it happened that the border runs so close to Berlin."

    "As you wish mein Fuhrer" replied Ribbetrop with a firm nod "Anything else?" asked Ribbentrop

    "Yes, don't provoke them Joachim."

    Those words that were spoken then were to be, as Ribbentrop put it in his diary, some of the most misguided in history. He didn't need to provoke the Poles, the Poles were misguided from the very beginning.
     
    Arrival of Minister
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    September 25, 1938
    Third Republic of Poland
    Warsaw-Okęcie


    Over the last fifty years of his life, Poland's President Andrzej Duda has seen many strange and unexpected things. He also envisioned various scenarios to which life would lead him, some were more realistic, others were crazy, but in none did he think he would personally welcome the infamous Joachim von Ribbentrop, Foreign Minister of the Third Reich, as an expected guest.

    And still at the airport, with an honor guard! Even the most unreal dreams he had ever had were not as surreal as this scene. An old, three-engine plane with a swastika painted on its tail landing on a modern-day air strip. It seemed tiny compared to the molochs standing in the distance that are today's passenger planes.

    In turn, an escorting F-16 from Malbork hovered in the air.

    "I don't like receiving it with such pomp." spoke up Thomas Bagger, the German Ambassador to Poland, or at least until recently. As soon as the backtracking came to light, he immediately applied for political asylum in Poland, along with Austrian Ambassador Andreas Standler and his entire staff.

    "Do you think I like it too?" asked him rhetorically though in a very strong tone, Duda had not forgotten his outburst a few months ago when he equated Polish gas and oil purchases with Germany's.

    To this the ambassador did not respond. He knew well not to tease an acerbic Pole on this issue. He already knew the strong Polish aversion to his nationality. Although in the case of the current state of the homeland, he would not hold a grudge. He only hoped that the Poles would be merciful enough, for them the difference between a Nazi and a German is only semantic.

    On the other hand, can they be blamed?

    As the plane came to a stop, Bagger held his breath, only beginning to breathe when Ribbentrop shook his hand, after greeting him warmly with the cool-headed Polish President, "Hello Mr. Ambassador, I hope this will not be your last service to the Reich." he said in an unusually soothing and mesmerizing tone.

    But Bagger only strengthened his grip, made a slight false smile before replying "I did it for the good of Germany,". Ribbentrop smiled back contentedly "if necessary I will do more for HER sake." he added in a pressing tone without the shadow of a smile anymore and even with a threat in his voice.

    Ribbentrop apparently caught the allusion, although he did not make a sour face was visible in his eyes naked contempt. As you can see, he did not like the hardy base of the ambassador. It could be sensed in his brief reply "I understand."

    He then turned his attention to the airport terminal, looked at the whole thing then said with undisguised amazement, "Truly a huge building. From the ground it is more impressive."

    "Do you like airports?" asked Duda

    Ribbentrop shook his head "Not very, but I've never seen such a big one."
    Duda looked at the terminal, saw nothing astonishing about it, and only a moment later understood what the Germans had in mind.

    "Good, why don't we go to the meeting place already?" asked Bagger, he wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. Another thing was that he knew perfectly well that the Varsovians wanted to "welcome" Ribbentrop.
    It is better not to encourage and risk a brawl, not when Poland is put on the brink of the precipice by the Undoing.

    "I agree." spoke up Ribbentrop "The moment is pressing, the Führer is probably impatiently waiting to hear where he stands."

    Duda wordlessly nodded and invited Ribbentrop into the government limousine standing on the tarmac. In turn, the former Ambassador was told to pretend that it was into the German Embassy car that Ribbentrop was packed, as Ribbentrop's translator entered.

    While driving through the streets of Warsaw, the two men cut a short chat. Ribbentrop tried to be as friendly as possible to the Polish President, but to his astonishment he realized that Duda was not making much of it. He answered only the questions Joachim asked him and only about Warsaw, while the tone of voice betrayed to the minister that Duda hated his guts and would have gutted him on the spot if he got the chance.

    He made a mental note for the future. Clearly it won't be easy to get along with these Poles, he thought with displeasure. Oh, how wrong he was that day! With the benefit of hindsight, it was clear as day that Poland had only bad intentions towards Germany. Though the world would say otherwise.

    Because the Poles didn't take him in to get along with the Germans, but to put him in front.

    He became convinced of this the moment he found himself in front of the main entrance of the Presidential Palace being unceremoniously shoved inside, Ribbentrop remembered well that not long ago this was the seat of the Polish government. Inside, he was led into a cabinet where two other men were located.

    A cool look from the two men, one young in a common suit with conspicuous glasses and the other very old who seemed like a second Pilsudski when he was healthy, although he did not carry himself militarily like the old Marshal.

    Ribbentrop decided to wait for them to introduce themselves to him. The younger man moved toward him first, shook his hand and in fluent German introduced himself, "Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland."

    "I would say that I am Joachim von Ribbentrop," the minister began, "but you know me well from history books."

    The prime minister only smiled lightly, although it was on his lips to say "Too bad it's only negative." but he didn't, for the sake of Kaczyński's plan. And being spiteful, unfortunately, would not make it any easier to carry it out.

    Instead, he introduced the President, "This is Jarosław Kaczyński, such our Marshal Piłsudski although we call him the Prezes."

    Joachim satisfied that his suspicions were confirmed greeted Kaczynski. He said to him that he welcomed him warmly on behalf of Adolf Hitler, but the latter did not respond.

    "I'm sorry, the Prezes does not know foreign languages." replied Morawiecki hastily.

    Joachim accepted this with understanding "It's like our Fuhrer! He doesn't know either and yet the whole world plays to him as he plays." he said boastfully.

    Morawiecki paused for a moment before he involuntarily giggled, then translated both of Ribbentrop's statements. Kaczynski looked at Morawiecki in wonder for a moment, then shook his head amused by the comparison.

    Then, through Ribbentrop's interpreter, he said. "You can convey my greeting and my wish to meet with your Commander-in-Chief. I have a few words to say in person, and I wish it would be within the framework of a meeting in Warsaw to solve the burning problem in Czechoslovakia."

    "In Warsaw?" Ribbentrop quipped.

    "Yes, in Warsaw, Poland is keenly interested in the Czechoslovakia issue. I hope that leaving is not a problem for your leader?"

    "No, from there, the leader would be extremely happy to see such a beautiful and rich country." replied Ribbentrop hastily, having a bad feeling.

    "I hope so." Kaczynski said calmly and contentedly.

    He then gestured for the German minister to sit at the table with his interpreter. As soon as the two were comfortably seated, the polite atmosphere was cut off like a knife.

    Ribbentrop straightened up as soon as he felt the change.

    "Mr. Ribbentrop," began Morawiecki coldly, "we must settle, some important issues concerning Polish-German relations. We are counting on Mr. Hitler's speed and efficiency in making a decision. We expect only simple answers, yes or no. They do not have to concern the entire agreement, it is enough to say what the Reich now agrees to, and what needs to be agreed upon with longer talks. Is that understood?"

    Ribbentrop felt like protesting and leaving, this was extremely brazen behavior, but he felt the strength of Moravetsky's gaze as well as remembered Hitler's request not to provoke. Therefore, he nodded, "Yes, it is understandable."

    "Okay, our requests are simple and should rather be acceptable to Germany." Morawiecki continued, then pulled out and slid toward two cards, one in Polish and the other in German.

    The entire agreement was only in 10 points, it was simple and clear and each point could indeed be answered with a yes or no respectively.

    No less, Ribbentrop saw well that these "requests" were de facto ultimatums, albeit sweetened from the Polish side which offered a carrot. The question was whether the Führer would consider this a sufficient reward.

    The individual points of the agreement sounded like this.

    1. Recognition of the present shape of the Polish-German borders as permanent and inviolable. Renunciation by the Third German Reich of all claims to Polish lands. The Third Republic of Poland recognizes the present shape of the borders of the Third German Reich as permanent and inviolable and guarantees their inviolability in their present form.

    2. Cessation of forcible armaments by the Third German Reich. Maintaining the size of the Wehrmacht at 550,000 troops. The Third Republic of Poland will offer financial assistance to bring the country back on a peaceful footing.

    3. Cessation of aggressive foreign policy by the Third German Reich. The Third Republic of Poland offers to conclude a bilateral defense treaty and enter the Anti-Comintern Pact.

    4 To cease the policy of extermination and persecution of minorities and other discriminated social groups in the Third German Reich. The Third Republic of Poland will take in any of the unwanted social groups at its expense.

    5. Liquidation of the entire SS and Gestapo.

    6 Elimination of customs barriers and mutual opening of markets as well as free movement of people between countries.

    7. Waiver of all claims to property and rights and intellectual property belonging to German citizens, companies and foundations by the German side.

    8 Establish a permanent Warsaw-Berlin telephone line for fast and immediate talks between the two countries.

    9. Restoring freedom of speech.

    10. Cease persecution of political opposition.


    Ribbentrop, seeing with what certainty the Poles presented their demands, had a bad feeling. Nevertheless, he decided to ask first before expressing his judgment.

    "An interesting proposal, Prime Minister Morawiecki." he began gently "Although I am forced to ask, what if we refuse?"

    "In the sense?" asked Morawiecki, pretending not to understand, Ribbentrop saw all too well.

    "In the sense, we will decide not to accept your proposal in its entirety."

    The Polish Prime Minister nodded, then theatrically looked at the President, then at the President before asking. "Do you love Germany? Your homeland?"

    Ribbentrop was somewhat puzzled by this question "What kind of question is that. Of course it is! I am a National Socialist! What kind of German nationalist would I be if I didn't love Germany."

    "So I don't have to ask that you want the best for your homeland?" the Polish prime minister asked with a smile.

    "Well, no." replied the appalled German minister.

    Again the prime minister nodded with a smile, before the smile disappeared and unimaginable hatred painted in his eyes. "It will be better for Germany if your Fuhrer accepts this proposal. We Poles have become very well acquainted with Germany, the Third Reich and Nazism. Believe me, we have absolutely no reason to be as nice as we have presented in our proposals."

    Ribbentrop paused for a moment. These ultimatums were nice? These bullying demands that are even orders against Germany are nice? At first he wanted to say something to this Polish pig what he thought about it, but Morawiecki's tone of voice, his look that expressed hatred and contempt as well as his self-control stopped him from causing a brawl.

    Instead, seeing a clear red flag, he calmed down. As much as possible, he tried to pretend he wasn't upset, while holding his interpreter's hand to keep him quiet.

    As soon as he thought he could speak, he asked in an effort to be nice. "May I know why you have no reason?" Morawiecki gave him a peculiar and distrustful look, "So as not to offend the esteemed Prime Minister or your homeland, I just want to know why." He added hastily while lying as befits a diplomat.

    Morawiecki nodded "Do you want to know?" he asked rhetorically, Ribbentrop immediately nodded "Okay, then. In our past, and for you no longer a future, the Third Reich invaded Poland, plundered it and murdered more than six million Poles. Of course it lost because it pissed off the whole world, nevertheless what it stole it never gave back."

    Ribbentrop raised his eyebrows slightly in wonder; this was a bad sign.

    "You have seen Warsaw, haven't you?" asked the Pole seemingly casually.

    Ribbentrop nodded "You were passing through town with President Duda, beautiful right?"

    Ribbentrop must have agreed, beautiful indeed.

    "Do you know why we showed the city?" Ribbentrop made a strange face.

    "Because it's a replica."

    "Excuse me, what is your Capital?" asked the surprised German.

    "A replica," repeated Morawiecki, "A replica, rebuilt by Poles from the rubble into which Warsaw was turned. Only a few buildings, such as the one you are in. It's original and only repaired from the destruction. All the rest, are artificially recreated buildings using old photos and pictures. Only the new buildings are built from scratch."

    Ribbentrop felt that he was squashed into an armchair, they razed their capital to the ground. The Poles rebuilt and expanded it. Nevertheless, there is almost nothing left of the old city, it is all too good a reason for hatred. Really, these demands from their point of view look nice. In view of this, they prefer not to get to know anymore what Poles find unpleasant. Ironically, just two weeks ago he thought it was the Poles who should be afraid of what the Germans consider unpleasant demands, now the situation has reversed.

    He looked at the Prime Minister, then at the President and then at the President. Each of them manifested a different version of contempt, dislike and indifference. Nonetheless, one could sense that they saw him only as a bug, a nasty person they were forced to talk to.

    "So, let me put it this way Mr. Minister." continued Morawiecki, "If you love Germany so much, make sure Hitler thinks the current borders are sufficient. However, if that would be difficult, I will give you some information that may come in handy."

    "What kind of war?" asked Ribbentrop, any war ambitions he had manifested up to that moment had just died. On the contrary, he would now go with Goering to stop Hitler from going to war with Poland.... what is he thinking!!.Before the outbreak of war with Czechoslovakia! Because that's what the Poles have wanted all along!

    "Currently, the economy of the Third Republic is eight thousand times larger than that of the Third Reich. In contrast, much less was sufficient to knock down Germany in World War II." said Morawiecki with a very fake smile, Ribbentrop thought the Pole was now gloating over the horror he had achieved.

    "I see," said Ribbentrop, of course he did not believe that it was really eight thousand, nevertheless the certainty with which he told him means that the real number must not be far from that figure. Nevertheless, it's really a lot, a very big number, there's no way Germany would ever jump over that figure... he stopped his train of thought because he remembered something.

    He looked at the document in front of him, found the relevant article, then looked at Prime Minister Morawiecki. Damn the devil, thought Ribbentrop, he offered financial assistance as well as a willingness to trade with Germany. If only they would start trading, the speed with which they would move forward would surely be unimaginable. They will move so fast that no Lebensraum will even be needed.

    Indeed, the Poles are giving a really juicy carrot. Especially since Ribbentrop did not doubt that the stick they hold behind their backs is big, long and extremely hard and they will not hesitate to use it on the Germans.

    The question is, will Hitler agree to it?
     
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    Meeting at the Staff
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    Third Republic of Poland
    October 1, 1938
    General Staff of the Polish Army



    "Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. President, Mr. Minister, thank you for coming immediately." said four-star Polish Army General Rajmund Andrzejczak, Chief of General Staff of the Polish Army to Morawiecki, Duda and Minister of National Defense Mariusz Błaszczak.

    He then tapped on the map of Europe in front of him, a map that bore no resemblance to the one from two weeks ago, when an emergency meeting was called at the National Security Office. That one was makeshift, simply superimposed on the 1938 map of Europe, the contours of modern Poland.

    The one here was a full-fledged map depicting the current state of the world, i.e. the combined Third Republic and Second Republic into one, next to Poland's old neighbors from the interwar period. So far they have not received a response from Germany in connection with the ultimatum, although the fact is that the Sudetenland brawl has quieted down.

    While this was a good sign, this way the staffers were not working under as much stress as before. Nevertheless, the Soviets remained Soviets, and there were several diversions on the border during those two weeks. Including the shooting down of a Soviet spy plane by Polish anti-aircraft defenses. Fortunately, the KOP did a good job and readily adapted to cooperate with the SG.

    "Go ahead Mr. General, nevertheless, if you have mercy, let's spring for it. I have a really busy schedule." spoke up President Duda on whose face fatigue was evident. Since Ribbentrop left for Germany, Duda has not had a quiet moment. For the past few days he has been constantly on the road, together with Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau he has been practicing a veritable Tour de la World.

    Each separately went from country to country in which there were Polish embassies to reestablish contact with each of them. To reassure each of the ambassadors, as well as to ask them to continue their duties for Poland. Fortunately, none refused, only asked for new instructions on how to act. In doing so, they had to greet each Head of State and his representatives to assure that about the new era of foreign relations between the countries, as well as probing with what speed they could re-trade with each of them.

    The Third Republic, as one might expect from a country so tied to foreign exports, fell into crisis. Any foreign market, however small, was extremely valuable to be able to quickly return to normalcy.

    "I understand, Mr. President." replied Rajmund, having had a similar experience himself. The last two weeks had not been light for him either, he had to supervise and participate in the creation of the plan, coordinate the absorption of the Polish Army of the Second Republic and integrate them into the system to make the old divisions able to interact with the Modern Armed Forces. For now, they have done barely the basics alone and much work still lies ahead.

    "Okay, anything else?" he asked the other officials for reassurance.

    Both the prime minister and the minister shook their heads. "No, you can start."

    "I see," chuckled General Andrzejczak before he grunted and began to speak, pointing his finger at the deployed units on the map.

    "Let's start with the basics, as a result of the Revocation we gained access to more than ten Infantry Divisions located in Vilnius, Grodno, Baranovichi, Kobrin, Kovel, Rivne, Lviv, Ternopil and Stanislawow, respectively." indicated the division flags placed in the garrison cities.

    "Of which one, i.e. the 1st Legion Infantry Division, we decided to take from Vilnius and move to Bialystok and merge with our 1st Legion Infantry Division. Based on it, the procedures and mechanism for modernizing and adapting the other infantry divisions of the Second Republic will be developed." he said, rearranging a flag with the 1DPL inscription from city to city.

    "So there will be no de-formation of these divisions?" asked the Prime Minister

    "No, it's a waste of the time and effort that went into them. It will be faster and more efficient to reform them into a new organization than to liquidate and reconstitute them. Especially since we will lack the mass to saturate and maintain such a territory." replied Andrzejczak

    "I understand, but there will be a dismantling of units? Yes the nation will understand that money is needed for the military, but our current budget is not made of rubber." asked the concerned Prime Minister, the whole of this year's budget was thrown in the trash, although it is a fact that the Undoing erased the vast majority of the debt, leaving only the one to Polish citizens, there was a budget hole which they managed to reduce through increased GDP growth. For the time being, they patched it up with gold, the nationalization of foreign companies' assets and their quick resale and other tricks. However, until foreign trade returns, they are in a bind.

    "Yes." agreed Andrzejczak, "therefore, we will unform two cavalry brigades, Vilna and Podolska, professional soldiers will be transferred to units in the west where they need soldiers. We will unite the remaining three brigades into one Cavalry Division which will ultimately be an armored unit. What's more, we will include in this new division all four armored battalions that the Second Republic had in the Borderlands. For the time being, they will ride on tankettes and armored cars, but we intend to rearm them all with T-72s as soon as possible, what we obtain we will donate to the museum or put up for sale."

    The prime minister nodded with satisfaction "So the Cavalrymen won't cause too much trouble?" he asked, remembering that there were some problems with Cavalrymen during the Second Republic when it came to motorization.

    The general sighed, "Well, let's just say that we have at least managed to persuade them to think." After which he added hastily, "Nevertheless, many are rather reconciled to the idea that they will have to switch from horses to vehicles. Although armored men are the most feverish and eager to make the switch. The pictures of the T-72 were all too interesting for them."

    "I understand," replied the Prime Minister

    "Okay, another organizational issue. Aviation." the general returned to the subject, "there are two squadrons in the borderlands, the 5th in Lida-Vilnius and the 6th in Lviv. General Nowak recommended that the squadrons be left where they are, only to modernize their technical facilities as well as the bases themselves to our standards in order to raise their existing combat capabilities. Due to the lack of any aircraft we can give them, they will fly on what they have so far. Nonetheless, Mr. Prime Minister, new aircraft are needed on an urgent basis, which is why Gen. Nowak proposed a quick solution, that is, to design new propeller aircraft or buy them with a license. But this is only to be a filler until a jet aircraft is designed by our own efforts."

    The prime minister squirmed, it's another expense, a necessary one, but another expense nonetheless. Meanwhile, the president woke up. "Buying you say?"

    "Yes, Mr. President. General Nowak suggested that for now you need any decent aircraft with which to man the pilots. Especially those from the Borderlands. He himself proposes to use the F-16 parts plant and design an entire jet on the basis of these machines, but it will take a long time. It will be faster to develop a new propeller plane or buy them from abroad to form the backbone of our air force until jet production capacity is regained."

    "Okay, I'll try to get the planes." The president nodded "British ones can they be?" he added jokingly.

    "I don't know, on average I know about airplanes. I'd have to ask Nowak or some historian." replied General Andrzejczak.

    "Well, then ask them exactly what period aircraft suits them best and I'll try to arrange them."

    "Spitfire" interjected Minister Błaszczak.

    "Spitfire?" asked the President.

    "Yes, it's a British aircraft of the era, one of the best they built. If you're going to get fighter planes, get one. We can do a lot based on it. Even one piece purchased can help us, if we take apart the engine in the fuselage we can develop our own very quickly. Because it's with the engines that we have the biggest problem, all the rest we can easily design and build." Blaszczak explained

    "Engines are generally our problem in production, do I remember correctly?" asked Gen.

    "Yes, Mr. General." agreed the minister "Therefore, Mr. Prime Minister, we must already now, develop any sufficient engine of our own production. It doesn't have to be the best, it just has to be." addressed the prime minister

    The prime minister nodded reluctantly, "Okay fine, I understand. A plant for manufacturing and designing internal combustion engines. There will definitely be money for that." He concluded his answer by looking at the president.

    "I said, we are in the process. We should be signing a trade agreement with Romania and Latvia soon. You will get your money." replied the President tight-lipped. Morawiecki was poisoning him every moment that he needed to open foreign markets as soon as possible as well as access to their banking sector in order to borrow.


    "Not enough!" said Morawiecki "Both countries are small and too poor, we need to open up the superpowers for our needs as soon as possible."

    The president scowled, "I told you clearly, these days everyone is cautious about trade and guarding their markets. We need time and to gain their trust to open up for us. We can't rush because they will take advantage of it."

    The general grunted, "Gentlemen, this is not the time or place. I wanted to go over the last housekeeping matters to then rearrange the operational plans. May I?" he said in an officer-like but calm tone, quashing the argument.

    "Sorry," replied the prime minister and president, feeling rebuked like schoolchildren.

    "I understand that you are tired, we all are. But there is still a lot to do." The general continued, then returned to the map.

    "The last issue is the navy, let's start with the Borderlands, there is the Naval River Flotilla. It is stationed in Pinsk and operates in the so-called Pinsk Sea, that is, in the Pripyat River basin."

    "What about her?" asked the prime minister curiously, having never heard of this formation.

    "Nothing, Vice Admiral Ziemiański just wants to preserve it and bring it logistically in line with the rest of the Navy. This requires adequate expenditures because they operate on ammunition and guns no longer manufactured in Poland. Of course, it is possible to build new ones, nevertheless the fact that they are not used today says a lot about their future. That's why it's more preferable to leave the current ships and only adapt them to the system."

    "A collection of scrap metal from our navy." muttered President Duda

    "Well, unfortunately." agreed the General, "But this is not the end of it, the ships of old that the sailors want to accept."

    "What other ships do they want?" quipped the Prime Minister.

    "What do you mean? Submarines!" replied the General, "Vice Admiral Ziemiański found out when the OORP Orzeł and Sęp were introduced, as it happens, next year. Therefore, he wants to take them in this way by returning to the origins to save the submarine service, as well as wants to order more Orzeł-class ships, although he wants the new ones to be modernized and built in Polish shipyards. We should be able to do this on our own."

    The prime minister nodded, "So Orka is out of the way, but what about the Miecznik?"

    The general sighed, "On average, many of the elements that we do not produce at home and that we did not manage to deliver for obvious reasons will have to be removed. In fact, it will be necessary, on the basis of what is there, to redesign the whole thing from scratch, and much more modestly than it was originally."

    "The sailors are damned unlucky." Błaszczak commented

    "Yes, but the problem has not gone away. They need large and powerful ships capable of repelling the Baltic Fleet, submarines won't do it." agreed with the minister General Andrzejczak

    "Well, yes, someone has to escort our transport ships, and that someone had better be our sailors." the prime minister whined.

    "Of course, the Vice Admiral assured me that work is already underway to solve the Navy's current problems, nevertheless, as he stated, there will be a lot of stopgap in this." concluded the general.

    Politicians nodded their heads, there was not much to add here. For the time being, they were not worried about the elections, Withdrawal and the crisis caused by this made the public in favor of moving them to a later date. Hence this year's parliamentary elections did not take place. Of course, much of the opposition shouted about dictatorship and violation of democracy, but who would take these idiots seriously? All they had to do was see to it that Poland did not fall prey to its neighbors, they knew all too well what kind of monsters they were bordering.

    The general at the time adapted the map and began to present the first of the operational plans.

    "Let's start with the first of the plans. Operation West Lion." The general began, showing the plan for attacking Germany.

    "The plan is not overly complicated, it has two phases. Phase 1 involves a quick strike by two combined divisions, namely 16 and 18, on Königsberg and repelling German attacks on the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers by the 11th Division and 12th Division supported by five WOT* brigades and both aeromobile brigades" The general showed a not-so-complicated strike along the roads to Prussia conducted by the two divisions, as well as the defensive positions of the Polish troops. It was apparent that the defense was to be mainly on the river, with partial occupation of the other bank to gain depth. Only near Szczecin did it break away from the river and go west of the city, close to the border.

    "As soon as Prussia is occupied, both divisions will be redeployed to the west of the country. The occupation of Prussia will be handled by the 1st Division, supported by the 4th WOT Brigade." set the flags of the units showing the target end state of Phase 1.

    "Phase 2 will begin as soon as preparations for a deeper offensive into Reich territory are completed. Within its framework, infantry divisions from the Borderlands will be redeployed as operational retreats, their place will be taken by the WOT from the east... sorry middle-east of the country which, together with the KOP**, will guard the eastern border. As soon as they are finished, four modern divisions will be used to open the assault." indicated the directions of the strike.

    "The 12th Mechanized Division and the 18th Mechanized Division will strike from the direction of Szczecin as the main axis of attack, the goal of the 12th Division will be to march along the coast and capture Roztoka. The 18th Division will strike directly towards Berlin where it will meet the 11th Armored Cavalry Division which will attack from the Lublin Province towards Chociebuz, after which it will turn north towards Berlin, the goal of both units will be both to seize the German capital and to take the German units which will be actively battle-bound by a feigned WOT strike from the side of Kostrzyn-on-Oder."

    Politicians looked at the long strikes they intended to bring out.

    "The 16th Division, on the other hand, should have the easiest task to accomplish, the seizure of Dresden. They, like the 12th Division, are to draw German units away from the defense of Berlin to defend a secondary objective. It is an auxiliary strike to that in the north." explained the General.

    "If necessary, borderland infantry divisions whose only task will be to fill gaps between units and prevent the Germans from cutting them off will be brought into the fight." showed the general on the basis of an example of an attempted German counterattack.

    "Our aeromobile brigades, that is, the 6th Airborne Brigade and the 25th Air Cavalry Brigade, will have two tasks, to capture the island of Rügen and to act as a fire department in case of more serious strikes." He raised two smaller flags.

    "The 6th Brigade will carry out a landing from the air to take control of the island, after it is secured by rear troops, it will act as a fire department to patch holes." showed the general what he meant.

