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墨書 Inktalez
On May 12, 1927, the delegation from Germany, led by Strasser, signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with the Soviet Union in Moscow.
The contents of the treaty are as follows:
1. The contracting parties guarantee that they will not individually or jointly use force against each other, nor engage in acts of aggression or attack with other countries.
2. If one of the contracting parties is at war with a third country, the other contracting party shall not provide any support to the third country.
3. The contracting parties shall never participate in any direct or indirect opposition to any state conglomerate of the other contracting party.
4. The parties shall resolve all disputes between the contracting countries in a peaceful manner.
The treaty is valid for 10 years. In addition, the two parties have signed a secret additional protocol, which stipulates that the northern border of Lithuania along the Baltic Sea, the Neman River of Poland, and the Vistula and San Rivers will serve as the dividing line.
At the same time, Germany also tacitly allowed Soviet Union to have interests in Bessarabia. In the early stages of World War II, the "Eastern Front" established by Soviet Union was largely based on this border. The signing of this treaty immediately clarified the situation in Europe at that time, giving Soviet Union the power to establish the "Eastern Front."
Although neither of these countries can be considered powerful at this time, they have no doubt about each other's ability to dominate Europe in the future, as only the strong recognize one another.
In addition, Strasser has added many aspects of military cooperation based on historical content, such as Germany training its pilots and testing tanks through the Soviet Union.
Of course, Germany also sold blueprints for its battleships, armored cruisers, and destroyers to the Soviet Union to help expand the Soviet Navy's strength.
Although Strasser suggested that the Soviet Union should focus on aircraft carriers as a future development direction, the Soviet Navy showed little interest in this. They preferred to build battleships with powerful firepower, and Stalin shared the same view, so Strasser did not insist on his opinion. In his view, it was also feasible for the Soviet Union to manufacture battleships to compete fiercely with Britain and the United States.
Anyway, the Soviet Union has abundant resources, so it's not afraid of a war of attrition. Having battleships is better than having none. However, the suggestion to develop the submarine fleet has been approved by Stalin. Germany's "unrestricted submarine warfare" in World War I achieved great success, so the development of submarines has been approved by the Soviet Union's naval department. Of course, Germany also added a clause in "The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact" stating that if one party to the treaty is subjected to aggression from an outside party, that party can request military support from the other party, and the specific course of action will be determined through mutual consultation.
On the surface, this agreement seems to pave the way for the Soviet Union's interference in the Franco-Prussian War. On the other hand, it is also a means for Strasser to threaten the local Juncker nobility. His message is clear: if you Juncker nobles do not put in your effort to fight against the French people, then I will turn to the Soviets.
The influence of the Juncker nobility within the military is still quite significant. Strasser needs their support, at least until he can fully control the National Defense Forces.
A longer-term consideration is to keep a possible avenue open for Germany to intervene in the Soviet Union. When the Soviet Union "liberates" Poland or other Eastern European countries unfavorably, Germany could send troops to seize influence in those regions.
Since the great Soviet Union does not invade others, it must be that other countries have invaded the Soviet Union. This naturally falls under the troop deployment situations specified in the treaty.
After signing the treaty, the German delegation hurriedly decided to return to Germany. The shadow of war loomed over the Weimar Republic. Although Strasser did not announce this news, the recent overtime production by domestic arms enterprises and the actions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led many to speculate about it. Therefore, Stalin did not insist on keeping them but instead sent Kirov to personally escort them to the airport.
"Comrade Strasser, the sixth Congress of the Communist International will be held next year. Once your ethnic group and the Labour Party join the Communist International, we will be comrades fighting side by side."
At Sheremetyevo International Airport's runway, Kirov said excitedly to Strasser, pleased to have another comrade from Germany.
"That's right, the moment when we truly unite to ignite the flames of socialism in Western Europe is not far off. That day will surely come."
Strasser smiled, saying that he still enjoyed dealing with Kirov. Kirov was a good person, an idealist, and it was easy to chat with him as long as one went along with his words. Soon, they arrived at the runway for their private jet returning to Berlin, and Kirov humorously remarked:
"I hope the next news I hear is that Germany has thwarted the French invasion and stormed into Paris to hang all those capitalists from the lampposts."
"Hahaha, then I also hope Germany borders the Soviet Union soon, uniting to liberate the people of Eastern Europe."
Strasser smiled knowingly.
Just as Strasser was about to say goodbye to Kirov and board the returning flight, the boarding stair truck approached from a distance. The roaring sound caught their attention, and the person who got off the truck made Strasser's pupils dilate in shock; it was Yagoda. Today, Yagoda looked somewhat disheveled, clearly having arrived in a hurry, as his beard had not been properly shaved.
