Berlin, Germany, December 8th, 1941
"This is a day that will forever live in infamy..."
Sometimes, you may never know how lucky you are, sometimes, all it takes is one man to make a world of difference. And sometimes, that man is simply an aide who brings coffee to and from the war-room. Sometimes, that man knows nothing of war or politics, all he does have is some common sense.
Men move to and fro in front of a map of the world, Hitler has just decided that Germany's next move will be a declaration of war upon the United States of America. No one notices one of Hitler's aides who is bringing in refills for coffee.
"Mein Führer, this is an excellent plan", said Joseph Goebbels, as he lied through his teeth to Adolf. A declaration of war on America? This late in the war? With a front in Russia and a naval clash with Britain? Insanity. However, as Goebbels rationals, the Fuhrer knows best. Or so he hopped.
"Indeed, of course, there are some worries from me, America is vast and full of resources such as the Soviets, but these are just my ramblings" Heinrich Himmler shot Goebbels are nervous look that said it all. 'Where in Hell are we going to find the resources to deal with the Americans?!'
The most of the men in the room agreed that the best course of action was indeed to declare war on America, now using the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declaration of war against the Japanese Empire as an excuse. Of course, that was publicly, privately, most knew that American inclusion into the war would be dangerous, as even more supplies would flood to the British and soon, even men. But nobody would contradict Adolf Hitler, Führer and Reichskanzler of Germany. The room was filled with many distinguished men of service and honor, yet all were spineless "yes-men" whom would sell they're mothers at the slightest suggestion by Hitler. Fortunately for Germany and its people, someone would use common sense, something ironically very, very rare.
"Mein Führer, perhaps it is better if we don't..." the man in the back of the room spoke with a timid voice, he was in a room full of great men, why would hey listen to him?
"Ah, Conrad, its a little out of place for you to speak here..."
"I know, I know, Herr Himmler, but I believe all of us here wish the best for Germany, don't we?" Conrad's hands began sweating, he rarely spoke, he had no wife and was 26. He was a shy man, and had no idea as to why he had chosen now to speak in front of and audience of a dozen high Party officials.
Hitler spoke from the front of the room "Allow the man to speak, he is correct, I am an open man" while this may seem like a lie and rather ironic to most, it filled Conrad's heart with joy and confidence.
"Herr Hitler, do you agree with the notion that America is a very strong nation, with a vast amount of resources?"
"Of course, Conrad, its a well known fact" Hitler laughed, so did the rest of the room, Conrad let out a soft, feined chuckle
"What I mean to say is that, why attack now, we simply don't have the resources to fit the bill. I mean look at where we are at this moment, at war with the English and the Russians! The Bear and the Lion, and while we are winning now, we could see a reverse of that soon if we are not careful."
Hitler began his refute, with his smile gone and a much more stern expression, "We must deal with the Americans now, Germany has not failed me and will not fail me now..."
Conrad interrupted Herr Hitler, this was enough to have to whole room whispering, people were shocked, who would dare do such a thing, especially an aide! "Mein Führer, we should consolidate our victories and grip over Europe now, while we still have a chance, allow me to show you!" Conrad went over to the map on the wall behind him, and promptly picked up a pen and began to scribble on the very expensive world map. Now this really got to the senior party officials.
"Conrad, please, leave, this is not your place" Began an army officer before having himself silenced by Hitler by a hand wave, with just a hand wave, everyone in the room grew silent.
"Allow the man to show us what he wishes to show us, it must be important." Hitler, taking this very much like a joke smirked, what could this aide show him that he had not already seen, what could he tell him what he did not already know?
"Thank you" Conrad began to scribble on the board,
"This is America!" Conrad drew a large blue circle on the board, it encompassed the United States indeed. The "audience" began to laugh, yells of "Congratulations, Conrad" came from the back of the room.
"And this is Britain!" Conrad filled in the British Isles in pink, stopping at Ireland. "And these are her colonies!" Conrad filled in the British colonies. The crowd became silent.
Conrad knew he had their attention. This was grand, a man whom had just moments ago fill the men's cups with coffee was now giving them a much needed geography lesson!
And as a finishing touch, Conrad filled in Germany and her conquests, from France, to the border with the Soviets, "There." He smiled before continuing, "We are in the middle of the Eagle, the Lion and the Bear. We are already at war with a great portion of the world, and we would only bring in another great chunk! Please, gentlemen appeal to reason! I realize common sense may not be common, but please, your leaders of the strongest nation on the planet!"
You could hear a pin drop. The room was silent, many, including Conrad, were astonished. Did an errand boy just insult Adolf Hitler? Adolf stood there, staring at the map and the short, shy Bavarian man in front of him.
"Herr Conrad, please, leave us, for we have much to discuss..."
----------------------------------------------
"We tried to go on to the end. We tried to fight on the beaches. We tried to fight on the landing grounds. We tried to fight the Germans where we could meet them... but somehow, we failed, I have failed you, Britain, and I have failed Europe, as a long night of darkness befalls them. At precisely, 12:26 P.M, local time, after nearly seven years of a long, brutal blockade, our diplomats signed the Treaty of Madrid, officially ending this Great War. As ask that we only brace ourselves for the trials to come. While Britain proper may be safe, an entire continent is befallen by an 'Iron Curtain' from Portugal in the West, to the Urals in the East, a continent which will soon turn against us once again. The only hope for the free world is if Russia can turn back the Nazi onslaught that moves ever closer to Siberia, we have confidence in them and their leader General Secretary Molotov, and our hearts go out to them in their time of greatest need! Britain, now is the time to rebuild..."
- British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, announcing the end of hostilities with Germany and the Axis Powers, 1946
Europe, 2003
"This is a day that will forever live in infamy..."