    "The 25th Brigade, on the other hand, will initially act as a fire department, but when our divisions approach Berlin, it will conduct the initial assault after first suppressing the anti-aircraft defenses in the city. Only then will the rest of the forces join in. Our goal is to capture the city as quickly as possible. Roztoka and Dresden are secondary in this regard. Only when Berlin falls will the main objective of the operation be fulfilled."

    "As a result of the losses inflicted as well as the shock of technical and operational superiority, we expect that the mere capture of the Dresden-Berlin-Roctock Line will force Germany into peace talks." concluded the general.

    "What if it doesn't happen?" asked the PM, unsure that it would be so easy.

    "This we will continue to the Elbe Line, if this does not force them to lay down their arms, we will lead the attack straight to the Ruhr. Nevertheless, we think that by the time we get there the Germans should have run out of either men or equipment. If this doesn't happen, the collapse of the industrial center will end the war, because the remnants of the Wehrmacht will not be able to put up a long resistance without their logistical support." replied Andrzejczak calmly.

    The Prime Minister nodded, while the President asked, "What if the Soviets strike?"

    The general sighed before asking, "Do you know the president of this joke, what the Poles will do when Poland, Germany and the Russians invade?"

    The president smiled, feigning amazement, "I'm not supposed to know?"

    "Well, it's going to be like in that joke, first the Germans because they are weaker, the combined forces of WOT and KOP should give a long enough repulse to the Red Army so that we can knock out the Germans, then we will transfer the soldiers to the east, push the Red Army out of Eastern Poland and then we will start Operation Cossack Pogon which is aimed at pushing the Red Army to the Dnieper and Dvina line," the general explained.

    "And what does this operation look like?" asked the Prime Minister

    "For the time being it is still under development, nevertheless the general plan already exists." replied the general, rearranging the flags.

    "Namely, we will first bring out two strikes led by two of our modern divisions supported by four old divisions." showed the main strikes

    "In the north will attack the 16th and 18th Divisions, which will lead the attack on Minsk, after taking the city, the 16th Division will move with the support of the three old divisions north toward Orsha and Vitebsk to take the Smolensk Gate, while the 18th Division will march south toward Gomel, it will be joined by the remaining two Infantry Divisions held around Pinsk and the Cavalry Division which will break through to Mazyr but only after the fall of Minsk and the start of the 18th Division's march, until then they are to tie up the enemy with fighting." informed General

    "In the South, the 11th and 12th Divisions will lead the attack, the 11th Division will move from Ternopil toward Khmelnytskyi, then will strike Vinnitsa. After taking both cities, it will dig in while waiting for news from the 12th Division." the general showed the division's march

    "The 12th Division, on the other hand, will move toward Zhytomyr and, after capturing the city, to Kiev. When it captures Kiev, it will move south along the Dnieper, leaving the defense in the hands of one of the old divisions. Then the 11th Division will also move, with the goal of capturing Nikolaev, while the 12th Division will take the city of Dnieper." introduced the next phase of the fighting.

    "Once this is done, the next objective will be to capture the lower reaches of the Dnieper, meaning the 11th Division moves on Kherson and the 12th Division takes Zaporozhye. Once this is done, Operation Cossack Pogon will be completed, although there is still a long way to go to win the war." concluded the General.

    "And then?" asked the Prime Minister

    "Further, Mr. Prime Minister, we can't do it. We will lack the forces to accomplish this. We won't knock out the Soviet Union with 15 Divisions, it's too big an area and not enough men. The Soviets, even as extremely inept as they were then, will be able to defeat us through numerical superiority. We would have to have at least twice as many divisions as we have to be able to go to Moscow, just getting to the Dnieper line will be difficult, especially in Ukraine let alone a full-scale invasion deep into the Soviets!" explained General Andrzejczak.

    "That is, the Prezes was right, without the Wehrmacht, the war in the East will not be won, unless we switch the whole country to a war footing." replied the Prime Minister

    "The Wehrmacht is not that necessary, but yes, the Chairman is right. We will need allied divisions, well, unless the Prime Minister and the Minister get me new units. Because the plans are made about the current state." confirmed General

    "Well, that means without two new divisions?" asked the PM

    "If we want to defeat the Soviets, then yes." affirmed the general, "If, on the other hand, we only want to bleed them, then it is enough to modernize those 11 divisions we got. Such a force can calmly handle repelling the Red Army's attacks."

    The prime minister sighed, "Well I can see that it will be difficult to find places to save money. Well, nothing, security above all." He then looked at the president "Andrew, you heard what the general says. Our needs have grown again, hurry up to normalize these relations. We need to export!"

    Meanwhile, the general glanced sullenly at the Minister of National Defense, "Don't you have anything to add, Minister?"

    Minister Błaszczak, who was just jotting down notes in a notebook, broke off and looked at the Chief of Staff, "I don't have anything, I'm just writing down a list of purchases I'll be forced to make. Well, and I'm thinking about how to push certain armaments companies to get to work."

    The general agreed, he knew very well which companies and, more specifically, which plant was involved. The future of the armored forces depends on whether they take on full-fledged work. Without tanks, they can only dream of a full-fledged strike.

    "We can always take them into the army, Minister." suggested General

    The minister looked at him before adding appreciatively, "You know? That's some idea."


    * WOT- Wojska Obrony Terytorialnej i.e. in English Territorial Defense Forces
    ** KOP- Korpus Ochrony Pogranicza i.e. in English Border Protection Corps, elite and heavily militarized formation under the Ministry of Internal Affairs whose task was to guard the Polish-Soviet border before World War II.
     
    Last edited:
    Tygodniówka (Weekly)
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    October 4, 1938
    Third Republic of Poland
    Internet


    Going back in time caused a lot of confusion as well as destruction, especially on the Internet. Although the whole thing was designed to be immune to a sudden network rupture, because after all it was created in the face of nuclear strikes, the sudden loss of everything that wasn't in Poland on the servers was painful.

    The collapse of the entire social structure, built about popular social networks, has taken place. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and the like but foreign sites that did not have servers in Poland disappeared as if someone had erased them with an eraser. Along with them, all the vast Internet wealth that had been accumulated there also disappeared.

    Fortunately, very quickly national services stepped into the gap created. The first of these was Albicla, until recently a much derided alternative to Twitter and Facebook and widely forgotten. Now that both competitors are gone, people have begun to move to this site en masse and rebuild what was lost.

    Wykop also survived no small earthquake, nevertheless the biggest winner was the government's Swipeto service, which took over the role of the shabby Youtube from which survived the scraps preserved on a Google server in Warsaw. The government, seeing an opportunity, nationalized those remnants and incorporated the surviving YT infrastructure into Swipeto. And the rest of the Polish branch of the Google Corporation was turned into a joint stock company owned by the State Treasury, leaving the existing name although striking Poland from the company's name.

    The Swipeto site itself, so far almost unknown in Poland, began to grow like mush as a result of the government's propaganda campaign on TVP. Even despite the considerable reluctance of a not insignificant number of people, it turned out that the only effective way to release videos to the web was to go to this site.

    All the former youtubers came in crowds, and with them also came their fans who began to fill the site with activity. Which, of course, caused an overload of servers not designed for such significant user activity.

    Among them was a certain Jarosław Wolski, an analyst, OSINT specialist and heavy military equipment speculator. He moved with the Wolski on War channel to Swipeto, where he resumed operations after quickly flipping the videos he kept on his disks, from YT. Of course, informing his viewers where he is currently located.

    "Good morning Dawid, we've been away for a while, haven't we?" asked Jarosław cheerfully of his co-host of the weekly broadcast, called very originally "Weekly".

    "Well, yes, we were not there for that time. Although a lot has happened." countered Dawid Kamizela, a well-known co-host and incidentally doing his bit as a complainer against all the MON's bad and worse ideas.

    "Well very much so, this weekly will be one of the longest we will do, nevertheless one of the most informative and thus very necessary in these difficult times we are having now." replied Wolski.

    Kamizela sighed in response and looked to the side as if searching for the right words to answer this. He had... his extremely... interesting opinion on the subject.
    "I see that you are extremely satisfied with the situation." joked Wolski, Kamizela rolled his eyes.

    "Well, let's start perhaps with some good news, and it's from your plot." began Wolski, "Orka, we will finally get new submarines for the Navy after so many years. What do you think, Dawid?"

    Kamizela vetoed before replying, "That it's ironic."

    "Irony?" asked Wolski, puzzled by the answer.

    "Yes, the irony. Because what do you want to call the fact that eventually our ORP Orzeł will be replaced by her grandmother? In a way, we went back to the beginning of the submarine service in our Navy." replied Kamizela.

    "Well, I would call it luck in misfortune." Wolski replied.

    "You can call it that, too." agreed Kamizela.

    "So you don't mind the enlistment of the OORP Orzeł and Sęp?" queried Wolski

    "No, I don't. Although I see some problems arising somewhat from the different doctrine that the navy had at the time, I see it as a point of emphasis and upholding the navy's competence in this area." explained Kamizela

    "And the announcement of the production of more, modernized admittedly but nevertheless, of this class of ship in Polish shipyards?"

    Kamizela paused before replying, "Well, I can see the problems in this idea here. Though I understand where the idea came from, though."

    "In securing the foundation for the production of more advanced submarines to come?" asked Wolski, tight-lipped.

    "Yes, it is much cheaper than trying to develop the whole thing from scratch on your own." replied Kamizela.

    "Well, for now it's enough to pat only more Eagles." Wolski added.

    "Well, in a nutshell let's say." agreed Kamizela.

    "Okay, so that means you don't have any major comments on this MON idea here?" asked Wolski.

    "No, I don't have any bigger ones. In fact, what else is there to add? There is a crisis, and a significant one at that, and our needs have increased by leaps and bounds. Of course, I could add that neither the Red Fleet nor the Kriegmarine need to be afraid because our aviation as well as radars will allow us to effortlessly sink everything in the Baltic. Nevertheless, we should not rest on our laurels." replied Kamizela.

    "I agree." Wolski added, then moved on to the next topic. "Okay, and now the Kania program which is, for those who don't already know, the program for a new propeller plane acting as a mass fighter-bomber, and the Jastrząb program which is a new-age multi-role jet based on the F-16. What do you think?"
    Kamizela made an unsteady face before replying, "How about starting with Kania?"

    "Okay, let's be Kania. What is your opinion of this program?"

    "Unnecessary." began Kamizela "The whole program is about designing an aircraft that will be obsolete by the time it enters service anyway. I don't know why they want to spend money on the whole program. In my opinion, it would be much better to direct all efforts to the Hawk to accelerate the appearance of domestic jets, while by the time this is achieved our Air Force as well as air defense should be sufficient to combat any threat."

    "Time." replied Wolski, Kamizela made a wry face to which Wolski continued "Time, money and scale of production. First of all, such an aircraft will be able to be designed and put into series production in two-three years. Two, it will be much cheaper than a jet this gives the third important point the number of such machines produced versus jets. By the time we develop a working jet, we will have hundreds of ordinary aircraft capable of defending our skies."

    "Two-three years is a very ambitious deadline, even for an obsolete aircraft." replied Kamizela distrustfully.

    "Nevertheless, much more realistic than waiting more than a decade for a new jet. Especially since we will be able to export such aircraft abroad. PZL is already a solid brand at this time, many of our existing customers will be interested in a 'modern' design for their air forces. Especially since now, we can produce such machines much more cheaply."

    "It depends." muttered Kamizela.

    "Well it is known that it depends on the wishes of the buyer what he wants to put there in the fuselage. Nevertheless, for a comparable price, they will have a much better aircraft. Better than anything else in the world." replied Wolski, confident that he was right.

    "PGZ, made you say that, didn't it?" Kamizela asked jokingly, referring to the fact that Wolski worked with the Polish Armaments Group.

    "No, that's just my opinion." replied catching Wolski's joke. "Okay, and as for the Hawk. Do you have any objections?" added Wolski.

    "Not very, well unless you want to consider as one of them the question of why we are dividing forces into two projects instead of full power into one. And the premise itself, i.e. the production of jets at home, I think is the only correct one in the current circumstances."

    "I guess now you regret the lack of competence to produce the FA-50 in Poland?" asked Wolski, remembering his aversion to the machine.

    "Don't even remind me of that." replied Kamizela.

    "But you wouldn't mind?" added Wolski

    "No, in fishlessness and cancer, fish." concluded Kamizela.

    "I understand." replied Wolski, nodding his head before changing the subject. "Okay, let's now move on to the main course of the episode. That is, the incorporation of more than ten Infantry Divisions and five Cavalry Brigades into the Modern Polish Army."

    "I don't see it." quickly interjected Kamizela

    "What don't you see?" asked Wolski

    "This incarnation is loading so many people with a different mentality, thinking in us the current military system, a system designed by people with a different mentality at a different technological level." replied Kamizela.

    "Dawid." began Wolski, "do you realize how many there are?"

    "Well, about 90 thousand." replied Kamizela

    "That's right, about 90,000, together with our current 160,000 it gives us about 250,000 that is, to the assumed 300,000-strong army, we have about 50,000 left. A number as manageable as possible for us."

    "Jarek, it's just that they are torn from their reality and put into a completely alien one. A reality that will be difficult for them to understand, and yet they will have to use new equipment as well as communicate with people who look at the world completely differently."

    "David, think for a moment. These people have been torn away from what they know, the unemployed in the Borderlands are not in short supply, do you seriously think they will leave such a good place? For them the current paycheck, housing and the like that our modern ND provides is unimaginable. In fact, if they don't want to languish in civilian life, they will be forced to stay in the army and adapt as best they can. It's a choice between living a dignified life or starving and looking for work. After all, you know what kind of economic crisis has gotten us, it will take some time before we get back to the way we were before the retreat. The military, on the other hand, is a constant oasis of calm in these times."

    "Well, but..." began Kamizela

    "David, we need them and they need us. Do you know how much a salary of 4,500 zloty means to them? It's cosmos, for something like that in the Borderlands you can support a family of eight."

    "Well, it's just that the current zloty is worth much less than theirs." objected Kamizela.

    "Yes, but people have trouble understanding the difference but for that the number will be higher. So many will come to the recruitment points. Either way, we will end up with a whole lot of people with a different thinking, mentality, for whom the current technology is magic."

    "Jarek, ok, I understand only there will be terrible problems and you know very well how our Ministry of Defense has trouble solving them." replied Kamizela to Wolski's tirade.

    "Sure, it's just that these are things to grasp, so to speak. Anyway, you can see that since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Defense, has taken the plunge and now that it is no longer abroad, it can no longer sow pears in ashes." replied Wolski "He has to do it anyway." He added after a moment, "Because we are between a hammer and an anvil, and if they fail it will be a massacre. And as far as I know, everyone up there realizes this."

    "It's a shame that not everyone in politics has caught on to this." muttered Kamizela mockingly, referring to the total opposition's protests against the cancellation of the elections.
    "Eh, let's get over politics. This is not the time or place for that." chimed in Wolski.

    "Right, let's get back on topic." agreed Kamizela.

    "So, in summary, you think integrating these soldiers is a stupid idea?"

    "That's right, a big gap mentally, technologically as well as the fact that they will all have to be rearmed with new weapons and equipment which the Ministry of Defense has a problem with all the time. I think the MON's plan to maintain these 10 divisions will backfire." countered Kamizela

    "Well, I'm of good cheer." Wolski replied.

    "And why is that?" quipped Kamizela

    "Well, the first Bald of the Republic, he found himself in the Borderlands. It turned out that at the time of the transfer he was resting at his estate in Baranowicze." Said Wolski mysteriously, "From what I've learned, the whole matter of integration takes on a life of its own."

    "Who are you talking about?" quipped Kamizela.

    "You'll find out in a few days." Said Wolski "The matter is confidential, I can only suggest who it is."

    "I understand," said Kamizela slowly, while in his head the cogs began to work.

    "Okay, let's move on to your next plot, the sea. I've heard from the birds that the Navy wants to adapt the new Kormorans II for anti-submarine warfare. What do you think?" asked Wolski, interrupting Kamizela's musings.

    This one, he put a finger to his chin in thoughtfulness. "I think it's ... an intriguing idea. The submarines of the time are noisy, and both of our opponents really have a lot of them. Moreover, mine warfare in the Baltic seems obvious, especially from the Soviet side. Using a mine destroyer as a base for an ASW ship, makes sense in our sea area. Of course, it's not as good as a frigate, but we'll get more Kormorans much faster than our Swordfish."

    "Well with the Mieczniks there will be quite a problem." agreed Wolski

    "Well, yes, the whole thing will have to be redesigned, if not, even start the program from scratch. Well sad, but what can we do? Unfortunately, we have to try to build such a ship from the blocks we have." concluded Kamizela sadly.

    "As with everything, by the way." Wolski concluded, there was a moment of silence before Wolski took another subject.

    "Okay, the next thing is..."
     
    Marshal and Prezes
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    October 4, 1938
    Warsaw
    Nowogrodzka Street


    A bald man in his prime, bedecked with medals sat comfortably in an armchair, opposite him sat behind his desk, the new Warden commonly known as the Prezes. He had not expected this when he left Warsaw a few weeks ago for his estate in Baranowicze to rest for a few days.

    News of what happened in Warsaw as well as the rest of Poland before the Bug River reached him late. He learned about it from the local newspaper. For a while he thought someone was playing a joke on him, but a conversation with Kleeberg, who visited Warsaw barely a day later after the incident, showed that it was not someone's joke.

    At first he did not know what to do, before deciding to send a letter on Kleeberg's advice to their Prezes. In that letter, he asked for the possibility of a meeting as well as informed that regardless of the political situation, he places himself at the disposal of the current Polish authorities. Before he got a reply, he took care of what he did best, quickly regrouping the remainder of his military as well as civilian forces for after all he was the highest available state dignitary at hand.

    He also spoke with envoys from Warsaw who wanted to proceed as soon as possible with the integration of the Polish states as well as the armed forces. He particularly enjoyed talking with the future Commander-in-Chief and Chief of the General Staff, General Rajmund Andrzejczak. They quickly found common ground on all sorts of topics, including one extremely heavy one.

    September campaign, he botched it all the way, although Andrzejczak tried to convince that he was not so guilty. Though many would say otherwise, for the sake of principle. Marshal himself had a different opinion from his interlocutor, closer to his opponents.

    Well, nothing, it confirmed his fears from two years ago, how he got this job and this rank. That he was simply not fit, that there were better people than him. But politics won out over reason, fortunately now he doesn't have to carry that burden, because there are already others who will do it better than he did, or at least are learned from his own mistakes.

    "A sense of guilt overwhelms you." spoke up Kaczyński, Rydz-Śmigły was astonished that it was the son of the young Rajmund Kaczyński and grandson of Aleksander, his acquaintance the director of the railroad in Baranowicze, who was the new Piłsudski. "Although an event for which you should be blamed has not yet happened," he said.

    Marshal could not agree "They may not have happened, but they are the consequences of the decisions I made. General Andrzejczak, by the way, gave me a lecture on what I did wrong, and all in all, while some things I could not foresee, because it is a novelty so some issues I could." Kaczyński nodded slowly absorbing every word of the Marshal "Anyway, what could I have done this year? This is too late to make decisions capable of quickly making up for the shortfall. And then there was the problem of money, I couldn't conjure it up and I didn't even know myself, and I trusted that Kwiatkowski and Mościcki knew how to work it out. In short, decisions from earlier years took their revenge on me in 1939."

    Kaczyński looked into the Marshal's eyes, and for a moment Rydz had the impression that he was trying to screen him before the Prezes spoke up. "Well, you could have made one decision that would have been able to avoid the tragedy, or at least redirect it to someone else."

    Marshal squirmed "Czechoslovakia, right?" He was well acquainted with the consequences of the decision made at the time not to support Czechoslovakia, and even to take back from it lands that were of course rightfully due to Poland and which the Czechs shamelessly stole and Polish prisoners of war from the broken unit defending Cieszyn Silesia simply murdered. Fucking hypocrites, first they pissed off all their neighbors and now they cry for rescue. Nevertheless, the effect was to lengthen the defensive lines to such an extent that defense became impossible or at least extremely difficult.

    "Yes," agreed the Prezes.

    "One could," the Marshal began slowly, "make a different decision. Nevertheless, the Czechs and their naive trust in Britain and the Soviets took their revenge. How did they imagine it? That the British would help them militarily? And supposedly with what? The British Army is a joke, while there is not and will not be an option that the Soviet scum will enter Poland even if only in transit to Czechoslovakia."

    "Anyway," the Marshal continued, "for what they did in Zaolzie they should have had a kick in the ass and not saved their skin. Scabby bastards, they pissed off every one of their neighbors and thought they could get away with it."

    Kaczyński nodded, "Well, unfortunately, the world works in such a way that every decision made will be met with consequences, sometimes distant in time and sometimes sudden. Although it happens that these consequences are avoided because the situation made it necessary to take a different approach."

    "It happens," agreed Marshal, "But try talking to the Czechs yourself, you will find out very quickly how stubborn they are."

    The Prezes giggled, "Mr. Marshal, don't worry about that. I guarantee you that the Czechs will be very nice to us."

    The Marshal raised his right eyebrow "Is that so?" he nodded "I'd love to see what way you came up with to pacify them."

    "You will be pleased," replied the Prezes, then changed the subject "Well, let's deal with your letter. It took a while for it to reach me, unfortunately the modern Polish Post Office is a shadow of the one from your time."

    "I've heard, it stems from this new invention. Electronic mail? Internet mail? Why go about it as efficiently when much of today's mail goes a different way." replied the Marshal, who was keenly fascinated by the possibilities offered by modern technology, especially in the field of communications. In this way he could coordinate the troops much better, which was his first and main request to Andrzejczak. The latter said that he would try to arrange, if possible, for the right equipment, and if necessary provide a direct contact to the companies that produce it, nevertheless needing the government's approval for these activities.

    Rydz, on the other hand, knew exactly whose approval was needed to get the government moving.

    "Right," agreed Kaczyński slowly. He knew little about it, indeed he didn't even need it, he had people for that. Which, by the way, was one of the arguments the opposition used against him, i.e. he has no bank account, no e-mail account, no driver's license and no car, and lives alone with his cat. That he doesn't speak foreign languages is also common knowledge. So what? After all, he's just such an old grandpa, playing the whole stupid opposition as he wants. He uses only those tools that are useful, and as a rule, he takes advantage of others, such as Fogiel.

    "Okay, let's get back to the topic." Kaczyński added, redirecting the conversation back to the old tracks.
    "You say in your letter that you are still willing to serve the Republic under any but a useful post, although you shun the highest posts and say you are willing to be demoted to general if necessary?"

    "Yes," agreed Rydz-Śmigły.

    "That solves ... a lot of problems with your person. I thought you would be more firm." Kaczyński replied.

    "Mr. Prezes, with all due respect. There are important things and more important things. For me, the previous policy has died, I am a complete stranger in the current one. I am not much needed as a figure of the Hetman* in this chess game, you have your own. Nevertheless, I see that I am still needed by the homeland, so I want to continue to serve it. Who better to convince Borderland officers and privates to stay in the army than me? Who will do a better job of encouraging people to join the ranks of the Polish Army?" replied the Marshal.

    "Well true, you have the right contacts as well as a reputation to accomplish this without any problem. Which, by the way, is a relief for us, because we can rely on an idealistic patriot and expert in this matter." agreed the Prezes.

    "I wouldn't call myself a professional, I'm a philosopher and a painter rather. In the military, I am rather self-taught." replied the Marshal modestly, "Especially since they are the main and target military action, I lost." he added gloomily.

    "After all, you were an excellent general!" disagreed the Prezes.

    "Well, precisely, a general, not a Marshal. It is to my knowledge, above my league and the only person I could learn from was another self-taught man, Marshal Piłsudski. He most likely would have been able to do better than I did myself." replied Rydz.

    "Then you will learn. We have a full-fledged academy and trained specialists, they will try to patch up your gaps." said the Prezes in a firm tone.

    The marshal wanted to answer something, but after a moment he frowned. Nothing to add, nothing to take away.

    The Prezes noted this, with satisfaction. "Well, going on, you are also needed by me personally," he said.

    "You mean?" asked Rydz.

    "The point is that, we only know the past from what has been written down, and yet there is little less information, if not more that is not known because no one has written it down taking it for granted. I need people who will serve me as well as the government as an eye and ear for this era. Therefore, I have a vision for you to serve, in addition to a fig leaf in the framework of integration, as an officer or minister for civil-military affairs of this era." Kaczyński explained.

    "I understand." replied Rydz slowly catching on about the Prezes. "For the fatherland everything, Mr. Prezes." he replied satisfying Kaczynski with his answer. "Even if I have to make for a living museum exhibit." he added jokingly.

    Kaczyński laughed at the comparison.


    *It is about the Queen, in Polish instead of her in chess there is traditionally a Hetman. Nevertheless, it is the same figure under a different name.
     
    Conference from Romania
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    Kingdom of Romania
    October 5, 1938
    Bucharest


    At the Royal Palace, located even in the center of the city, a historic moment was taking place. Well, maybe not so historic, but nevertheless important. The Kingdom of Romania was the first state to officially establish and recognize the Third Polish Republic, recognizing it as the legal and de facto successor to the Second Polish Republic.

    The culmination of this moment, was the signing of a new trade and alliance agreement between Poland and Romania. In general, it echoed in fundamentals the same agreements between the Second Republic and the Kingdom of Romania, although there were some noticeable differences. One was the significant extension of the alliance from 5 years to more than 15 years, while of course maintaining the requirement to renew the alliance every required period.

    Another thing was, of course, the trade agreement, which abolished all customs duties between the countries, introduced free traffic, and the only requirement was an identity document when crossing the border and staying in a foreign country. This was exactly what Poland had in its favor, which it wanted to achieve from the very beginning and as soon as possible, but not without having to bribe the Romanians in some way.

    One of those things was, of course, a "modest" gift from the Polish government, of course, through President Duda, to King Charles II, who assumed dictatorial power just a few months ago.

    The second, a very favorable deal for Romania, under which Poland buys all available Oil for the next 15 years, and buys out at a much higher price the one belonging to Germany during the same period. Of course, as part of the agreement, Poland pledged to invest in Romania, mainly in the area of infrastructure as well as primarily in the oil industry, although other areas of industry were also to get their share of investment. Daniel Obajtek, Chairman of Orlen, the Polish Oil Corporation, was rubbing his hands, just waiting for such an opportunity.

    In general, Morawiecki had a plan to link Romania with Poland infrastructurally and economically, hence the need for investment he not only naturally understood but even supported, even if in the initial period the one to finance the whole thing was to be Poland.

    The third and final major issue that very much tilted and accelerated the talks from months to barely weeks was a secret protocol guaranteeing a strong discount on Polish military equipment in both purchase and licensing. King Charles, who saw the Polish Army in person during an unofficial visit, as well as test a couple of Polish toys, was very enthusiastic about Polish weapons and made it clear that easy and quick access to the Polish arsenal could strongly accelerate talks.

