Reincarnated as Nikolai II - Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Each to Their Own Survival (2)
It was France.

And this France was like an uncontrollable bomb even from the Allied perspective preparing for the next peace negotiations.

“Germany has already been halved, losing Poland. Russia has completely consumed East Prussia which was their origin, and Poland has separated from Germany becoming one after 122 years. Yet you want to take not just Alsace-Lorraine but the Rhineland and Saarland? Do you logically think Germany will accept that?”

“We must make them accept it! Yes, according to that national self-determination, we can at least set up puppet states as shells and stick them between Germany and France like Luxembourg! Would you accept that?”

“You’re not making sense.”

Though they had war plans, no country had even plotted how to handle the end of war and post-war arrangements.

Even Britain had only thought about taking over German colonies, not about executing Germany like France wanted.

‘These, these crazy bastards! Even after fighting like that, do they still think Germany can have African colonies!’

‘Why did we fight! What the hell did we die so much for! It was all to make those bastards never rise again!’

Just one month.

That’s how long it took the Allied nations to confirm their irreconcilable differences after endlessly arguing their own positions.

Britain made extremely practical arguments.

“So can we reach Berlin? We need to think about turning the armistice into peace, isn’t this just saying let’s fight again!”

“We need to stop the spread of communism, punish war criminals, think about post-war reconstruction, and you want more war here? Isn’t this just saying let’s all go down together!”

“Ireland isn’t looking good and the mood in colonies like India is ominous. If we keep fighting, we’ll end up like the Ottomans!”

If Germany reverses their position here, it’s the Allies who will certainly be ruined.

From their view, the enemy was on the verge of bringing down Paris just months ago and was an elite force among elite forces that endured a two-front war for 4 years.

There was no reason to keep fighting.

To this, France firmly objected.

“Fight again? Difficult! Very hard and shitty and perfect for ruining the country!”

“But you know… stopping here is even shittier. That’s the path that threatens France more and darkens the homeland’s future!”

“No, did we ask for too much? Let’s just keep the Rhineland as a bridgehead to suppress the possibility of future war! This is a safety device, insurance I tell you!”

Foch also agreed with Haig’s opinion that ‘we’ll be hurt too if war resumes’ but argued they needed to trample Germany more even accepting that damage.

This was France’s last chance and advantage that would never come again in their history.

‘If we back down here, when else can we win!’

The northern industrial zone was damaged.

The central mineral resource zone had long collapsed.

Paris had been pushed back twice and a third of French territory was devastated.

Economy? Already ruined.

Colonies? Hard to maintain even what they have.

Damage? They’d taken so much that more wouldn’t change anything.

So.

“Let’s occupy the Rhineland first and then enter armistice negotiations!”

“Right right, whether we keep it or not, we need to eat up the Rhineland just to ensure the armistice!”

“Let’s approve this even for the sake of ending the war.”

France ate up the Rhineland first.

America, Belgium, and Britain joined, but in reality it was essentially advancing into the Rhineland under the excuse of preventing Germany from fighting again, driven by Foch and French political circles.

But the situation didn’t change after the Rhineland advance.

The endless weighing between France’s future security and peace within the Allied forces continued.

“Massive reparations and military treaties are enough!”

“Logically, the Rhineland? If France takes the western region where 10 million Germans live, wouldn’t that be more of a war threat?”

“We can create the League of Nations! Monitor Germany, beat them down, suppress them! What more do you want!”

Is the future France claims threatening enough to break the immediate peace?

The United States officially answers this question.

[Wilson’s Fourteen Points for Peace.]

[Humanity Must Recover Lost Morality.]

[Free Trade, Open Treaties, National Self-determination. Wilson’s Three Principles!]

Wilson’s claims, not discussed at all with the existing Allies.

Though Wilson tactfully referred to lands like Canada, Newfoundland, and Australia as ‘great overseas dominions’, ultimately what America wanted to say was simple.

This war wasn’t a ticket to the next imperialism.

It was a war for peace.

“…General Pershing.”

“Chairman Foch.”

“Is your President perhaps preparing for the next election?”

“Not as far as I know.”

“Or does he think everyone fought this war like dogs for over 4 years with hundreds of millions dying because they loved and wanted peace? Really for that childish wordplay about peace?”

“…Wouldn’t the ultimate goal be peace in any case?”

Wilson’s declaration was so pure that even fellow Americans couldn’t cover for it.

To France, this wasn’t being nice but being crazy.

Woodrow Wilson must have gone senile and mistaken this blood-soaked battlefield for a fresh lawn. Yes, that must be it.

No, it had to be. If not, Foch would go crazy instead.

“…This war was for peace?”

Now France didn’t even want to pretend this imperialist war was a war for peace.

Rather, they wanted to remain an immoral and selfish nation while trampling others.

As soon as he heard Wilson’s brain-smoothing principles of free trade, open treaties, and national self-determination, Foch cleanly gave up on bringing in America.

Instead, that country more imperialistic than any other.

That empire that was a long-time ally and always honest with consistent desires.

He thought they must bring in Russia as an ally and tear off the Rhineland.

After all, containing Germany was Russia and France’s common destiny. It was the greatest factor uniting the two countries.

“General! Russia has announced they will provide food aid for humanitarian reasons!”

“The Eastern Front soldiers are now openly eating, drinking, and playing together! Fighting again is already impossible!”

“Russia is already selling their grain before any peace negotiations! Seems they moved faster than the United States!”

“…”

How should he take this situation.

Russia… far from starving Germany, they’re feeding them full.

Now Foch truly had no backup plan.

France’s future hung on this peace negotiation process.

Either firmly put Germany under foot here and secure the republic’s future.

“…Or have another war in 20 years.”