Sometimes, you may never know how lucky you are, sometimes, all it takes is one man to make a world of difference. And sometimes, that man is simply an aide who brings coffee to and from the war-room. Sometimes, that man knows nothing of war or politics, all he does have is some common sense.
Men move to and fro in front of a map of the world, Hitler has just decided that Germany's next move will be a declaration of war upon the United States of America. No one notices one of Hitler's aides who is bringing in refills for coffee.
"Mein Führer, this is an excellent plan", said Joseph Goebbels, as he lied through his teeth to Adolf. A declaration of war on America? This late in the war? With a front in Russia and a naval clash with Britain? Insanity. However, as Goebbels rationals, the Fuhrer knows best. Or so he hopped.
"Indeed, of course, there are some worries from me, America is vast and full of resources such as the Soviets, but these are just my ramblings" Heinrich Himmler shot Goebbels are nervous look that said it all. 'Where in Hell are we going to find the resources to deal with the Americans?!'
The most of the men in the room agreed that the best course of action was indeed to declare war on America, now using the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent declaration of war against the Japanese Empire as an excuse. Of course, that was publicly, privately, most knew that American inclusion into the war would be dangerous, as even more supplies would flood to the British and soon, even men. But nobody would contradict Adolf Hitler, Führer and Reichskanzler of Germany. The room was filled with many distinguished men of service and honor, yet all were spineless "yes-men" whom would sell they're mothers at the slightest suggestion by Hitler. Fortunately for Germany and its people, someone would use common sense, something ironically very, very rare.
"Mein Führer, perhaps it is better if we don't..." the man in the back of the room spoke with a timid voice, he was in a room full of great men, why would hey listen to him?
"Ah, Conrad, its a little out of place for you to speak here..."
"I know, I know, Herr Himmler, but I believe all of us here wish the best for Germany, don't we?" Conrad's hands began sweating, he rarely spoke, he had no wife and was 26. He was a shy man, and had no idea as to why he had chosen now to speak in front of and audience of a dozen high Party officials.
Hitler spoke from the front of the room "Allow the man to speak, he is correct, I am an open man" while this may seem like a lie and rather ironic to most, it filled Conrad's heart with joy and confidence.
"Herr Hitler, do you agree with the notion that America is a very strong nation, with a vast amount of resources?"
"Of course, Conrad, its a well known fact" Hitler laughed, so did the rest of the room, Conrad let out a soft, feined chuckle
"What I mean to say is that, why attack now, we simply don't have the resources to fit the bill. I mean look at where we are at this moment, at war with the English and the Russians! The Bear and the Lion, and while we are winning now, we could see a reverse of that soon if we are not careful."
Hitler began his refute, with his smile gone and a much more stern expression, "We must deal with the Americans now, Germany has not failed me and will not fail me now..."
Conrad interrupted Herr Hitler, this was enough to have to whole room whispering, people were shocked, who would dare do such a thing, especially an aide! "Mein Führer, we should consolidate our victories and grip over Europe now, while we still have a chance, allow me to show you!" Conrad went over to the map on the wall behind him, and promptly picked up a pen and began to scribble on the very expensive world map. Now this really got to the senior party officials.
"Conrad, please, leave, this is not your place" Began an army officer before having himself silenced by Hitler by a hand wave, with just a hand wave, everyone in the room grew silent.
"Allow the man to show us what he wishes to show us, it must be important." Hitler, taking this very much like a joke smirked, what could this aide show him that he had not already seen, what could he tell him what he did not already know?
"Thank you" Conrad began to scribble on the board,
"This is America!" Conrad drew a large blue circle on the board, it encompassed the United States indeed. The "audience" began to laugh, yells of "Congratulations, Conrad" came from the back of the room.
"And this is Britain!" Conrad filled in the British Isles in pink, stopping at Ireland. "And these are her colonies!" Conrad filled in the British colonies. The crowd became silent.
Conrad knew he had their attention. This was grand, a man whom had just moments ago fill the men's cups with coffee was now giving them a much needed geography lesson!
And as a finishing touch, Conrad filled in Germany and her conquests, from France, to the border with the Soviets, "There." He smiled before continuing, "We are in the middle of the Eagle, the Lion and the Bear. We are already at war with a great portion of the world, and we would only bring in another great chunk! Please, gentlemen appeal to reason! I realize common sense may not be common, but please, your leaders of the strongest nation on the planet!"
You could hear a pin drop. The room was silent, many, including Conrad, were astonished. Did an errand boy just insult Adolf Hitler? Adolf stood there, staring at the map and the short, shy Bavarian man in front of him.
"Herr Conrad, please, leave us, for we have much to discuss..."
----------------------------------------------
"We tried to go on to the end. We tried to fight on the beaches. We tried to fight on the landing grounds. We tried to fight the Germans where we could meet them... but somehow, we failed, I have failed you, Britain, and I have failed Europe, as a long night of darkness befalls them. At precisely, 12:26 P.M, local time, after nearly seven years of a long, brutal blockade, our diplomats signed the Treaty of Madrid, officially ending this Great War. As ask that we only brace ourselves for the trials to come. While Britain proper may be safe, an entire continent is befallen by an 'Iron Curtain' from Portugal in the West, to the Urals in the East, a continent which will soon turn against us once again. The only hope for the free world is if Russia can turn back the Nazi onslaught that moves ever closer to Siberia, we have confidence in them and their leader General Secretary Molotov, and our hearts go out to them in their time of greatest need! Britain, now is the time to rebuild..."
- British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, announcing the end of hostilities with Germany and the Axis Powers, 1946
Europe, 2003