    There was no discussion in the Polish government, even if the arms industry in the initial period will suffer losses on the sale of arms to Romanians, the political as well as propaganda gains it will make in the long term will be much greater. Well, and above all, the Polish state will make up for its losses on military equipment in another part of the economy. Hence, after a brief discussion with PGZ President Sebastian Chwalek, such a discount was allocated. It was a sizable one, as it was as high as 45%, which was much more than the Romanians had expected.

    So, in keeping with the given word, the talks accelerated and were formalized on October 5, barely two and a half weeks after the retreat.

    Of course, this event, has sparked the interest of the media, primarily foreign media who have limited opportunities to find out what is happening in Poland. For obvious reasons, Polish borders are closed to everyone.

    Hence, the only way to find out anything was to either get to the border with Poland and ask border guards or Polish police officers. For this reason, at each border crossing a spokesman from either the local Border Guard or Police Headquarters stood and answered.

    Another way was to try to inquire of Polish ambassadors, although these usually dismissed journalists. In practice, the only ones who could answer something were those who happened to also be busy receiving delegations from Poland, most often the President, less often a minister.

    Nevertheless, despite attempts, no journalist has managed to meet personally with the Polish President or the Polish Foreign Minister. It was not successful until now.

    King Charles, with a practiced smile, cordiality and general etiquette, personally signed contracts in front of photographers and journalists. Normally this was not practiced, but the Polish side's wish was just that. They just wanted to start with Romania, to introduce themselves to the wider world from their best side.

    He understood this need, this future Poland was something different, completely foreign. Hence, he forgave the affront and gaffe on the part of President Duda that he arrived in Romania dressed only in a suit. In their world, the frock coat had fallen out of fashion as he was to find out during his unofficial visit to Poland.

    Although he was surprised that the Poles who had hurried him so far, as soon as the agreement was approved in its current form, suddenly slowed down. They said they had to prepare something called television, or at least something related to television so that Poles could see it in their homes as well. Hence they first had to prepare, download the necessary equipment as well as check the quality of the signal so that the current situation could be viewed live. The latter was of great interest to him, that is, it is possible to make the situation recorded on camera in another part of the world, be shown as in a theater a few hundred kilometers away in someone's home?

    Once it was confirmed that they could and that the equipment was ready, they were finally able to begin. Fortunately, the time spent on preparations allowed any reporters to be invited to Romania. News of Poland magically going back in time became the hottest news in the world, easily pushing back the Sudetenland issue.

    Speaking of the Sudetenland, he was pleased that this particular Polish government, does not have a negative attitude toward Czechoslovakia and does not look at the Czechs as meat from which to snatch a piece for itself. Moreover, in view of the disturbing silence in the face of Polish attempts at an agreement, he was asked by Duda to be an intermediary. He welcomed the request; as soon as the show is over for the world, he will go to the Czech Republic in an attempt to influence Benesh.

    Fortunately, he doesn't have to get used to a new ambassador like in the case of Poland where the incumbent Richard Franasovic, incidentally he became ambassador this year, was replaced by a certain Cosmin Onisii. Only the fact that he is forthcoming and understands how the current Poland works makes him stay. Although he did send him an aide to help him implement the current Romania. Of course, the Embassy itself needs a few changes, such as removing the inscriptions Republic and replacing them with Kingdom. When he heard what happened, it made his hair stand on end.

    What was about to happen was a veritable disaster for Romania, the farther away from damned Germany the better. Of course, he couldn't help but be pleased that despite everything, the Romanians respected his son and his son lived to see a free Romania. Although he wasn't happy that they approached him a little, less positively. As well as some information about what happened to him a few years later, it sharpened him to certain personalities.

    Unfortunately, his hands were somewhat tied, hence he was forced to ask Duda for help in solving the Iron Guard problem. He argued that the Iron Guard is heavily fueled by Berlin and poses a threat to Polish-Romanian relations and, according to history, the Guards managed to take over, so if Duda wants to keep the agreements alive, he must help him.

    Duda only smiled then and said, "We understand and are already working on it. Your request can only speed up our work."

    That froze him, are they working on it? That is, what are they doing? They were already plotting how to get rid of an unfavorable force before they met? Or are they simply analyzing Romanian history and just looking for forces they can help to prevent the Guards from taking over?

    Whatever the reason, time is ticking and counting down, and he is left praying to God that the Poles will be able to help him.

    He looked over at Duda, who was signing the agreements with his uncharacteristic smile, before the question-and-answer round from journalists was about to begin.

    Duda assured him that he was taking most of the answers, which was not necessary. Karol knows how to deal with journalists, although he is well aware that the main person in the show will be the Polish president. Incidentally, quite a nice and friendly man who is hard not to like.

    This was actually evident in the conversations, a good portion of which were conducted personally by the President with Karol. Despite, in fact, strongly different styles of being as well as the time separating them, they were able to find a common language.

    Which facilitated the agreement and led very quickly, without too much fuss, to the current situation.

    "Edmund Blair, The Times." introduced himself to the first journalist asking the question,Question for Your Highness, how do you assess the new Polish government?"

    Charles, paused for a moment before calmly replying, "Very positively, I express the hope that the government of His Majesty King George VI, like Romania will quickly recognize the change and establish permanent contacts with Poland."

    "Good," replied Blair, somewhat disappointed by the lack of details, but decided it was better to talk to the Polish President. After all, each journalist was given permission to ask three questions.

    "A question for President Duda, this unusual event of taking back all of Poland like in Wells' books has overshadowed the row over the Sudetenland. What is Poland's attitude to German claims about Czechoslovakia, and will Poland try to take back Zaolzie from the Czechs?"

    Duda giggled slightly; after all, it was two questions in one, nevertheless, in heavily droned but understandable English, he replied.

    "The Government of the Third Republic of Poland expresses its negative attitude towards attempts to seize indigenous Czech lands, as well as any attempts to force the government of Czechoslovakia to relinquish these lands. We are against any acts of imperialism or agreements over the heads of the weak. Therefore, we inform you that we are on the side of Czechoslovakia in this matter, and we will not accept any other response from Hitler's Germany than the relinquishment of its claims and the cessation of its aggressive policy toward its neighbors. In the case of Zaolzie, Poland will not attempt to take it from Czech hands."

    "What if Adolf Hitler marches on Prague militarily?" asked Blair.

    "Then, let him know that Poland is not afraid of war and, having learned from past experience, which fortunately will not happen in this world, will strive to overthrow the Nazi regime by all means. We will stand on the side of Czechoslovakia and the Polish Army will act as an ally of the Czechoslovak Army."

    "Okay, thank you for your answer." replied the journalist who immediately took notes of the Polish President's statement along with others in the room. It was a sensation, Poland is threatening Hitler with war! Poland is ready to overthrow Hitler! People will buy up like hot rolls.

    Then a man of young age with a bass heavy voice, light hair and blue eyes stepped up. He looked like a racial Aryan from Nazi propaganda posters. Dressed in a beige coat over a solid-looking suit, he did not part with his notebook.

    "Question to President Duda" one could sense the contempt with which he uttered these words, everyone in the room had the feeling that he wanted to say something completely different, "What do you mean by a Poland taught by past experience and which will not happen here fortunately will seek to overthrow the Nazi regime by all means? Do you realize how this sounds? By what right do you want to do that?"

    Duda furrowed his brow, from his accent and demeanor he concluded who he was, but nevertheless decided to ask. "May I know who I'm dealing with?"

    "I apologize, for my lack of tact." apologized the journalist, in a strongly false tone that even the biggest idiot would catch that he was not apologizing. "My name is Erich Bauer, I am a journalist with Völkischer Beobachter, the chief newspaper of the National Socialist German Workers' Party. I was outraged by your statement, therefore, on behalf of myself, the German people and Adolf Hitler, so I ask where did you get the gall to make direct threats toward the Third Reich?"

    Duda slowly nodded his head before replying, "Okay, starting from the end, if you will. By what right do we want to do this? From the law of Christian morality, thanks to which Europe is, what it is and is a role model for the rest of the world. From the law that you Germans, in your hubris, rejected and, had it not been for us showing up here, would have taken to its logical end. Namely, we do not believe that the mass murder of any population is justified, for any motive, however beautifully presented. And it just so happens that this is what happened, in the next seven years, the Third German Reich will murder millions of human beings, arguing this with pseudo-scientific motives of purifying the human race of inferior beings. To their misfortune, it was on the territory of Poland that they left an infamous legacy, the tool with which they did this. That is, the death factories, called concentration camps for disguise. Those who want can come and see for themselves, please write down such names as Auschwitz, Majdanek, Bełzec, Treblinka, Sobibór and Chełmno. As soon as the issue with our status is normalized, please come and see for yourself what the Germans have built. Especially come, if you are given the opportunity, of course."

    The room fell into a sepulchral silence, really sepulchral, the kind that exists in an empty tomb. Death factories? And as many as six at once? All of them in Poland? Why? How? This was now an object of puzzlement; even the least moral journalists, who see this as a perfect sensation, were alarmed to say the least. Even King Charles, who was somewhat warned by the ambassador as to the future, was surprised. Especially since Duda, with this speech, strangely spoke with extreme fluency and clarity. His pouting had disappeared.

    Duda knew how it sounded, they might not believe him and want to ask the question why exactly in Poland? Therefore, he continued, "Pulling my answer, as well as answering some obvious question, why are they in Poland? The answer is simple, Poland lost its heroic but impossible without the support of the Allies, the campaign in its defense by which its lands became the spoils of Germany, which unceremoniously and unlawfully, even the most primitive and backward law of war seized the lands for itself and sought to wipe Poland off the maps, at the same time, not anticipating defeat, established on its lands the main center of extermination. Why here? Because this is where most of the Jews were and Poland is in the center of Europe, so there is also a logistical advantage. And note that I said was. Thanks to German activity, almost all Polish Jews were exterminated. And those who survived, emigrated to Israel, the free Jewish state in Palestine. Barely a few thousand, live in Poland today of which some are simply employees of the Israeli embassy. Therefore, to answer your second question, yes I know how it sounds and it is supposed to sound like that."

    The last words, resounded with renewed force. For some reason, it seemed to everyone that Bauer had diminished in his eyes and Duda had grown. A Polish strongman and a backward dwarf of Germanness, that's how to put it.
    This was a novelty; everyone knew about the considerable difference of opinion between Poland and Germany. That for a few years, Polish-German relations had become friendly they also knew. But it was never the case that it was the Pole who put himself above the German and presented the latter as a worthless but bloodthirsty mongrel who should be put down and in whom there is nothing good.

    "And in concluding my answer," Duda continued, "it is the experience of the bootiness, arrogance and hatred on the part of Germany and the Germans themselves that has taught us that they are dangerous. Moreover, we also know that any agreements with Hitler, if the latter does not have a gun to his head, are worth less than the paper on which they are written. For had it not been for our appearance, there would have been the disgraceful Munich Conference, where the countries that were supposed to guard the post-World War I order pounced on it and allowed it to be broken further. Handing over, to the world's doom, the Sudetenland to the Germans with the promise that the latter would hold back further. This never happened, barely a few months later, the Germans will brazenly seize Memel, also known as Klaipeda in Lithuania. They would then annex what was left of Czechoslovakia and then go to war with Poland. A war they could not win, fortunately for the whole world. Therefore, we will seek to overthrow the aggressive regime by all means, including preventive war and an imposed occupation government throughout Germany for denazification."

    "And how will Hitler be overthrown or also stopped by the Germans themselves, with the Nazi party remaining in power?" a man with distinctive glasses and an American accent spoke up.

    "If, this government is content with the current territory, maybe even with the power of Hitler who is scared to stop, although I doubt it. That will leave the Germans alone." Duda replied.

    "Thank you for your response and I apologize for interjecting without rearranging. My name is Clark Kent and I represent the Daily Star."

    Duda was amazed to hear the name and the first name. He had the impression that he had heard them somewhere. "No problem, do you have any more questions? For Bauer has exhausted his pool."

    "Yes," replied Kent quickly and slightly nervously, "what can average Americans expect from the government of Poland?"
    Duda smiled before starting his answer. "We hope ...
     
    Hitler's rethinking
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    Third German Reich
    October 7, 1938
    Berghof


    Ah, the Alps, a true wonder and honey for the eyes. This view soothes the soul and allows you to enjoy life. The highest mountains in Europe are one of a kind. Hitler knew this well, which is why he had his personal residence here.

    He sat alone in his chair, set up on the terrace. He sat and contemplated all that had happened over the past weeks. Next to him on the table were newspapers, reports and letters from subordinates, but none of them were currently in or around the residence.

    He wanted to be alone, to think over the Polish ultimatum. Fortunately, they did not give a deadline in which to give an answer. Cunning beasts, they pretend that it's a simple proposal and that it's discussable. In practice, he knows full well that either he will accept it in full or they will force him to accept it in full. Come back, it is Germany that is being forced. He Poland is not needed for anything.

    Hardly surprising, after all, for the Poles is a monster to kill. Six million Poles were killed, and these cockroaches not only survived but moved the border westward and are now much richer and therefore more powerful than Germany. Moreover, unlike France or England, they are not afraid of war and threaten him that as soon as he moves on Czechoslovakia, he will have war at once.

    Damn, so little was missing and those Poles must have ruined everything. Thought Hitler while gazing at the mountains opposite. He didn't know much, but what he did know was disturbing. War with Poland, he once thought, was a formality. Now, he wasn't so sure.

    He remembered like it was yesterday, the day Ribbentrop returned from a three-day tour of Poland. He brought back lots of photos, news and just that damn ultimatum.

    Ribbentrop was then unusually quiet, saying only that the Poles had a proposal. Hitler felt that the minister had experienced some kind of transformation. So he opened the envelope the diplomat handed him and read its contents.

    The first time he thought it was some kind of eggs, so he read it a second time, and then a third and fourth. When he was convinced that he could see well, he took a deep breath in before slowly exhaling after which he banged his hand on the table.

    "Do you know what the hell that means? This is some bullshit, these fucking moronic, Slavic pigs think they can dictate terms to me!"

    "Mein Fuhrer! Please calm down!" cried Ribbentrop "It's not what you think!"

    "It is not as I think?" mocked Hitler "Then how is it, chestnut one?"

    "This..." began Ribbentrop searching for words, "is an offer to arrange relations peacefully. The Polish leaders, have made it very clear to me that this is the kindest and gentlest one they have to make to the Germans."

    "Kindest? Most gracious!"? After all, it's impudence, to demand that another country change its policy because another country orders it! On what grounds do you make such a claim?"
    "From the fact that they showed me what happened without them going back in time, how painful it is for them to this day, despite the passage of 80 years since those events. I will say bluntly mein Fuhrer, only the fact that they are held in check by Catholic morality makes them want to communicate with us. Otherwise, they would have exterminated all of Germany without hesitation, without asking if they could." Ribbetrop explained.

    "Show." ordered Hitler, wanting to know what they wanted to kill them for. Well, and he showed, he showed the nightmare, he showed the defeat, he showed everything the Poles had experienced in the next fifty years. He saw Warsaw burning and destroyed, he saw Poles executed, Polish possessions looted and the ultimate end of the entire Nazi party and the Thousand Year Reich. Moreover, he saw modern Poland, its army, its wealth and, above all, the memory of what happened.

    Indeed, it was the kindest offer they could make to those who had been the executioners of their ancestors. Hitler did not know what he would do if the situation were reversed, but he knew one thing. The desire to inflict harm on the oppressors would be immense.

    But that's not what bothered most, but the fact that they are from the future. A future in which Nazism is dead, Germany is even smaller than it was. But the worst part was that these guys know him very well, they know he's bluffing, they know he's pushing for war, they know what the state of the Reich really looks like. And they also have the power to use this knowledge.

    What to do here? What to do here? That was the question he was facing. To accept this proposal is to agree to capitulate and squander the chance to be number one. Rejecting it, on the other hand, would bring additional destruction, death and defeat. Moreover, one visit to them, broke Ribbentrop. From a warmonger, he turned into a dove of peace. He advised against the march on Prague, "It's suicide!" he said every time someone mentioned it.

    And isn't accepting this ultimatum suicidal? After all, the Poles blatantly said that they would interfere in German internal affairs. Hitler felt it in his bones, this proposal is just bait, as soon as they eat it Poland will tell them to do something else, and more and so on until they take full control of the Reich.

    He clicked his tongue, unsatisfied. He is trapped, what should he do?

    Then he heard noises from inside his residence, after a while his maid came in. "Mein Fuhrer, some visitor to see you. He says it's a very important and urgent matter."

    Hitler turned slightly just to look at her, a young, dark-haired woman. Checked from top to bottom by his security guards whether she should definitely fulfill this role. They found nothing against her, and at the same time she proved trustworthy.

    "Let him come in." Replied Hitler, he decided that for the time being he would not think of anything. The woman nodded and went to fetch her visitor. He waited a moment before she returned. "Mein Fuhrer, here he is."

    Hitler turned around again and was amazed to see the visitor. The man only smiled mysteriously. "Mr. Hitler, I see that you are in trouble. My country can help you get out of them. Would you like to listen?"

    Hitler wanted.
     
    Outraged Chamberlain
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    United Kingdom
    October 8, 1938
    London


    "This is a scandal!" cried Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Great Britain, angrily, reading today's edition of The Times. Where did this outburst of anger come from? Namely from the interview visible on the front page. The title itself was provocative.


    DID PRIME MINISTER CHAMBERLAIN LEAD TO WAR?!


    INTERVIEW WITH POLISH PRIME MINISTER MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI.

    After President Duda's famous speech (see page 4 for more on the Polish President himself) at the press conference following the signing of the Polish-Romanian agreement (what effect this will have, answers Sir Athur Lake on page 6), each of the journalists attending the conference received a special invitation to Poland, where they can meet and interview any of the Polish officials.

    Our special correspondent Edmund Blair decided to take advantage of this offer and came to Warsaw, having previously communicated his acceptance of the offer. (For more on what Poland's capital looks like as well as Poland itself in 100 years, see page 8) He conducted a series of interviews with various Polish dignitaries. Each of them had, to quote our colleague, an unusually large number of tart words about His Majesty's current government.

    Below was the very interview with the Polish Prime Minister from which it was clear that the current political course taken by the Chamberlain government was disastrous. Of course, there were also no less, critical remarks against the French, nevertheless, as Morawiecki himself stated. The main culprit is Chamberlain himself.

    He felt that his pride and arrogance had blinded him to the true picture and that it would have been better if Churchill had ruled instead of Chamberlain. At the latter, the British prime minister's veins almost burst from nerves.

    That stubborn donkey Bulldog? Better instead of him! He'll show that damn Polack where he and his country belong. Oh he will show. He thinks they can walk in and threaten war on anyone. To say outright that the UK has failed and is not trustworthy.

    "That's what I thought too Prime Minister when I saw this. I see that the gentlemen of the Times like to poke fun at themselves." spoke up the Foreign Minister, Edward Wood better known as Lord Halifax.

    "That's not what I mean, I'm more annoyed with this Morawiecki. He has the gall to claim that I am the main culprit and that only the emergence of Poland saved me from making the most misguided decision of my entire career." replied Chamberlain, outraged at the statement.

    "Well, in a way he's not wrong." noted Halifax

    "Well, he's not wrong, he's right. The problem lies in the fact that how on earth was I to know how whacked Hitler is?" replied Chamberlain

    "Well, Hitler did not sin with honesty, if you remember, Prime Minister." replied Halifax "Anyway, now that you look at it, his decisions that he made during that already dormant row over the Sudetenland make a lot more sense. He doesn't want peace, he wants war." He added after a moment's thought. "So, I think he's trying to accuse you of being blind, too wrapped up in keeping the peace."

    "Let him accuse himself of what he wants, the facts are that..." began Chamberlain before stopping himself.

    "That Hitler was making a fool of you?" finished Halifax

    Chamberlain nodded slowly before agreeing. "Yes, he was making a fool of me and the Empire."

    Silence fell for a moment before Chamberlain changed the subject. "Never mind, it was, it's gone. If Poland wants to play with Germany, let it play. We have another problem."

    "Yes, that's right. And the problem is, how do we stop Poland from taking over the continent?" Halifax added, recalling an old maxim of the British. That is, no continental power can take control of the balance of power over the continent; whenever a country comes too close to gaining European hegemony, the British goal is to stop it by allying with the second strongest and, by the hands of the latter, nullify the power's intentions.

    So much theory, in practice it is much more difficult. Poland, according to the special envoy who is tasked with finding out what happened and what relations should be established, shows enormous economic potential. Much greater than the entire British Empire, which wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that he is so great that if you gathered all the world's powers in one great coalition, it would be smaller than Poland's.

    Ironically, until now it was Britain as the most powerful country in the world with its potential that outweighed the balance in its favor and now? No matter how many countries they would drag into the coalition, they would all be weaker together. For Chamberlain, the report he got was like a slap in the face that sobered him up and brought him down to earth. It's a completely different challenge than stopping Germany. On Germany what a way has already been worked out, Paris and Moscow backed by London are more than enough to knock them down.

    But how to deal with someone who is much stronger than a coalition of powers? Of course, Poland does not have advantages alone, it has considerable problems of demographics, resources and contacts. Nevertheless, the British prime minister was well aware that there are no insurmountable problems, and that Poland has some really strong cards up its sleeve. Especially since Britain's greatest asset, in the case of a country as landlocked as Poland and with access to a sea like the Baltic, is actually a disadvantage rather than an advantage.

    Because the only possibility lies in blocking Poland's access to the Atlantic, and that's all there is to it. Which, all in all, is an advantage for Poland, because no British Admiral is stupid enough to enter the Baltic. Which means that Poland can build its fleet with impunity, and given that its potential is higher than that of Germany, it means no less than that they are not only capable of building an adequate fleet to destroy the RN and even force London into forcible naval armaments which the Empire must lose.

    Of course, Chamberlain realizes that the Poles lack naval traditions, they may have no less resource problems than Germany did before the Great War, but the fact is that they are a hundred years further along than Britain is now. And technological superiority is the great thing that will offset the problem of tradition. Well, after all, they won't be in a resource crunch forever. After all, Poland most likely knows about deposits that the Empire is not aware of.

    Let's not forget that it is Poland and not Britain that is closer to the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, and looking objectively at the map and the fact that the first country they allied with was Romania, the answer is clear where Poland will move to build its raw material and supply base. Of course, they can instigate the countries in the future Polish hinterland, but in Chamberlain's opinion this will only slow down the Polish march to take over.

    Britain is far away and actually they have always had a problem influencing countries in that region, another thing is that they didn't even really want to. Only Czechoslovakia looks to them for help, but actually they don't even care. What matters is peace and balance, throwing the Czechs or Poles to the Germans to counter France or the Soviets is beneficial.

    Also, there is another important point to discuss and which Chamberlain is well aware of, very reluctantly but he realizes. The fact that the Empire has many enemies and thus interests and forces are scattered all over the globe. Poland, on the other hand, for the time being has only two, but both can be countered by allies who are more than willing to help.

    The Briton had no illusions about France, they would be happy to help Poland control Germany. For them, Poland is no threat, or at least for now. Of course, they will defend themselves hand and foot against being dominated, and then they will certainly come to England for help. But only then and nowhere else. Japan, on the other hand, may gladly take the opportunity to stab the Soviets in the back whenever possible.

    Moreover, Japanese imperialism is slowly becoming more and more problematic, and their slogans about Asia for Asians betray their snootiness about the Empire's colonies and protectorates in the Far East. That is, another convergence with Poland, because actually what interest do the Poles have in the British ruling the Far East and India?

    After all, this is not just one country sharpening its teeth on British possessions either, Mussolini's Italy is getting tough in Ethiopia and Chamberlain is well aware that if the opportunity arose the Italians would move on Egypt and the Sudan to unite their colonies in Africa. For Poland it is also a benefit, they take another important route as well as resources for the Empire. Of course, there is the problem with Yugoslavia and Greece, Poland may consider these to be its sphere of influence and not want to cede them to the Italians but looking at their technological advantage. Chamberlain was more than sure they would sell the fascists more than a juicy carrot in exchange for the inviolability of these countries.

    The Duce would have to be an extreme idiot not to seize this opportunity to strengthen his forces.

    That is, in summary, if the Poles play their cards right, and this is not certain, although Chamberlain prefers to assume that they will. They can blow the Empire away with little effort, and here is the most important thing. War, in the long run will pay off for Poland, not Britain. For now they have their empire, resources and people much larger but at the same time they have to disperse these forces around the globe. Poland, for a change, all it actually has to do is a really long spear which it will then drive straight into the heart of the Empire.

    The only way to avoid the loss of the Empire is to avoid war in Europe and, above all, not to allow Britain to fight Poland. Indirectly and directly. This is something they can not win, not with so many unknowns due to the lack of full knowledge of Polish capabilities. Despite the staff of the Embassy of future Britain, of course Chamberlain was outraged by the fact that the ambassador is a woman, but her knowledge is more useful than complaints about her gender. Unfortunately, despite their advantages, they have the disadvantage of not having a historian at the embassy capable of helping them, hence one must approach their revelations with caution.

    Another way that is beyond Britain's capabilities is to assemble a coalition of the whole world against Poland. Of course, this is impossible because there are too many takers for the Empire to kick the bucket. Hence, the only way to avoid defeat is peace. War will simply accelerate and make Britain's collapse inevitable.

    "Well, Lord Halifax. The only way to stop Poland is to prevent it from grabbing the juiciest pieces. And the first piece we need to snatch from Polish paws is Germany." replied the Prime Minister to the question.

    Halifax nodded appreciatively. "Right, Germany must remain independent."

    "Exactly, Hitler may be a shabby and a pathological liar. But even he, too, realizes the situation in which he finds himself." added the Prime Minister without haste.

    "At the same time, we will prevent him from unleashing another brawl, with which we will also satisfy the demands of the rooms of the British people. Nothing like killing two birds with one stone, right?" Halifax noted.

    "That's right," replied Chamberlain with a smile then tapped his finger on the paper, "That's why, Mr. Morawiecki. It would have been better if I had made this mistake of trusting Hitler. Then you would have gotten rid of me. However, this did not happen, thanks to your warnings I was enlightened against the mistake. But I am not foolish enough to twice, get into the same cabal. Now you have won, but this is just the beginning."

    Halifax agreed with her superior, Poland has a lot to learn. For example, to sit quietly when no one asks her. Or at least he thought so at the time, unfortunately, as he later wrote in his memoirs. It was all illusions, our illusions.
     
    Desperate Benesh
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    October 17, 1938
    Third Republic of Poland
    Warsaw
    Żoliborz district


    This was a secluded office, neatly decorated. A small compact room,simple but comfortable desk without a computer, a comfortable chair to sitbehind it. On the walls, meanwhile, were photos, family photos, of course. One was special and hung in such a way that it was impossible to miss.

    It depicted two closely resembling men in togas, Benesh from what has learned the second man with the characteristic familiarity near his nose is the President's brother Lech, who died in the plane crash

    Both brothers seemed happy, not yet knowing what waiting for them.

