I'm playing whack-a-mole in Siberia

Chapter 919 Finding a Way Out
The outcome of the Normandy landings fully demonstrated the strength of the German army. The defeat on the Russian front was not due to the incompetence of the German army, nor was it a fault of the army.

Russia is not France; it will not surrender when faced with danger.

If the Allied forces of Britain and the United States landed on German soil after Germany had already surrendered and seized the spoils of Russia's victory, guess what the Russians would do?
Eisenhower knew what Churchill wanted to do.

The British ideal scenario is that Germany and Russia are both severely weakened, one lying in a grave and the other on an operating table.

France is now lying on the operating table, while Germany, having only sprained its ankle, is bowing down to Russia, whose finger has been scraped.

Britain itself is incompetent, unable to even defeat the sailors at Kiel. So, if it's supposed to be a joint landing, it will definitely be like Normandy, with the US military taking the lead.

If Eisenhower had agreed, the situation would likely have been one of Russian and German forces ganging up on the American army.

Since Eisenhower disagreed, Churchill had no choice but to pack his bags and go to Constantinople with Franklin D. Roosevelt for the meeting.

De Gaulle arrived in Constantinople earlier than Churchill and Roosevelt.

Germany surrendered, and the war ended.

For France, an even greater crisis is looming.

Although Free France was a victorious nation, Vichy France was a defeated nation, and de Gaulle's biggest worry now was that Vichy France would be punished by Russia.

Although Vichy France did not officially send troops to join the German invasion of Russia.

However, a large number of French people voluntarily joined the German army, participating not only in the invasion of Russia but also in the German and British-American operations in Normandy.

Faced with Vasily's questioning, de Gaulle's explanation was weak: "I believe they were misled or forced by life's circumstances. They made mistakes and deserve to be punished, but I hope that the punishment will not be extended to innocent French people. I hope you can understand that France had no other choice."

"You still had 70 troops ready to fight when you surrendered. You really had no other choice!"

Vasily was acerbic and despised the French for their duplicity.

"In any case, France, as the victorious nation, should not be punished."

De Gaulle was adamant: if Italy could change its mind so easily, why couldn't France?
Vasily could understand the French people's choice, but he did not accept it.

Regardless of de Gaulle's interpretation, Vichy France did indeed harm Russia.

Since there is harm, there must be a price to pay.

Vasily wasn't being unreasonable.

When the two laws coexisted, some of France's overseas colonies supported Vichy France, while others supported Free France.

Russia could choose not to support Free French overseas colonies.

Russia gladly accepted Vichy France's overseas colonies.

For example, the French East Indies.

Georges said nothing in front of de Gaulle.

After seeing de Gaulle off, George began to discuss the issue with Vasily.

George did not want the French East Indies.

George also didn't want French West Africa.

Georges hoped that France's overseas colonies would freely determine their own destiny in accordance with the principle of "national self-determination".

What can we get in return?

Vasily was dumbfounded. So Russia had sacrificed so much and given so much, and wanted nothing in return.

You are not a war god, you are an angel!

"We will gain the whole world—"

George's appetite was greater than Vasily had imagined.

Russia is already large enough; further expansion would not make much sense for it.

George hopes that Russia will become the leader of the world in the future.

I hope that Russians will be welcomed by locals all over the world.

It is hoped that those countries that have gained independence by adhering to the principle of "national self-determination" will be grateful to Russia.

I hope that Russian products will sell well all over the world.

If France is forced to cede its French East Indies to Russia, then what difference is there between Russia and the Onsa gang?

In another timeline, Britain and the United States, leveraging their influence over discourse, have gone to great lengths to smear Russia. They not only claimed to have captured Berlin, but also that they were the ones who found the concentration camps, as if Russia's only contribution to World War II, besides retaliating against the Germans, was the Katyn Forest massacre. Now, the power of discourse rests in Russia's hands.

George would not slander Britain and the United States, but would simply recount what the British and Americans had done since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, leaving their merits and demerits to others to judge.

Especially the two World Wars.

"Why don't we join forces with Germany and wipe out the British and Americans!"

Vasily didn't want to go through that trouble.

George didn't want to talk.

Russia's army and air force are indeed powerful.

With only a few warships in the Russian Navy, how can they possibly cross the Atlantic?

Without exaggeration or bias, let's not even talk about the United States, which sends an aircraft carrier every 76 days.

Given the strength of the Russian Navy, it can't even defeat the Royal Navy.

"French colonies had national self-determination, but what about Britain?"

Vasily admitted that George's description was more tempting to him.

"If Britain doesn't agree, it should prepare to face criticism from the whole world!"

George sneered.

There are some things you can't simply choose not to do just because you don't want to.

Even if Britain disagreed, could it have kept its overseas colonies?

Or to put it bluntly, how much more benefit can India generate for Britain?

Britain's colonial rule over India had long been unprofitable, and if it weren't for the fact that successive prime ministers couldn't bear the infamy, Britain would have released India long ago.

Indians believed that "non-violent non-cooperation" was the ultimate weapon against British colonial rule.

The reality is that after Russia gained absolute control over Eurasia, Britain lost the basis for implementing its continental balance policy, and its need for India's human resources was no longer as urgent as before.

In the past, Britain needed India's human resources to maintain its image and preserve the dignity of its empire.

The two world wars fully demonstrated the fighting capacity of the Indian army. If India loses even its last remaining advantage in human resources, it will become nothing more than a burden to Britain.

Russia has accumulated rich experience in exporting resources in North Africa. If Britain does not want to maintain its dignity and does not want the nationalities of its overseas colonies to make self-determination, Russia can help Britain to do so.

Churchill, just as George had predicted, dismissed George's demand for national self-determination.

This is Britain's domestic policy.

Historically, only Britain has interfered in the internal affairs of other countries. When did it become Russia's turn to interfere in Britain's internal affairs?
From a position of strength, Franklin D. Roosevelt hoped that Churchill would carefully consider George's opinion.

"No country can force Britain to do something it doesn't want to do."

Churchill then turned to de Gaulle, hoping to re-ally with France to counter Russian pressure.

"Your Excellency the Prime Minister, I have decided to heed the Grand Duke's call and allow France's overseas colonies to decide their own destiny on the premise of national self-determination."

De Gaulle's decision took Churchill by surprise.

"Why? Why did you do this?"

Churchill looked fierce.

"Your Excellency Prime Minister, this is none of your business."

De Gaulle was lukewarm and showed no interest whatsoever in forming an alliance with Britain.

De Gaulle abhorred the alliance, believing that France would not have fallen to its current state if it had not allied with Britain.

This cannot be entirely blamed on Britain.

After all, France also wanted to wash away the shame brought to Germany by its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, so the alliance between Britain and France was a perfect match.

The alliance between Britain and France was formed to counter Germany.

Churchill proposed an alliance, but it was in order to counter Russia.

De Gaulle would only do this if he had gone mad.

(End of this chapter)