He got out of the car and walked directly towards Strasser.
"Good morning, Comrade Kirov."
Yagoda gave a salute to Kirov. As the designated successor of Stalin, Kirov had been gaining prominence within Stalin's circle in recent years, so even Yagoda had to show respect to Kirov.
"Good morning, Comrade Yagoda. Did you come in such a hurry because there is something urgent?"
Kirov looked at Yagoda and thought he was here to see him.
"It's not urgent; I just wanted to have a private chat with this comrade from Moscow, Strasser."
Yagoda was panting, his chest rising and falling.
"Isn't this a bit problematic? Comrade Strasser and the others are in a hurry to get back to Berlin," Kirov said, looking somewhat troubled as he turned his gaze towards Strasser.
"No problem, I also want to have a chat with Yagoda comrade."
"In that case, we won't disturb you two."
Kirov saw this and didn't doubt it. He led the guards to a considerable distance, while the members of the Germany delegation boarded the plane with great insight.
"Nice to meet you, Comrade Yagoda."
Strasser extended his hand.
However, the latter was not enthusiastic about it; he stared at Strasser's outstretched left hand and bluntly asked,
"Strasser, did you send people into the Soviet Union?"
Strasser maintained a calm demeanor, feigning surprise.
"Comrade Yagoda, I do not understand your meaning. We in Germany are a peace-loving country; why would we send people into the Soviet Union?"
"If you are referring to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then we have sent people to many countries."
"Strasser, you should understand what I mean."
Yagoda stared intently at Strasser. Recently, the National Political Security Agency he led had encountered failures in its operations to hunt down spies and combat foreign forces.
Those border reports suspected spies entering the Soviet Union from Poland, but not a single one of them was caught. Despite leaving many clues along the way, indicating their final destinations were Leningrad and Stalingrad, these individuals mysteriously disappeared before reaching their targets, even as the Cheka stood ready and waiting.
In the dark, a big hand helped them to hide. Yagoda himself was also puzzled by this, but his intuition told him that this matter was related to Germany. Although there was no evidence, Yagoda just felt that way.
So, upon learning that the leader of the Labour Party, Strasser, personally visited Moscow, he immediately rushed here and finally met him before Strasser boarded the plane.
"I'm sorry, Comrade Yagoda, but I really don't understand what you mean."
Strasser continued to play dumb; after all, he could never admit that Germany had sent people into the Soviet Union. Otherwise, why would he have gone to such lengths to carefully select the lineage and identity of the spies?
"However, Comrade Yagoda, if you are trying to say that there are foreign spies within the Soviet Union, then I actually know a few." Strasser intended to tease this straightforward bald man.
"Who are they?"
Yagoda pricked up its ears.
"One named Nikita Sergeyevich Nikita Khrushchev, he is currently serving as the Minister of Organization of the Stalinist Communist Party Committee and the Deputy Secretary of the Stalin District Party Committee.
Another named Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, he should have just graduated from the Kursk Land Planning, Soil Improvement, and other Technical School."
"There is also Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev; he should still be in heaven now, um, practicing. These people are all spies instigated and placed within the Soviet Union by the British, all of whom have received five hundred thousand pounds as counter-revolutionaries. You in the Soviet Union must take them seriously."
"I understand. Thank you for your help, Comrade Strasser."
In Yagoda, he took out his notebook and carefully wrote down these names, preparing to have Cheka investigate these individuals thoroughly.
“Goodbye, Comrade Strasser, I will miss you. I hope you can return to Moscow as victors.”
Kirov sincerely shouted to Strasser, who was boarding the plane. Strasser simply waved casually, using what he thought was the coolest gesture to bid farewell to the people of the Soviet Union below.
"Don't miss me, and don't wait for my return. After I leave, you are me. Long live the people!"
Accompanied by the intense roar of the engines, the German-made plane rapidly taxied down the runway and then soared into the sky.
Watching the airplane grow smaller in his field of vision, Kirov couldn't help but exclaim, "Comrade Strasser is truly a steadfast revolutionary. I believe he will achieve victory in the war." Beside him, Yagoda instinctively nodded. Although Strasser did not directly answer his question, he had helped uncover spies within the Soviet Union, which could be considered a favor to the Cheka.
Hmm? No, that guy Strasser hasn't answered my question directly! He just ran off like that!
Yagoda finally realized that he must have been tricked; those spies were probably just made up by Strasser.
No way, I can't let myself be fooled like this. I have to make it right, Yagoda thought through gritted teeth.
"Nikita Khrushchev, Leonid Brezhnev, and Mikhail Gorbachev, I must definitely pull out your pigtails."
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