    "You have known our country for many years, but you are asking for help for the first time. I don't remember from history lessons that Czechoslovakia was friendly towards PolandLet's be honest, you saw us as an obstacle and a rival to be destroyed. You did not want our friendship, but only a scapegoat to be sacrificed to Germany." spoke Prezes at last, after thinking about Benesh's request

    Benesh croaked "We needed this city. We didn't want to expose ourselves to the Germans."

    "I understand" countered Prezes, "Lack of rail lines to Slovakia. Need for safe transit to the Ocean. Fear of losing 1/3 of all territory and 40% of the entire economy. So you wanted to redirect German eyes to the East. While we were fighting the German Customs War, and the Bolsheviks in the East. You guys made money,got rich,and pressed on at Versailles. Not need our friendship, because it would have drawn attention to you Germany, Austria and dragged you into the war with the Soviets. At least you have enough decency not to come, so simply and demand help. Nevertheless, you do not ask respectfully, not offer friendship. We had to force you with the help of King Charles and more reasonable generals and politicians than you to come."

    Benesh remained silent without saying a word, it was really humiliating. He wasrebuked by Charles like a little child. This reveler and drunkard, instructed him how to do politics. It was he, with the help of people who should be loyal to him, who put him on the train to Warsaw.

    Not mean that it was so easy, on the contrary. He had to personally,go to the most important person in the Polish state. Not the Prime Minister, not the President. They both made it clear to him that he had toappear before the President. This wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the fact that the Prezes didn't know Czech and he didn't know Polish. Although the two languages are twinned, they are not mutually intelligible. So there was also with them an interpreter whose sole purpose was to translate when somethingthey could not understand.

    Despite everything, he was able to catch the derision and general outline of what he was accused of. He was forced to listen to slurs from Poles. Damn Poles, but the only ones capable of stopping Germany andwilling to do so.

    England, France put him to the wind, for nothing conspiracies, deals.It wasCzechoslovakia that was to be the first victim.

    "I see that you realize. Good. Very good."replied the Prezes noticing the silence. "Nonetheless, for your butthurt, you will come to pay. Do not think otherwise, but for now. You have arranged help, Poland will come." Benesh exulted but the Prezes raised a finger

    "Don't so soon, for now, I have one and only one request."

    "Which ones?" asked Benesh, hiding his irritation.

    "Agree to all the terms of the agreement, the Polish-Czechoslovak agreement onfriendship, cooperation and mutual assistance.Without any but, withoutany discussion. Just do it, and if it's bad for you, hand over power to the one who will do it without hesitation. Only then will justice be done." said the President

    "What if I don't?" asked Bensh hastily, annoyed by this nailing to the wall, although he realized what the answer would be.

    "Well, Czechoslovakia is more important than your ego. Right?" replied the Chairman.

    Benesh swallowed saliva, actually this Pole is right.There was no longer any reason for his subordinates to have any desire to play with him. Know very well that the West will not come to their aid and will only sell the mout to Hitler under the illusion of peace.

    " I understand Mr. President." replied Benesh, the desperation of wanting to survive likenot make a mistake that broke his career wasstronger than his anti-Polonism.

    At his luck, the President was content with the answer. Maybe will remain President of Czechoslovakia?
     
    Last edited:
    The Unsettled Frontier
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    November 8, 1938
    Second Republic of Poland
    Volyn Voivodship
    Hoszcza


    It was a special day, and there was a tense atmosphere throughout the post as well as in Hoszcza, a Polish town near the Polish-Soviet border. Everyone was expecting guests from the West. Guests from contemporary Poland.

    Hoszcza itself was an important town on the military map of the Second Republic, it was the garrison of the KOP*** Battalion
    "Hoszcza" which secured this section of the Polish-Soviet border. The town was not overly large, with barely a few thousand inhabitants.

    Corporal Stefan Hadas, waited with his unit on the parade ground in front of the KOP barracks. They had heard rumors about what the equipment of the future looked like, and the closer the day got, the more absurd they became.

    "I'm telling you, they can look at night just as well as day! They have such funny binoculars that they attach to their helmets," Ernest Wilmowski said excitedly.

    "So bright, and there are pears growing in the willow tree." Zygmunt Domagała quipped.

    "Silence!" commanded Hadas "They're coming!"

    The troops quieted down, some even held their breath, the powerful whirr of the engine could be heard clearly as it approached. Moments later, the column which was led by huge monsters with the word JELCZ on their hoods, drove into the garrison area. Immediately after them, small in comparison, box-like vehicles with wheels attached to them drove in.
    They pulled into a pre-prepared parking lot, then people began to come out of the truck loading zone. One couldn't help but notice that there weren't that many of them. Only from the small ones, a crowd began to come out.

    As soon as the guests assembled, the official part began. Hadas stood and waited until all the official part of the ceremony had passed, the officers exchanged the obvious formulas, the orchestra played more state songs. In short, the usual formalities. That's not to say it was boring, Hadas gazed curiously at the future Border Guard Poles.
    He was amazed to see women in uniform among them.

    "I see that they are spinning poorly, if the women to the guard have to take." spoke up quietly Domagala.

    "I wonder if these ladies know what they are signing up for? The Bolsheviks would love to grab a couple of them for their amusement." Konrad Michalski said.

    "Quiet, we'll find out later!" ordered Hadas.

    As soon as the roll call ended and it was announced that as of today, Hoscha and all the forces of order were incorporated into the Third Polish Republic. The KOP itself remained but already as a special formation within the Border Guard to protect the Polish-Soviet borderlands. Hadas and his men had a chance to get acquainted with the newcomers from the future.
    More specifically, they had to give them a tour of their border post.

    KOP post "Paszuki"

    This post, was located near the village from which it took its name. The village itself, was a typical borderland village. Inhabited by Ruthenians, not yet Ukrainians, the road to and through it was a dirt road of really miserable quality, which should not be surprising in the entire Second Republic, there were few roads even paved and certainly not in the Borderlands. Only the fact that the first snow fell and the winter season began makes getting there by car not problematic.

    The village itself was barely two kilometers from the border. In practice, one could easily see the Soviet Union from inside the village. There was no border crossing in the area, the dirt road broke off just outside the village. Not far from the post.

    The KOP guard at the post whistled at the sight of Corporal Hadas getting out of the off-roader, as the future Poles called the car.

    "Corporal, what is this marvel?" cried one of the soldiers, clearly fascinated by the vehicle.

    "An all-terrain vehicle, of the brand... Toyota?" replied Hadas looking at Platoon Sergeant Wilhelm Kowalski of the Border Guard, who was driving the car.

    "Yes, it's Toyota. Japanese equipment, Japanese quality." replied Kowalski

    Meanwhile, another of the Guardians nodded as he saw the small wooden post. Earlier, he commented on the village of Paszuki.

    "What a mess. Terrible poverty here!" he inspected the interior "They don't even have electricity, how do they communicate with the world?"

    The Kopmen sitting at the post squawked, "What do you mean? With a goon, electricity is only for the Garrison in Hoszcz. Half the province has no access to electricity and you expect there to be electricity at the border." Then he added after a moment seeing the look on this Guard's face "Surprised?"

    "Well, yes." Replied the Guardian "But with your accent, you don't sound like a Pole."

    "Because I'm not one?" replied Kopmen "I'm German" he explained his accent "Private Heinrich Wolf." he added informing and shaking hands.

    The guard reciprocated the greeting, "Ironically, theoretically I am also German. Senior Private of the Border Guard Michal Muller." he added after the greeting.

    "Really?" quipped Wolf "You don't sound like that."

    "Well if from childhood the only language you speak is Polish, it would be hard not to sound like a Pole," he said.

    "Interesting, may I know why..." asked Wolf but then entered the post Platoon Sergeant Kowalski "Private Muller!" he called out

    "And you second... What do you call you?

    "Private Heinrich Wolf".

    "Private Wolf," repeated Kowalski, "to the car. You need to take the aggregate off it, and put it in a safe place. To work." After which he left.

    Wolf looked at Muller "Who was that?"

    "My superior, Platoon Sergeant Wilhelm Kowalski." explained Muller

    "Always so ruthless?"

    "Yes."

    "Aha," replied Wolf, "Well, nothing, let's go before he decides to remember us."

    Muller agreed with Wolf.

    The work to prepare the Post to receive the additional men, along with their equipment, stretched into the evening. Although most Poles were engaged to prepare the Post and integrate it into the defense structures of the Third Republic, the border guards were not neglected. Patrols along the border continued at all times, each consisting of half of Border Guards and Kopmen.

    In this way, they were to get acquainted with each other in action, as well as learn from each other.
    Wolf and Muller's patrol took place towards evening, they were just returning from their rounds to exchange with the new team. They had already managed to get acquainted, the conversation was getting overly sticky for the two.

    "... And then the jar breaks." concludes Muller's story, Wolf grabbed his face not knowing whether he should laugh or vomit in disgust.

    "Holy shit, what are you guys doing in this future? How... crazy do you have to be to do something like this, record it and still show it off to the world?" finally said Wolf when he found the right words.

    "You have to be attentive." Muller replied.

    "With what?" quipped Wolf, never having heard such a word before.

    "You know, an attentive person. A person who wants to get attentiveness at all costs. Attention." Muller explained
    Wolf caught the point. "That is, a narcissist."

    "Well not really, narcissism is more about over-focusing on judgments and reacting very negatively if they are bad. Atencius simply wants to be talked about, no matter how, as long as he is talked about." countered Muller

    "Aha," said Wolf, "All in all, it's like Hitler. Talks to be talked about."

    "More or less, although the difference is that Painter wants to convince people of himself. Saying controversial things that don't convince, acutely would not help him in that way."

    "Right," agreed Wolf, "Just speaking of Germans, since we are on the subject. Can you explain why you said you were German in theory? I know this much that Hitler miscalculated and lost and Poland reaches all the way to the Oder though at the expense of the Borderlands. How come you have no problems with Germany?"

    Muller sighed before replying, "You see, after the war there was a series of forced resettlements. The Germans were expelled from these lands in large majority although many had already fled from the Red Army and never returned, the only ones left were those who were either autochthons or had declared their wish before a Polish office and were given permission to stay. One of them was my grandfather and grandmother. Nonetheless, during the communist period, efforts were made to denationalize Germans, and many left as there was an opportunity to do so for West Germany both during and after the communist era. Those who did not do so are usually such polonized Germans that we are more of a dyed-in-the-wool minority who do not know the speech of our grandparents than we are really Germans. Our grandparents were forced to learn Polish and in many homes Polish was spoken out of fear of Poles and in an attempt to erase the past. Some after the fall of communism decided to reverse this, taking advantage of the fact that we already have a democratic and free Poland like my colleague Jakub but many either left or just gave up and decided that all in all we are Poles just pretending to reach for money from Germany."
    Wolf remained silent, not knowing very much what to say. It took a while before he said, "Sad, although it's actually quite obvious. After all, we murdered so many, it's no wonder that everything was done to mollify the remaining Germans."

    He then asked Muller the question "And you, who are you?"

    Muller looked at him, "All in all, a Pole."

    Wolf wondered "Why?"

    "Well," sighed Muller, "It turns out that so many years of separation from Germany, living in a country built by a completely different way of thinking. It has made in the case of our family that Germany, is unbearable to live there. Honestly, I don't know what so many Poles see in this country. Germans always get mad and try to discipline anyone not progressive enough. These days? Communism and Nazism. In mine? Liberalism and environmentalism."

    "So it turned out that, you felt foreign in Germany but at home in Poland?" concluded Wolf.

    "Yes," agreed Muller.

    "It happens anyway." replied Wolf "Do you know exactly how many Germans there are in future Poland?"

    "Well, according to a recent survey, Germans in the general sense are about 132,500 of which as Germans per se and not as a second identity as in my case is barely 38,000."

    "That's... pretty low." Wolf noted.

    "That's right, most of us are Poles first and then..." he interrupted when he heard bushes rustling. They both reacted quickly to the source of the sound by falling to the ground, immediately followed by their two other colleagues.

    "Scheiße, wo sind diese bolschewistischen Bastarde? "* asked Wolf poetically in German.

    "Ahead of us, 200 meters, azimuth 73 degrees." replied an undaunted Muller also informing over the radio. "Well, and turn on your night vision, we gave you a piece." advised Wolf.

    Wolf paused for a moment before he caught what was going on. He quickly put the night vision device over his eyes, fortunately the model he was wearing didn't bite into the Kopmen's cap, then turned it on.

    "Ein verdammt nützliches Ding. Ich kann die Bastarde wie meinen Handrücken sehen.**"

    "Speak Polish, Heinrich." replied Muller with a giggle at Wolf's statement.
    Wolf just looked at him or at least tried to, unfortunately his vision was obscured by the night vision so he couldn't show his face in all its glory. Therefore, Muller shook his head amused, before focusing again on the crawling Bolsheviks.

    "Fucking bastards, they had all day to try their hardons. No, fuck, they had to just when it was me having an outing." said Muller quietly complaining.

    "Welcome to the Borderlands. It's never peaceful here." replied Wolf, well aware of what Muller felt.
    He then patted Muller down and signaled him to move closer to the crawling Soviets. Muller caught on to what was going on, then moved behind Wolf. Both of them moved forward very slowly and carefully, taking advantage of the advantage that night vision gave them. Meanwhile, their colleagues were relaying the report of the contact.

    As soon as they found a better position, Wolf proceeded to observe and Muller reported. "Muller to 163, we have identified the contact. All infantry platoon, forty-eight men. Over."

    Silence fell, and it took some time before they got an answer. By this time the Bolsheviks, had spread out and Muller and Wolf could overhear the NKVD soldiers talking among themselves.
    Of the two, only Wolf knew Russian.

    "Nothing interesting, the usual soldier wailing. Not a word as to why they are here." relayed a disappointed Wolf, to Muller.

    "I think they heard us. That's why they are cautious." presented his vision to Muller. Meanwhile, the other two, digger Stefan Zacheta and guard Karol Wasik, had reached them.

    "And what?" asked Wasik.

    "We are waiting for an answer. There are some here." replied Muller before the radio crackled.

    "163 to Muller, repeat. Contact is Infantry Platoon, strength forty-eight? Over."

    "Muller to 163, repeat. Contact identified, infantry platoon, forty-eight men. Over."

    "Understood. Stand by for orders, out." snapped the radio. Silence followed.

    "We could have knocked them out, where the fuckers won't even see what killed them." Wasik said.

    "Calm down Wasik, we only have two Beryls and two Mausers. Of which you have a hopeless target and our two colleagues don't know how to shoot with night vision." replied Muller, nipping in the bud any foolish ideas. "Isn't that right, Corporal?" he turned to Zachary.

    "True, we are waiting for orders." Encouragingly, he agreed with Muller. Besides, he didn't even have the foggiest idea how to shoot a rifle while wearing this thing over his eyes. Yes it was damn useful, he could see each of the Bolsheviks no worse than in daylight, although he needed time to get used to the ubiquitous green. He even felt sorry that he couldn't shoot now, the four of them would have shot everyone.

    After a moment, the radio crackled again transmitting orders. "163 to Muller, avoid fighting, respond with fire only if detected, do not break contact, follow him until support arrives. Over."

    "Roger, out." Muller replied, then looked at the rest. Without words, everyone understood what was going on. They spread out wider, so that in case of detection they could support each other with fire and the Bolsheviks couldn't take care of everyone right away and waited.

    They waited for the Bolsheviks to move, the Bolsheviks soon moved west. The Poles quietly relayed what the Bolsheviks were doing to the post. Undaunted, they followed the Bolsheviks, keeping far enough away from them so that the Bolsheviks would not become aware of their presence but close enough to have them within earshot.

    Very soon Muller realized that an NKVD unit was trying to sneak west of Pashuky and attack the post itself from that direction. His suspicions were confirmed when Wolf informed him that the Bolsheviks were talking about attacking the village. The only village nearby was actually Paszuki.

    Fortunately, he didn't have to bother with it too much. Muller's radio quickly crackled and Kowalski's bass voice sounded "Get down!". Muller fell to the ground without hesitation, and the other three did the same. The next command was "Hold your fire, we will deal with the Bolsheviks ourselves."

    "Understood, we will hold our fire." replied Muller, then clinging to the ground waited for the shooting to begin. He didn't have to wait long, and after a while the scramble was unleashed.

    Before the Bolsheviks had time to react, the Polish guards, hidden in the darkness, opened fire, depriving half of them of their lives in a salvo. The commander surprisingly survived, so he quickly tried to restore order but very quickly had to fold and fly directly to the ground.

    The advantage in fire provided by automatic rifles over ordinary Mosins was astounding. Many Bolsheviks thought they were under heavy machine gun fire. They unwillingly tried to respond with fire at first, but such were killed very quickly.

    Before Muller had time to realize after a while there was silence, and the Bolshevik's pleas to cease fire could already be heard clearly. First, the officer did so gently, raising his hands in the air; Muller, who could see him perfectly from behind, had the impression that the Soviet in question had shit his pants.

    "We surrender! We surrender Poles!" he called out in broken Polish with clear hysteria in his voice. He was followed by the cries of the surviving Bolsheviks who, like the commander, raised themselves with their hands in the air. The slurred cries for help and moans of pain of the wounded could also be heard.

    After a long while Muller heard the voice of the local post commander Hadas calling out in Russian. He was saying something sharply to the Bolsheviks, which he guessed from the fact that the Bolsheviks were vividly signaling that they had discarded their weapons and had begun to gather in line toward their officer.

    As soon as they accomplished this, Muller heard a short "Understood" Encouragement followed by the Corporal calling out

    "Check the battlefield for anyone taking cover and gather the weapons in one place."

    Muller promptly carried out the order, by the way he could see the havoc the Polish ambush had caused. Each of the Bolsheviks killed had a puzzled face. As soon as it was confirmed that no one was hiding, they proceeded to help the wounded and organize the captives into a column. After a while, the clearing became completely clear, Muller had to take the night vision out of his eyes. Only now did he notice the cars standing nearby illuminating the clearing. Also everyone had turned on a flashlight or even thrown a few flares.

    The Bolsheviks only now realized how close the Poles were to them. Muller may not have spoken Russian, but he knew well the typical Russian "Yop your mother" and the rest of the sentence which most likely read "how did they sneak up on us?" he guessed from the context.

    Nevertheless, one of the wounded Bolsheviks whom he was helping to carry onto the stretcher called out in good Polish,

    "Someone you!"

    "What do you mean who? The Polish Border Guard. Comrade." Muller replied.

    "You don't look like humans." replied the Bolshevik, "No human being should also be able to see so well in the dark."

    "However, this is how it is. Comrade." spoke up another guard, "We can see, we can hear, and we will get you even if you dangle underground."

    To this the Bolshevik no longer had an answer.

    *Fuck, where are these Bolshevik mongrels?

    ** Useful damn thing. I can see these mongrels like the back of my hand.

    ***Abbreviation for Korpus Ochrony Pogranicza/Border Protection Corps
     
    Absorption of the Second Republic
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    November 11, 1938
    Third Republic of Poland
    (Podkarpackie) Subcarpathian Voivodeship
    Lwów


    Residents of Lwów gathered in crowds along the main road, or Legion Street, west of Market Square. Today was a special day, it was not just a celebration of independence, for Lwowians it was the twentieth anniversary of its recovery and the second held on November 11, it was also the day of the official incorporation of the lands of the former Second Republic into the Third Republic.

    The radio station in Lwów as well as throughout the Borderlands broadcast from Warsaw where the official ceremony of the incorporation of the Borderlands reigned as well as the one hundred and fifth anniversary of independence. On behalf of the Second Republic, the annexation document was signed by Provisional President Edward Rydź-Smigły. Along with him were all the governors, bishops and other important officials and dignitaries.

    Moreover, a military parade was held that day, both in Warsaw and in every major city in the Borderlands. The Army of Second Polish Republic in Warsaw was represented by soldiers of the 1st Legion Infantry Division. For many of them, the adoration and curiosity they evoked in future Poles was pleasantly tickled. By the way, easing the culture shock.

    As they marched, honorably right behind the representative regiment as the first soldiers. Again and again they heard from the Poles arriving in Warsaw from all over Poland as well as from the Warsovians themselves just three words but what great words.

    "Honor and Glory to the HEROS!"

    Some hearing these words couldn't help but shrug. Others smiled hearing these words, well end from their descendants. They were as proud as peacocks.

    In Lwów, on the other hand, there was a somewhat less spectacular parade. The Warsaw one was not only for propaganda use for ordinary Poles. Officers from all over the world, from every superpower and ordinary country, separately as well as in groups, came to see what the 21st century Military is armed with.

    That's why specially the best units with their equipment were brought down to march through Wisłostrada*. A particularly important group were German officers who could watch in horror the fully armored and mechanized army.

    And in the Borderlands? Less spectacular units were chosen, intended only to represent the Polish Army. The unit that visited Lwów was the 21st Podhale Rifle Brigade from nearby Rzeszow.

    Together with the 5th Infantry Division, stationed in the city under the command of Brigadier General Juliusz Zaulauf, they marched proudly through the city greeted with ovations by the people of Lwów. First, of course, marched the soldiers they knew, and then came the Highlanders in their distinctive uniforms.

    Then the demonstration of technology began, the whole thing was commented live by an officer of the 21st Brigade who explained to the watching Poles, Ukrainians, Jews and other residents of Lwów and the surrounding area what the equipment was. Although, admittedly, the more eager could take a look at several vehicles standing nearby on the plantations between Legion Street (where the parade took place) and Hetmanska Street. Soldiers were happy to talk about their military equipment. Everyone could see a Beryl, a UKM-2000 and a typical military vehicle.

    Nevertheless, the queue of those who wanted to attend was huge, so that most were forced to get a taste and look at the military vehicles from behind the barriers. On the occasion of this parade, many had the opportunity to see a piece of modern technology. Appropriate equipment for the occasion was lent by the nearby city and capital of the Subcarpathian voivodeship, Rzeszow.

    And here let's pause for a moment, as few people know. Podkarpackie voivodeship did not exist during the Second Republic, why? Because all of Podkarpackie, well almost all of it, the current one further west, is de facto the former Lwów voivodeship.

    After World War II and the change of borders, the former voivodeship lost its capital, but due to a decree of the communist puppet government, the pre-war territorial division of Poland was restored. Given the narrative in effect at the time and the pretense that the Borderlands were not Polish, such a paradoxical situation occurred that the official name in documents was the Voivodeship with its capital in Rzeszów.

    After going back in time and starting integration. The issue of precisely the Lwów and Podkarpackie voivodeships was one of the most problematic. The second such issue was with Podlaskie voivodeship. Although there it was so much simpler that Podlaskie was simply a limited former Białystok voivodeship. Białystok had already been the local capital before World War II, so after discussions it was decided that there was no point in separating the eastern counties too much or incorporating them into a neighboring province, and they were rejoined to their voivodeship, with a new name of course.

    Here the matter was complicated, Lwów was a large and important city. The third largest in terms of population in the Second Polish Republic and the traditional capital of these lands. On the other hand, Rzeszów, through all these years of being the capital, became not much smaller than Lwów, and because of its modernity it has all the necessary facilities, those in Lwów had to be built from scratch.

    Various variants were proposed, combining the remnants of Lwów with Tarnopol and Stanisławów and making them into one large Ruthenia voivodeship, thus resurrecting the former province from the First Republic. There was also a more truncated variant of the above by merging it with one of the two voivodeships. The most common proposal was to Stanisławów as the poorer one.

    The local governors did not want to agree to these proposals, arguing most often that this would upset the balance of power and Lwów, as an already large metropolis, would simply start sucking more people out of the provinces at the expense of Tarnopol and Stanisławów.

    And the proposal for the smallest voivodeship was refused by the Lwów voivode Alfred Biłyk because it would have made Lwów a voivodeship with too little power and strength. Eventually, after a long perturbation, it was agreed that the remnants of Lwów would reunite with Podkarpackie, but on the basis of the principles prevailing in provinces such as Kujawsko-Pomorskie or Lubuskie. That is, dual capital, division of responsibilities between the two cities. Separation of the provincial assembly and the governor's office. Rzeszów was to have a sejmik and Lwów a voivode.

    Rzeszów was to take over local administration, Lwów state administration. Nonetheless, it was decided that the existing governors (although Biłyk himself became vice-governor) would continue in office until future local elections, which, due to the state of emergency, were postponed until 2025 so that they would not take place simultaneously with the parliamentary elections, which were scheduled to take place in 2024, but at the end of the year.

    The most satisfied with the whole situation was Ewa Leniart, who kept her current post of Podkarpackie voivode, while another satisfied person was the President, because he did not lose his party's permanent base in Podkarpackie, but actually expanded it with a city that is rich by the standards of the Second Republic, with a strongly developed academic and cultural base.

    But this was not the concern of a typical Lwowian, for them it was a mere brawl upstairs. On that day, by the way, it was not worth mentioning, just some woman came, made a speech in which she was glad that Lwów had joined the Podkarpackie region, wanting to cooperate and develop the city. She said something about some sort of bypass around the city, a highway connecting Lwów with Rzeszow and leading to Romania, some strange and unfamiliar things to the common man.

    Such a man was Antony Jędrzejewski, a third-grade middle school student. He was a simple young boy, living his typical life. Interested in today, he came to Legion Street with his classmates to look at the future Polish Army.

    Just now he was looking in awe and enchantment at the column of moving vehicles. Focused on them, he fished with his ear for a speaking announcer with the typical lack of accent or at least a strongly neutral accent for future Poles.

    "This, ladies and gentlemen, is the BWP-1 column - our basic and unfortunately obsolete model of BWP-type vehicles, which means Combat Infantry Vehicle. Fortunately, already in production are their successors, the BWP Borsuk which, as one of the most modern in the world, are to replace them. Nevertheless, the BWP-1 itself is not some bad design, what is obsolete, but when it was introduced it was an innovative and ahead of its time machine. It was from these vehicles that the very concept of this type of machine that are infantry fighting vehicles emerged."

    Jedrzejewski stared at the really low-lying box, wondering how those tall Podhale soldiers fit in it. After all, he had seen what a future Polish soldier with full equipment looked like, he really couldn't imagine how one could get in while already being so tall let alone with so much equipment!

    Meanwhile, the announcer continued his argument, "And what are Infantry Fighting Vehicles? Ladies and gentlemen, this is a machine that not only transports soldiers to the battlefield safely from the offensive fire of enemy artillery as well as machine guns inside itself, but also itself supports with the fire of its 73-millimeter cannon these soldiers in battle."

    "A useful thing, if we had such machines. Then no Muscovite, Bolshevik or Ukrainian would be cheaply terrible and they would shit themselves." exclaimed the older man. Jędrzejewski knew him, it was Mr. Adolf Pączek, a local baker, a veteran of the Great War and the defense of Lwów and the Polish-Bolshevik War.

    "Are you serious Mr. Pączek?" he was asked by Jędrzejewski's colleague Stanislaw Wilmowski.

    "Yes, Staś. It would help us a lot, it's harder to get a bullet, shrapnel is not scary." replied Pączek then added in a seemingly theatrical whisper, "Well, and you don't have to walk so much to get somewhere, the machine will take you everywhere."

    The boys giggled.

    Then, as the last of the BWP-1s drove by, a miracle machine appeared to Jedrzejewski's eyes. He had not seen it before, among the machines spread out in the square between the streets. It was a huge boxy machine, it was almost as big as a train. It consisted of two boxes superimposed on each other, driven by tracks. It carried a cannon that should have been placed on some ship or train, he had never seen such a long cannon, in any book. I guess only siege mortars riding on rails, fortress cannons were bigger but none were both skinny and long.

    "Here before you, the pride of Polish armaments. Battle-tested by the heroic Ukrainians defending themselves against the Russian barbaria denying their existence, giving them great favors. Krab self-propelled cannon howitzer. The conqueror of the Russians! Accurate, fast and simple in operation and simple in production. It coped in the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II, it will also cope in this one!" said the announcer proudly.

    Of course, Lwowians had their opinions about the heroic Ukrainians, although the fact was that they agreed that these future Ukrainians had the right to defend themselves against the Russian onslaught. Although it should be noted that they distinguished between these future and present Ukrainians in their minds. Nevertheless, the pride with which the announcer spoke of the equipment made everyone stare intently at the monsters on the move.

    You could feel the otherness, it stood out from the BRMD-2 reconnaissance vehicles, it was much larger than the BWP-1. Those there had a kind of closeness in their clumsiness. The crabs? It was space, futurism incarnate. They even screamed, I'm from the future.

    Only four vehicles passed by, but for Jedrzejewski there might as well have been a thousand of them. He stared at them as if captivated and was displeased that as soon as they appeared they disappeared.

    Mr. Pączek noticed the longing memory in Jedrzejewski's eyes. "You liked the Krabs what?"

    "Yes," replied Jędrzejewski gravely, now the M120 Rak self-propelled mortars were passing by, these did not make such a furore as the Krab. Yes, it was an interesting piece of equipment, it also screamed the future, but it was not a Krab. The announcer, moreover, also seemed to speak less emotionally.

    "Well, the matter is rather simple. Learn math, learn to drive a car. Then when you are an adult then enlist in the army asking to be drafted into the Artillery. Knowing life, when you are an adult there will be such monsters driving in the 5th Division." replied Pączek, showing the otherwise obvious path to becoming an artilleryman.

    "Sure," replied an inconsolable Jedrzejewski, for him it was a clash with reality. To be pulled down to earth, to be reminded that he is still a child and children are not given such toys. Well, and that in order to become more than an infantryman with a rifle you need something more. One has to work.

    "Don't give him such advice," spoke up Wilmowski, "Because the poor boy will cry that he has to work. He hardly wants to do his homework and already he wants to go to the artillery!"

    "With mathematics, on the other hand, with him is crumbling." added another colleague, Andrzej Nowak, "Constantly twos and twos**. Artilleryman must be able to count."

    "Okay, okay boys." replied Nowak reassuringly, "Since Antoś wants to be an artilleryman so much, he finally has a good reason to apply himself to math." he looked at Jedrzejewski with a sympathetic gaze.

    The boy, on the other hand, seeing this look, could not but reply, "Yes Mr. Adolf! From wanting, begins being able!"
    "Well said, Antoś. Well said." agreed the man.

    *Wisłostrata - An expressway that runs through Warsaw. It was built in the 1970s, and part of it runs along the left bank of the Vistula River, hence the name Wisłostrada. What Vistula Highway means. Although it is only an expressway and not a full-fledged highway.


    **Poland has a system of grading by numbers. Currently it is from 1 (worst) to 6 (best). You have to have at least a 2 to pass but not in the Second Republic. 1's and 6's were introduced only in the 1990's, before that the grading scale was from 2-5. So our Antoś constantly has problems with math, although he passes to the next grade only by improving on every exam.
     
    Last edited:
    Miracle in Bumar
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    November 20, 1938
    Third Republic of Poland
    Silesian Voivodeship
    Gliwice


    "... This is exactly what we were talking about, Minister." engineer Karol Świerkowski spoke up, pointing to the contents of the container. "Mr. Engineer Szewczenko (Shevchenko) has been drying my head for several weeks, he kept telling me that they had already dismantled the line and it had been transported to Poland. I said I didn't know anything about it, he in turn told me to find out. Only after a sharp search did I manage to find the missing transport from Kharkov he was talking about."

    Błaszczak nodded then in an irritated tone, which surprised Świerkowski because Błaszczak was known for his mastery of the basics, he asked, "So, you needed as much as two months. To realize that the most important element of our agreement with the Ukrainians as far as the 'service center' in Bumar is concerned, however, is in Poland?"

    There was a good reason for this outburst of anger in the minister. Ever since the May Affair, where he tried to pin the blame on the Armed Forces Operational Commander, General Piotrowski, he had been threatened. He was eventually baked, nevertheless from then on he was under the constant supervision of the President who made it clear to him that he was his man for special tasks. Not the next Prime Minister or President. If he messes up that nasty again and tries to blame it on someone else in an emergency situation, he will be kicked off the stool of minister and deputy prime minister.

    And now that Poland was in its biggest crisis in centuries? Ineptitude will end his career.

    "More accurately, one, and that's less than one." Swierkowski replied.

    "It doesn't matter," Błaszczak whined, "What is important in this whole situation is the current critical state of the state. You failed to fulfill your duties as chief engineer, and it took a stubborn Ukrainian with his men to bring you and your subordinates down to earth."

    "But it's the management..." Świerkowski objected, but Błaszczak wasn't going to listen to this nonsense.

    He pointed a finger at him and replied, "No buts, you know very well how much the management is worth. Half of them are friends and acquaintances of the rabbit. They were put here for political reasons. It should be on your shoulders, and your sense of decency, to want to maintain competence so that it makes sense to maintain this establishment in the long run. We are not loading money here for you to make farts, this plant has gained a bad reputation in both the Defense Ministry and the PGZ for a reason."

    Well Świerkowski couldn't object, Bumar-Łabędy gained a reputation as a weak plant not without reason. The inept management and blatant sabotage done over the years plunged the whole thing into misery, but if the employees had been more willing to work and willing to defend the plant against blatant acts of undermining the position, they wouldn't have ended up in a state that they can barely repair T-72s and basic service for Leopard 2s.

    Most likely, it would have continued to vegetate, after all, the production of K2PL was to be handled by the Military Automotive Works in Poznań, but the war in Ukraine and the subsequent forced suspension of tank production in Kharkov provided an opportunity to change the current situation.

    Unfortunately, the Russians proved successful enough to nullify Ukraine's potential to produce T-64 tanks as well as repair them. For this reason, a plan was born to move the production of these vehicles elsewhere. Initially it was to be Western Ukraine, but the Poles came up with another proposal.

    Namely, to transfer the Kharkov Factory with its crew and surviving production lines to Bumar under the guise of a Service Center for T-64 tanks. Bumar was ultimately to be left out anyway, after all T-72s and Leopards 2 were to eventually disappear from the Polish Army and thus the plant was losing its raison d'être because another, much better factory was to produce K2PL and so it was getting a chance to continue operating.

    The Ukrainians, after long and hard talks, finally agreed to this solution. This way they were getting a plant that could safely produce equipment for Ukraine, as well as repair it. When they agreed to this, it came very easily that, on balance, Bumar could be put to better use and another production line of Krabs and, in the future, Borsuks could be established here. Thus relieving the burden on HSW which had all too many orders to complete them in a realistic timeframe.

    Hence, immediately after the Polish-Ukrainian agreement, where the most important elements were kept strictly secret so that the Russians would not find out, money began to be pumped in to modernize and expand the plants. It is necessary to end with the relics of the old era and enter a new era.

    One of the most important pieces of this whole puzzle, was the handing over by the Ukrainian side of copies of technical documentation for the production of engines for T-64 tanks, along with the production line of this most important and integral component of such a system as a tank.

    Błaszczak did not know if the whole thing had already been delivered, after all, first the documentation went, then, the whole line had to be carefully and safely exported so that the Russians would not catch on that the Ukrainians were taking it out of Kharkov. After all, it's too tasty a morsel not to destroy it.

    "Anyway, I don't think I need to tell you. How valuable a capability and what confidence have the Ukrainians placed in us by transporting the engine production line here?" Blaszczak added to his tirade.

    "Well it's just that they are, old..." replied the engineer but the minister stopped him.

    "So what if they are old! They are! They can be manufactured! Well, and above all, improve them! We got good results from such work. We got some of their armored cars that they had problems with to bring them up to scratch and we did what they asked us to do. What's the problem to cooperate and check what went wrong with their engines? After all, this is how we wanted to get around MTU's stubbornness and have a plan B for the engines for K2PL."

    "Well, fact." agreed Swierkowski, although Blaszczak cut it tightly he was right.

    "That's why I wish that the production line of these engines will release its first newly built unit in eight months at the latest." the minister added.

    The engineer's eyes almost fell out of his eye sockets. "In eight months at the latest? Minister, that's not..."

    Błaszczak interrupted him, "It's possible, I heard recently from Marshal Rydź that it took them eight months to build an entire production line of 37 millimeter Bofors anti-tank guns from scratch based on Swedish documentation. And by the time the Swedes delivered the first twenty, ours had already managed to get several hundred of these guns off the line. It's enough to want. So if our grandparents were able to do it, you will be able to do it too. You even have it easier, because the crew producing them is mostly in place, there is a whole production line. I expect that in a year the whole line will be working like a dream. Understood?"

    "Yes, Minister," replied the engineer, knowing there was no other answer.

    "Good," replied Błaszczak contentedly. "I'll be the one to collect, in case of problems call right away. We're up against the wall so no stupid 'can't do'. I don't feel like listening to these foolish excuses either in the Army or the armory. Clear?"

    Świerkowski nodded.

    "I haven't heard."

    "Clear as day, Mr. Minister!"

    Błaszczak smiled, patted the engineer on the right shoulder then added in a whisper in his ear

    "I hope I have not already heard from you and this plant again, I forgot by accident. Otherwise, I will have to discuss it with the Chairman."

    Świerkowski's shivers went through his body, the tone with which the minister uttered it sounded identical to that of a mafioso making an offer he couldn't refuse.

    "I hope so too, sir." he added humbly. Blaszczak only continued to smile. Then he walked off in his own direction, straight to his office to presumably drop a bomb on Ms. Chairman Edyta Szymańska.

    "Damn," muttered the engineer as soon as the minister disappeared around the corner. "I had a feeling he was going to rip my head off..." he paused with this thought for a while longer "No, he'll rip my head off if I don't manage it!" he remarked with dismay "Besides, what am I saying! The Soviets and Germans will do it too if we fuck up."

    With this thought, he recognized that the period of leisure is over. It is necessary to really get to work. "Eight months" pondered Swierkowski "Well, nothing, let's do it!" he added trying to add to his desire to do it.

    Meanwhile, the minister, walking to the President's office, wanting to present her with the President's will to embrace and see to this mess, pulled out his phone and called. After a while, his caller answered.

    "Hello?"

    "Good news Mateusz, one of the most persistent problems has solved itself. The Ukrainian tank engine line has found itself. You just need to put up a hall, embrace the research team and get to work. Something has to power our Borsuks, Twardys and so on." Blaszczak communicated without further ado.

    "I understand," replied the Prime Minister, "I will take care of it, immediately. Anything else?"

    "No, that's all." Błaszczak replied.

    "I understand, goodbye," the PM ended the call after which he hung up.

    The Prezes's man for special tasks, set out to perform another task.
     
    Czechoslovak Backwardness
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    December 6, 1938

    Republic of Czechoslovakia

    Prague



    Since Benesh agreed to the Polish proposal for cooperation, there was a collective relief on the Staff.

    The new, longest border with Poland, became secure and the Czechoslovak army could count on some support and gained operational depth.

    Mutual cooperation between the Polish and Czechoslovak staffs proceeded very quickly. Not surprisingly, despite the cool relations at the state level, Czech military officers were more far-sighted and foresighted than the country's ruling elite.

    They had good relations as well as successful cooperation with Poles. Now they simply needed to deepen it with the future Poles. In turn, these were even more willing and easier to cooperate with than those of the time.

    As soon as the last obstacle to real cooperation fell, contact was immediately established beginning joint operational planning for war with Germany.

    During those weeks, more than a dozen working visits were made to both countries. Each of them dealt with a different important issue, although unfortunately most of them were very basic and concerned the development of appropriate cooperation procedures along the lines of those in NATO.

    Only now has a discussion begun on the flaws of the Czechoslovak Armed Forces and how to remedy them quickly.

    One of them was the subject of today's visit.

    "Today we will deal with," began General Andrzejczak confidently, "an issue, an extremely pressing one that we should deal with first as soon as cooperation is established although for reasons known to us it had to give way to other formalities."

    "Any again?" Asked the intrigued Chief of General Staff of the Czechoslovak Army Ludvik Krejci.

    "I received a report a few days ago from our team of historians regarding the shortcomings of your Army, and the one that was extremely pressing according to them was the issue of Air Defense and the Air Force."

    "I understand," replied the Czech. He realized that this was something that was casting a shadow over his army. Nevertheless, he wanted to find out how much, so that he could later give Syrova a solution under his nose.

    "What lessons have they learned?"

    Andrzejczak made an ungainly face, lacking suitably diplomatic words.

    "The conclusions they drew, to put it very lightly, give us a picture of an air defense that doesn't actually exist."

    Krejci looked at him in wonder. He wasn't sure if he heard correctly. "Can you repeat it?"

    Andrzejczak complied with the request. The Czech assured that he had not misheard himself fell silent. He tapped his fingers on the table top before replying.

    "I understand that the problem is primarily AA cannons and fighters?"

    Andrzejczak clicked his tongue lightly.

    "Actually, fighters are the least of the problems, well directed they can be effective. The problem lies in the cannons and, above all, in the organization of the whole system. Actually, it has to be built from scratch."

    "The system?" Puzzled Krejci "What's wrong with the current one?"

    "Actually everything," Andrzejczak noted, "Anti-aircraft artillery separated only territorially by which it cannot defend land units in the field. Only cities and factories, nevertheless, even their defense should be put in quotation marks. With such a variety of calibers and general backwardness in this area, it seems a breakneck task."

    Krejci croaked, "I see."

    "That's why you get our Bofors 40mm guns from the Borderlands units. And so we were going to withdraw them in favor of the 23-millimeter and 35-millimeter anti-aircraft guns currently being produced in Poland as part of the unification of armaments. " Andrzejczak explained.

    "We will get your Bofors?" said Krejci "But probably not for free?" he added after a moment.

    "Let's say that your payment to us will be to increase the operational effectiveness of your air defense." replied the Pole evasively.

    "Intriguing" countered Krejci "Well, what about aviation? Airplanes are rather outdated, aren't they?"

    "They may be outdated, but this shortcoming can still be mitigated. We on the slightly better P.11c but with a much better command system and in conditions of desperate defense achieved quite good results. Your air force, on the other hand, is larger than ours in 39 by somehow three times." Replied Andrzejczak, Krejci smiled at the mention of the latter.

    "Nevertheless, as I said we, with a much better command system, were able to use our small potential to achieve quite good results. In your case, with all due respect, but if there had been a war between us in the 1930s, our air force would have blown yours away without much of a challenge." concluded Andrzejczak's argument, wiping away Krejci's smile.

    "You must be exaggerating, it's not that bad..." objected the Czech.

    "There it is, all of your numerical potential is stifled by the fact that you have dispersed your aircraft among many land units, creating them into micro-divisions at the disposal of army division commanders. This makes them disorganized and tied to these divisions and a few aircraft will not be able to repel hundreds of machines in a concentrated attack. You are not a moloch, you cannot afford such extravagance."

    Krejci frowned, actually having no words against it. "Then what do you advise?"

    "Do what we did, cluster the units into larger ones. Create a command for them separate from the ground forces. If you can, I would even advise creating from them a separate type of armed forces whose main task is primarily to fight enemy air forces with their own dedicated anti-aircraft defense under them. By the way, let the ground troops have their own anti-aircraft regiments. If necessary, we are ready to provide advice and assistance on how this should look like in our example."

    Krejci noted in his notebook. "I see..." when he finished he asked the arch-important question "Well, but it will take some time. Well, and let's note that in the event of a war, our aviation and anti-aircraft defenses will be too weak to completely stop the German ones. What kind of support will we get from you?"

    "In accordance with procedures," replied Andrzejczak, "Our aviation will seek to destroy the Luftwaffe on their airfields. Your task will be only to withstand this period, we, in the meantime, will level the German numerical superiority. If necessary, we are ready to send expeditionary units from our national air defense. Our modernization plan, although it has changed its priorities to more achievable, guarantees a formidable air defense. The strongest in the world."

    The Czech nodded, then asked an important question from the perspective of air defense modernization. "Is there a possibility that you will lend us a license for your guns?"

    "For the time being, we can sell you a license for the ZSU-23 cannon outright. It's a simple technology, not very sophisticated. In the case of the 35-millimeter cannon, we first have to develop a heavily technologically impoverished version of it before we can offer its license. And our biggest ace up our sleeve, by virtue of its complexity, is rather exclusively purchasable in any quantity for you. In fact, I recommend that you first set aside the funds for it."

    "What's an ace?" quipped Krejci

    Andrzejczak called out to his adjutant, and after a long moment he gave Krejci a bunch of really high quality and color photos as the Czech noted. All of them showed, from various ones, some kind of long pipe with a box attached to the front and a not much shorter shell with GROM-M written on it.

    "What exactly am I looking at?" asked Krejci, intrigued by the equipment.

    "For the Piorun portable anti-aircraft missile set and the missile for it with the name shown in the photo of the mock-up." Andrzejczak explained.

    Krejci raised his eyebrows upon hearing the name, it seemed to him an odd fit for a weapon. "I understand that it's an anti-aircraft equipment which, because of its size, can be used by one man. Am I mistaken?"

    "No, you're right." replied the amused Pole seeing the Czech's default. "Nevertheless, this is not the only advantage of this weapon."

    "What's the biggest one, then?" asked the Czech, increasingly intrigued by the armament.

    "This launcher, launches a single missile that guides itself to the target. All the equipment is already battle-tested, and has proven to be a very effective tool for shooting down anything. The Russians had problems to counter this weapon effectively, but these days, it's impossible for it to fail to shoot down a target at a ceiling of up to 4 km."

    Hearing the latter, the Czech got a sudden enlightenment. This simple weapon, can, with the proper saturation of the army, completely invulnerable to enemy aviation! One company in a division armed with Lightning can give the defensive strength of an entire anti-aircraft artillery regiment. And given that this device can carry one man means that each infantry team can carry one launcher.

    Unfortunately, he had a suspicion that it wouldn't be cheap, especially since Andrzejczak said it was a complicated armament. So Bolt's plans for the team had to be forgotten.

    "I understand, this will really change the rules of the game." replied the Czech, while wondering if it is possible to hook up Lightning as an armament to aircraft. "I will try to convince Syrove to purchase this armament, nevertheless I must remain insistent and ask. Do you have a more mobile version?"

    "Yes," replied Andrzejczak, presenting a new package of photos. This time they showed trucks that had turrets with four launchers. Krejci liked the idea better, although on average he liked the idea of introducing a new vehicle to the armed forces, he wondered about the possibility of putting the launchers on already Czech chassis.

    "Intriguing," concluded the Czech, "What do you call it?"

    "Poprad," Andrzejczak replied, surprising Krejci.

    "How is our city in Slovakia?" he asked curiously.

    "Like a river with the same name. Our current anti-aircraft programs are named after rivers." Andrzejczak explained.

    Krejci liked the concept. "Poprad, I think the name here can help a lot when trying to convince people to buy them," he said. In his head he was already thinking about how to organize these Poprads into divisions. He decided that each must have at least a company of such for itself. They could become an effective axis of any anti-aircraft defense.

    Andrzejczak had already seen that the Czech Chief of Staff had been convinced to buy Polish equipment. He smiled slightly, it will make coordination between them easier and the Czechs will be able to get acquainted with modern armaments.

    "Let me present, our organizational chart for the Pioruns and Poprads. I think it will be a good starting point for the Czechoslovak army."

    The Czech snapped out of his thoughts and gave a wordless sign that he agreed. Without hesitation, Andrzejczak, using a projector and laptop, began a lecture. A lecture to which Krejci listened with interest. As he did so, he jotted down the more important elements in his notebook. He will have a lot to discuss with the artillery officers and, above all, with Syrovy, the Minister of Defense of Czechoslovakia.
     
    Last edited:
    General Franco
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    October 18, 1938
    State of Spain


    "General? Someone important is here to see you," Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov, a White Russian fighting on the side of the rebels against the despised communists, spoke up.

    Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz paused his writing and looked at his adjutant. "Who is it?"

    "Someone from this new Poland, requesting an urgent meeting," Ivan explained.

    "Let him in."

    Ivan nodded and invited a tall man in an officer's uniform into the office.

    "General!" the man exclaimed, saluting as he entered, displaying an eagle on his dark green beret. From the insignia on his shoulder straps, Bulak immediately recognized the officer as a lieutenant colonel. Although he was not wearing the familiar rogatywka cap, his dark green beret bore the distinctive Polish military eagle with a crown. In addition, he wore various decorations, some of which Bulak recognized, while others were completely unfamiliar to him.

    On the left sleeve of his jacket, he wore the coat of arms of Poland, while on the right were two patches—one with the name Agat and the other depicting an eagle diving into a circle, which turned out to be the letter "G" with the letter "S" inscribed inside, resembling a lightning bolt. Bulak immediately surmised that it was the symbol of the unit to which the officer belonged.

    Bułak stood and nodded before shaking the extended hand. "Welcome, Colonel..." he glanced at the badge on the jacket, "Białas. What brings you here?"

    "The same thing that brings you here—to fight the Bolsheviks in every form, as they are your greatest enemy today," Białas replied, quoting a well-known Polish anti-communist song.

    Bułak raised an eyebrow at the response. "Interesting poetry. I hope to hear the entire piece. Nonetheless, may I know the exact reason for your presence?"

    "Indeed, this song perfectly captures the purpose of my visit," Białas explained. "On behalf of the President and Prime Minister of Poland, I have come here to establish contact with you in order to create a channel for military and humanitarian assistance to the nationalists, to help combat communist influence."

    Bułak nodded. "Fascinating. A democratic government, I presume, wants to send aid to an undemocratic dictator, while undemocratic Poland, though neutral, still supported the republicans. It sounds quite ironic."

    Białas shook his head. "General, you know very well what kind of democracy those republicans represent. It is just a facade for their totalitarian ambitions in the name of a deranged ideology."

    Bułak couldn't disagree. During the past few months since his arrival, he had become well acquainted with the true nature of the republicans. It reminded him too much of his native Lithuania* after the Bolsheviks arrived to spread communism.

    Murders, rapes, robberies, and blasphemies—there was no sanctity that these barbarians did not trample upon. In many ways, they had even surpassed the Bolsheviks.

    "I understand, so should I whisper the appropriate words to General Franco to establish the necessary channels of assistance?" Bułak asked.

    "That's right, the sooner, the better," Białas replied. "Especially since, from what I know, a fierce battle is raging at the Ebro. We can help bring it to a quicker end and thus reduce the losses for the nationalists."

    "So you can provide immediate assistance?" Bułak was amazed.

    "Yes," Białas agreed. "Equipment, ammunition, medicine, food, and above all," he tapped the shield-shaped patch on his right sleeve, "people."

    Bułak particularly took note of the last part. "I was just about to ask, what is Agat?"

    Białas smiled wider, almost psychotically. "General, AGAT is a military unit that is part of the special forces. Our tasks include supporting other special forces units in operations, training soldiers in irregular warfare, and above all, conducting covert operations in the enemy's rear area under the motto of 'find and destroy.'"

    Bułak raised an eyebrow and nodded with satisfaction. It sounded intriguing, as he himself led a similar unit. He was curious about what the Agat soldiers could teach him and his men.

    "Our patron is General Stefan Rowecki, codename Grot," Białas continued, and Bułak reached into his memory. He had the impression that he had heard that name before. "And we have two mottos: 'For the strong and brave' or my personal favorite," here the smile returned in a defiant style, "Strength and Fire! After us, only ashes!"

    "Strength and Fire?" Bułak repeated. "After us, only ashes." He nodded approvingly before adding, "I like it."

    Białas, seeing that he had gained the general's recognition and favor, was satisfied. He wouldn't have to wait long for results.

    A few hours later
    General Franco's Headquarters


    It was a simply furnished but neatly arranged office, in a military style. Białas waited for the next move, while General Bułak was already leaving the office. After a moment, the doors closed with a dull thud, leaving him alone with the renowned General Franco.

    The man examined him once again from head to toe before gesturing with his hand to indicate a comfortable chair. "Please have a seat, Colonel. We have a long conversation ahead of us."

    "I hope it will be a military one. Time is ticking, and there is still a long way to victory in the war," Białas replied, settling comfortably in the chair.

    Franco smiled. "I hope so too." Then, becoming serious, he asked, "Alright, what do you offer in return?"

    "I'm listening," Białas responded, surprised. "Since you wanted it straight to the point, here it is. I'm asking about the price upfront so that I know what to expect," Franco replied bluntly.

    "Understood," Białas replied. "It is not excessive; in fact, it consists of four points."

    "Please go ahead and present them," Franco instructed.

    "They are as follows: access to natural resource extraction in Spanish Africa," Franco raised an eyebrow, "privileged access to the Spanish market for post-war reconstruction," the general pondered, realizing the potential benefits, "volunteers to fight against the Soviets," he had no major objections to that, considering what they had done in Spain; Poland's assistance against the Soviets could be a good deal, "and above all, cutting off all contact with the Third Reich."

    At the mention of the last point, Franco almost stood up, but he stopped himself just in time. "Could you repeat the last one?"

    Białas complied, and Franco fell into deep thought. It could be... somewhat problematic. While the German contribution, although not as significant as the Italian one, was still useful. However, he could use this situation to his advantage, just like with each of these points. In fact, with the right approach, each of them could become an opportunity for Spain.

    "Do you realize what you're asking?" the Spaniard asked the Pole.

    The Pole shrugged. "That we help you avoid paying for German assistance?"

    Franco's eyes gleamed, a glimmer that Białas immediately noticed. The Spaniard took the bait.

    "That sounds interesting," the Spaniard began. "However, I cannot simply ask them to leave. They are an important element in winning this war."

    "General, we understand that perfectly," Białas replied. "Our intention is rather to thank the Germans in such a way that they have to kiss the doorknob."

    The Spaniard quickly caught on to what the Pole meant. They wanted to exploit the Germans to the maximum and then, when the Germans demanded payment, play dumb and tell them to get lost. In the end, it wouldn't cost him anything, and he had already planned to distance himself from the Germans as much as possible. Polish assistance in this matter would be helpful. At the same time, he would be doing a considerable favor to the Polish side.

    Killing two, or perhaps even three, birds with one stone.

    "I understand," Franco replied. "It can be arranged."

    The Pole grinned mischievously, and Franco went along with it.

    Then, the Spaniard returned to the first point. "Alright, can I know more precisely what resources Poland is interested in? And why specifically in Western Sahara?" This was the most crucial point for Franco; he was familiar with the region and its resources. It's not surprising since a significant part of his career was spent in Spanish Africa.

    The Pole paused. He wondered if he should inform Franco about it now or try to evade the question. Ultimately, he concluded that there was no point in beating around the bush.

    "We're interested in oil and natural gas near Cape Bojador, from what we know. Recently, in our times, deposits of these resources have been discovered there," Franco explained.

    Franco was astonished. "Are you serious?"

    "Yes," Białas agreed. "That's why we want access to those deposits, both underwater and in the desert."

    Franco nodded slowly. It was incredibly intriguing. It was a shame they hadn't discovered it themselves! On the other hand, the Polish proposal saved them time and money on exploring those deposits. With the right agreement, it would allow the Spaniards to familiarize themselves with modern extraction techniques.

    "I understand. So, along the coast of Western Sahara and in the Sahara itself, besides phosphates, there are deposits of oil and gas," Franco summarized.

    "If it could be helpful, in exchange for exclusive access to extraction in Western Sahara, we can provide information on the locations of these resources in Spanish Morocco," Białas added.

    Franco looked at the colonel. It was a... quite a proposal. Giving up the Saharan deposits to the Poles in exchange for those in Morocco.

    "I understand," Franco said slowly. "Let's say for now that I have no issues with this proposal," he informed the Pole.

    "I understand. We can discuss the details in a more professional setting," Białas replied. "I believe Minister Rau would better present our proposal in this regard."

    Franco wondered whom he was referring to, and then he remembered that it was about that bald man. Salazar had mentioned him. Although Rau himself bypassed Spain, he talked about it in Portugal. Even then, he indicated that Poland was interested in cooperating with Franco.

    "I agree with you. Such matters should be discussed in a better forum," Franco replied. "Alright, let's move on to the third point. There's no need to mention the second point within our group. How many volunteers would Poland like precisely?"

    "If I were a diplomat, I would say as many as Spain can safely send," Białas began. "But I'm not a diplomat, so I'll say at least one division, although if possible, we would prefer a corps."

    Franco pondered. Sending a corps was not a problem. There were enough people, although equipment might be more challenging. Although he suspected that the Poles would find a way even in that regard.

    "I understand. You would prefer a corps," Franco started. "A corps can be arranged." In fact, he had no objections. It would occupy some of the veterans and allow them to familiarize themselves with modern equipment and organization.

    "Alright, do you have any questions, General?" Białas asked, pleased with the overall course of the conversation.

    "Yes," Franco replied. "General Bułak mentioned that you would provide food, medicine, ammunition, and equipment. Can I know what exactly?"

    Białas smiled.

    *He means the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, or Lithuania plus Belarus. For him, they are one and the same.
     
    Technical Modernization Plan
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    January 14, 1939
    Third Republic of Poland
    Warsaw


    It was already a dark night, with just under an hour and a half until midnight. The area was deserted, despite the fact that the headquarters of the General Command of the Armed Forces was located near the intersection of one of the city's major thoroughfares.

    No wonder, this year's winter surprised everyone with its severity. It had been many years since such a winter, and only the elderly remembered an early winter and the amount of snowfall it could bring. Add to that the unprecedented cold, and everyone preferred to stay at home rather than wander around.

    The General Command itself was housed in an inconspicuous building that, if not for the fact that it was fenced off with a military zone warning, many would mistake for a modern residential block.

    The building itself was covered in snow, but there were windows betraying the presence of someone in their office. One of those working after hours was Lieutenant General Wiesław Kukuła, the Chief of the General Staff.

    He didn't have much left to do, but it didn't mean it was an easy task. He had to make the final adjustments to the next amendment of the Technical Modernization Plan of the Armed Forces for the years 2021-2035/1937-1951.
    And there were plenty of changes to be made. In fact, more than half of the things planned to be implemented in the Polish military had to be removed from the plan because there was no way to obtain them, and something else had to be put in their place.

    For example, the only M1A2 Abrams tanks Poland had were the Sepv2 and FEB variants, with a total of an astounding 84 tanks. Due to obvious reasons, the only thing they could realistically provide was maintenance for these vehicles, although it would be problematic. However, the specialists from WZM in Poznań were optimistic.

    The same went for the K2 tanks, although it was much worse. Only 28 vehicles made it to Poland. Which basically meant that the only sensible fate for them was to be put in reserve and have Obrum engineers take a look at them.

    So what was the idea to deal with the fact that they were stuck in a transitional phase? Well, it was decided to give Bumar a chance with their PT-17, as they didn't really have any other choice. Kukuła wanted to laugh; the tankers thought they would finally switch to better equipment, but now they had to go back to another version of the T-72.

    The Leopard 2 tank crews were in the best position. There was already a service in place for them that went beyond the normal scope, as the mechanics had to handcraft spare parts for the Leo2. Well, the Germans didn't make them, and there were shortages in the Bundeswehr's warehouses after a period of massive selling. Nonetheless, their fate remained the same as that of the other foreign tanks, which meant being put in reserve and becoming objects of research for engineers.

    One can complain, which many Poles, more or less involved in military matters, do in accordance with the old Polish tradition of complaining about everything and saying that things are worse than they really are, but it won't change anything. You have to roll up your sleeves and do your job.

    Another noteworthy change was placing a huge order for additional Rosomak armored personnel carriers for the military. It was recognized that there was a need to hurry, and the requirements were already enormous. The Rosomak, alongside the Borsuk, would be the main combat vehicle, and Rosomak SA, the manufacturer of these vehicles, already had two production lines compared to the two planned by HSW and Bumar. So, Rosomak SA would fulfill their order faster.

    Nonetheless, a proper logistical division is planned, primarily intending to introduce division categories to facilitate logistics and division modernization. There were supposed to be three categories: A, B, and C.

    All in all, categories A and B won't differ that much. Both will be relatively modern, but the A category divisions, which include all existing Polish Army divisions, plus the 1st Legion Division and the newly formed 5th Kresowa Armored Cavalry Division, will be equipped with the most advanced equipment of the Polish Army, mainly the Borsuk complemented by Rosomak and PT-17 complemented by Leo2. They will constitute the backbone of the Polish Army and its main force. In short, they are mechanized and armored divisions.

    The remaining Kresowa divisions will fall into category B, receiving older Rosomak vehicles and newly produced ones, T-72 and PT-91, and other less modern equipment. Partial motorization is already being implemented, with their rear, technical, and logistical units transitioning to a NATO-style to facilitate further modernization. This means that B-type units will be motorized units.

    The last category, C, essentially consists of infantry divisions in the style of World War II, but with motorization using trucks and armored cars like the AMZ Żubr from AMZ Kutno. Currently, all Kresowa units belong to this category, but ultimately, category C is intended for mobilized troops and volunteers from other countries.

    These categories do not include elite soldiers like paratroopers or their former subordinates, namely the militia in the style of light infantry known as WOT.

    Speaking of the latter, three WOT brigades per voivodeship were planned to be established in each Kresowa province. It was the personal contribution of the Marshal, supported by the opinions of veterans of the war against the Bolsheviks. They proposed having at least three brigades per district.

    They claimed that there would be no shortage of volunteers among the Kresowiaks, and the Bolsheviks would be numerous, too numerous for one brigade, even with support from their counterparts in the central provinces, to hold them back for long.

    Moreover, Kukuła discussed this with Marshal Rydz, seeking to draw from his considerable experience with the Red Army. Surprisingly, the Marshal was a very reasonable officer, flexible, cunning, and understanding of the battlefield, although he had his flaws, such as frequently keeping important information secret. Nonetheless, during war games and training, he proved to be remarkably adaptable to new possibilities.

    Kukuła could see how effective Rydz's favorite maneuver, maneuvering along internal lines from a central position, which was one of the most difficult operational maneuvers for a military commander to achieve, truly was.

    Over the course of several games, his skills were tested, and the result was that he was actually a better commander than most of the contemporary Polish generals, including Andrzejczak himself.

    Of course, one of the most frequently played scenarios was the 1939 defensive war, which Rydz was somewhat obsessed with. He absorbed everything related to that fateful campaign, wanting to know where he made a mistake in the normal course of history. He was so engrossed in it that he specifically learned how to use a computer and surf the internet to find out more. From what Kukuła remembered, Rydz engaged in online debates or heated discussions on various historical forums a few times. He particularly complained about someone named Buba and a completely deranged ATP.

    Of course, the special version of the 1939 scenario was played several times, where Germany was weaker than it was believed before the war, and when Poland was stronger as it should have been according to the armed forces.

    The result? It turned out that he was capable, with such a ratio of forces, of sustained defense. This indicated that the problem primarily lay in equipment shortages, which was actually quite obvious. The potential of Poland and the potential of Germany, the second-largest economy in the world, were too disparate to be neutralized by better command. Although the Germans were not bad at command, so ultimately, the potential and its neutralization in Poland were the main cause of defeat.

    Of course, Kukuła, like many high-ranking Polish officers, was well aware of why they lost. Nevertheless, explaining it to the Poles is extremely difficult, although a certain historian is slowly doing so, previously on YouTube and now on Swipeto.

    Nonetheless, moving away from the Marshal towards the Plan, his advice and that of other veterans allowed for an understanding of certain details that are often overlooked in historical studies.

    These were very helpful in determining the priorities in the modernization of the Second Polish Republic's armed forces. Logistics, communication, and the air force were given priority. This was based on the cost-effectiveness ratio, where with much lower saturation, they could multiply the existing potential.

    A good example was the use of MAN TGE vans as a replacement for the Fiat trucks used by the Second Polish Republic. Although they are now called STAR TGE, as the former MAN factories in Poland, including the one in Starachowice, were taken over by Autobox Innovations, which already had documentation for all the former trucks of that brand. This allowed them to easily modernize the trucks used by the Polish Armed Forces. Now their potential has multiplied, and they can start producing trucks and vans as competitors to the currently preferred Jelcz.

    This was also due to the fact that Jelcz's physical production capabilities were low, and the Polish Army needed new trucks immediately. Assisting the company that already had all the documentation for the older type of Polish Army trucks, as they had been modernizing them to modern standards, by taking over the MAN factories and starting production of the old/new Stars and placing a large order for STAR TGE, was simply an obvious step dictated by circumstances.

    Of course, JELCZ was not sitting idle. Its production capabilities had been significantly expanded for over a year, but the expansion was expected to be completed around 2025 or 1940, if you prefer.

    Here, the decision was made to use this idea to extend the service life of these machines, unify them with what Poland currently produces, and obtain a not-so-small number of modernized machines at a low cost. At the same time, the currently trained personnel can continue to operate them.

    The scope of modifications includes replacing the Bristol engine with the ASz-62IR-16 engine, which, according to calculations, should give the old aircraft almost 500 km/h, an increase in speed of nearly two hundred kilometers per hour. The four 7.92mm wz.33 machine guns will be replaced with eight WKM-B 12.7mm machine guns to significantly increase firepower.

    The entire onboard equipment of the P.11 cockpit will be modernized, introducing a friend-foe system and making modifications to allow the attachment of the Piorun air-to-air missile under the aircraft's wings. Many other electronic-related modifications will bring them closer to contemporary aircraft.

    And most importantly, the worn-out components of the airframe will be replaced. According to reports from mechanics, all the aircraft already show visible signs of wear on the wings and fuselage.

    Of course, the PZL P.11c was not the only aircraft undergoing similar modernization programs, but it was the only actual combat aircraft that underwent such extensive modifications. The old P.7s owned by the two squadrons from the Eastern Borderlands were simply to be retired and transferred to the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow.

    Ultimately, the P.11h Kobuz II was intended to serve as a second-line aircraft, one that, due to its reliance on an old and fuel-efficient, as well as less demanding engine, could continuously perform air surveillance missions, thus relieving the MiG-29 and F-16, which are now designated for deep and precision strike tasks.

    In fact, even the unmodernized P.11c aircraft currently serve this role, flying wherever Poland needs aircraft to deter airborne threats that cannot be neutralized from the ground.

    Another somewhat surprising program for military analysts is the makeshift adaptation of the agricultural aircraft PZL-106 Kruk for battlefield support purposes.

    A less prioritized matter is, of course, the replacement of the infantry divisions' weaponry in the Second Polish Republic with the currently used equipment. The 1st Infantry Division of the Legions received priority and is already training with the new equipment.

    As for the old weaponry, since present-day Poland does not use the Mauser caliber, i.e., 7.92x57mm, it is simply sold by the Military Property Agency to anyone interested. Some buyers are private individuals in Poland seeking to obtain old/new equipment from the Second Polish Republic for collector's purposes, while others are purchasing it for the warring factions in Spain. There were even a few who bought ex-Polish military equipment for the Chinese National Revolutionary Army fighting against Japan.

    Regardless of the reasons, Polish weapons have traveled to the four corners of the world, and new weapons from ZM Tarnów and FB Radom have arrived to replace the sold specimens.

    Another important aspect was, of course, the replacement of uniforms and equipment. New jackets, boots, helmets, and bulletproof vests had to be purchased. This matter was less promising, as various unpleasant incidents occurred regarding the orders. The Armament Agency had their hands full ensuring that the new equipment aligned with the new intentions, rather than being influenced by old habits, ordering subpar items, and complete indifference to the fact that there are better models available.

    The last less prioritized issue before addressing those that can be implemented at a normal pace was the matter of the navy.

    Overall, the sailors quickly reached a consensus on what they needed immediately. So, the Miecznik program, in its new version of an artillery ship with missile support, returns to the spotlight, with anyone who takes a look noticing a significant change in tone.

    Firstly, the number of Mieczniks will be increased from three to nineteen, and secondly, the schedule will be substantially accelerated, with the first ship expected to be ready in a year instead of the original five-year timeline.

    For armament, 155mm cannons identical to those on the AHS Krab were chosen. For practical reasons, they will initially be manually loaded, but Pit-Radwar is already working on a version with automatic loading. Although space was left for possible future installation of originally planned missile launchers, they were not included for now.

    Apart from these changes, the rest remains as it was, which essentially means that we are still talking about a frigate with the displacement of a cruiser from World War II.

    Another priority is the Kormoran III program, which is an advanced version of Kormoran II adapted for anti-submarine warfare. The Navy aims to have over nine of these ships for its needs.

    The next program is called Hołd, which hides the need to convert one of the transports that found itself in Polish territorial waters during the September 17th events into a helicopter carrier.

    The penultimate noteworthy program is Huragan, which is as new as the Hołd program. Under this name, there is a plan to develop and build a series of destroyer-class ships in Polish shipyards. Ultimately, there were supposed to be twenty-three of them, serving as typical workhorses without any frills.

    The last program was named Waza, and it involved acquiring battleships from abroad. The goal was simple: Poland needed a large hull with a large caliber. Thanks to modern technology, it would be able to make this ship much more formidable than its counterparts. Polish diplomats were already engaged in intense discussions with the Chilean government to acquire their battleship. Given that KGHM currently owned a copper mine in Chile, an offer was made for the company's investment in the mining industry in Chile and development aid to increase productivity.

    This was actually Poland's first significant step in the Americas, and the United States closely watched these actions. This, of course, triggered a reaction from the Naval Inspectorate, which insisted on accelerating the pace and increasing funding for new ships. For now, Poland would not be able to realistically deter the Americans from any actions at sea.

    The next programs were already being implemented at a normal pace, although it doesn't mean they were any less important. They consisted of programs such as:

    Pirat Program - a program for Polish anti-tank missiles. Currently, production and the implementation phase for the military, along with launchers, are underway. The first launchers with weapons are being delivered to the Bofors 37mm anti-tank gun battalions in the eastern part of the country.

    Orka Program - a program for submarines. ORP Orzeł I is currently undergoing modernization at the Navy Shipyard, while ORP Sęp I is expected to arrive soon. Meanwhile, production of additional ships of this class was set to begin at the "Wulkan" Shipyard in Szczecin. The goal was to have a total of twenty-three units, including those already built.

    Wilk Program - a tank program for the Polish Army. OBRUM, together with Bumar, was set to present the new PT-24 tank. It was designed to be modern yet relatively simple in construction.

    Jastrząb Program - a World War II-style plane program. It is planned to be equipped with eight WKM-B 12.7mm machine guns, capable of reaching a speed of 700 km/h, carrying up to 500 kg of ordnance, and being affordable and simple enough to be an export machine.

    Kania Program - a Polish jet aircraft program. It is expected to achieve at least Mach 1, be armed with a multi-barrel version of the WKM-B, and serve as a multi-role aircraft.

    When Kukuła placed the final period and finished, it was already past midnight. He stretched in his chair and looked at his watch. Seeing the late hour, he let out a deep yawn; once again, his work had extended. "Nihil novi" for many months, it was rather the new normal.

    Unfortunately, there were no signs of change in this regard. Germany, although greatly subdued, still posed a certain threat. The entire western border had turned into a militarized zone.

    The Munich affair and the events that followed had severely damaged their reputation. No one wanted to talk to Hitler, a man capable of breaking agreements, not even Mussolini, who distanced himself from the would-be ally. As a result of these events, Germany began to fortify its border with its own military. This included the border with Poland, where reports indicated the presence of an entire army group.

    The southern border was secure. The Czechs, reassured by the fact that Germany would do nothing, focused on modernizing their military and pacifying the Sudeten Germans.

    The eastern border remained a silent zone of border warfare, although the scale of diversions had decreased since the unification. The Soviets continued to test Polish defenses. Klisz, who currently commanded the WOT, reported to him and privately mentioned that, while they could find many faults with them, they certainly lacked no enthusiasm for combat.

    The northern land border was secured. Lithuania had been pacified once again after attempting to do their own thing. Latvia had always been a friendly country and, like Romania and Czechoslovakia, leaned towards Poland, purchasing weapons from Poland and modernizing according to Polish standards. Only Königsberg posed a small problem as Germany tried to turn the entire region into one massive fortress. Unfortunately, deteriorating supplies in the region were causing unrest among the local population. Of course, the Intelligence Agency was helping to fuel the fire, attempting to provoke the Prussians in various ways.

    The maritime sector was not problematic, although it was a fact that they had a really small fighting force—only two old frigates, two corvettes, and mine destroyers. However, the Maritime Rocket Unit and the air forces changed everything. Their Su-22s were a perfect threat to the Kriegsmarine.

    In the event of war, Königsberg would be cut off from the rest of the country, and the Baltic Sea would become hostile to the Germans. In fact, in the event of war, the Su-22s were supposed to pay a visit to the Kriegsmarine base in Kiel.

    Therefore, it was relatively safe, albeit nerve-wracking for Kukuła, who had to keep his finger on the pulse at every flashpoint. Such was the fate of the Chief of General Staff. Fortunately, in case of the worst-case scenario, Piotrowski would take care of it as the Chief of Operations.

    With that in mind, he recorded all the amendments, prepared them to be sent by email to Andrzejczak, and once it was done, he shut down the computer and went to get a few hours of sleep before the next shift.

    He would need it tomorrow.
     
    Last edited:
    Atomic Insurance Policy
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    January 20, 1938
    Third Republic of Poland
    Otwock-Swierk

    The Wołga-Kaliski Program, the most important armament program of the Polish state in the history of the altered world, was destined to be remembered with somber tones. This program, named after a Polish nuclear physicist from the PRL era and bearing the name of the famous Russian river that once served as the border between Europe and Asia, had been kept secret from the very beginning when Poland went back in time.

    The goal was simple: to develop and build a series of nuclear warheads for the Polish Armed Forces. It was the so-called ultimate insurance policy of the Polish state. The first seeds of this program were sown just a few days after the incident, but it took several months for them to be fully developed and realized.

    Professor Dr. Hab. Eng. Krzysztof Kurek, Director of the National Center for Nuclear Research, was presenting the assembled team to Prime Minister Morawiecki. As soon as Morawiecki received the news that the team was ready, he promptly arrived in Otwock, where the only functioning nuclear reactor in Poland and currently in the world was located.

    "... and this is Dr. Anna Kucharska," Kurek said, introducing the last member of the research team.

    Morawiecki looked at the modest research team. It was not as large as the renowned Manhattan Project team; it consisted of only eight people. Nevertheless, it was not needed to be as extensive as in that case. Poles didn't have to open open doors; they just had to pass through them.

    "Ladies and gentlemen," the Prime Minister began, while the scientists cursed their luck inwardly. Morawiecki intended to deliver a small patriotic speech to them. They found it somewhat out of place, but the Prime Minister noticed it and didn't care. In fact, he had very little to say to them.

    "You are embarking on the most important project facing Polish science. Your actions will determine the survival of the Polish state. I don't need to tell any of you what we border with; you are well aware of it from history lessons. Therefore, to achieve your goal, a special fund has been established, separate from the regular funding of the NCBJ*. This fund will cover all expenses and will provide you with a special bonus for your work on atomic weapons. You could say that we are giving you a blank check, although I have one request: try not to overspend, alright?"

    There was a moment of silence. The team hadn't expected such a revelation. An endless fund at their disposal. Of course, they were prepared to work for a much smaller amount; after all, the salaries at the NCBJ were not impressive. They could earn more in the private sector or abroad.

    Although they had to admit that their salaries had recently increased significantly. Someone higher up had astutely noticed that foreign powers could lure Polish scientists away by simply offering a lot of money.

    "Mr. Prime Minister," began the team chairman, Dr. Hab. Edward Górski, "we will strive to minimize expenses."

    "Thank you," Morawiecki replied, although he doubted it. "And I almost forgot," he added after a moment, "a special line will be installed directly to me, the President, and Czarnek. In case of any problems, call immediately."

    "And listen to SOP's recommendations," Morawiecki's security chief spoke up. "If any of the officers have suspicions, it's better to maintain a paranoid approach than to regret recklessness."

    "Exactly," Morawiecki agreed with the bodyguard. "I ask for your constant vigilance and apologize for the persistence of the officers."

    "We understand," Kucharska replied. "Keep the program secret, watch your surroundings, and be suspicious of every stranger. No one knows which one of them is a Gestapo agent or a secret police informer."

    "Well, actually, Gestapo didn't conduct intelligence operations; it was the Abwehr and Security Service," a man with a beard and glasses on the left side of Kucharska interjected. His name was Dr. Gordon Wyzwoleniec.

    "Seriously, Gordon?" Kucharska was surprised. "I didn't know that."

    "And I didn't know that the Abwehr knew how to spy," joked another man, Dr. Ireneusz Kleiner, an older bald man nodding his head toward the officer from the Internal Security Agency leaning against the wall.

    "Very funny, Doctor," Major Barnaba Ogar replied in a dry tone. He personally didn't like the nickname of the Internal Security Agency.

    "So, I see everyone is in a good mood?" the Prime Minister responded, realizing he was dealing with a cohesive team. "That's good," he added after a moment. "I won't disturb you any longer. Time is short, and I expect weekly reports."

    The scientists looked a bit disappointed at the last remark. Nevertheless, nobody said anything until the Prime Minister left the research room.

    "I knew he would drop some bombshell," Wyzwoleniec finally said, returning to his tasks.

    "What were you expecting? Candies?" Kleiner asked him. "You know very well why he wants to keep a close eye on the project."

    "I know, I know!" Wyzwoleniec replied, grimacing at the thought that every Pole had to ponder for a moment. What will happen if they fail? What will the Soviets and Germans do? It was even more distressing for Wyzwoleniec because he now held the ultimate ace up his sleeve. He knew very well that the coming months would be extremely tough.

    Nevertheless, no one forced him to participate; it was all voluntary. So, he could only blame himself.

    "Do you feel the pressure, right?" Kleiner said. "Now, imagine the pressure on him. He's welded to that chair, and everything depends on him."

    Wyzwoleniec had to agree. Morawiecki had changed significantly in recent months. He had become slightly stooped, visible wrinkles had appeared, and Wyzwoleniec even noticed the first gray hairs.

    "All right, gentlemen and lady, less talking. You heard the Prime Minister, time is pressing. Let's show him what a Pole is capable of," Dr. Górski spoke up as he reentered the room.

    "The Americans did it blindly in three years, we will do it in a year and a half. Clear?" he announced, writing the deadline on the board.

    "A year and a half?" Wyzwoleniec asked, surprised, then shrugged. "It can be done."

    "Dr. Górski?" Kucharska asked, addressing Dr. Górski.

    "Yes?"

    "What will the weapon be made of?"

    "From what the Prime Minister told me, it will be a ballistic missile. Companies from the space sector are already working on it with Mesko, providing Polish ammunition for HIMARS. Our task is solely to develop the warhead for it," Górski explained.

    "I understand," Kucharska replied before realizing something. "Doctor?"

    "Yes?" Górski responded, sitting down.

    "Where will we test it?"

    Everyone paused for a moment. It was a good question. Where would the first tests of this weapon take place?

    "I don't know," Górski replied disarmingly honestly. "The Prime Minister brushed off the question, saying they are working on it in general terms." Then he pondered for a moment. "Although I don't know why he asked if the heat bothers me."






    *An acronym for Narodowe Centrum Badań Jądrowych
     
    Anakonda-24
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    Passing months went by, winter had already ended, and spring was transitioning into summer. In Poland, people had managed to adapt to the changes. Although the economy wasn't as prosperous as before the displacement, it remained the largest in the world. The Polish market had absorbed a significant portion of domestic production, while the remaining goods were sold at a tremendous profit.

    The removal of numerous regulations imposed by EU law had freed Polish hands. The entire tax system had been reconstructed once again, this time aiming to simplify the rules. It wasn't as straightforward as liberals would have wanted, but it was certainly much simpler than before.

    However, dismantling social mechanisms had to be forgotten. There was no support beyond the bubble of the united opposition and the confederation.

    Morawiecki had managed, once again, to reconcile conflicting interests and escape the trap.

    Another noticeable effect, which was only realized much later, was the economic revival of Europe. Poland produced a lot but also imported a significant amount. It practically saturated all the basic resources available, effectively forcing everyone to increase their extraction or agricultural production. One of the beneficiaries of this situation was the United States, as Poland absorbed any American overproduction.

    One could say that Poland was fortunate, although many Poles who genuinely felt impoverished wouldn't agree.

    Nevertheless, it was a matter for economic experts. For military officers, the focus was on the organizational and technical innovations brought by the Poles. The recently concluded Anakonda-24 military maneuvers provided a good demonstration of the basic military capabilities presented by the Polish forces.

    Respected powers, as well as smaller nations, sent their observers. Allied countries with Poland sent their soldiers to participate in the exercises. There were Czechoslovaks, Romanians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Finns, and even the French. Poland decided to continue its military alliance with France, especially since France was genuinely interested in military cooperation.

    This year's edition was exceptionally significant, breaking the record for the number of participating soldiers, with over 26,000 Polish soldiers and 3,000 foreign soldiers taking part.

    The preparation for this year's Anakonda also set a record, as it typically occurs every three years, but this time it took place barely a year after the previous one.

    The training grounds were in Volhynia, just like last year when the Second Polish Republic conducted its Great Volhynia Maneuvers. They had ended as planned, although the permanent deployment locations for many units had changed due to the time displacement that occurred on September 17 during the exercises.

    One of those units was the 10th Cavalry Brigade, the first and only motorized unit of the Polish Army of the Second Polish Republic. It faced a considerable problem because there already existed an identical unit formally succeeding it, the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade named after General Stanisław Maczek, who was the commander of the original 10th Brigade, although he wasn't among the rest of the soldiers.

    At that time, the brigade was still commanded by Colonel Antoni Durski-Trzaska, who was, to put it lightly, a mediocre commander compared to Maczek. Consequently, he became the first officer to be recalled from the Kresy region, right after the exercises, where the shortcomings of his unit had once again become evident. General Brigadier Bogdan Rycerski, the former Chief of Staff of the Multinational Corps Northeast in Szczecin, replaced him.

    Eventually, the 10th Cavalry Brigade was renamed the 5th Motorized Cavalry Brigade, and its positions were adjusted to match the current brigade structure. It was also placed under the command of the 5th Kresy Armored Cavalry Division, becoming its most valuable unit.

    Unfortunately, its offensive potential was meager. It could serve as an excellent unit for defensive operations, but it didn't perform well in offensive maneuvers.

    The brigade had only 45 tanks (compared to the required 58), of which only 16 Vickers E tanks were somewhat useful, while the rest were TKS and TK-3 tanks. To compensate for the lack of suitable tanks, all the TK-3 tanks were temporarily replaced with TKS tanks found in the Kresy region, and the shortages were supplemented to reach the required 58 tanks. This wasn't difficult to achieve since there were over a hundred of them in the warehouses in the Kresy region.

    Considering that the production lines for PT-24 tanks at Bumar were still being prepared, and there was a huge demand for armored equipment, Rycerski's tank crews had to wait for modern vehicles.

    The trucks of the brigade were replaced the fastest. All the motorized cavalry soldiers transitioned from Polish Fiat 621 trucks to Star 266M trucks. This was a significant enhancement for the cavalry as they shifted from small trucks with a maximum range of 400 km to medium-sized trucks with a range of up to 1040 km. Moreover, the Star trucks performed much better in the challenging terrain of the Eastern Borderlands.

    The PF 621 trucks were either sold or transferred to museums.

    In addition to the trucks, the Uhlans themselves received a substantial amount of modern equipment, becoming the second unit after the 1st Legionary Division to receive it. They obtained retired Beryl rifles, UKM-200 machine guns, older radio stations from storage, Pirat anti-tank launchers, RPG-76 Komar anti-tank grenade launchers produced for Ukraine, and many other pieces of equipment that were stored away, apart from uniforms.

    This created quite a funny sight - soldiers dressed in black leather Polish-style uniforms, wearing green ex-German helmets from the IWŚ, using plastic AK-74 clones for NATO ammunition, carrying modern radios, and driving Cold War-era trucks.

    For these soldiers, it was nothing new; they had always stood out among other soldiers. Now, they would simply stand out even more.

    Observers who saw the 5th Brigade during the exercises for the first time were surprised by its complete distinctiveness from the rest of the soldiers.

    The goal of this year's Anakonda exercise was to practice a defense scenario against an attack from the Red Army along the southern route. The Polish command didn't even try to pretend it was about someone else.

    The soldiers of the Kresy divisions took on the role of peace-bringing and prosperity-liberating Red Army troops, supported by armored units provided by the Czechs and Romanians with their tanks.

    Against them, mixed units of contemporary and 20th-century Polish military forces were deployed. They were supported by Czechs, Romanians, as well as all the Baltics, Finns, and French.

    This mosaic was deliberately created to test the coordination capabilities between such diverse forces and to familiarize them with the technical transitions between units.

    Of course, this was somewhat inconsistent with the new doctrine of the Polish Armed Forces, which emphasized defense from the border, ideally stopping the enemy's advance directly on the border and launching a counterattack.

    Therefore, the maneuver area covered the entire province, from the eastern to the western part. Defense, delaying actions, counterattacks, and river crossings were practiced. During Anakonda, the Bug River was used in two different scenarios: defending its line or conducting a crossing, simulating the Dnieper River.

    But what was important were the insights that emerged from these maneuvers. The Poles remained extremely attentive to any foreign conclusions, eager to discover what others had inferred.

    General Franz Halder, Chief of Staff of the Oberkommando des Heeres, wrote in his lectures for OKH officers:

    The good times of relations with Poland are over, along with the opportunities to study the capabilities of the Polish Armed Forces. Many conclusions that could be drawn from previous years should not be discarded, but should be taken with a significant caveat.

    This year's Polish Anakonda-24 maneuvers clearly demonstrate this. The old divisions we know have barely changed their behavior after just a few months. Although their firepower has not increased dramatically because they still use their existing weapons, the speed of reaction and mobility resulting from an injection of modern technology make them equal to our infantry divisions.

    Of course, at the tactical level, our infantry still surpasses them in firepower. However, thanks to better communication, a Polish commander can react more efficiently to attacks even at the level of an infantry squad, where our forces can utilize 50% of their firepower, while the Polish forces can exceed 80%.

    Nevertheless, the most significant leap is seen in the former 10th Cavalry Brigade, now the 5th Motorized Cavalry Brigade, which is the second unit, after the 1st Legionary Infantry Division, to receive modern equipment.

    Although the commander has shown his shortcomings (sufficient to be dismissed and replaced), and the unit has had coordination problems at levels higher than the battalion, the considerable increase in firepower and mobility, combined with much better reaction time, has allowed a significantly smaller human force to withstand the attack of a much larger unit.

    Let us dwell on this for a moment, as the example of the 5th Brigade demonstrates the superiority of technology over manpower. A small modification and equipment replacement for this unit transformed it from weak to dangerous.

    Moreover, a shift from the previous image of the Polish Armed Forces can be observed. It is no longer a small, valiant army but a terrifyingly modern one, supported by significant military potential. Furthermore, the experience is on their side, not ours. They already have 70 years of experience in building, operating, and supplying a fully motorized and armored army. They know what works and what is a blind alley of history.

    Good example is a demonstration of the future capabilities of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, named after a certain Stanisław Maczek. According to research, during the 1939 campaign, the original 10th Brigade gave us a tough time. Fortunately, that officer is no longer with us.

    Unfortunately, it changes very little for us; there are dozens of such Maczeks. Every single officer in the armored, motorized, mechanized, and motorized infantry branches of the Polish Armed Forces possesses the same skills that General Maczek developed on his own, sometimes even blindly.

    The future 10th Brigade illustrates this well. If the original 5th Brigade, with its modernized military assets, was able to halt large units with a small force, the 10th Brigade is capable of destroying them.

    General Grzegorz Parabieda, the commander of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade, showed me and others gathered how an armored unit operates in his day.

    Speed, certainty in command. Immense firepower, multiplied by the extraordinary mobility even of a regular infantry squad, which surpasses any infantry in the world in every aspect. Extraordinary logistical efficiency, reconnaissance, engineers, and medical services. The complement to their superiority is communication, enabling efficient coordination of the unit in the operational area, which in our case must be occupied by a division.

    During exercises, the 10th Brigade simply tore apart attacking divisions, despite the fact that they had been previously reinforced with modern equipment! I don't want to imagine what they would do in a clash with the Heer.

    The conclusions that must be drawn, in my opinion, are as follows. We are dealing with an army that surpasses all paradigms of contemporary military science. It is supported by experience, knowledge, valor, and astonishing industrial potential.

    Although it lacks numerical strength, the firepower it possesses, which is multiplied by mobility, and the extraordinary communication allowing for extremely rapid reactions create highly flexible units that mitigate these shortcomings
    .

    He was not the only German officer writing with admiration and fear about the superiority of the Polish Armed Forces. Heinz Guderian, in his book "A Study of Polish Armor," wrote the following:

    Chapter 1 - The Basic Tank*

    The concept of the Basic Tank, also referred to in this work as the Universal Tank, is an idea for a machine that evenly balances the fundamental parameters of a tank: mobility, armor, and firepower.

    Such a tank does not prioritize one parameter too much. Although, of course, each of the armored vehicles presented in this study has a different approach and favors certain parameters over others, it does not aim to specialize in one of them.

    Although it possesses characteristics of each of the known types of tanks, namely light, medium, and heavy, we cannot definitively state to which type it belongs. Nevertheless, even though we cannot determine its type, we can observe the lineage from which the machine originates.

    Furthermore, a constant tendency to prioritize firepower can be observed, and if any parameter weakens, it will never be firepower.

    The Basic Tanks are divided into three...

    Chapter 2 - Leopard 2

    The Leopard 2 is a third-generation Basic Tank. It was designed by German engineers in the 1960s as the second fully German tank for the Bundeswehr after the defeat in World War II.

    Here we can see the experience of German engineers and the lessons learned from tanks such as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger and Panzerkampfwagen V Panther. In many respects, it represents a return to the concepts of the Panzerkampfwagen III and Panzerkampfwagen IV, with the necessary improvements brought about by the war.

    It is an agile and fast tank, like the leopard from which it takes its name, giving it extraordinary mobility akin to the Panzer III, but with the armor and firepower of the Panzer VI.

    There is no other weapon, except for aerial ones, capable of destroying it on the battlefield. Nevertheless, even that can be doubtful due to its mobility. More importantly, the Polish version of these vehicles is characterized by even higher armor compared to the basic model.

    The Polish Armed Forces currently possess over 250 Leopard 2 tanks, making them the main armored force of the army. They include:

    LEOPARD 2NJ - for training: 2 units LEOPARD 2A4 - line model, upgraded to the PL standard: 81 units LEOPARD 2A5 - line model: 105 units LEOPARD 2A7 - line model: 18 units LEOPARD 2PL - line model: 26 units LEOPARD 2PLM1 - line model: 21 units

    Chapter 3 - M1A1 Abrams

    The M1A1 Abrams is an American third-generation Basic Tank. It is the most advanced tank in the Polish Armed Forces, although the fourth in terms of numbers. Originally, the Poles planned for it to be their second tank alongside the K2, but due to the loss of the manufacturer, they are forced to improvise.

    The Abrams is a cousin of the Leopard 2; both trace their lineage back to the same joint German-American project, evidenced by the identical cannon in both vehicles.

    Among all the tanks owned by the Polish Armed Forces, the Abrams is the safest for the crew and the most difficult to destroy. This is its most important feature that must be taken into account.

    Fortunately for us, it is also the most challenging tank to operate. It requires parts not produced by the Polish industry, primarily due to its gas turbine engine. Although this engine provides the highest mobility of all machines and is versatile in terms of fuel, it requires meticulous maintenance by mechanics, which is a drawback in the current situation.

    Furthermore, it is comparable to the Leopard 2.

    The Polish Armed Forces currently possess over 84 M1A1 Abrams tanks, which include:

    M1A1 SEPV2 - training/line model: 28 units M1A1 FEB - line model: 56 units

    Chapter 4 - K2

    The K2 Black Panther is a Korean third-generation Basic Tank and serves as the successor to the K1, the previous tank of the same generation.

    It is the least numerous tank in the Polish Armed Forces, which can be considered ironic because the Poles planned for it to become their army's main tank. Ultimately, it was intended to be produced in Poland under license, creating the K2PL version, which was supposed to be the primary armored vehicle.

    The regular K2s were meant to supplement the transferred T-72s and PT-91 Twardy tanks to Ukraine. Fortunately for us, the first significant delivery was supposed to take place a year after the Poles went back in time.

    It is the youngest of the tanks presented here, being in production since 2004, which gives it a number of features not found in the others. Primarily, it has the most advanced fire control and battlefield management system, as well as a different and simpler vehicle control system.

    It is extremely mobile in terrain and performs better, especially in difficult conditions, thanks to its lower weight compared to the previously presented tanks. Furthermore, it has the largest gun depression angles, influenced by the mountainous nature of Korea.

    Moreover, it is the only tank, alongside the T-72 and its developmental versions, that has an autoloader, eliminating the need for a loader.

    An important distinctive feature is that, unlike the aforementioned tanks, it places greater emphasis on mobility at the expense of armor and crew protection. However, this does not mean that it is invulnerable to any of our weapons. The armor, thanks to advanced metallurgy, exceeds the penetrating capabilities even in the weakest spots.

    Nonetheless, the decisive difference is the immense focus on the vehicle's command system. It is highly advanced to the point that it can be said that each K2 tank is a command tank.

    Due to their low numbers, it is assumed that these tanks will not be frequently seen on the front line. They will likely be used for the development of domestic designs.

    The Polish Armed Forces currently possess over 28 K2 tanks, which are:

    K2 - line-reserve: 28 units

    Chapter 5 - T-72

    The T-72 is a Soviet second/third-generation Basic Tank. It is the third most numerous tank in the Polish Armed Forces. Although it is commonly considered outdated in the times when the Poles acquired it, it was a small revolution in its time.

    Unlike many other tanks on this list, it is fully produced in Poland, so if needed, Poland can produce as many as it requires.

    Although it does not stand out particularly compared to its competitors, firepower being the domain of the Leopard, crew protection of the Abrams, and mobility of the K2, it is the only one that can be mass-produced, which is the origin of this machine.

    It was intended to be the main tank of the Soviet Army and the Warsaw Pact forces, serving as the main force complemented by much better models. Although the machine itself was supposed to be transitional, it turned out to be much more future-oriented than its successor, and it is susceptible to various modernizations aimed at improving the T-72.

    Fortunately for us, the Poles aim to completely withdraw this machine from the front lines. Unfortunately for us, its place is to be taken by a significantly modernized version called the PT-24.

    The Polish Armed Forces currently possess over 111 T-72 tanks, most of which have been transferred to Ukraine. These include:

    T-72M1 - line model: exact quantity unknown T-72M1R - line model: exact quantity unknown

    Chapter 8 - PT-24

    The PT-24 is a Polish third-generation Basic Tank and represents the development of experiences gained from operating the PT-91 Twardy.

    The main distinguishing feature of the PT-24 is a completely new 120-millimeter caliber gun, which allows Poland to unify all its vehicles to one ammunition standard, facilitating logistics. Combined with a new and improved fire control system, it surpasses its category.

    In addition to that, it has a series of armor reinforcements, significantly exceeding what the basic T-72 offers, with particular attention drawn to the side skirts fully protecting against shelling. This is a bad sign for us.

    It also has a completely new engine of Ukrainian design, which is an evolution of the engine from the familiar T-64.

    The vehicle itself is intended to be the primary tank of the Polish Armed Forces, with further modernizations expected to increase their effectiveness.

    Currently, the Polish Armed Forces do not possess any tanks of this type as production is just starting. The first deliveries are expected by the end of this year.

    PT-24 - line model: quantity data unavailable.


    Of course, not only German officers were fascinated by the display they witnessed. General Giffard Le Quesne Martel, a British officer and one of the pioneers of mechanization, turned his attention to two vehicles. Much less sought after, but in his opinion, no less important than the tanks that stole the show.

    He was referring to the Infantry Fighting Vehicles, primarily the BWP-1 and BWP Borsuk, as well as the KTO Rosomak. He saw them as significant developments of the British Army's Universal Carrier. He wrote about them as follows:

    The BWP-1 (meaning Infantry Fighting Vehicle 1), BWP Borsuk (Badger), and KTO Rosomak (Wolverine) are types of armored personnel carriers with tank armament. They fulfill the same role as infantry tanks but, thanks to their ability to transport soldiers inside the hull, they are not slowed down to the pace of ordinary infantry.

    This provides unprecedented maneuverability for infantry, making them akin to cavalry while maintaining traditional infantry tasks. Due to the fact that the infantry is hidden under armor, they can traverse open terrain without the risk of injury from artillery fragments or fortified firing positions.

    As for the tactics of fighting with these vehicles, there is little difference from the tactics of infantry tank warfare. However, it is worth noting that the requirements regarding weight and size impose limitations on the infantry squad size that these vehicles can accommodate. Hence, there is only one significant difference compared to infantry tanks. The infantry supports the IFV, not the other way around.

    The main burden of combat falls on the carrier, and the task of the infantry is to protect it from enemy infantry. However, this does not mean that the infantry is completely tied to the vehicle. It still remains an integral part of the team and its most important element. Without infantry, the IFV is impaired and must retreat.


    On the other hand, French officers were concerned with the command and communication system. They paid particular attention to the fact that Poland did not have any stationary artillery pieces, everything was self-propelled, except for the artillery of old divisions.

    The Italians, on the other hand, marveled at the weaponry of the Polish infantry. The full automation of Polish weapons meant that a Polish infantry squad had the firepower of an Italian infantry platoon.

    As for the Americans, they were highly focused on the Polish rear units. They took note of how the Polish medical, logistical, and engineering services operated. They were particularly interested in the widespread use of pallets and forklifts, which greatly facilitated the work of logisticians.

    This was especially evident in the older divisions, where units that had already undergone palletization delivered supplies much faster and more efficiently than those that had not yet implemented it.

    There were many other officers drawing conclusions for their respective countries, and many showed interest in Polish weaponry. This was also a secondary objective during Anakonda-24.

    However, the most important among them were those who, due to political reasons, were not among the observers. Officers of the Red Army. They were the only army not invited for the visitation. It does not mean that the Soviets were not informed about the Polish Army.

    They simply had to gather information through intermediaries, through their spies and sympathizers worldwide.

    A comprehensive synthesis of the obtained information was personally submitted to Joseph Stalin by Boris Shaposhnikov, Chief of the General Staff of the Red Army, on June 15, 1939, approximately a month after Anakonda-24 had concluded.

    Stalin looked at the nervous officer, the tension in the Red Tsar's office was crushing him. Stalin liked that, as it allowed him to distinguish who was who, to know whom he could rely on and whom he needed to direct.

    "You were not in a hurry, Comrade Komandarm Shaposhnikov," Stalin finally replied.

    Shaposhnikov quickly apologized, "I apologize, Comrade Secretary, for the delay. Unfortunately, the scale of the material and the need for thorough analysis turned out to be much more serious than I anticipated."

    Stalin smiled slightly and nodded, then shook his head and replied, "Comrade Shaposhnikov, there's no need to apologize. I understand perfectly well that with such an adversary, one must proceed cautiously. Separate embellishments from the truth to avoid being caught off guard."

    Shaposhnikov silently agreed.

    "You may leave; I will study this immediately. Please await my instructions," Stalin informed him.

    Shaposhnikov quickly nodded, saluted, and briskly walked out of the office, leaving the Man of Life and Death alone.

    Stalin swiftly opened the contents of the folder and began to read. The report was not small; in fact, Stalin had to admit that Shaposhnikov had not exaggerated about the scale of the material. He knew there was a lot of it, but he expected the synthesis to be much smaller.

    He took out a pencil and marked the first noteworthy sentences. Before someone could knock again, Stalin had managed to skim through the first few dozen pages. Once the matter was settled, he returned to reading the Synthesis. This Synthesis, which historians would later popularly call the "Shaposhnikov Report," was one of the most important and secretive documents of the Red Army.

    Declassified only after the fall of the USSR, it provided an incredibly thorough analysis of the capabilities of the Polish Army and laid the groundwork for countering such a force. Many of the recommendations were later implemented and came as a nasty surprise to the Polish Army. But that was the song of the future.

    In the present, Stalin recorded his initial observations in his notebook. These observations would soon transform into orders and directives, once again changing the image of the Soviet Union from day to day. The primary objective remained unchanged.

    The Red Army would go to war, but much would change before that happened.

    When he was halfway through the report, there was a knock on the door, and Vyacheslav Molotov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, entered.

    "Speak!" commanded Stalin, without tearing his attention away from the report.

    "Everything is going according to plan, comrade. President Roosevelt has accepted our preliminary proposal."

    Stalin simply smiled. They wouldn't win a direct war against Poland, that was an undeniable fact. The key was that Stalin had no intention of waging an open war. Capitalists abide by market principles; one just needs to use that against them, isn't that right?
     
    Battle of Khalkhin Gol
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    June 30, 1938

    Empire of Great Manchuria (commonly known as Manchukuo)

    Bank of the Khalkhin Gol River

    It was a dark night, and the moon was just forming a small crescent, only one night after the new moon. Japanese troops took advantage of this and were crossing the Khalkhin Gol River, which the Japanese considered to be the border river, although the Mongolians disagreed and believed the border lay to the east of it.

    A series of incidents had occurred, starting with Mongolian cavalry entering Japanese territory and ending in their defeat, followed by a series of clashes that alarmed the Imperial General Staff. They preferred to resolve the issue peacefully, but unfortunately, General Michitaro Komatsubara ruined everything.

    Seeing what was about to unfold, the general decided to accelerate the actions and launched an attack on the Mongolian-Soviet concentration before anyone could stop him.

    This was a serious problem and a reason for shame for the Japanese command. They had just begun to establish broader cooperation with their Polish counterparts. How could the Poles take them seriously if their generals acted on their own without restraint?

    To make matters worse, it quickly became apparent that the Poles knew from the very beginning what Komatsubara intended to do, so it couldn't be hidden from them. But that wasn't the end of the surprises; the Poles were actually very interested in seeing the Japanese Army and the Red Army in action.

    They explained it by saying that some things were worth seeing with their own eyes rather than relying on historians' reports. This way, they could propose an appropriate modernization package for the Japanese Army.

    For supporters of expansion into Soviet territories, this was like manna from heaven. Even if they were to lose, it wouldn't have such serious political consequences as it should. After all, they would have a unique opportunity to acquire modern technologies.

    Of course, there were suggestions for the Poles to focus on the Imperial Army in China instead, but Polish Minister Rau bluntly refused. He made it clear that observing how they ruthlessly dealt with weaker parties would yield no results.

    This greatly silenced the Japanese, as many powers had tried to force them into something, but none had straightforwardly told them what they thought, while lacking any sense of superiority over the Japanese.

    The fact that Japan was already isolated on the international stage helped a lot. They couldn't afford to alienate a potential ally, especially one interested in providing significant assistance to strengthen Japan.

    Hence, the Imperial General Staff gave General Komatsubara the green light, while also instructing him not to hide the weaknesses of the Imperial Army from the Polish specialists. Furthermore, they advised him to listen to any advice they might offer, just in case.

    Komatsubara did not object to these conditions.

    So, on that night, Colonel Stanisław Pazura watched the march of the Japanese troops. Several other Polish Army colonels, each specializing in a different branch, stood beside him.

    He stood next to General Komatsubara, a surprisingly mild-mannered man who seemed generally downcast.

    "So, it has begun. The Battle of Khalkhin Gol, an operation that will be my defeat," the general finally spoke when a significant portion of the army had crossed to the other side. He spoke in Russian, as he was fluent in the language from his time as a military attaché in Russia, back when Russia was a normal country and not a communist horror.

    "Not this time, General," Pazura replied.

    "Is that so?" Komatsubara was surprised. "I understand that in your boxes, you have all the orders of the 57th Corps. Nevertheless, there is a long way from knowing the orders to being able to prevent them."

    "True," Pazura agreed, "but you also have our judgment." He then looked at the Polish soldiers behind him. They stood around, supporting the defense of the general. "And a few of our toys that could change the outcome of the battle."

    Komatsubara nodded. "I hope your Wameito* is as effective as you say."

    The colonel smiled.

    July 4, 1938

    Mongolian People's Republic

    Bayan-Tsagan Mountain Region

    The battle raged on, and the Japanese successfully surprised the Soviets, breaking through their forward guard in the meeting battle. However, they quickly got bogged down. The difficult terrain, with ravines, gorges, and hills, greatly favored the defenders.

    Although there were many criticisms of the Soviets, a lack of fighting spirit was certainly not one of them, which compounded the difficulties. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Grigory Zhukov, though not a military genius, proved to be a tough nut to crack. Especially since he took better care of logistics for his forces than Komatsubara did. He had gathered over 2600 trucks specifically for his operation, while Komatsubara had no such specialized force.

    Here, Pazura saw the first deep-seated weakness of the Japanese Army, a disastrous logistical system that simply ceased to exist in such challenging and inhospitable terrain. The Imperial Army quickly turned into a suicidal force in such a case.

    Literally, considering the fact that they had almost no field medicine, what was a simple and easily treatable wound for a soldier from the Second Polish Republic became a death sentence for a Japanese soldier.

    What good is it if your soldiers are better than the enemy when they run out of ammunition? When they die from their wounds? Zhukov can afford riskier attacks than the Japanese because a well-functioning logistical system allows him to do more. Meanwhile, Komatsubara's hands are tied, and successive attacks inevitably deplete his units to the point that the small Soviet forces can easily defeat his troops without much effort.

    The ongoing tank battle on the steppe was a perfect example of this. Soviet tanks could rely on adequate personnel and supplies, allowing them to attack more aggressively and confidently, while the Japanese constantly had to limit themselves and monitor the condition of their vehicles.

    Another issue was that Zhukov simply launched over 450 tanks and armored vehicles in the counterattack, while Lieutenant General Yasuoka Masaomi, commanding the 1st Armored Corps, had only 87 vehicles at his disposal. Although he had infantry support in his favor, the Soviet tanks attacked alone, and furthermore, they were dispersed among the larger attacking forces led by Colonel Shinshiro Sumi.

    Nevertheless, the situation was becoming increasingly dire.

    "Do you have something to say, Pole?" greeted Colonel Ireneusz Misztal, a Polish armored officer, as he entered the headquarters. The Pole knew Japanese, so he didn't need a translator like some of his colleagues.

    "Yes, I have a solution to your problem," Misztal replied, undeterred by the chilly greeting.

    "What is it?" Masaomi asked bluntly. He was in a situation where he would use anything to win. Otherwise, he would be forced to withdraw across the river.

    "You must come with me; your solution is waiting outside," Misztal explained.

    Masaomi tore himself away from the map and followed the Pole, indicating that he should lead the way. The lieutenant colonel led him to several foreign-looking trucks. The Japanese immediately recognized them as the ones the Poles had brought. After all, they were enormous, much larger than any other truck.

    Soldiers from the 64th Infantry Battalion were helping to unload the trucks.

    "What's in these crates?" Masaomi asked the Pole.

    Misztal approached one of them, placed it on the ground, and opened it, revealing its contents. Masaomi looked strangely at the tube lying inside.

    "A gift from the Polish nation to the Japanese nation, namely the RPG-76 Komar anti-tank rocket launcher. We have a few of them because we produced them for Ukraine's needs, but now they are yours," Misztal explained.

    Masaomi nodded before asking, seemingly gently but still sharply, "Then why didn't we receive them earlier? I lost a lot of men trying to stop the Soviet tanks, and you have the perfect weapon to destroy them at hand!"

    "If your superior had not been so impatient and had waited, you would have received them at the right time, along with proper training. So you would have had them from the very beginning with the correct training, but now we have to improvise," Misztal explained.

    Masaomi fell silent. It was a valid point.

    "Fine..." the Japanese replied after a moment. "I will prepare the firing range."

    "That would be nice, but I still have one more thing to show you," Misztal replied.

    "What is it?" Masaomi was surprised, but the Pole once again refused to say. He gestured for him to follow.

    The destination was not far, just two trucks away. Next to one of them was a truck with an anti-aircraft gun on its flatbed. By the way, the Polish contribution to air defense was valuable.

    He saw Polish soldiers placing small model airplanes on the ground. Someone else set up a table and placed a strange writing machine on it. It had a flap that covered the keyboard, and that flap had a strange glass on it.

    After a moment, it lit up, and Masaomi jumped slightly in surprise. The screen displayed a colorful picture of a castle by the water.

    After a while, it changed, and a blue background with icons appeared. The Poles were quite engrossed in what they were doing. The one sitting at the machine was tapped on the shoulder, and Colonel Misztal said something to him, pointing at Masaomi.

    The young boy nodded and said something in his crackling language.

    Then Misztal turned to Masaomi. "I apologize; it will take a while, but you will soon have an interesting presentation."

    "May I know what that machine is?" Masaomi said, pointing to the device on the table.

    "A computer," Misztal replied.

    "Computer," Masaomi repeated slowly, following the Pole's lead. It was an unfamiliar word, sounding like English.

    "It's a machine used for many things, but here it serves as the control center for drones," Misztal continued.

    Masaomi looked at the number of "drones" lying on the ground, then at the computer, and back at the drones before finally stating, "There are too many of them for one person to control."

    "And who said a person will be doing it? They will control themselves; the operator's task is only to designate targets," Misztal replied, surprising the Japanese.

    "But... how?" Masaomi asked.

    The Pole shrugged. "Do you ask how ammunition flies out of a cannon and hits its target?"

    "Well, no."

    "Then there's no need to ask how the loitering ammunition of the Warmate can do it either," Misztal replied.

    "So... it's ammunition?" Masaomi was amazed once again.

    "Oh, yes. We will use it to make the Soviets' lives miserable. 100% accuracy, the only way to counter them is to shoot them down," Misztal explained.

    Masaomi nodded. "I understand," then he realized, "Wait, it will probably be used by you mostly, right?"

    "Yes," Misztal replied without much objection, "we will use most of them to destroy tanks, trucks, and supply points for Soviet tanks. The rest will serve as eyes in the sky, allowing you to have an unprecedented view of the situation. So you can save extremely valuable resources for attacks that will hurt."

    Masaomi paid special attention to the last statement. "How much?"

    Misztal blinked before considering. "From what I remember, thanks to drones, the Ukrainians managed to reduce artillery ammunition consumption by at least seven times. And any weapon, such as tanks, could shoot from a much greater distance than usual. They were able to destroy Russian tanks multiple times using indirect fire from their own tank."

    Masaomi was stunned. It sounded fantastic if it was true!

    "Of course, the Ukrainians have a special application... I mean a counting machine that allows the gunner to simply set it up and get the data they need. You don't have that; you have to rely on a more traditional, less effective method," Misztal continued, not noticing the state of the Japanese.

    "Okay, I understand," Masaomi interrupted Misztal. "Can you show me?"

    Misztal smiled and replied, "With pleasure," before giving the appropriate orders.

    Five minutes later,

    Another Japanese tank was blown up in the air when a 45mm shell pierced through and detonated the ammunition magazine. "Goodbye, Jap!" Artem, the BT-7 tank commander who had just accomplished that, sneered maliciously.

    He then ordered the driver to reverse. He had no intention of being targeted by the remaining enemy tanks. After a brief struggle, the BT-7 moved backward, taking cover behind a hill. As soon as that happened, Artem decided to peek through the top hatch.

    That's how he found out that his trick didn't work on the other three BT-7 tanks. The Japanese had destroyed them, although crews from two of them had survived and were currently retreating.

    Nevertheless, more tanks were ready to strike. No wonder they had almost surrounded the Japanese from three sides, taking advantage of their numerical superiority. The only direction free from Soviets was the pontoon bridge connecting to the opposite bank, while Japanese armored units in the south were being pushed back.

    Now all they needed to do was relentlessly press on the Japanese until they retreated due to losses. Not a sophisticated tactic, but considering the enemy's supply problems, an effective one.

    Artem was observing the next wave of 23 BT-5 and BT-7 tanks advancing to attack the Japanese. In his opinion, they were attacking too aggressively, but with their numbers, even an inaccurate salvo would cause confusion and losses for the Japanese.

    That was the case until he heard a buzzing and a whistling sound, followed by something gray swiftly crashing into the leading BT-5. After a moment, the vehicle exploded and shattered into pieces, scattering debris in all directions.

    Artiom instinctively covered himself with his hands. Then, feeling no immediate threat, he started to look around. A quick glance revealed the absence of any enemies in the vicinity. He wasn't alone; other commanders also began peering through their hatches.

    "What the hell was that?" he muttered to himself, only to look up when he heard the buzzing sound again.

    Several small gray objects were flying in the sky, extremely difficult to notice. One circled around them, while others started descending.

    As soon as Artiom realized where one of them was falling, he quickly dove down and yelled to the driver, "Forward!"

    The driver followed the command, and the BT-7 swiftly moved ahead. They did it just in time, as whatever it was, instead of hitting the fighting compartment directly, struck the engine.

    The tank shook, but not enough to overturn. It didn't mean things were fine; the engine mournfully whined before emitting a few alarming sounds, signaling its death.

    "Damn it, we won't be going anywhere!" the driver, Ivan Gasiyenchikov, growled, futilely pressing the pedal in the vain hope that the engine would still work.

    "Get out of the vehicle! Immediately!" Artiom ordered without hesitation. It didn't need to be said twice; the trio quickly exited the wrecked BT-7.

    As they did so, more tanks were being destroyed or immobilized.

    "What the fuck is happening?!" shouted the loader, Alexei Ammunikov, as a BT-7 right next to them exploded in the air.

    "Fuck knows!" Artiom replied. "Run!" he commanded, and both tankers started sprinting, avoiding being run over by any of the tanks. Whatever was attacking them, it was solely focused on the tanks, leaving the tankers unharmed.

    More lucky survivors joined the group of escapees. They all tried to get out of the firing zone as quickly as possible. More tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed without much difficulty. They only slowed down once they were out of danger.

    "Did anyone see what was attacking us? I don't think it was artillery; it was too accurate," spoke the commander of another BT-7, Mikhail Pitanov.

    "Something like small planes with explosive charges. They were flying above us and descending to collide with us in suicide attacks," explained Artiom.

    "Small planes with explosive charges?" another tanker, Grigory Astounded, was surprised.

    "Well, that was the closest association," replied Artiom.

    "Doesn't matter; whatever it is, the higher-ups must know that the Japanese have such a weapon," Pitanov replied.

    "Mikhail is right; we need to warn others about this damn thing," agreed Aleksandr Zgodov, another commander, this time of a BT-5.

    As they had decided, they acted accordingly. The tankers swiftly moved toward their own positions. Unfortunately, when they arrived, they realized they had lost contact with the remaining units. It took a few hours for the surviving tankers to regroup with the remnants of the armored forces.

    Their stories were similar—something gray from the sky struck with incredible precision and effortlessly destroyed most of the vehicles. Needless to say, Zhukov was irritated by this.

    But that's a glimpse into the future; let's go back to Masaomi for a moment.

    "It was..." the Colonel started to speak, but words failed him. The enemy counteroffensive against the northern group had been annihilated.

    "Extremely effective?" Misztal completed the statement.

    Masaomi nodded silently.

    "No wonder; those tanks had no anti-aircraft protection, not even a machine gun on the turret. If they had one, the Warmats wouldn't be as effective."

    "So, it's a classic scenario of unprotected ground forces being shattered by air forces," Masaomi observed.

    "Yes, Zhukov threw the tanks into battle without any support, although he shouldn't have done that. If there was even just infantry, we wouldn't be able to attack and take out the tanks so easily. We'd have to allocate a few Warmats to neutralize them. But here, armor-piercing warheads, and boom, no tank."

    "I understand," replied Masaomi. "Nevertheless, I wonder why you didn't blow up those tankers in the air."

    "Munitions are scarce. Besides, their stories can demoralize the Soviets more effectively than even the most successful attack," explained Misztal, pointing at the folded Warmats.

    There weren't many of them, of course. They didn't need that many, as one hit meant one kill. However, ammunition was scarce for the Japanese here, not to mention the Poles who had to get everything from the other side of the world.

    "That makes sense," Masaomi agreed, then glanced at those seemingly insignificant little machines. Just a few people needed to operate them to end the lives of hundreds. Nothing new, really, as how is it different from machine guns? Well, there was one difference: you could always see a machine gun, so you could destroy it with artillery or tank guns.

    But how do you kill enemies who could be kilometers away from the attack site, comfortably sitting in their headquarters? It's not quite in line with the principles of Bushido, but on the other hand, it is extremely effective.

    He was glad that he wasn't the target of those unassuming boys operating them today.

    "Alright, maybe we should return to more traditional methods of tank warfare?" Misztal asked.

    Misztal agreed, saying, "I have no objections. The boys will manage on their own. It will give us time to train yours."

    That brought Masaomi back to reality—the battle was not over, and the Soviets still had many machines in reserve. What's worse, if needed, they could bring in even more.

    July 5, 1938

    General Komatsubara's Headquarters

    "General! Lieutenant General Masaomi reports that he has managed to make contact with the northern task force!" an officer reported to the headquarters. "He also requests to convey his thanks to Colonel Pazura for sending equipment assistance. The new weapons, although short-range, have proven extremely effective against enemy armored units. Colonel Sumi says the same, and he is grateful for the grenade launchers and Warmats that decimated the advancing Soviets. Without them, he would have to retreat across the river."

    "Thank you," General Komatsubara replied, then turned to Pazura, who was nearby.

    "Your new toys have proven remarkably useful. It's a shame they arrived so late."

    "Perhaps you should blame only yourself for your... independence. If not for that, you could have received all the planned assistance right away," Pazura diplomatically but accusatively replied. However, Komatsubara was grateful and didn't take it to heart.

    "I understand your point, and I must agree," he said in a humble tone, then asked, "But I hope this is not the only assistance."

    "No, I just received information that Groms and Strzałes have been loaded onto a train and are heading this way. The Jelcz trucks have to go back to transport the wounded and will return with that equipment."

    „Guromu? Sutorowa?" Komatsubara replied, attempting to pronounce the Polish words.

    Pazura involuntarily snorted at the question before composing himself and answering, "They are similar launchers to the RPG-76 Komar, but they are used to shoot down aircraft. They work on the same principle as the Warmats, although no one controls the projectile, as it guides itself."

    "I understand." It sounded useful, considering the impressive accuracy and effectiveness demonstrated by the Warmats during the small presentation. He believed Pazura's word on this.

    "Alright, let's get back to your proposals and solving our problems. How should we organize these motorized columns?" the General changed the subject, returning to what they were discussing before being interrupted.

    Pazura, with the assistance of a few other officers, continued the briefing.
     
    Polenaktion
  • Batrix2070

    RON/PLC was a wonderful country.
    July 17, 1939
    Third Republic of Poland
    Warsaw
    Presidential Palace


    The days went by, but it didn't mean they were peaceful. In fact, there were frequent events that caught the attention of the Polish public. It was not surprising, as the times were extremely tense and the demands on the ruling government were increasing, so every scandal caused by incompetence had a stronger impact than usual.

    The rulers were well aware of these demands; there was no need to remind them. After all, Poland was constantly under the threat of two lurking dangers, waiting for it to falter. It was difficult to sleep peacefully in such a situation.

    That was the case in this particular situation, which touched on old wounds. Germany had decided to carry out the long-delayed Polenaktion. Over 70,000 Polish Jews living in Germany were expelled to the Polish border, forcing Poland to accept them.

    Of course, the action was not as heartless as in the original timeline (OTL); there was already concern about the Polish reaction to the forced emigration. Therefore, the Jews were allowed to take their belongings, not wanting to further antagonize their hostile neighbor.

    Especially since Poland eventually signed a treaty with Germany regulating their relations, a painful treaty that limited armaments and claims. Although the ultimatum was not fully accepted, Germany obtained an appropriate mediator who was able to loosen Poland's demands regarding the most crucial issues.

    As a result, Polish citizens from the time of the Second Polish Republic were recognized as citizens of the Third Polish Republic and were under its protection. One of the things that changed as a result of this transition was the attitude towards Polish citizens abroad. Due to obvious reasons, Poland as a major power had to personally defend its citizens and not leave them at the mercy of fate.

    Therefore, Germany was afraid to mistreat any Polish people in Germany, broadly understood as Poles. However, they didn't want the Jews in their own country, while Poland offered to accept anyone that Germany didn't want, so they expelled the Polish Jews first.

    This was problematic because the action resembled Lukashenko's move in 2021. Just like back then, the Polish state was caught off guard. Nevertheless, the authorities reacted automatically, suspending the forced emigration to Poland.

    Very quickly, the new German ambassador to Poland, Hans Thomsen, was summoned to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain himself. He was terrified by the fury directed at him, which he had never seen before in his life, and he struggled to stammer that the Poles had promised to take everyone.

    To which he received a response that they would take them, provided they were warned in advance to prepare. Not overnight. Nevertheless, a quick response was necessary. President Duda took it upon himself to resolve the matter.

    Considering the fact that Jews were involved, the Rabbinate of the Republic of Poland, representing both the old and new Poland, gathered in the Presidential Palace.

    The Chief Rabbi of Poland, Michael Schudrich, presided over the Rabbinate. He was a man with a rather liberal approach, which posed a problem for many rabbis from the territory of the Second Polish Republic.

    They mockingly called him "Hamerykaner," referring to the fact that he was born and raised in America.

    Nevertheless, in this matter, they could rely on him because he showed without hesitation that he wanted to accept those Jews. At the expense of the Jewish communities, of course.

    "...therefore, I assure Mr. President that there won't be major problems in their reception," Schudrich informed.

    The president nodded. "So, the costs of absorption, adaptation to contemporary society, and so on, will be covered by the Jewish side?"

    "Yes," agreed Schudrich.

    "So, one problem solved. We just need to find a place to accommodate them," President Duda replied, reassured.

    "Don't you have a problem with accepting these Jews?" Rabbi Dawid Kahane from Lwów expressed surprise.

    "Why would we? According to the German side, there are about 70,000 Jews, and currently there are 42 million Poles. It's nothing," Duda replied, astonished by the question.

    "Of course, because it will end with those 70,000. They won't try to cram in the rest," Rabbi Dawid Szychowski from Łódź sarcastically remarked.

    "Then we'll accept the rest. After all, we already accept Jewish immigrants from all over Europe," Duda said.

    "Including the other immigrants, did you forget about that?" Kahane replied, well aware of the scale of immigration to Poland.

    "He didn't forget; he just doesn't really care. He doesn't know how much Western Jews look down on us because we're from the East," said Izaak Rubisztejn, the rabbi from Wilno.

    "They also look down on Poles, did you forget?" Szychowski asked him.

    "But Poles have their own country! Now the richest in the world! We don't, so those Western Jews will continue to look down on us with superiority. After all, in the future Poland, there will be practically no Jews," Rubisztejn observed. It was no secret that he was a Zionist and the President of Mizrachi in the Eastern Borderlands.

    This organization advocated for the rebuilding of a Jewish state in Palestine based on religious principles, as well as equal rights for the Jewish population in Poland and the broadest loyalty to the Republic.

    Given that the Future Poland did not concern itself with the Jewish question, even nationalist circles, although generally unfriendly towards minorities, the principle of equal rights was de facto fully implemented. The Third Republic abolished all restrictions that universities and other organizations had previously imposed.

    It did not go without controversy among the borderland communities, which were amplified by the National Movement within the Confederation, seeking voters in the Borderlands. However, in the end, the state machinery broke the resistance of organizations in the Borderlands. That is why the Confederation was cautious in publicizing these issues, not wanting to lose voters and focusing mainly on justified matters.

    The general attitude of Polish society towards the Jews from the Borderlands was indifferent, considering them just another minority in the region.

    Of course, nationalists extensively publicized the alarming decline in Poland's national unity, although in reality, it wasn't as significant. Currently, Poles make up 83% of the total population, with over 50 million people.

    Compared to the statistics from the times of the Second Polish Republic, the current situation was much better for the country's stability.

    "Prejudices cannot be dismantled in a year, Mr. Rubisztejn. From what I gathered in conversations with the World Union, they find it hard to believe that it was Germany, not Poland, that exterminated those Jews. And they consider our immense wealth to be derived from the theft of Jewish assets," Schudrich replied, attempting to end the fruitless discussion.

    In response to the last statement, Rubisztejn scoffed, "Wealth from theft? Please, the average Jew is as poor as a church mouse, confined to ghettos or shtetls of their own volition, and they keep getting poorer. What did they feast on? Can't they believe that Poles are capable of anything?"

    "Well, they consider the Anglo-Saxons, French, and Germans as the master races, while Slavs are only fit for labor, and Jews are leeches," Kahane said.

    "But you know that Michael was referring to the World Rabbis, right?" Szychowski interjected.

    "Yes, so what?" Kahane replied.

    "Well, they probably won't think that Jews are leeches," Szychowski retorted.

    This amused the Eastern rabbis, and they began to chuckle.

    "Dawid," Rubisztejn started.

    "They are infected with the mindset of their societies. They see us as Ostjuden, treating us like typical German Jews. They consider themselves equal to the master races, while we are useless parasites," Kahane concluded.

    Szychowski remained silent.

    "And how can you explain their contemptuous attitude towards Jews fleeing from Central Europe and their encouragement to Western governments to close their borders?" Rubisztejn asked him.

    "You know very well how it all ended!" Kahane added.

    Szychowski still had no answer.

    "Are you finished?" Schudrich asked them.

    "Now we are," Rubisztejn replied unabashedly.

    "Although we make no promises," Kahane added.

    The Chief Rabbi put his hand on his forehead, feeling exhausted. President Duda chuckled as he witnessed the rabbis' debate.

    "Alright, let's now move on to the organizational matters. We want to determine how many and how quickly you can accommodate..." Duda continued.

    July 20, 1939
    Third Polish Republic
    Szczecin
    Szczecin Main Railway Station


    An old steam locomotive pulled onto the modern platform, bearing the markings of Deutsche Reichsbahn. The passenger wagons it brought were not the most modern, but fortunately, they were suitable for transportation.

    A large cloud of steam escaped as the German conductors began to open the doors of the train. Within moments, hundreds of people poured out of the train. They were met by members of charitable organizations, special staff assigned to facilitate the exchange of documents for new ones, and members of Jewish communities who would assist in directing each family to their destination.

    The station itself had already been prepared to receive refugees, as it had appropriate facilities previously used by Ukrainians.

    Among the Jews exiting the trains that day was a particular family. They were the Gryszpan family, with Zendel, the head of the family, his wife Ryfka, and their son Mordechai with his wife Berta. Their second son, Herschel, awaited them on the platform. He had recently arrived in Poland from France, using funds provided by his relatives to help the family.

    In another world, Herschel would have been indirectly responsible for triggering Kristallnacht after he shot and killed the secretary of the German ambassador in France, Ernst vom Rath, in retaliation for the Polenaktion.

    However, in this reality, Herschel never resorted to such actions, although he came close. Ultimately, his uncle dissuaded him, saying that he would be more valuable to the family in Poland, unaware of what young Herschel had contemplated doing.

    In this way, by chance, he saved the lives of the remaining Jews in Germany.

    Young Gryszpan eventually agreed to buy a ticket for the first available ship in Calais, preferring to avoid Germany out of pure caution. He sailed to Szczecin, where his family was supposed to be.

    Prior to his departure, his relatives managed to arrange a temporary Polish passport and identity document for Herschel, allowing him to leave France without obstacles. He was unaware that he would be leaving France for many years, but on the other hand, his visa had expired, and he was mostly languishing in France rather than realizing his aspirations.

    As soon as he arrived in Szczecin, the first thing he did was establish contact with organizations tasked with assisting refugees from Germany. It was challenging because he didn't speak Polish, only German. He had lived in Germany since he was a child, where his parents had immigrated.

    Fortunately, the young Jew's energy and the fact that Szczecin was a regular destination for Germans who left their money in Polish pockets made it only a minor obstacle. Eventually, he managed to rent a room for a few nights in one of the hotels in Szczecin.

    He had been waiting all this time for his relatives to arrive, which happened today. In the meantime, Herschel took the opportunity to explore the city during breaks from waiting at the station.

    It was quite a shock. Paris or his hometown of Hanover were something grand, but Szczecin surpassed them. It had a smaller population, but the entire metropolitan area was much larger than both cities combined. The city pleasantly surprised him.

    And it was cleaner, certainly cleaner than Paris.

    "My son!" Zendel exclaimed in German upon seeing his child, embracing him, followed by his wife Ryfka.

    "Welcome, Father," Herschel replied. "Mother and brother," he addressed his remaining relatives one by one.

    The last to greet was his sister-in-law Berta, who had sent him a letter explaining their situation.

    "It's a bit strange seeing this city with Polish signs," his brother Mordechai said, looking around the platform.

    Herschel smiled. "You haven't seen the strangest part yet."

    "What haven't I seen?" Mordechai asked, but Herschel didn't want to say.

    "It doesn't matter, Mordechai. We'll find out soon enough," he said, then turned to his younger son. "Lead the way!"

    Herschel fulfilled the request, leading them to one of the side halls where there was already a long queue for the counters where female officials sat, processing the old identity documents and issuing new temporary ones.

    The young Jew directed his family to the smaller queue, meant for those who didn't require immediate assistance. Both queues moved swiftly, and more Jews headed in the appropriate directions, mostly towards the buses parked in front of the station, which would take them to temporary centers designated for them.

    The first person to stand before a woman who appeared to be in her forties was Zendel.

    "Please present your documents and state your name," she said in German.

    "Zendel Gryszpan, and you can speak Polish. I understand the language," Zendel replied in rusty but comprehensible Polish.

    "I see. Please have a seat," the woman responded, slightly pleased, and then she clicked something on a strange typewriter-like device, transcribing the information from his ID card and passport.

    "Born in Radomsko on the XX day of the X month, XXXX?" the woman asked as he sat on the peculiar plastic chair. He immediately sensed that the material he was sitting on was not natural.

    "That's correct."

    "Your parents?"

    "Dawid and Miriam."

    "Mother's maiden name?"

    "Epstein."

    "Educational background?"

    "I completed primary school and was trained as a tailor," Zendel replied.

    The woman looked at him, then clicked her tongue and muttered under her breath, weakly but still comprehensible, "Vocational."

    "Occupation?"

    "Tailor."

    "Reason... sorry, mistake. What do you intend to be?"

    "To the best of my ability, continue my profession," the older man confidently replied.

    The woman looked at him strangely again, then entered something into that strange device and said, "It's not like you'll face much competition. Though I don't see much success in that field, it's largely become obsolete."

    "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," Zendel replied.

    The woman agreed. "Well said, Mr. Gryszpan."

    Then the strange machine, which he soon recognized as a printer, started working after the woman made a final click with the peculiar device. She then took out a folder and inserted the freshly printed sheets along with some strange colored ones featuring the Polish coat of arms and his documents inside.

    "Considering that you have chosen a position for individuals with certain connections in Poland, you and your family are not entitled to a place in the refugee center. Therefore, for the next 7 days, you are required to stay in Szczecin to collect your ID card from the Municipal Office," the official informed Zendel in an officious tone.

    "Furthermore, I inform you about a special non-repayable loan from the Ministry of Finance available to refugees for establishing their own place of work. To apply, you must submit an application through one of the designated organizations here. You will find more information in the brochure."

    Zendel was astonished to hear this.

    "In addition, you will receive a subsidized personal phone with an Orange Telekomunikacja Polska SIM card from the Union of Jewish Religious Communities," the woman took out a large black box with a prominent Orange logo on the side, containing a flat device that clearly resembled a phone. The label indicated it belonged to the Kruger&Matz brand.

    "Do I understand correctly that the user manual is inside?" Zendel asked the woman, who smiled and shook her head.

    "No, but you can ask one of those people," she pointed to a few individuals. "They are here to guide you through the first steps and teach you how to operate modern devices."

    "Is that all?" Zendel asked.

    "Yes," the woman replied, and Zendel gave up his place to his wife.

    While the official attended to his wife, Zendel examined what he had received. First, he started flipping through the documents, which included numerous colorful pages written in three languages: Polish, German, and Yiddish. The Yiddish section immediately revealed that it had been hastily and rather blindly produced.

    Meanwhile, his elder son became intrigued by the box with the phone. "Father, what is this?"

    "A phone," Zendel replied without interrupting his reading.

    "Such a small one?" Mordechaj exclaimed. "And where's the cord?"

    "Welcome to the future, brother! That's how phones are made now, small enough to fit in your pocket and without a cord. Every Polish person has one," Herschel said.

    "It must be expensive," Mordechaj remarked.

    "Not really, the highest price is four thousand złoty," Herschel replied.

    "That's a lot!" Mordechaj noticed.

    "Perhaps in Germany, brother. But here in Poland, the minimum wage is three thousand four hundred złoty."

    "Whose minimum wage? The manager of a steelworks?" Mordechaj asked incredulously.

    "An ordinary worker, for example, a store clerk," Herschel replied, causing Mordechaj's jaw to drop.

    "Did you hear, Father? Almost three and a half thousand for an ordinary laborer! Why didn't we come here earlier?" Mordechaj spoke up.

    "Yes, and think for a moment. Would you believe it if you heard about it in the Reich?" Zendel asked his son, interrupting his reading.

    Mordechaj pondered for a moment. "No..." Then he wanted to add something, but his mother called him.

    "Mordechaj, it's your turn!"

    The eldest son cut off halfway through a word before dejectedly moving to a plastic chair.

    "So, what do we do, Zendel?" his wife asked him.

    The head of the family didn't respond immediately. It was only after finishing reading the last brochure that he answered, "We make use of what life gives us and move forward."

    "So?" she inquired.

    "So, we make use of the assistance provided by those organizations and what the Polish government offers us. We'll try to find accommodation in Stettin and attempt to open a tailoring workshop here. The woman mentioned that it's a dying profession, so we don't have to worry about competition."

    "Only about finding customers," Ryfka pointed out.

    Zendel shrugged. "We managed despite the hostility from the Germans and the constant obstacles thrown at us by the Nazis. We will manage here as well."

    "Isn't that right, Herschel?" he asked his younger son.

    Herschel nodded. "Yes, Dad."

    "That's good," Zendel replied. "So, my son, I hope you didn't idle away your time while waiting for us. Do you have something interesting?"

    Herschel nodded again. "Yes! I have a few interesting locations. Some of the locals couldn't withstand the wave of crises and had to close down. They are offering to sell their premises at a low price."

    Zendel perked up his ears.
     
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